No More Learning

a vague idea of a God of Democracy who
from 1616 to 1640. Jacob considered We cannot praise too highly the in- will stand the test of an age of widening
that each church ought to have one dustry of Mr. Burrage, and we cordially our readers the standpoint from which we
spiritual outlook. In order to convey to
pastor at least, or more than one if means congratulate him on the result of his view the subject, we quote Mr. Crane's
allowed and the congregation was large arduous labours, which_must influence
definition :
enough to require it. The pastor was to all future histories of English Religion.
have absolute power over all the eccle- Nor can we close our review of his “The true oneness of a people depends
siastical affairs and government of the volumes without making mention of the upon the spirit in them, and not upon the
church. The following clause in reference modesty with which he puts forth his power over them. This now conception is
to marriage and burial is singular :- facts, and the anxiety he always displays called Democracy. Its basis is the mind of
to appreciate the efforts of other workers the whole people. It is humanity doing
“ Concerning making of marriage, and in the same field. The volumes also things for itself, and not having things done
burying the dead, we believe that they are
for it. ”
no actions of a Church minister (because they
contain beautifully executed facsimiles of
are no actions spirituall), but civill. Neither
title-pages and documents.
We held over our notice of Dr. Weyl's
are ministers called to such business : neither
'The New Democracy' in the hope that
is there so much as one example of any such The author of the History of English Mr. Percy Alden's would furnish us with
practise in the whole book of God. ”
Nonconformity' has given us
a fresh a comparison between America and
Our hopes are grievously
Mr. Burrage, after giving a complete list study of an old subject, surveyed and England.
of the various documents contained in presented by one who has consulted com disappointed. His book, with the re-
the Gould manuscript, says
petent authorities, and brought to their sounding title of Democratic England,'
consideration an original and discriminat- proves to be little more than a panegyric
that if the English
Baptists of to-day ing mind. Nonconformist readers may of the Liberal Government—its measures
have a greater knowledge of their history reasonably feel proud of their ideals.
and supporters.
Where Mr. Alden's
than they have had since Stinton's time,
honesty will not permit of whole-
it is to the Rev. George Gould of Norwich
Mr. Clark reviews the history down to hearted adulation, he either adopts a
that they are first indebted for preserving the Restoration. The remaining period patronizing tone towards great men and
the at present only known first-hand copy is to be treated in a second volume. The movements, or candidly avers his dis-
of this valuable and long-lost Stinton Nonconformist spirit is defined by him as quietude when approaching something
Crosby manuscript.
that spirit which exalts life above organiza- like criticism of his friends. His essays
Among other treasures to be found at tion. By this principle he finds that the were originally written for an American
Regent's Park College is the library maturest Nonconformist we have yet public, and in their collected form show
presented by Dr. Angus (formerly a seen lived and died in the communion of
valued contributor to our columns), who the Catholic Church. This is the position God and Democracy. By Frank Crane.
for many years devoted much time to the assigned to John Wiclif, in whom Mr.
collecting of books and documents relating Clark finds the first emergence of the Non- Democratic England. By Percy Alden. With
(Chicago, Forbes & Co. )
to the history of the Baptists. One of the conformist spirit, and who is said to have
an Introduction by Charles F. G. Master-
conditions attached to the bequest was been not only in advance of his own time,
(New York, the Macmillan Com-
that a catalogue should be prepared. but. in advance of ours also. Wiclif
pany. )
This labour of love has been faithfully "wrought out his entire system round the The New Democracy. By Walter E. Weyl.
carried out by Dr. Gould, who succeeded ! central conception of the inner life,” (Same publishers. )
man.


## p. 385 (#291) ############################################

No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
385
•
we
plainly their origin in the country ment in England' and 'The Land and the
where copyright injustice reigns supreme. Landless' oppressed by the thought that
Mr. Masterman, in his Introduction, the noble title of Mr. Alden's work will
RECENT VERSE.
speaks of Mr. Alden as having lived probably been precluded for fifty years
in an atmosphere charged with sym- from making a more worthy appearance. Storm Song, and Other Poems. By Pal-
pathy for those who toil - a reference
There is so much more to commend in lister Barkas. (Elkin Mathews. )—Here at
to his twelve years amidst the workers Dr. Weyl's The New Democracy' that least is a poet who, if his flights be some
of East London, not to their more recent care has to be exercised lest we overpraise clashes
times lacking in speed and height, yet
companionship in the rarefied air of the what after all has the faults inherent effort to fly. His slim volume of verse is
his wings vigorously in the
House of Commons. Such an explan- in a compilation of essays Mather than an somewhat confused in purport, unequal in
ation is rendered necessary by a certain elaborate work. Nevertheless, the author's achievement, defaced by false stresses and
looseness of sequence, consequent, no account of the progress of the American antitheses, prone to gaudiness, yet in
doubt, on the failure to revise proofs, people towards self-government does afford
some hardly definable manner, powerful.
