nesian, and
Teutonic
branches of the Dr.
Athenaeum - London - 1912a
' To its elucidation Mr.
against our friends, must be added theologian, the teacher, the reformer, Carpenter brings a mass of circumstantial
a determined concentration of effort in the artist, and the man of science-all evidence drawn from the Psychical Re-
order to seek out the real enemy that who have sifted and scrutinized life, as search Society, and from the investigations
lurks in our midst, and forge the proper well as lived it are concerned. They of Frederick Myers, in support of his con-
weapons for a far more formidable, but a will have to reckon not only with ception of its immortality and perdura-
far more invigorating, and ennobling the potential and centripetal develop- bility through various phases of existence,
encounter against the deadly forces that ment of Mr. Carpenter's creed of pan- both hereafter and in pre-vital cosmo-
stand in the way of social advancement. theistic unification, which is tolerably gonies. This world, he says, is " a curtain
“
familiar and indeed inherent in the concealing a vast and teeming life,” fuller
majority of religions, but also with the and richer than our own, and the human
wonderful interrelation of their own soul is for ever passing through countless
VISIONS OF LIFE.
crafts, professions, and gospels, which, “sloughings, moultings, and metamor-
with the arrival of a wider self-conscious-phoses, made possible through love-
THE appearance of a new book by Mr.
Edward Carpenter is that of a comet inness, will operate from a central, original consciousness and postulating eternity.
base into a similarity of conclusion. Survival of the subliminal self is through
the literary firmament; so rare are its That potent relevancy the book before continuity of consciousness, " which,
visitations ; so iridescent, yet remote and
us amply demonstrates.
affiliated to some cosmic life “at once
unfamiliar its presence. He belongs, in-
Three salient features, which differentiate the soul of each and God of all," as Cole-
deed, to those latter-day Victorians who,
· The Drama of Love and Death 'from the ridge says, forms the basis of successive
in an age of atrophy, Philistinism, and
artistic decrepitude, placed on its old and earlier prose works, strike us forcibly. In incarnations.
palsied head a fresh coronal of hopes,
the first place, the theories expounded are Through all this complex and com-
visions, and liberation. In another age; The vague, symphonic opulence of lan- personal religious belief, we
,
more formative and definite in character. posite massing of scientific data and
poor in achievement, confused in its
purport, lacking a distinctive voice to guage is happily untarnished by contact fronted with a sureness, a rapidity, and
concentrate and declaim its inchoate,
with psychical, physiological, and scientific a subtlety of reasoning, which only a
embryonic ideals, which it none the less factors, that demand the utmost coherence powerful mind, endowed with the keenest
could
possesses, those Victorians are already and lucidity of argument in the exposition sensibilities, have successfully
stored in the archives of memory; hence
of them. Secondly, we notice the accre- evolved. Innumerable channels of thought
the falling among us of a star from
tion of stores of Oriental conjecture in have flowed into this receptive mind, have
that bright constellation has something from many sources, and incorporated broad, confluent stream, which, in the
the framework of the thesis, gleaned irrigated it, and swept out again in on
portentous, almost Delphic, in its signific-
We have an impression that Mr. I implicitly, and by suggestion, chiefly present reviewer's opinion, may profoundly
Carpenter's reputation is much below through the tenets of reincarnation and modify the ethical, social, and religious
its deserts. Mr. H. W. Nevinson, on the its implications. Bhagaran Das's illu- beliefs of the future.
. ;
publication of Civilisation : its Cause minating book The Science of Peace
The idea that the macrocosm, which is
and Cure,' labelled him as “ The Complete is more than once directly quoted. Lastly, the pantheist's “ heaven of heavens,”
Anarchist," and it is as the exponent
we find an apparently incongruous de- should connote an individualizing tendency
of anarchistic doctrines in their most parture from the elemental doctrines of of soul-survival, is an empirical audacity
-
enlightened, visionary, and pacific forms, the monists and the pantheists in the which will excite attention. It is due in
and as the interpreter of the democracy theory of the survival of the identity of part, says the author, to the inflexibly
according to Whitman, that he is best the personality into ever-widening spheres personal character of love, which moulds
known to English readers and thinkers of consciousness.
.
the progressive embodiments and manifes-
He also shares with William Morris, Mr. Carpenter, in this connexion, makes tations of the “world-soul,” and in part to
Mr. W. H. Hudson, and Mr. H. G. Wells
a careful distinction between the self, a theory of the “ All-Self” and the Race-
bounded by the local and ephemeral con- Self,” which is contained in the latter
The Drama of Love and Death : a Study of ditions of earthly life, and the subliminal portion of the book. In the early stages
Human Evolution. By Edward Carpenter. self, the revelation of which is only vouch- of life, both in the animal and vegetable
(George Allen & Sons. )
safed to us through those “ fallings from kingdom and in primitive man, the
are
con-
ance.
