text:  It is occasionally and at considerable intervals only that these terrible or pathetic scenes are represented in its pages which sweep away all peculiarities of nation age or race and exhibit only the naked human heart: nineteen-twentieths of its pages are taken up with ordinary occurrences one-half of its interest is derived from the delineation of manners or the developing of character in dialogue which exhibits none of the vehement passions; and the interest of the reader is kept up chiefly by the fidelity of the drawing the spirit of the conversation or the accuracy and brilliancy of the descriptions