to which may be attributed other mis-
a better reason for his title than Mr. Perhaps this heroic quality is less discernible
takes.
in the substance and texture of the verse
Alden's book.
than in the exaltation and liveliness of the
In the opening chapter of the book
are struck by the naive simplicity between American democracy and our own
The first differentiation to be noted spirit informing it. Much of Mr. Barkas's
storminess is but stage thunder, and his
of Mr. Alden's reiterated statement that is that of the more markedly individual expression is rarely felicitourire Yot because
opportunism is defunct—at least within istic tone adopted, which is largely, no
of his passionate feeling for life, his sense of
the Liberal ranks.
to us how such an enlightened Govern- doubt, due to the absence of such unifying of his inspiration, the poetic yeast is: in him,
ment has so far failed to distinguish, in any points of opposition as a ruling class with the ferment which creates and bodies forth
Another differen- the formless shapes of his conception.
a king at the head.
Ob-
adequate way, between wealth controlled
tiation arose from the fact that in such a viously he inherits a legacy from the great
by the individual in the public interest, vast continent the unexploited richness at pantheists, and in some degree he possesses
and wealth which is predominantly used
for personal pleasures and aggrandize the disposal of the early settlers did not
ment. The present industrial upheaval, encourage small attempts at co-operation, of which one of the most perfect examples
in the face of what, he would consider appropriation had occurred that American port, with its long, trailing rhymeless
and it was not until much wholesale
my spirit seal. ” His first poem, 'The Pass-
ample “ recognition
labour, must be a disturbing phenomenon democracy found an objective to unite lines, is strongly reminiscent of Mr. Edward
Carpenter in Towards Democracy. His
against.
to our author.
As his many admirers will doubtless Dr. Weyl states more plainly than is imagination is as yet insufficiently dis-
It moves in
expect, Mr. Alden's best chapter is that usually done one of the selfish arguments gusts and
swirls, and needs a steadier
and
on ' The Child and the State," though that can most reasonably be advanced more continuous impulse to make its driving
even here imagination is sadly lacking for the retention of our policy of a power less erratic. "Occasionally he reveals
à curious mastery over
Speaking of the
We find no other prospect dreamt of for limited Free Trade.
a particular key
which harmonizes with his own emotional
our offspring than that of taking their trusts, he says :-
tonality. Thus in ' Alone' he fuses matter
places in the blind competitive struggle, “Not only does the public pay the increase and form into a resonant, dignified, and
and the bald word
escape is con- (though not without humorous grumbling), firmly handled result, but at other times
sidered as suitable to mark the close of but it allows the trusts to sell their surplus he is ungainly, theatrical, and structurally
early tutelage as it is to designate the products more cheaply abroad than at home, loose. Mr. Barkas shows considerable
change which will mark their exit from to sell cheap abroad for the very purpose of promise, because he writes out of himself,
the workroom in after-life. The statistics selling dear at home. ”
and because a genuine and virile feeling is
reinforced by a certain visionary sense and
gathered by such a well-known authority Englishmen, we think, too often forget a power of sturdily presenting it.
as Dr. Leslie Mackenzie of Glasgow with that the purchase from our neighbour of
regard to the relative growth of children 258. worth of goods for a pound must
in the slum and in the garden city were make for increase in national wealth. The Iscariot. By Eden Phillpotts. (John
well worth reproducing. Confirmation of Unhappily, an increasing inequality of Murray. --Mr. Phillpotts is a better novelist
the conclusion-hitherto deduced from the distribution has militated against a proper than he is dramatist or poot. InThe
low percentage of female births during appreciation of the result just indicated. Iscariot' he has compressed the motif and
times of war and famine—that the female Another fact that Dr. Weyl emphasizes plan of a novel into something over fifty
of the species derives the greater advan- is the relative utility of trusts in serving not the deed, but the motives of Judas
tage from decent conditions of life, is the cause of progress; and an under in selling his master. He represents him as
found in the fact that it is not standing of the kinks in humanity leads a nationalist of intense and lofty ideals,
until we come to compare four-roomed him to express something akin to sym- whose desire to see the Romans evacuate
families with one-roomed, that girls show pathy for those self - deceptions the Palestine leads him to attempt to trick his
an even more marvellous improvement in perpetrators of which are playing a rôle master into assuming an earthly kingdom by
height and weight than boys. Mr. Alden's of altruistic complacence at odds with using the Pharisees as a pièce de résistance to
that end. The ingenuity of the idea is
succeeding chapters on Sweating,' 'Un- the real facts.