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young Irish
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Race-Self was paramount. Each self of immortality. It is not known exactly Letters' from 1849 onwards, except in
of a particular animal species, for instance, when the introduction took place. Mr. that published by the Boston Bibliophile
springs from its own Race-Self,” and Williams states that, though Rickman Society. It is the statement that Rick-
at death returns to and is merged into it. was familiar with Lamb's name, he had man is very intimate with Southey, “but
The “ Race-Self is “rich with the not made his acquaintance when, in a never reads his poetry”; whereas the
countless memories” and “ wise with the letter to his friend Southey on July true reading is but does not always
united knowledge ” of the individuals 29th, he told him that “ Mr. Lamb is soon | (read] his poetry a very different
which have comprised it, until at length to be my neighbour in Southampton pronouncement. It was not Amos, but
in the epoch of civilization " a soul-bud Buildings. A certain statement, how- Joseph Cottle who was the author of the
is detached from the race-life and re- ever, in a letter of April 18th to the same tremendous poem Alfred,' in twenty-
embodied as a separate identity. ” It correspondent, makes the conjecture not four books ; and the slip spoils the point
persists, expands, and radiates into suc- | improbable that there had been a meeting of Lamb's story of his visit of condolence
cessive condensations in other spheres, at least as early as that month, for Rick-to the latter on the death of his brother.
finally being reunited into the “ All- man writes : “I learnt at the India House
Self,” which is the very fount of being. that Mr. Coleridge had taken flight north- tions of views of the buildings in New
There are several interesting reproduc-
The preliminary and introductory chap- ward. ” Who was there at the India Palace Yard in Rickman's time.
ters, which treat mainly of the theme of House to know of that fact but a certain
love, are an extended re-affirmation of clerk in the Accountant's office ?
The interest of ‘Letters to William
'Love's Coming of Age,' and also serve For the greater part of his career, Allingham' is mainly literary: it is the
as the groundwork for describing later Rickman was Clerk at the Table of the correspondence of the
the interplay of love with the immortality House of Commons, having been for a Customs House officer who, by sheer
of the soul. The book as a whole leaves few years previously the Speaker's Secre- force of
character and enthusiasm,
us with a dim cognizance of unplum bed, tary. He was also the originator of the became the editor of Fraser's Magazine,
Titanic forces within us, about us, and in Census. He met Southey in 1797, and
a verse writer of merit, and the friend
eternity, of which we are the stuff and between them there sprang up a friendship and correspondent of most of the literary
essence, and from the perception of which which lasted until Rickman's death in and artistic set in London during the
we recognize the transfiguring divinity of 1840. The Southey Rickman corre- third quarter of the nineteenth century.
mankind.
spondence—to which Mr. Williams has
“ You describe better than any letter-
Mr. Carpenter comes to us from another had access—consists of over 1,200 letters. writer I have had since the time of
age, with vitality and enthusiasm un-
Those written by Lamb amount only to Shelley,” says Leigh Hunt, writing with
impaired, and bearing a message we twenty-three. Eighteen of these were that “ heart and imagination,” as his
cannot afford to neglect. His triumphant published by Ainger in 1904 (not 1906, correspondent prettily puts it, “that have
command over language, his searching as stated by Mr. Williams) ; one by Mr. not had time to grow old. ” Leigh Hunt's
perspicuity, retain their dominion, and the E. V. Lucas in 1905; the remainder had generous letters of sympathy and en-
rich ore of his mind is as unalloyed as ever.
been printed previously. Unfortunately, couragement to the young and struggling
To a singular degree he has succeeded in Rickman's biographer has not
has not been poet of Ballyshannon will, we are sure,
reconciling those world-old foes, romance allowed to use the Ainger letters.
ħave the happy result of sending many
and rationalism, and in revealing the
The earlier part of the book, which readers to the Diary’ published not so
spiritual potentialities huddled away under deals chiefly with personal
personal matters, long ago, and thence, it is to be hoped,
the cloak of the formulæ of science. For is the more interesting. The remainder
to the poetry, not a little of which—The
no religion can abide which recks not of is devoted almost entirely to politics, and, Athenæum is glad to remember—was
science. He rolls away the “pall from we must confess, makes but dreary reading published in these columns. “I
our dark spirits," and displays something There are a few fresh details relating to genuine, but not great,” he says of
himself.
of the immensity and infinitude of the Lamb, one interesting fact having been
These pages reveal, indeed, a
deeps within our personalities. The man unearthed, namely, that on two occasions genuine enthusiasm for good letters and
who, however incompletely, can do that, during Mary Lamb's sad absence from great writers. In Allingham's work his
is not to be placed within the pigeon-hole home, Lamb stayed with Rickman at his achievement is highest when he records
of one age or another.
house in New Palace Yard, although it is with least artifice a simple experience, an
a pathetic comment on the friendship, unforced thought. It is this quality of
which was described so glowingly by genuineness that gives their peculiar merit
Lamb in 1800, that his host should be to such poems as The Pilot's Daughter '
characterized in 1829 as only
Four
a sort of
Ducks
TWO FRIENDS OF LETTERS.
