The Knickerbocker/Volume 1/Number 1/Literary Notices
LITERARY NOTICES.
Desirous of making this department something more than a mere enumeration of the contents of books, we have determined, in order to make it as valuable as possible, and to give these notices that anonymous character, without which criticism loses half its efficacy, to have the different works which are submitted to us, examined by different individuals, capable of passing upon their merits, from having had their attention particularly turned to the subjects treated of. In pursuance of this plan, we regret that we cannot keep back this No. longer for two notices, from able pens, that were promised us in time for publication, upon the only books we have yet received. The beautiful work on Minerology and Geology, by J. K. Welsh, of Boston, and the new translation of Longinus, by a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, shall both receive their due attention in our next. In the meantime, however, we must manage to fill the space kept open for them till the last moment, with something else; and as one, when disappointed of a dinner, will stay his hunger, or spoil his appetite, with confectionary, we will substitute the pastry and bon-bons of literary persiflage, for the solid roast-beef and pudding of science and the classics; and as many of our reviewing brethren pass upon books they have never read, we will try and give an account of one they are not likely to read.
The Complete New-Year's Visitor. By Barent Vanderlyn, 1 vol. 12mo. Staats & Fonda, Albany. Unless our judgment is very much at fault, this little work will be as well received by the town, as any original publication that has long issued from the press. But why the author, whose resources are chiefly derived from this city, should have chosen Albany as his place of publication, we cannot divine. Unless it is that the capitol being the only city in the Union besides this, where the excellent and gallant custom of visiting all one's fair friends on New-Year's day, is observed, and the ancient town of Beaverwick being the mother colony from whence her strapping daughter of New Amsterdam was derived—it was perhaps due to the most ancient metropolis of the two, that a work of such importance should emanate from within those walls, where Dutch hospitality survives in all its original brightness: Where still the smoking caudle cup and tender cruller first meet the young eyes that open upon a strange world, and mulled-wine and dote-cake solace the vigils of those who watch over them when closed in death—and where each welcome is as warm and as cheering as the first, and each farewell bears some token with it as kind and generous as the last.
The work, which very modestly pretends to be only a manual for the use of those who would simplify the business of New-Year's visiting, by reducing it to a proper system, does in fact contain a fund of deep erudition and lively entertainment, upon every thing relating to the first day in the year's calendar. Of the four books into which it is divided, for instance—book first, treats of the origin New-Year's visiting of which it, perhaps somewhat extravagantly, carries back to the days of Hesiod, whom the learned Peter Heylin quotes in his Cosmography, from the admirable edition of the poet's works, by Nicholas Heinsius, the celebrated Leyden scholar—as authorizing the opinion of this usage having existed among the Scythian tribes that were present at the siege of Troy. Some curious observations are then given upon the zeal with which the custom was observed in the time of Julius Cæsar, among the war-like but hospitable Belgæ—as may be gathered from that passage in the writings of the illustrious Commentator, where he speaks of the Fores omnibus aperti ut edendi bibendique causa ostiatim per diem totam percurrerent. We have afterward an interesting account of the usage, as it existed at that brilliant court, where the steel-clad knights of Brabant
"Drank the red wine thro' their visors barred."
from goblets filled by the fair hands of Jacqueline of Holland. From this part of the work, we learn, that formally it was only noble or very ancient families who interchanged these courtesies with each other, and that the custom of ladies offering to shake hands with the male visitant upon this day, arose from a ceremony that grew up in the days of chivalry, of the young and fair hostesses placing their fragile fingers in the gauntletted palms of their guests, to signify that they recognized each as one of their own order, and confided in him as worthy of upholding its dignity. This book terminates with an account of the establishment of the custom in this city, from the time when it was first confined to the immediate connections of the old Dutch governors, and other official characters, down to our day, when it has become of such general adoption, that the whole town observes the social usage.