transparent. It leaves us with the impres.
employment, State Insurance,
There are points where we join issue sion that Judas was exceptionally foolish,
Age Pensions,' and 'Housing' need not
with our author and wonder whether and that his sincerity in the profession of
detain us. They may have satisfied our he too has not occasionally bowed the personal devotion to his master's self and
American cousins at the time of their knee to Baal, and the lack of dates nificance of his mission is hardly unim-
.
publication, but Englishmen will find in succeeding chapters is unnecessarily peachable. In fact, the conception leaves
little to add to the knowledge recently apparent ; but we feel the book is for the many crannies and fissures for criticism
extended by the press, whose usual in-
to penetrate.
articulateness concerning essential matters general reader, not for the specialist.
On the whole we think that Dr. Weyl's but somewhat bald.
The blank verse is resonant and dignified,
of industrial unrest has been at last
It has nobility of
overborne in some measure by their desire penultimate chapter, entitled The Social thought ; is without blemish of tasto or
to catch the halfpennies of an awakening Problem of Democracy, is the most to rhythm, but lacks the magnetic faculty of
public. The chapter on 'Municipal Owner-be commended. Indeed, it is so self- communicating its emotion to the reader.
ship’ is remarkable only for the fact contained that its republication in pam- It lies prone without the lively and serpentine
that Mr. Alden seems determined to limit phlet form would serve a useful purpose. flexibility that is inherent in blank verse
which is more than competent. There is a
the word “gain” to its monetary signifi-
powerful frontispiece by Mr. Frank Brangwyn
cance; and we read through the two re-
of Judas walking foverishly away from the
maining chapters on 'The Labour Move-
council of the Sanhedrin.
6
• Old
9


## p. 386 (#292) ############################################

386
THE ATHENÆ UM
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
66
or
a
literature who is familiar with the elements of study not only on the part of scholars,
London Windows. By Ethel Talbot. of philosophy. The great names are admir. but also of mere general readers. ” Often
(Stephen Swift. )-Miss Talbot's verse is ably troated, but they can take care of them. one of these brief official documents will
well known in various journals, and the selves. To do justice to the obscure is throw far more illumination on the actual
twenty-six pieces here published are best more difficult, but almost equally important. life of the Middle Ages than will whole chap-
described when one says that they are Here, too, Prof. Seth is generally successful, ters of formal history. Turn, for instance,
respectably meritorious newspaper verse on without adopting the attitude of those who to the index-references concerning Oxford
subjects such as London Stones, Summer exhumo a decayed system once in a decade, in the Patent Rolls of 1361-4. In April
Underground, The Pageant of Hyde Park, and spread the news that Adam Smith of the former year we find a commission of .
A Watcher in the Rain, and The Egyptian really had something to say about sym- oyer and terminer
Room at the British Museum. In each case she pathy, or that Price anticipated Kant.
says little that is not obvious and nothing on the subject of the moderns we find the
"touching, evildoers of Oxford and the parts
that has the sublime accuracy of great book less satisfactory; here its conclusions
adjacent who lately broke the manses of the masters
and scholars in the University of Oxford, killed
poetry. On the other hand, she can be are necessarily tentative, but the allotment some of the scholars and their servants, and chased
relied upon never to miss the obvious of seven and a half pages to Ferrier and five the masters and scholars from the University. "
thing ; whatever patent emotions to T. H. Green seems quite disproportionate.
æsthetic delights may lie on the surface of Our chief regret is that the connecting links Echoes of these town and gown riots come
dawn in London and rain in London she are so short, and that the relation of English throughout the volume. In June, 1363,
seizes and expresses in facile, pretty verse. to Continental thought is somewhat scantily
there is granted a
In phraseology she follows largely Swin treated. On the other hand, Prof. Seth
burne and Henley. An extract from 'Hyde wisely leaves the later writers to suggest suit for all
felonies and trespasses done by him in
"Pardon to John Buk of Oxford of the king's
Park' exhibits her characteristic qualities, the necessary criticism of the earlier, and the last dissension, disturbance, or quarrel (con-
good and bad :-
supplies abundant material for our literary tumelia) at Oxford between clerks of the University
judgments without erecting adjectival sign and laymen of the town";
Night
In the street
posts on his own account.
