Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXX, No. 3, March 1847Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXX, No. 3, March 1847
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
All things considered, we deem this work one of the most deserving which
“Young America” has yet produced. It is written by a young man just of
age, who started for Europe before he was nineteen, with not more than a
hundred and fifty dollars in his pocket, and for two years literally
walked about Europe. He supported himself by literature, and at the end
of his journey had not expended more than four hundred dollars. The
excellence of the work comes from its exceeding freshness and spirit.
For every great object of nature and art which the author saw, he had to
suffer some privations; and he accordingly describes them much better
than he would have done had he possessed the “advantages” of common
tourists. Besides, his mode of traveling made him familiar with the
people of the countries he visited; and he gives many curious anecdotes
of their manners and condition. It is honorable to human nature, that
his impressions of the common people in England, Germany, Italy, and
Switzerland, were of a pleasing character, as he was often placed in
relations to them calculated to draw out their true nature, whether it
were kind or kindless. He was almost uniformly treated with hospitality,
and sometimes even with affection. He discovered, however, that they
were singularly and ridiculously ignorant of every thing regarding
America—its geography, its government, and its people.
There is one quality in this book which every reader must feel to be
fascinating—we mean the beautiful sweetness and healthiness of the
author’s mind and disposition. He never brags of the obstacles he
surmounted, nor whines at the privations he endured, but tells the story
of his journeyings with a most bewitching simplicity and modesty. Youth,
and the bright thoughts and sweet feelings of youth, are on every page,
infusing life into the narrative, and giving picturesque vigor to the
descriptions. The author must bear a brave, serene, and modest heart
under his jacket; and we cordially wish him and his delightful book all
the success which both so richly merit.
* * * * *
_Alderbrook: a Collection of Fanny Forrester’s Village Sketches,
Poems, &c. By Miss Emily Chubbuck. Boston: Wm. D. Ticknor & Co.
2 vols. 12mo._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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