The
a Pond. '
a friend. ”
charm of his work, as Mr. Yeats has said,
THE two civil servants who are the joint Two amusing stories are told concerning is everywhere the charm of stray moments
subjects of our article were both promi- Dyer. With reference to one of them
and detached scenes that have moved
nent in literary circles, and will be best how the Lambs succeeded in talking
him. He should have his place in any
remembered as the friends of men whose him into love with Miss Benger — Mr. anthology of English verse.
names are household words in literature. Williams states that Lamb makes no From such a temperament one may
Allingham had, per se, a measure of mention of it. ” Not directly, it is naturally look for an output of good
literary distinction denied to Rickman, true ; but in two of his letters Lamb is letters, especially when they are addressed
but his best writing was due to his inti- probably referring to the incident when to
like Browning, Tennyson,
macy with the leading spirits of his age. he writes to Rickman (November 24th, Emerson, Ruskin, Carlyle, Arthur Hughes,
When, some time in 1800, John Rick-1801): “He [Dyer] talks of marrying";
He [Dyer] talks of marrying"; and almost all the Pre-Raphaelite Brother-
was introduced to Charles Lamb, and, again, to Manning (April 23rd, hood. Unfortunately, there are few of
clerk at the East India House, by that 1802) : George Dyer is in love with an Allingham's own letters preserved here,
"dispenser of benevolence,” George Dyer, Ideot [sic]. " It is incorrect to say that and a great many mere business notes or
the thought could not have entered his the letters in the book written by Dyer perfunctory letters of acknowledgment
mind that the quaint-looking little man are the only private ones by him hitherto from great men. But there are some
before him would be the means of con- known. There is a long one printed in
There is a long one printed in “good obsairves” in the few printed.
ferring upon him, eventually, the patent The Mirror for 1841, in a sketch of Dyer's “ The only quality Browning wants to
life; and others have occasionally turned be perfect is a little stupidity. ” Clough
Life and Letters of John Rickman. By Orlo up in the salerooms. There is a mis- is '* secret as an oyster ; opens a little at
Williams. (Constable & Co. )
quotation in each of two extracts from certain times of the tide, but snaps to
Letters to William Allingham. Edited by Lamb's letters; for one of them, however, again in a jiffy if touched, and maybe
H. Allingham and E. Baumer Williams. Mr. Williams can hardly be held respon- bites your finger. " Of Carlyle, whose
(Longmans & Co. )
sible, as it occurs in every edition of the letters reveal him generously helpful to
or
on
رو
men
man
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THE ATHENÆUM
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the young student, characteristically pro- mind by the two contributions are by no certain Christian or semi-Christian sects
lific of good advice and encouragement, means identical, but the facts are of a will no doubt be given later under Gnos-
Allingham says in a letter to Emerson :- very complex character, and it is perhaps tics,” “Manichæans,' and other headings.
as well that they should be dealt with Some shortcomings of the Jewish
“ Carlyle's company I enjoy immensely, from entirely different points of view. the series may also be remedied under
part of
and his wife's too I like. Amidst his atmo-
sphere, frowns and laughters, is the finest
We must object to Prof. de Groot's use the heading Kabbalah,' but the entire
upland exercise, climbing rocks, and racing of the term universalism
in the sense absence of a reference to the doctrine
half-rolling down hillocks. Knowing him, of worship of the universe, or nature-cult, of Sephiroth, or emanations, is rather
too, his books have become twice as enjoy- the word being reserved in English to surprising.
able ; one can see real fire spurting in every denote some such doctrine as that all We can only note briefly the shorter
emphasis, and recognise undoubtingly the
men will be ultimately saved. Nor can series of papers on Councils and Synods,"
faintest sly twinkle of humour, will o' the
Yet his
we regard his suggestion that one may consisting of a Buddhist and a Christian
wisps and volcanos together.
just as well call Confucianism Classi- section; and on Creeds and Articles,
books also seem but pails of water from a
river. . . ,"
cism as very happy, for Classicism does which in their Christian and Jewish por-
not of itself call to mind any set oftions must necessarily overlap what has
Amongst the more notable letters from religious ideas whatsoever.