Innumerably blent, the noises beat
after which various “bochers,” cobblers,
Round the great lake
of silence, and the light
The second volume before us covers part masons, and the like are also pardoned.
Tread of the homeward feet
of the ground of the first, but with a different Those were brisk times in what a Cambr dge
Passes and dies, and leaves
Only the shuffling tread
end in view. Its purpose is " to shew that man has been heard to term “ that notorious
Of the grey forms that onward with bent head
Move, through the shadowy darkness that receives
the speculations of Locke and Berkeley University town. ” In the index to the
Each, without questioning,
contain within themselves the means of volume of Edward III. Close Rolls we even
Under the pitying shadow of her wing.
escape from the destructive criticism of find
And last,
reference to “ alien spies in
With golden lights and laughter and soft thud
Hume. ” The conclusion is similar to Prof. University of Oxford. ”
of powerful engines chirring through the mud,
Seth's, that Hume's scepticism is the out-
The latest motor's past.
come only of the empirical part of his pre.
Everywhere one comes across side-lights
decessors' philosophy, valid not against on the daily occupations of the common
idealism, but only against a sensational people, their interests, distresses, crimes,
ENGLISH PHILOSOPHY.
form of it. This is no secret, but the book humours — things that historians too fre-
should be of value to those who cannot i quently ignore. In 1417 William Lasyngby
Ir almost seems as if our English thinkers read Green's famous Introduction to Hume. and Robert Hull are ordered
have written too well to have philosophized It is, indeed, no mere analysis, but a fresh “to enquire into the report that a certain person
profoundly—as though the niggardly pro.
and lively study from the point of view of assuming the unusual name of Frere Tuk (Friar
vision of a stepmotherly nature had decreed
one whose anchorage is a qualified idealism. Tuck ! ) and other evildoers have entered parks,
warrens, and chaces of divers lieges of the king
that no man should excel both as a stylist Stock from doing justice to Green. Und in the counties of Surrey and Sussex, at divers
and a philosopher, and that a
of the learned and conversible worlds'
fortunately, the fact that · Siris' appeared rabbits, pheasants, and partridges, burned the
after the Treatise of Human Nature
must always be made at the expense
houses and lodges for the keeping of the parks,
of the former. But
need
compels him to leave it out of account. warrens, and chaces, and threatened the keepers. "
to apologize for English thought ; we view This curious work upon “The Virtues of
even an interest in the school of common
Tar-water and divers other subjects con-
In November, 1416, the substance of a
as no indication of an intellectual nected, together and arising one from an- romantic novel is concentrated in a re-
hiatus. On the other hand, we cannot join other” probably cost Berkeley more labour mission of taxes to the King's lieges of
with Mr. Stock in protest against the
than any of his other writings. With all | Northumberland
further Germanization of our thought his old hostility to," the corpuscularian
strange irony in the days of pragmatism, and mechanical philosophy,” he restates destroyed for no small time by sudden invasions of
Bergson, and a new realism-nor admire his his position in a serious attempt to think the king's enemies of Scotland, and deteriorated by
title, reminiscent of an English matter in
out the relation of ideas to the mind of God. great mortalities and losses sustained by great rides
English tongue for English men,” and a Hume's later ‘Inquiries' may be neglected for the resistance of the king's said enemies, and
challenge of the principles of free exchange, for his earlier writings ; but Sirisis of the county is situated on the frontier of the marches
of Scotland and the inhabitants are daily put to
laying an embargo on Kant, and prohibiting real importance to Berkeley, perhaps even unbearable charges.
