These
materials have been skilfully handled by the author of 'Peculiar,' and
the result is a novel of graphic power and sustained interest. It will
make its own way, as it has the elements of success. We must, however,
give a caution to our readers: 'Kunnle Delaney Hyde' and 'Carberry
Ratcliff' are true as _individuals_ of the South, but it would not be
fair to regard them as _typal_ characters. Let the magnanimous North be
just, even to its enemies. Slavery is a great wrong, as well as a great
mistake in political economy; men are by no means good enough to be
trusted with irresponsible power; slaves have been treated with savage
cruelty, and the institution is indeed demoralizing: all this, and a
great deal more, we readily grant our writer; and yet we cannot help
wishing he had shown us something to love, to hope for, in our enemy. He
makes an earnest and able protest against a great wrong, and as such we
gladly accept his book; but as a work of art, we think his tale would
have held a higher rank had he given us some of the softer lights of the
picture. In this we may be wrong, for a dread Nemesis stalks even
through the plains of the Ideal. To stand up truly for the Right, we
must comprehend the Wrong; meanwhile an important end is answered. We
are taught, a lesson we should all learn, compassion for the negro, and
enabled to understand some of his latent traits. For the ability and
tenderness with which this has been done, we have reason to thank Mr.
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