LITERATURE. IT is with a much more than ordinary degree of expectancy that the literary public has awaited a complete and adequate biography of the poet Longfellow. It comes to us at last as the work1 of the poet's own brother, Samuel, who has, however, modestly assumed to have only edited the elaborate volumes which have recently come from the publisher's hands. This is true to a large extent, for the Life is for the greater part composed of portions of Longfellow's voluminous diary and correspondence; but these are interspersed throughout with his brother's own narrative, full of reminiscences and charming comments. The work is not to hardly any degree analytical in its character; it is a vivid panorama of a most deeply and widely interesting career. We are made familiar by means of these volumes with the daily life of Henry W. Longfellow. Much of this insight is afforded, as has already been seen, through the published letters and diary. The interest of these is far greater than is usually the case with such compilations. Longfellow's life was to such a degree an intellectual one, that those who would know him best must find his own pen his best biographer. The comments in his journal are delightful, and the letters are highly interesting reading. They are from and to a host of friends, including Sumner, Hawthorne, Samuel Ward, Park Benjamin, Carlyle, and many others of equal note. Of course there is much in both letters and journal of personal matters, even such as regarding an invitation to dine, or some other passing slight event; but there is no apparent reason why anything should have been omitted that has been inserted in this work. Not only the poetry but the every-day life, the experiences, and the associations of Longfellow are worth knowing to those far beyond the pale of his own particular group of friends. Nothing has been inserted here, however, that seems to offend the sense of propriety, and the editor has certainly given evidence of the best of wisdom, care, and delicacy. Where he becomes the biographer he confines himself mostly to simple narrative; indeed, his final "summing up," after the last has been told that could be told of his illustrious brother's earthly career, is given in a single page. There is very little to criticise regarding this Life. Of its kind it could not be more satisfactory. It is not the work of the theorist, the analyst, critic, or the eulogist. It is the full, plain, unvarnished story of the life of the good son, devoted husband, affectionate father; the generous, faithful friend; the urbane and cultivated host; the lover of children; the lover of his country; the lover of liberty and of peace." 1 Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. With extracts from his Journals and Correspondence. Edited by Samuel Longfellow. 2 volumes. Boston: Ticknor & Co. 22. - INDEX TO MAGAZINE LITERATURE. - ART, ARCHITECTURE. Slyfield Surrey. Basil Champneys. 22. - A Chapter - - - - - BIOGRAPHY, GENEALOGY. Sketch of Christian Huygens. 5. - - ---- - - - - - - - - -- MILITARY. Sherman and McPherson. Gen. U. S. Grant. 4. Plan of the - NAVAL. Life on the Alabama. P. D. Haywood. 1.- - Cruise and Combats of I. MISCELLANEOUS. An Arctic Journal. Dr. Octave Pavy. 4.-The_Whip- Leaves from a Gould. 8.-The Query Club. Frances E. Sparhawk. 8. - - - 23.-New Henry 10. POLITICS. ECONOMICS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS. Gambetta's Electoral Tour. -- - - - F. RELIGION, MORALS. The Spiritual Problem of the Manufacturing Town. - THEOLOGY, POLEMICS. - - The Rite of Blood-Covenanting and the Doctrine of - TRAVEL, Adventure, DESCRIPTION. Around the World on a Bicycle. |