Hegel for the fostering of a native product.
means of escape from the destructive
But if, in judging the speculative merit of criticism of Hume. Mr. Stock, of course, Outlawries and pardons for outlawry are
our writers, either extremity of view is doos not overlook this, but chronology puts terribly frequent ; under Edward III. many
consistent with sanity, to deny their literary
the work outside his self-appointed limits. of the pardons are granted at the request
quality is incompatible with taste. For
of Queen Philippa, whose merciful pro-
sheer artistic power Hobbes, with his “close,
clivities were not displayed at Calais alone.
naked, natural way of speaking”; Berkeley,
There is more even of amusement and
with his distinction of style and his mastery
STATE RECORDS.
entertainment to be got out of one of these
of the dialogue; Hume, with his Gallic
volumes than out of
GRADUALLY the vast stores of State docu- summaries.
many historical
polish and his sly humour, would be valuable
if their matter were valueless. Even the ments in the Record Office are being ar.
style of Locke has found admirers. Some ranged and published. The volumes of
The Fine Rolls are not so interesting exo
of the lesser and more academic writers Patent Rolls issued now number about fifty, cept to the student of land tenure. The latest
are pedantic or slovenly, it is true, but these and those of Close Rolls half as many; the volume (Vol. II. : 1307–1319) consists
blemishes are exceptional.
most recent volumes fill up three of what almost entirely of orders to escheators
are now the few remaining, gaps in the and justices concerning the resumption of
An estimate of our philosophy as series at present being undertaken, No estates at death by the king and the re-
channel of literature is the purpose of praise could be too high for the industry delivery to the heirs on performance of
Prof. Seth's book.
It fulfils this purpose and devotion of the editors; both the pre- fealty. There is variety in the services
well. Written in a lucid style, clearly paration of the texts and the compilation done by tenants, amongst the things ren:
arranged, and provided with short chapters of the huge indexes must entail an enormous
connecting the various schools of thought, amount of drudgery.
dered being a crane or 58. yearly, a pound of
it should be useful to any student of
pepper, a pair of gilt spurs, 108. and a pound
As a matter of fact, these collections of of cummin, 38. 3d. and two pairs of gloves,
Rolls (Edward
English Philosophers and Schools of Philosophy. Patent and Close
III. materials for ale and bread and one pig,
By James Seth. (Dent & Co. )
1361-1364 and 1369-1374 --enrolments of a damsel to wait on the queen at the corona-
English Thought for English Thinkers. By St. miscellaneous letters issued under the Great tion, and spits for roasting the king's meat
George Stock. (Constable & Co. )
Seal and of all kinds of deeds--are worthy at the coronation.
we
see
no
sense
a
a


## p. 387 (#293) ############################################

No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
387
The first volume of the Pocket Edition of vigour and frankness the origin and motives
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, edited of his conversion. “You imagine your
by E. V. Lucas (Methuen), should receive search is for truth, happiness, and liberty,"
he cries to the young Danish Nietzschians;
MR. G. W. E. RUSSELL’s autobiographic a warm welcome. The larger issue was a
memoirs One Look Back (Wells Gardner) are
little heavy in hand : this one is eminently “ in reality these are but pretexts to evade
facing seriously the problem of life. I have
companionable,” and has gained by re-
written with the ease and grace one expects
the
sought these things more passionately, than you,
from him, and should have their public. vision and a thorough insight into
but I oply found them the day I returned
The good stories are undeniably good, and research, which is always adding some fact to the Christian faith. ”
not the less so for that air of social and
or probability concerning one of the best. The book is written in a singular attitude
The Athenæum
political rightness which is characteristic of loved of English writers.
of passionate hesitation mingled with strong
the Whig. Novelty can hardly be expected, from its earliest days up to the twentieth desire and keen apprehension ; it has, there -
since Mr. Russell has been so busy writing of century has cherished a keen interest in fore, considerable interest and value as a
late years, and we find a good deal with its old contributor Lamb, which is duly psychological document. The first half is
which we are familiar. Whether the
reflected in the Notes. These are at once especially in the manner of Heine, but Herr
average
reader will realize the significance of the sprightly and thorough. On the cover of Joergensen finds something more in the
mystic letters " P. W. R. ” may be doubted. the book is an elaborate design which, with exquisite Gothic churches of Southern
Mr. Russell is deeply interested in Church out the explanation supplied, might be Germany than the freshness of their interior,
matters, and has evidently a wonderful associated with the ecclesiastical curse of which led Heine to define Catholicism as
memory for striking sermons. Gladstone as
bell, book, and candle.
a "summer religion. ” In the closing chapters
statesman and Disraeli as author and phrase.
maker supply abundant material, but the Garshin. Translated by Capt. Rowland which all his impressions are tinged.
The Signal, and Other Stories. By W. M. the author no longer endeavours to dis-
simulate the religious æstheticism with
period of Mr. Russell's political energies Smith. (Duckworth. )
The inspired trans-
The
has been closely scrutinized already by lator is almost as rare as the inspired author, Wyzewa, who writes an interesting Preface.
book is admirably translated by_M. de
many a witness.