already been said under Confessions
other correspondents is a vigorous ex-
The paper on ‘Conformity,' by Mr. in Vol. III. of the ` Encyclopædia. ' Much
position by William Morris of his political Henry Barker, includes the following attention will no doubt be bestowed on
views. Much of this correspondence
courageous and defensible expression of the long series of articles dealing with
is naturally concerned with
poets
Crimes and Punishments. ' Here is, in-
and their works. We are reminded that the day. Speaking of "clergymen who deed, matter that will be interesting alike
* Maud'
by nearly all the critics. Leigh Hunt, do not accept certain propositions in the to the moralist, the legislator, the jurist,
the
referring to the “ Indian Air” of Shelley's Apostles' Creed in their literal sense,” the and the historian. Dr. J. 'MacCulloch
writer says that
opens the list with an elaborate and
lines “I arise from dreams of thee,'
promises to send it to Allingham: "I am
" the only objective definition of the extent highly important contribution on crimes
to have it before long from the lady of the clergyman's obligation is that which and punishments in primitive and savage
is given to it by the authoritative organs times; and among the other writers are
herself, who furnished Shelley with it. "
of the Church's government. And if he Dr. T. G. Pinches (Assyro-Babylonian),
Mr. Rossetti showed that the story of satisfies his own ecclesiastical superiors, who, however, gives us rather less in the
Shelley having written the words to an outsiders have no right to apply to his action article than he appears to promise in the
air brought from India by Mrs. Williams a standard which implicitly sets aside the opening paragraph ; Sir Edward Anwyl
cannot be correct. Mr. Buxton Forman, Church's authority. ”
(Celtic) ; Mr. W. Gilbert Walshe (Chinese) ;
in his edition of Shelley (1882), says that As we are here face to face with a Dr. Th. W. Juynboll (Muhammadan); and
the air to which that lady sang it is very question of personal truthfulness as dis- Dr. M. N. Dhalla (Parsi, the writer holding
widely known in India, and can scarcely tinct from that of truth, it would not the rank of high priest among the Parsis).
be beyond finding. Yet, so far as we have been amiss to discuss this interesting Dr. R. F. Quinton's contribution under
know, that inspiring, but elusive melody problem under the heading 'Conscience, the heading ‘ Criminology,' which follows
has never been recovered.
à subject which is by no means treated the above-named series, deals effectively
exhaustively in the volume, the six articles with the theory, practice, and general
of the series only including, besides an results of punishments in modern times.
Introductory Paper, the Babylonian, The longest series of articles in the
Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics : Egyptian, Greek and Roman, Jewish, volume treats on Death and Disposal
‘
Vol. IV. Confirmation-Drama. (Edin- and Muslim branches of the theme of the Dead. The introductory and
.
'
burgh, T. & T. Clark. )
Why not, one may ask, an article on primitive section, contributed by Mr.
Christian Conscience'? and is there no E. S. Hartland, alone occupies pp. 411-44,
The new volume of this · Encyclopædia ' question of conscience in connexion with and is by no means too long, being filled
will be welcomed with as much heartiness Buddhism and other religious and philo- with well-arranged and highly important
as was each of the previous instalments. sophical systems ? Nor can it be said information on almost every conceivable
The treatment of the subject of 'Con- that the series, as it stands, satisfies part of the subject. It is, however,
firmation,' with which the volume opens, throughout all just requirements, for difficult to accept without qualification
presents an acceptable feature of some under the heading Conscience (Jewish)' his statement that “the obstinate dis-
novelty in the method of showing the we really have an essay on ethics rather belief in the necessity of death” in primi-
different aspects of the theme under con- than an article on conscience.
tive times was caused by “horror of
sideration. Canon H. J. Lawlor's article, Regretfully passing over a long list of death. ” The inability of the savage to
written from the usual Anglican scholarly interesting topics, such as ·Conscientious- understand the natural causes of physical
point of view, is followed by an equally ness,' • Consciousness,' • Consistency,' and decay must have been a strong con-
learned contribution from the pen of the Conviction,' we come upon a long series tributing cause, if not the chief one.
