New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-23
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
HIS CHARMING NEW BOOK.

OVER TIE TEACUPS. BY OHver Menueu iionic''
1omo, PIP. $40. HoughtOn, Mifiln q Co.
The series of delightful papers by DIR. Holmes
which have been running through the pages Oh
the Atlantic have been brought to an end ana
are now issued in book-form to take their place
with the famous Breakfast Table volumes, when
they fifty supplement. There is unquestionaoiy
q great difference between these "Teacup" papers
and their predecessors, but it is the natural aud
inevitable difference between maturity ana age
A writer who has passed four-score years cannon
be expected to view life with the same emotions
that moved him thirty years ago. The 1act VI
his octOgenarianism is impressed upon MIN ooo
strongly by all his surroundings not to count for
much in his thoughts DIR. Holmes Is indeed c"e
most buoyant and cheerful of men, but his warm
est admirers would not expect from him 'o-day
the ight-hearted talk with which he was wont
TO charm them during the period IN whlch 'hc
Antocrat lourshed. But the "Teacup" papers,
IL possessing sobriety of their own, are charming
in new ways. The authors fancy no longer plays
with the flashing swifness Of summer lightning
but H. shows no traces OF mpoverishment. His
mood incIines to greater gravity. but 1t is as
genial and kindly as ever His wit and humor
are less constantly in evidence, but they are no
less keen and bright. He has lost nothing OF his
feels the need and the charm of the element OF
love in his sketches. and lie supplies it with all
his old dizziness and delicacy. With what skill
and with how many happy touches the various
characters who figure at the tea-table are brought
before us. Who can fail to fall in love with
Number Five or to experience some anxiety con-
corning the outcome of the Tutors siege OF her
hitherto impregnable heart? Who can close the
book without some disappointment at the uncer-
tanty in which this interesting courtshp is LEFT
Did the Tutor succeed? Did Number Five send
him TO Join the throng of the rejectedp One
would fan know how the affair ended.
Number Seven agan,-the cracked Teacup,-
with what DR.. Holmes calls a squirting brain
is he not full Of n curious attraction? We have
all known the kind of man concerning whose
views nothing can ever be predicted; who some
times appears to see farther than other people, and
sometimes not 50 far; who passes for being "a
| little cracked, perhaps. yet who now and then
has such flashes of insight that we hesitate between
| the diagnoses Of genius and madness. Delilah
| also is she not dainty little figure, serving the
| Teacups so demurey aud decorously. playing bel
little part so neatly and well, but nevertheless moi
| escaping the Argus eyes Of love. OF some Of the
other figures who sit round the Tea-table the out
! lines remain untitled The Dictator himself II
| our genial Doctor, with scarce pretence OF dis
| guise The two Annexes are entertaining. Ihs
| Professor is Interesting when he does talk. bn'
talks comparatively little. The poetry Is essen
| TALLY the same as that which all know so well
| deeper and graver in tone occasionally, but fall
| ing quite naturally, as in the Broomstick IRAN
into the old gay strain Of lifting humor. MOI
Is the character of the subjects treated unfamiliar
| We recognize the former lively interest in OBJ
| scure and puzzrfng cerebral problems the former
| broad and liberal views upon theological ques
| lions: the former trenchant criticisms upol
| shallow pre;ence and futile because incapable
| literary effort Some Of DR.. Holiness remark
| upon the poetry Of the period remarks evidently
wrung from him by protracted sufferings,-migh
be prayerfully commended TO nine-tenths OF thoS
who write what they are pleased to call verse
I'm these degenerate days, were it not only too evl
dent that protest nor remonstrance can anect I'm
unfortunate in question.
At the close of the Teacup" papers DR.. Holme
| reviews briefly the whole series which it is sup
posed to conclude. We venture to say that tn
modest estimate of his work here set down vii
not be accepted by that public confined to
English-speaking community under the sun, whic
| during more than the lifetime Of generation hs
been cheered and delighted and stimulated by hi
wit and wisdom and tenderness and gracious eX
preston. Nor can we by any stretch OF I'm
agination forecast time when the Autocra
series is likely TO have outlived the appreciation
intelligent educated and feeling men and womer
The maintenance Of the demand for such DOCKS
one of the gauges of intellectual growth an
progress and if the American people are to G
forward and not backward it is idle to imagin
the coming of a period when these ornaments I
our national literature will be less priced tina
they are to-day. Nor can we consent to regard tn
termination of Over the Teacups' as marking tn
final retirement Of DR.. Holmes from literary "a
tivity This book is in itself proof Of his entli
robustness of mind His eye is not dmmed nc
his natural force abated.' The American peop
would not indeed be exigent with so hearty
friend and favorite, but they will hope to hea
from him again frequently, and they assuredl
will not consent to his superannuation.
LITERARY NOTES.