He was
one of the
founders of the National Liberal Club, and in a tongue that might be called trans-
and many a writer comes to alien readers
records amusingly Gladstone's austere ex-
lators' English.
No pamphlet more informing about the
pectations concerning that enormous cara-
In this dialect, mainly, ideas underlying latter-day labour combina-
vanserai, which was to be a contrast to the Capt. Rowland Smith has composed his tion has come to our notice than The Labor
temples of luxury and ease elsewhere. '
obviously faithful version of Garshin's Movement in France, by Louis Levine,
short stories. The construction and arrange which forms No. 3 of Vol. XLVI. of the
There is some trivial detail, as well as ment of the words are, in many places,
Studies in History, Economics, and Public
interesting matter, in the account of Harrow unlike what any person would naturally Law edited by the Faculty of Political
days. Was it necessary nowadays to sup. write in English. Člinging too closely to the Science of Columbia University," and pub-
press the well-known name of the master form produces a false effect, but Garshin's lished by their agents in New York and by
who was found after his death to possess a talent can be discerned--powerful, original, Messrs. King & Son in London. We think a
wife and family in a seaside resort? There various, and unequal. Of the seventeen better arrangement of chapters, at least for
is little doubt that his butler, as is hinted, stories, four—' From the Reminiscences of English readers, might have been adopted
know the secret, and bullied him in con- Private Ivanoff, The Action at Aislar,' with advantage. Had chap. v. , headed. The
sequence. What is more extraordinary, 'Four Days,' and 'Officer and Soldier Doctrine of Revolutionary Syndicalism,'
and not mentioned by Mr. Russell, is the Servant '--are drawn from experience and been the initial one, it would probably
fact that one of the boys in the school knew observation of military life, and bear the have made those which now precede it,
it too, and never revealed it, though there impress of profound truth. All these are dealing as they do with the ebb of failure
is ample evidence that the master in question very fine. The Bears' and 'The Meeting and the flow of success, more interesting
was an implacable tyrant to boys. At the are of the same strain, but not of the same
to the less initiated in the problems of
disclosure every one was shocked, if not material, and are also good, though less industrialism.
disgusted ; and we record with pleasure the profound; but the two stories dealing
It is not possible for us to do more here
comment we have heard of the saintly with a mysterious Byronic lady called than make one or two allusions to the con-
John Smith: “I am glad there was some. Nadejela Nicolaievna are absolute failures. tents, which, we believe, will serve t make
body to love him. ". In this chapter and There is, indeed, no sign that Garshin could readers anxious to investigate more tho-
elsewhere Mr. Russell is slack about bringing draw a woman. Two or three little alle. roughly the past, present, and the future
his details up to date. He does not give gories in the manner of Hans Andersen are
of Syndicalism. As in
tho
case
of
us an index, but he thinks it worth while to full of delicate ironical sprightliness. Finally, all such movements, repressive measures
reproduce in full (pp. 218–31) his own speech in ' A Night' and 'The Scarlet Blossom ’a have been its life-blood, and periods which
to his constituents at Princes Risborough vein of wild genius shows itself. Not even ensured it a measure of toleration-such
concerning the Phoenix Park murders, with in ‘Wuthering Heights' or in any of Poe's as the year 1868, when the French Govern.
“cheers, hear, hear," and " loud cheers tales has madness been drawn so ment first acknowledged the legality of
inserted. This creditable effort is much vincingly, or so subjectively. Indeed, poor working. men's organizations most
less interesting than the chapter on 'Oratory' Garshin knew what he was writing about, critical times for continued existence. The
for the latter years of his short life--the rise and suppression of the organization
years that followed his campaign and his which corresponded to our labour bureaus,
A Poet's Children : Hartley and Sara | wound- were clouded by intervals of in. owing to a distrust similar to that which
Coleridge. By Eleanor A. Towle. (Methuen. ) sanity. The translator, even though his recently seemed to presage the early break-
The biographer's task 'has in this instance version is not adequate, deserves the up of our own system, will be of interest,
been accomplished with gravity, tact, and gratitude of English readers for introducing as well as the fact that the miners abroad
sympathy, and without a trace of the them to a talent so individual and genuine. have shown as ours havema marked supe-
spirit of purveying small beer which
vulgarizes so many modern memoirs and Le Livre de la Route. By J. Joergensen.
riority of combination over other trades.