Rev. H. Thurston, S. J. , which is designed, of articles under the heading Cosmogony | In the “ early Christian " part of the
not only to supplement the data furnished and Cosmology. ' The introductory subject we find (p. 457) a long list of
by the first-named writer, but also to article is by Dr. Louis H. Gray, and the authorities for the statement that “the
controvert some of his views from the list includes no fewer than
no fewer than eighteen Christians did not fear cremation, though
Roman Catholic standpoint. The two special sections, dealing, amongst others, they preferred the ancient and better
articles will no doubt be carefully scanned with the North American, Babylonian, custom of burying in the earth. '” In
by theologians of various schools of Buddhist, Chinese, Christian, Jewish, Poly- the Babylonian section, contributed by
thought.
nesian, and Teutonic branches of the Dr. S. H. Langdon, the question as
The design of placing before the reader subject. The longest of these artịcles to cremation in the regions concerned is
different sides of the same problem may is that on Buddhist Cosmogony, by Prof. decided in the following way :-
have also been present in the editor's L. de la Vallée Poussin, who has spared
“ Cremation appears to have been the
mind when he assigned the articles Con- no pains to make his contribution as com- rule in certain parts of ancient Sumer and
fucian Religion' and 'Confucius' to two prehensive as possible, both as regards Akkad, as in the region north of Lagash;
writers so different from one another as subject-matter and bibliographical infor- but in other parts interment in coffins and
Prof. de Groot and Mr. W. Gilbert Walshe, mation. The Christian section appears
vaults is more frequent. ”
the former aiming at being philosophical, rather meagre, notwithstanding its sub- Among the other sections dealt with are
and the latter writing down his statements division into an "early and mediæval” Buddhist, by Dr. L. de la Vallée Poussin ;
in as transparent a fashion as possible and a modern section; but fuller informa- Chinese, by Mr. W. G. Walshe; Coptic,
The impressions left on the reader's Ition on the cosmological systems of l by the late Mr. P. D. Scott-Moncrieff;
6
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THE ATHEN ÆUM
4402, MARCH 9, 1912
277
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No. Egyptian, by Mr. R. H. Hall; Muham-
madan, by Dr. Stanley Lane-Poole;
THE expressed purpose of Poetry and
Prose : being Essays on Modern English
and Tibetan, by Dr. L. A. Waddell.
POETIC CRITICISM.
Students of folk-lore and occultism will
Poetry, by Mr. Adolphus Alfred Jack (Con-
stable & Co. )"to make a little clearer
find abundant material to interest them Lectures on Poetry. By J. W. Mackail.
what every one feels about poetry"_is both
in the series of articles on ‘Demons and (Longmans & Co. )- This is the final instal-
vague and vast. It is moreover unsatisfy-
Spirits' and on ‘Divination. Of more ment of the lectures which Mr. Mackailing in view of the fact that a distressingly
general interest are the eleven papers delivered from the Chair of Poetry at Oxford. large proportion of modern readers do not
“ feel about poetry
under the heading ‘ Disease and Medicine,' In an inaugural lecture he announced his
at all. Whether or
not Mr. Jack has succeeded in his aim does
dealing with the various notions and purpose of taking the “ Progress of Poetry
as the dominating idea of his professorship. not greatly matter. He has, in either case,
practices in vogue among savages, in This idea he illustrated first in three lectures produced a series of critical essays of singular
mediæval times, and among the nations on Chaucer, Spenser, and Milton; next in a value and marked individuality. Much
of antiquity. It is, however, difficult series of lectures on the development of familiar ground has of necessity been re
to see why a brief survey, from the moral poetry in Greece; and now, in the volume traversed-eighteenth-century rhetoric and
and psychological point of view, of some
before us, he takes subjects apparently at didacticism, the inevitable Romantic Re-
present-day aspects of the subject should random Virgil and Virgilianism, Shake-vival," and the changing phases of the
have been excluded from an Encyclo- and Life, The Divine Comedy, Imagination o'er travelled roads'
speare's Sonnets, Arabian Romances, Poetry Victorian era. Such a “backward glance
pædia which avowedly embraces an ex-and treating these sometim
--and treating these sometimes from the instruct, suggest, or
may easily fail to
entertain, for the
ceedingly wide range of topics. Still literary, sometimes from the scholastic,
sometimes from the scholastic, average reader who dabbles in these things
less excusable seems to us the absence of sometimes from the philosophical point of is prone to think in the groove which criti-
an article on the modern stage from the view, still interweaves from time to time cism has hollowed out for him—to accept
series given under the heading 'Drama'
the idea of a progress of poetry.
theories of literary movement and tendency
at the end of the volume. There surely Mr. Mackail's emphasis is not laid, we without vitalizing them for himself by
is an aesthetic and ethical side in the think, on what is really most valuable in personal study. Mr. Jack, on the other
drama of recent times which demands his contribution ; and the ideas which under hand, while paying all reverence to expert
treatment in a work like the present. lie his treatment are, perhaps, too large and contemporary commentators and those great
ones who have gone before, has the merit of
We have so far dwelt mainly on the vague to be of much service in criticism.
