The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-08-02
LITERARY NOTES.

that amazing product of Admiral Porter's brain 1t
was freely charged that some personal dislike inspired
the critic Almost as surprising as that man of so
much worldly experience should write and print
such work Is the singular tenderness with which
most of the reviewers have treated It. One Of the
few really appreciative reviews we have seen ap-
peared in the sun last Sunday, aud 1t Ia 30 good
that We need not apologize tor reproducing II:
In puzzllng over the motives which could have
prompted Admiral Porter to propose himself for
recognition among the writers of prose fiction we
ind ourselves reduced to the conjecture that he
must have reasoned after this wise: If James Feni
more Cooper, who was only mldshpman, could
write passably good novel; 1t Ia Incredible that
who am ful-nedged admiral, should fall to write
a better Unluckily the rule of three, which gives
such agreeable results in the distribution OF prize
money, cannot be applied with confidence to the
production of romance. This was some time para
dox, we have had occasion to observe, in the es-
nation of all business and of most professional men.
They have long been accustomed to proceed on the
assumption that the pursuit not only of journalism
in particular, but of literature in general ia resorted
to by those who have failed in the more lucrative
and pretentous vocatons, and they naturally argue
that men who have not failed, but have brilliantly
succeeded in more exacting calling, are disposed
result must be imposing In an unparalleled degree.
The deduction would perhaps be cOgent II the pre-
mlses happened to be sound, but, as O matter Of
fact literature Is not in any of its branches recruited
from the wrecks and outcaBs OF other occupations.
II 1t were, there would be possibly chance Of ap-
probation for such amazing competitions as Harry
Marine and Allan Dare and Robert lie Diable, ZAP.
pletons) upon which Admiral Porter has expended
such proportion OF his well-remunerated time as,
with just regard to more weighty obligations, he
could decently abstract from his naval duties
The Admiral seems to be little uncertain
best right TO claim his extraordinary prolusons On
the whole, he has elected TO bestow on the light
airy, and vivaciOus chronicle OF young midship-
mans experiences the modest title Of Adventures,
while he reserves the more impressive and weird ap-
pelation OF romance for the intricate and high
pitched tale of Allan Dare and Robert lie Diable.
But his own embarrassment could only have been
trivial and transient In comparison with the dstrac-
on and bewilderment into which the advent of this
new comet In the armament OF fiction seems to have
plunged the authors OF the notices which the dis
eliminating publishers; prompted BY professional
ected for reprinting on the ny pages OF these vol
umes. 1t Is PLAIN that in the sudden appariton Of
nized mysterious unique, nnclassined phenome-
non, whose aspect was anomalous and awful; whose
elements deaed ANALYSIS and the normal meas
transcribed all the ordinary means of calculation
and prediction. The prodigy produces In them the
ghost In Hamlet upon the warders ut Elsinore,
and their calculations, while staInmerng and wild,
betray the same narrowing msgiylnRs touching the
tate the phantom. Indeed the tenor of these notices
might be quite faithfully portrayed by eclectic
tracts from the play
Mar.-Thou art a scholar; speak to 1t, noratio.
Ber.-How now, ,Horatio You tremble and look pale ;
is not this something more than fantasy?
Hor.-Before my God, might not this believe
Without the sensible and true avouch
OF mine own eyes.
Mar-Thus twice BEFORE and jump at this dead hour,
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
Hor.-In what particular thought TO work know not;
But In the gross and scope OF mine opinion,
This bodes some strange eruption 10 our State.
III cross 1t, though 1t blast me. Stay, Illusion
II thou hast any sound, or use OF voice,
Marshall strike at it with my partisan?
HoT-We do II wrong, being 30 majestical
To offer it the show OF violence;
For II Ia, as the air, invnlnerabe,
And our vain blows malicious mockery.
II blunt ungracous speech he positively needed to
awaken adequate compunctloD 10 the Admiral, we
must tell him that the printing OF his cheap amor
phous compositions was grievous waste OF Ink.
Neither In respect OF substance style have these
puerlle eGuslohs trace OF merit to Justify their
innlction the reader. They are without form and
void The so-called adventures OF Harry
Marine would bankrupt the publisher OF Q dime
Dare and Robert 10 DiaDle produces on the stomach
the unpleasant effect OF concentrated extract Of
the Police Gazette, distilled amid the spasms OF
delirium tremens."
one neg book has found an enthusiastic admirer,
who writes Ia the Boston Gazette as follows: "Miss
Dawes, the Senator's daughter, an American who
neglects Goethe and the rise OF the Franks, has
made book about her own country, and the forces
which give 1t life. How Is It that the thing mas not
been done In this way before? Beautifully is 1t
and charged with gentle earnestness akin TO
kngsleys telling ile woId-old taies Of Greece 70
his children The arrangement Of chapters and
topics IL admirable. The siyle ~ equally so-plain,
teigsnce in ihe matter Of lie boos; Is the spirit
which prompted II. 80 wholly welcome v ", that
little praise need he dealt Il; II IL Hrles sacred
duty 10 any one who loves his country that ALper-
can children should know y and thai It's lessons
ence are excellent things In the abstract. What
they ought to be with us is something hard 10 put
into sober speech. 'D0,afius aaeaOi nut nOSti,
II teaediGH nObis, beyond precedent and beyoud
thanksgiving. Miss Dawes isao rhapsodst. Nothing
saner, simpler, more sefconaineda and generous Was
written for children on great subject. HOW We
Are Governed deals with fact and not with
any Obtruslye sentiments. II may be somewhat DIM
labor aud beauty Of the book wiieh gives them one
study more. but It's eyer-recurring, unconscious
appeals VIII touch them as seriously as their parents
What u better for little citizen than such thought
ful, urgent talk az thsY The glorious privilege is
ours Of living under Government OF the people,
and il Is altogether for the benefit Of the people that
we governed Let ns not forget these things,
nor disregard tnem nor wofst OF AL Gpeer al them
Neither let u.s. because we have not studied why and
what Government -, complain OF us falllngs and
wish for something else. Let us instead begin
better The entire book is very loyal, sagaclous,
and timely, aud deserves happy career. Honor 10
Anna Laurens Dawes because OF IT,"
Messrs cassell a Co. will publish this month a
new novel by William Westall, whose Red Ryying-
ton has already attracted so much attention "The
Old Factory Ia the name OF this new story, and In II
Mr. Westal gives rein 10 his gilt for depicting both
the pathetic and the humorous. The story IL OF a
educated than us father. But his education, TO his
fathers astopisbpent, did him no harm, In fact ac-
q nsPeS en o a soag Ds o
acter drawing. The binding of the book is the same
AZ the earlier yolpme-brShf req cloth, With black
and olive ornaments.