biographies. We confess to a great affec-(Paris, Perrin. ); We welcome heartily
If a definitive argument is needed to show
tion for Hartley Coleridge, not only because this translation from the Danish. It is not wherein Revolutionary Syndicalism differs
of the wistfulness, gaiety, and tenderness only, as its title indicates, a book of travel, from organized labour revolt at home, it can
of his verse, but also the charm of his dis- | but something more. Full of picturesque
be found in this passage on p. 110:-
position. He was the only person in the description and free poetic fancy, it resembles
“The syndicats are not only to carry on their
circle of which he was a member who not a little the Reisebilder' of Heine. struggle directly against employers by strikes,
possessed a sense of humour.
boycotts and sabotage, but also against the State,
He is por. The book, treating of some of the mediæval and not only against the State appearing as the
trayed here without reserve, and at the same cities of South Germany, as, for instance, enemy of labor, but also against the State wish.
time without harshness. To understand Nuremberg and Rothenburg, is yet largely ing to become the protector and benefactor of the
Hartley, in spite of his weakness, is to concerned with Umbria. It created some
workingmen. This hostility to the State and to its
appreciate him. Sara was a brilliant woman amazement at the time of its publica of the ideas of revolutionary syndicalism. "
reform · legislation marks a further accentuation
in her way, but had less of the keen savour tion in Denmark, for Herr Joergensen,
of personality, about her than her brother. sceptic and Darwinian, revealed in it for
This pamphlet is a contribution from the
Sho is engagingly treated here. Wo wish the first time his admiration for the poetry French side to that larger history of the
that all writers of personal reminiscence and beauty of the Catholic religion. Herr emancipation of the world's labour now
would
realize that the essay can be under- Joergensen is the possessor of an original being written.
It will supply valuable
taken in no light or leisurely spirit. We artistic personality, an idealist, and full dates for various stages of the movement,
find in this volume numerous indications of real 'tenderness under the seeming
and suggest that emanations, which appear
of the delicacy, care, and discrimination cloak of irony. In the last chapters to be local and spasmodic, are parts of
that have been bestowed upon it.
of the book we find him explaining with puzzling but coherent whole.
con-
- its


## p. 388 (#294) ############################################

388
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
66
* We
countries far distant from one another are the prehistoric Ægean civilization was Aryan,
JAPAN AND GREECE,
supported by modern investigation. How and that the Greeks invaded the settlements
far he is correct in his view as to the inter- of older kinsmen. Indeed, he adds that the
The Creed of Half Japan : Historical action upon each other of Christianity and Spartans, coming last, were the most foreign
Sketches of Japanese Buddhism. By Arthur Buddhism is a matter for expert scholars to the older population, and therefore
Lloyd. (Smith & Elder. )--The claim put to decide, but what he says is the result of were the first to decay. " We dispute
forward in the title of this book on behalf of much study and thought, and deserves the both the fact and the inference. When he
Buddhism, as being the creed of half attention of all students of comparative informs us elsewhere that the Etruscans weru
Japan," is a modest one. The author himself religion.
originally Greeks, we feel even more sceptical.
tells us it is the religion of the great bulk
of the people. “ The farmers,” he says,
The promise of further studies in Japan. On the other hand, in what he says about
ese Buddhism from the same pen will un-
the Ionians as an earlier wave, not so con-
are Buddhists, so are the shopkeepers, so
happily never be fulfilled, as Prof. Lloyd did trasted with the population they conquered
are the rank and file of the people. The not live to see his present work published. in Asia Minor, his observations are both
ladies of the upper classes are Buddhists; so His death is
a great loss to Oriental reasonable and suggestive.
are most of their husbands, if they will be
scholarship.
He notes the interesting fact that Athenian
honest with themselves. " In any estimate
radicalism was strongly imperial, and dis-
to be formed of the Japanese nation this
posed to foreign conquests, and contrasts
fact must needs be taken into consideration. The Glory that was Greece : a Survey of it in this respect with our modern Socialists.