principal series of articles contained in of poetry, we may mean its passage, pageant-
For example, when we speak of the progress independence, by virtue of which his “ back-
ward glance” becomes at once illuminativo
the volume, and we can now only refer like, from one country to another, or its and, in a mild degree, controversial. A
briefly to some few of the other contribu- successive appearance in the mind first of single instance will suffice.
tions which have specially arrested our one, then of another, representative poet ; Mr. Jack is keen to detect the elusive
attention. The article on Conversion we may mean that the form and content of beauties which lurk in Wordsworth's simplest
strikes us as valuable, though we think future poetry are conditioned by the form poems. We should imagine that the famous
that emphasis should have been laid on
and content of past poetry; or we may lines from ‘Peter Bell,' touching
the psychological aspect of the theme. simply mean that, as a poet grows older,
A primrose by the river's brim,
there will be progress, a developing mani-
Particularly bright and spirited are the festation of the spirit of poetry, in his work.
would arouse in him, and rightly, as much
papers on Criticism,' the history and The phrase, in fact, may have many different appreciation as they excited undiscerning
bearing of the Old and New Testament associations ; all of them useful and signi- laughter in the poet's own day. When,
parts of the subject being treated in dif- ficant, so long as we distinguish between however, he comes to the 'Ode on Intima-
ferent contributions. There well-them; but Mr. Mackail, in availing himself
tions of Immortality,'
he develops a tendency
more unorthodox. He writes :-
illustrated articles on the Christian Cross of them, fails to distinguish. Thus, in the
and non-Christian Crosses, as well as a
course of his lecture on The Poetry of “ The fact is of course, that these experiences
Oxford,' the question arises whether there are not spiritual at all, and Wordsworth's fond
separate paper on the American Cross. is at Oxford a progress of poetry or not.
thesis that the child is more spiritual than the
Mr. Andrew Lang writes on Crystal- Mr. Mackail's first answer seems to be in
man is the exact contrary of the fact. ”
gazing,' and Mr. Benjamin Kidd con- the affirmative. He quotes close
To those who are fated to dwell continually
siders Darwinism. ' The German heading hundred lines from 'Aeromancy,' a work of within sound of a nursery this view will seem
' Deutsch-Katholicismus' is given to an
the Oxford poetess, Mrs. Woods, and says plausible enough, but it is not poetical
interesting paper on the reform move-
that they exemplify “ the new method in criticism. Wordsworth bases his "fanciful"
Art,” and that in them " the poetry of theory on a doctrine of pre-existence which,
ment which sprang up within the Catholic Oxford speaks still the same language as being, as Mr. Jack observes, a belief, like
Church in Germany about the middle of that of the “Scholar Gipsy, though in a
all other beliefs is incapable of proof. ” He
the nineteenth century,” and has ended different manner and with a different accent ; omits to make allowance for the fact that,
in the renunciation of
and also, I may add, with a new grace. " for precisely the same reason, it is also in-
Yet he has hardly made this pronouncement capable of disproof, and does not appear to
"all definite formulation of doctrine, in before we find him admitting, apparently, perceive that its actual truth or untruth
order to avoid falling back into the dogmatic that the present period is unpoetical-50 is a question of no poetical moment. If we
Christianity which they condemn in other
Churches. "
unpoetical, and so deeply to be despaired of, approach the matter on scientific grounds,
that we might almost infer from our wintry such data as exist are both meagre and am-
Noteworthy in the history of this body is state the imminence of a new poetic biguous. But poetry has no concern with
the alliance into which they entered in spring:-
data. It has been given to the poet, in
1859 with the free Protestants known
the present case, to visualize for mankind
“The poet in every age is under the impression his own conception of existence ; and the
“the Friends of Light” (Lichtfreunde). that he has been born too late and that cry is militant-minded may reasonably contend
Among the comparatively few bio generally most audible just at the time when
graphies contained in the volume special and its most splendid achievements. ”
poetry is on the verge of its greatest movements that, inasmuch as Wordsworth's fanciful”
theory touches sublimer heights than those
mention might be made of the accounts
attained by Mr. Jack's eminently practical,
given of Constantine the Great, Democri-
Mr. Mackail is at his happiest, we think, somewhat prosaic view, it is therefore poeti-
tus, and Descartes, much stress being,
when he allows his rare power of critical cally more nearly true.
