New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE RESCUE OF AN OLD PLACE. BY Mary Caro-
line Robbins. IIoughton, Miifn & Co.

THE RESCUE OF AN OLD PLACE. BY Mary Caro-
line Robbins. Ioughton Miniin & CO.
This dainty little volume is a reprint Of series Of
letters which first appeared in that admirable weekly
Journal "Garden and Forest IL Is happy record
Of q series OF experiments by which beauty aud haI-
mony wrought from neglect and dcsoation IN
one Of the absndored farms OF Massachusetts. ana
aims only to tell the simple story of how :" by loving
labor the old made 10 add charm and dignity 10
the new. while the lent purpose and meaning u
the old'-a lesson which might be put in practice IN
wider fields than those OF sunny Overlia"
The book Is a timely one. Intelligent Foreigners
visiting for the first time arc disnayed 10 hnu
nowhere that instructive cllngng TO the SOIL WIN 'S
accompanying love Of home. so common among inc
jewellers in the old world and we can hardly wohuer
Mt the severity of their criticism. Perhaps there Is
no loveer scenery in the United States than that OF
the valley Of the Hudson. As one Journeys up '"0
river the eye rests with delight upon the succesoh
Of stately and lovely homes upon the rivers bihhs.
And yet In hardly single instance are children oi
the third generation living on the noble e9ta'es
founded BY their ancestors. Since we seem growing
into a nation OF "possible tamps' any book whloh
sets before in attractive fashion the genuine nap
pness TO be found In return u simple. whoesome
country life needs no apology, but is It's own excuse
for being. The writer OF this little folumc Is not
blind to our national defect, but with characteristic
and refreshing optimism looks upon II as simply the
fault OF happy, energetic youth-tO be outgrOwh rs
the years bring wisdom. As children. with eager
delight ut the exuberance OF wildhowcrs In some
sunny opening In the woods, cry: IL choose this ana
this and this" until their little hands can grasp no
more so We children Of n larger growth intoxicated
with the vast expanse OF mountain. field and forest
TO be reclaimed from nature rush with eager hahoS
to take possession OF the mighty spoil But IN ulc
years come the spoil will grow less, possession
will become more difficult and by the time we have
reached sober middle age the natural love OF home
and attachment TO locality will reaSsert themselves
In the past no will be content until he can
dwell under his vine and fig tree
For gardening is OF the elemental Impulses
OF the race There are individuals without it, as there
are people without sight or hearing or the sense OF
smell but the other hand, TO dig comes naturally
10 man. and at some time other in the course of his
existence the desire TO own portion OF the ear'h
surface is apt to seize upon him and to demand satis
faction, And how delightful il Is 10 dig we learn
from Mrs. Robbins. Her book-like her abors upon
farm forest and gardens labor OF love. For those
who are seeking advice in similar lines OF work there
are plenty OF direct, practical, trustworthy sugges
tions but everywhere, mingled with these pros;c de-
tails are such charming bits of bright philosophy,
humor and poetic sentiment that the lazy sybar
tie in his easy the busy of letters in his
dusty den may gain by proxy some of the healthy,
vigorous delight TO be found in the attempt to con
troll and transfgure some little portion Of the earths
surface
The affection Of Mrs Robbins for growing things is
so sincere that her devoted labors among them and
in their service bring no WEAKNESS but content rec
reation and even delight. As we watch the
loving patience with which she tends her troublesome
and sometimes naughty baby forest" or transplans
TO some sheltered spot the dfashoned favortes
OF Miss Bettys garden that they may renew their
youth, trees and flowers grow human 10 US as 10 her.
and we do wonder tha tthey show their gratitude
By renewed bloom aud beauty. What can be more
human than thisl
hoe o1vr a
charm every thing is sweeter and frcsher even In
Its bedraggled condition. l have passion for |
water coloring of this description and cannot Keep
nv hands from the weeds and flowers when venture |
forth to how my favorites have borne the storm
1t is delight TO put ones about bouncing |
peony-with its red cheeks all cold and dripping |
and tie a string around it TO keep its bright faces
clean The forward flowers kiss you You struggle !
to encirce them; the wet leaves box your ears as |
II you were taking a liberty. II Is some time before
you accomplish your purpose, and you arise from
the encounter quite breathless and dripping with
pink and white faces all huddled up together laugh
Ing at your condition" Everything IS thus IN
harmony with the CHEEKY spirit that presides The
grabbed old apple trees in the orchard making promise
of amendment beg lease Of life, while the shrubs
upon the lawn grow to bear moving every MAY Day |
with the equanimity OF New-York citizen. In ad |
dftl0n TO this love OF growing things, she has the |
artists eye for the beauty of nature-both Of form
and ooor-and the poets perception OF the feeling
OF landscape that intangible something which al |
ways eludes your grasp and will not be imprisoned |
I'M words or pigment. Here and there among practical
directions to planting, transpanting. sowing. and
gathering, exquisite word paintings OF smiling |
landscape, with always the touch of humanness which
gives It's final charm; the slow smoke rising in the
distance the kdcn hay cart standing in the field.
suggesting the larger life which Hes outside this
veritable happy valley. And there hints now
md then that she possesses that deeper sympathy
with nature that of knship which but enhances
her mystery even as II brings her How else
could she recall to imagination the mystery and
pathos Of the spring which makes the soul faint
with longing for it knows not what-and again,
the tender restful beauty Of the dying autumn which
soothes the troubled heart with promise Of eternal
peace.
out touch Of egotism and Yet having what Matthew
Arnold would call the note Of culture. Ii is the style
Of one upon whom books have their perfect work.
cnlarcng and enriclng naturally keen intellect with
out dvarfng its originality. delicate hnmor now
CAV and sparkling, saddening into excellent sense
pervades ii throughout and helps give that
proportion which belongs TO every true work Of art
for In its unpretending fashion the little book Is
q genuine work Of art.
Finally, through all, and blending all its varied ele
ments into perfect harmony Is the undylng charm Of
most attractive pers0nalty-that OF a woman tender
true and strong And there is the note Of culture
there Is also the note OF happiness, a note |
clearly accehtuated that 1t did not need the dedca-
ton upon tie title page TO tell that the dainty vol
ume Is tho happy record OF years of work hope"