Book Second, is addressed to the ladies exclusively, and, among other things, treats of the manner of preparing the room for receiving visitors; giving at the same time some useful hints for so arranging the curtains, that the light, whether warmed and softened through salmon-colored morcen, or reflected from glistening damask, may properly assist one's complexion. Some tolerably engraved diagrams are added, showing the most approved methods of adjusting ottomans and sofas, so that visitors may be taken in detail, or disposed of in detachments—ad libitum of their fair entertainers. To all of which are annexed a few available hints upon the art of securing a tete-a-tete, in windows or recesses, with those whom we wish particularly to favor amid the general rush.
Book Third, intended for gentlemen only, treats of the whole process of New-Year's visiting, according to the latest improvements. It gives much useful advice upon the art of compiling a visiting list, and suggests the expediency of always being provided with a pocket map. After disposing satisfactorily of that much agitated question, whether it is best to district the morning's operation into wards, or adhere to the ordinary usage of visiting by streets, our author presses very warmly upon those ambitious of becoming at all distinguished as New-Year's visitors, the indispensableness of system in plan, and coolness, promptness, and decision in execution, to get thro' even a tolerable list of calls. "Order," he justly observes, "is Heaven's first law, and method is quite indispensable in this matter above all others—a method too, which must confound all respect of persons and order of preferences, all distinctions of rank and fashion, into one principle of geographical precedence," while "self-possesision" he urges, "is particularly requisite to make an efficient use of each allotted moment, when people are darting to and fro around you, like stones from Catapultas." It is time, however, as our limits draw to a conclusion, that we should begin to quote more at large from the work, which we cannot perhaps do better than by quoting here a passage, which sets off the writer's pathetic powers to much advantage.
"Well," pursued my agitated informant, "three of my remaining seconds had already expiredcbut I could not leave him thus—I spoke again to him—I besought Riffleton—I conjured him as he sat there, pale as the mantelpiece against which he leaned—he—the gay, the dashing, the brilliant Riffleton—the soul of every set—the life of every circle—now listless, melancholy, and in despair—I conjured him to tell me what sudden affliction had overtaken him at such a moment—what circumstance had subdued—what pain had overwhelmed his spirit—what dear friend he had lost.—"Friend," he exclaimed, and the answer came from the depths of his soul hollowly as the ascending urn from the bottom of a well, that sends up no limpid brimmer from its parched sources. "Friend? not one but all—all my friends—I have lost my"—The word faltered upon his lips, as if they could not pronounce so dread a thing—"I have lost my visiting list!"
In relating this tragic occurrence, our author argues very soundly upon the expediency of being always provided with duplicate copies of one's list, to avoid the consequences of people thus dropping their acquaintance.
But we are rapidly approaching the bottom of the page, and have only room to mention that Book Fourth is composed of "the diary of a New-Year's visitor"—the whole of which we may perhaps copy in a future number and a quantity of miscellaneous pieces in verse upon visiting matters. Interesting as these must have been to the immediate friends of the writers, few of them, for the public at large, possess any interest. An exception might perhaps be made in favor of the following touching adieus of a celebrated beau, and veteran New-Year's day visitor, whose regret at leaving the circle which he had long adorned, was keen, when going abroad, that he could only send the following farewell cards to his four especial favorites.—
In a far away land when I hear them tell
Of a new risen star and the reigning bell,
I shall think of the card where I wrote with a sigh
T. T. L.
Ellen Adieu—
This clasp of the hand hath a meaning for thee
At the moment of paring, whose language should be
A smile for the many, a sigh for the few,
P. P. C.
Fanny Farewell—
Indifferent—cold as I saw thee to day
I would fain have been like thee, so careless and gay;
But a tear in despite of my bitterness fell,
P. D. A.
Mrs. Smith good day—
I shall probabyl sail in an hour or so,
But I'll stop as I'm passing, before I go,
And leave you what cards I have left, to say
D. I. O.