of
tact and discernment to work untrammelled
the philosophical
course, laid
For the purpose of his volume the author
systems of the last two named. Nor
by any artificial scheme of thought. His has chosen poets representative of the
should one omit to mention Dr. Gold-
charming remarks on Shakespeare's ro- various phases of poesy-Gray for “social
mances, his enthusiastic tribute to Keats,
or prose poetry,” Burns for “natural or
ziher's
paper on the great Muhammadan bring him out in his true character, that of spontaneous poetry," Wordsworth for
jurist Dawud b. Ali b. Khalaf (815-33). a poet appreciating poetry. His philosophy basic or elemental poetry," and Byron for
We have looked in vain for an article on he holds in common with many other oratorical poetry"; while the “ Poetry of
the Intellect” is represented by Emerson,
the arch-heretic Dositheus. The missing writers, some of whom are perhaps able to
Arnold, and Meredith. The selection is
information may, of course, be supplied express it more persuasively than he ;
later under such a heading as
but, face to face with the poets, he shows perhaps a trifle unexpected ;
Heresies
we should
and Heretics,'but at least a cross-reference
an insight and a grace of sympathy which have imagined Browning—for one-worthy
al
are
1
1
6
on
a
66
>
as
on
6
are individual, and cannot be too highly of separate treatment; but Mr. Jack goes
from the name should have been given.
his own way, and we are on the whole
prized.
EL
## p. 278 (#216) ############################################
278
No. 4402, MARCH 9, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
can
or
a
content. Not infrequently he makes asser- to two or more words of different sense, and big policemen with eyes and feet that
tions to which we feel bound to take excep- radically or grammatically distinct. For turn naturally in the direction of shy young
tion, such as that (p. 63) to the effect that example, the lines assembled under the catch- girls. Through every scene runs a twisted
the small nations produce our only litera- word "well ” are printed in the order in thread of humorous observation and of
ture”; yet, as a set-off, it must be con- which they occur in the pages of the text, kindliness somewhat akin to the spirit of
ceded that he epitomizes with truth and not in three separate subdivisions exhibiting : Wee Macgreegor'; but the humour of
dexterity. Thus the eighteenth century is respectively the form “well ” as (1) sub- 'The Charwoman's Daughter 'is subtler, and
aptly described as a period of literary“stock- stantive, (2) adverb, and (3) interjection. its literary style is far finer. Some bits of
taking"; and of Gray's 'Elegy 'it is said — In a very few cases only-as in that of““ can description are exquisite. Page 135, for
“ Sometimes I think this Elegy the greatest, -has a subdivision of the group according instance, calls up all Dublin, and almost
the most universal thing in the world; it so
to the different senses of the catchword been all Ireland, in a single paragraph that con-
perfectly expresses the feelings of man as man, carried out; where this plan has been tains the very essence of a grey Irish as
of an erect peripatetic biped one day to lie quiet adopted, the subsection exhibiting the sense distinguished from a grey English day;
and at full length. "
of rarest occurrence is placed first under and the paragraph is not allowed to spread
In his estimates of Burns and Byron,
the common catchword of the group. into and overwhelm the history of a worthy
laying emphasis on the “terrifying ” lapses
Thus under ” the lines containing the woman's shopping. The women through-
of the former, and the latter's maddening noun are ranged first, and below them, in a out are the people of interest, the subjective
habit of stressing the metre as if his readers separate lot, those containing the verb. figures. The men matter only in so far
were metrically deaf,” Mr. Jack is felicitous Over against each line are printed (1) its as they affect the women.
and penetrating, as also in his exposition of paginal number, (2) the Concordance-title
Suddenly, all this sober story of real life
the power possessed by Arnold-pre-emi- of the poem whence it is taken, and (3) the
collapses into a fairy tale. The char-
nently a "Poet of the Intellect "--of blend- number of the line itself. No attempt is woman's illusive dream of unearned wealth
ing the critical and creative faculties, so as
made to register the variant readings of comes true, the curtain runs swiftly down,
to produce that rarest of phenomena, the successive editions other than those recorded and the reader perceives ruefully why the
“critical poet. ”
in the 'Oxford Wordsworth. ' Poems not
name of the heroine waz Mary Makebelievce
Students of English poetry, and others,
included in this, but found in the ‘Eversley. '
will peruse Mr. Jack's volume with pleasure The Letters of the Wordsworth Family,'
edition, in that of Mr. Nowell Smith, or in
THE FABIAN WOMEN'S GROUP is producing
withstanding. A word must, however, be the editor. About fifty words-pronouns,
and much profit, differences of opinion not have been indexed for the Concordance by by degrees a valuable series of tracts, ali
of which deserve careful reading. The in-
spared for certain mannerisms.