For reasons of State policy, Buddhism at the Hellenic Culture and Civilisation. By J. C.
time of the Restoration in 1868 was dis- Stobart. (Sidgwick & Jackson. )-This hand- of France in 1793 would have been more
A comparison with the radical democracy
established, Shinto, the native cult, being some and attractive book is intended for apt. They, too, were keen to make con-
made the State religion. But three years those who have not learnt Greek, and quests, and have subject allies, for the same
later the reforming statesmen receded from has in many respects the air of a set reason as the Athenians. They plundered
the position they had taken up. To have of Extension Lectures,” which the old- unwilling allies, instead of giving them
persevered in the campaign in favour of fashioned scholar looks upon as an encourage the inestimable privileges of liberty and
Shinto, and pushed it to its logical conclu- ment to shallow and pretentious education. equality, in the most unmerciful manner;
sion, would have been to outrage the religious Since, however, such work meets an in: and
even alleged in excuse the same sort of
sentiment of the country, and disturb the creasing demand, it is important that it
reason as the Athenians. Our author esti-
social order. Very wisely, therefore, they should be done as well as possible, and mates Pericles very fairly, but when he says
abandoned the crusade against Buddhism, therefore that it should be carefully criticized. that Pericles “raised & fund” to pay the
and with the restoration of the two beliefs The selection of the pictures in this ruling democracy, he rightly explains it
to their previous status of joint official volume is particularly, good, not only, in in the context as applying the tribute of
recognition the normal state of things was giving all the most celebrated things, but the allies to home purposes.
resumed. Shinto retains its close associa- also in including some not yet well known, In other cases there are real inconsistencies
tion with the Court, and occupies to this such as the new fragments of the Ludovisi in the book, which we cannot but attribute
extent a privileged position; but Buddhism, throne from Boston. But why did not Mr. to the accepting from high authorities con-
though shorn of some of its prestige and a Stobart give us the equally remarkable Aicting statements. Thus we have the old
large portion of its endowments, remains Palestrina chariot now in New York ? The sentiment put into Pericles's mouth,
what it has been for centuries, the creed of execution of the photographs is not so good follow culture without extravagance
three-fourths of the nation.
as the selection, some being very faint and which is again disproved a few pages later by
These interesting sketches of Buddhism poor. Those of scenery—Marathon, Delphi, the statement that the Athenians spent more
begin with an explanation of the two main &c. —are particularly
, unsatisfactory, so that than 150,0001. on one statue. That would
forms of that religion: one which is purely we can understand the author's mistake in
mean a couple of millions in a modern state.
Indian, and rests on the 'Hinayana scrip- speaking of the latter as in “a valley of The writer does not seem to see that these
tures, and the later and more amplified type, Parnassus " !
two statements are irreconcilable. In the
which in various modified shapes exists in Coming now to his text, we are glad to same way he attacks the critics who have
Japan to-day. Having described the rise record that his style is easy and agreeable, expressed a low opinion of Sappho's morals,
and growth of Buddhism in India, the author when it is not too colloquial or jocose. and on the next page proceeds to state facts
passes on to the stage of Buddhist missionary He is seldom obscure-as he is when he says which are the very basis of that judgment.
enterprise. He traces the introduction of that the Athenians appointed “ three hostile But the history of Greek literature is not
Buddhism from India into China at various generals” to carry out the campaign his strong point. He speaks of Theocritus
dates in the course of several centuries, and against Syracuse. But he says that 6,000 as if he were the father of the prose mime;
tells us how it finally found its way to Japan of Xenophon's famous companions in his yet the ancients are unanimous in giving
by way of Corea. Not the least interesting Retreat marched home, and, we trust, that honour to Sophron, whom even Plato
portions of the narrative are those which lived happily ever afterwards. " We happen knew and appreciated. Still stranger is his
deal with the various missions of Buddhist to know they did not; a good many were estimate of the ‘Alcestis' as surely the
priests from China to India, and from Japan even sold as slaves by Anaxibius. He speaks most conspicuous failure in all dramatic
to China, in search of true doctrines. We of “ a horrid odour of self-consciousness and literature. '
learn, too, of the “pious device" by means of self-righteousness” in the tone of Isoerates, We have dwelt too long on special points
which Buddhism soon after its introduction which is surely a highly exaggerated phrase ; in which this agreeable author seems to us
into Japan identified itself with the native and when he says that Alexander played to have written or quoted hastily. Our
cult, the recognition of Shinto deities as in the Bayard and the Bluebeard in turns," defence is that the book before us has many
carnations of Buddha leading to the curious we suppose he must have been misled by the merits, and may be of service in showing
fusion of the two faiths which has had such alliteration. It is, of course, of little apparent the wider public what matchless things were
å marked influence upon the religious moment that he gives Pauly (of the Ency, produced by this unique race.
development of Japan. We find also a clopædia ') an l too many, and Mausollus of
detailed account of the growth and the Caria one too few; but he would find out
leading characteristics of each of the chief the inconvenience if he wanted to consult the
sects of Japanese Buddhism. Through the former, and looked for him in a catalogue.