A super:
fluity of foot-notes may perhaps be a fault
prepositions, auxiliary verbs, &c. —belong-
formation in Women and Prisons, by Helen
Blagg and Charlotte Wilson, is full and
on the right side, but the same can hardly objective and invariable
in use and meaning,
ing to the fixed element of the language,
particularly well arranged, and no thinking
be said of the use of “poeticalize and
similar words,
the phrase quite
find no place in the Concordance ; while person will be able to read the twenty-four
one hundred and fifty of a similar character, pages of facts without perceiving the
uniquely " ; while the dictum that “ Dickens
certain reforms. It
when he is most Dickens has no consciousness yet not wholly incapable of subjective treat- urgent necessity of
1910-11
is shocking to think that in
of a vast” recalls faintly the two “Literary
ment, are partially indexed.
24,999 women
The distinction of Wordsworth's vocabu- default of payment of fines. Even if we
Ladies, friends, it will be remembered,
were sent to_prison in
of the Mother of the Modern Gracchi. lary lies less in its numerical strength than
subtract thousand to represent such
in its delicacy as an instrument of precision.
Discarding the suits and trappings of poetic to pay on principle, we have 24,000 women
women as Militant Suffragists who refused
A Concordance to the Poems of William
Wordsworth. Edited for the Concordance the potentialities of common speech ; and punished with imprisonment, not because
Society by Lane Cooper. (Smith, Elder by dint of enormous pains he finally attained poverty enforced it. Upon many of these
& Co. ,—This Concordance is a portly demy that perfect mastery of the dynamics of the mere fact of having been in prison
quarto of some eleven hundred and fifty
plain words which “makes his work, at its
pages. Within a year after his announce-best, as inevitable as Nature herself. ”
must have brought the further punish-
As
ment of the enterprise in December, 1907, in his choice of subjects, so in that of words,
ment of being debarred thenceforward
from honest employment. When it is con-
Prof. Lane Cooper had enrolled a staff of his aim was to give the charm of novelty to
sidered that in the same twelvemonth the
forty-six volunteer assistants, and issued
things of every day. He new-minted the
his Instructions to Collaborators. ' The well-worn coinage of ordinary life. Words
total number of female prisoners (including
* Oxford Wordsworth' was chosen as the dimmed and devitalized by custom acquire 43,000, we see how comparatively small is
reconvictions)
considerably under
basic text, and loose sheets distributed. at his hands a point, a pregnant force, a the number of convictions for serious crime
With scissors, paste, and rubber stamps, nice fitness, which lift them above the
incurred by women.
slips of copy,” mainly in type, to the dead level of prose to the plane of poetry.
The corresponding
number of men convicted was nearer to
number of about 211,000, were prepared, Wordsworth toiled indefatigably to render
sorted, and finally arranged in groups for his style a transparent, colourless medium
199,000 than to 198,000. In fact, the pro-
the printer ; and in this way—though the of his thought-a" window plainly glassed. "
blem of crime among women resolves itself,
editor and most of his staff were new to the So resolute was he to avoid whatever might which two (drink and prostitution) are
practically, into three lesser problems, of
work—the huge task of compiling the whole defeat this end that he would discard the
was accomplished within less than seven most familiar word (such as “ frame,”
large, and one (feeble-mindedness) is small.
months. After some delay a publisher was removed from over thirty places in the
Important as it is to reform an inhuman
found, and in May, 1910, the printers set text of 1827) rather than retain it with an
prison system that works evidently more
to work. Within two years and three months obsolescent or unusual shade of meaning,
injuriously upon women than upon men,
from its actual beginning, the whole was The vocabulary of so conscientious an artist
it is more urgent still to fight these
in print. To the editor's wise foresight, his must surely deserve and repay diligent
evils nearer to their source ; and the only
careful partition and economy of labour, study.
effectual ways of fighting them are, on the
and the zealous co-operation of all concerned,
one hand, by opening to women
this satisfactory result is due. Of him and
avenues of independent and adequate earn-
his staff it may be said, in the words of Prof.
ing, more social interests and safe recrea-
Dowden, that they “ have shown their
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
tions, more knowledge of the dangers
reverence for Wordsworth, if not by fervid The Charwoman's Daughter. By James
around them, and more education in the
words, at least by industry and fidelity Stephens. (Macmillan. )—It is not easy to duty of taking care of themselves ; and, on
in their record of facts. ”
the other hand, by the punishment, for an
decide precisely why this book is charm.
offence common to both, of men as well as
The plan of the Concordance is, briefly, ing, but charming it certainly is, in spite of
this. Under each catchword is cited, in a mixture of styles that might reasonably
of women, and by a genuine attempt to
render really dangerous and unprofitable the
the page-order of its occurrence in the basic be expected to spoil it. A very young girl,
trade—now extremely lucrative-of persons
text, every line or versicle in which the word delicately and realistically drawn from her
appears. The quotations or excerpts from own point of view, occupies the centre;
who live upon the immoral earnings of
the text are in every instance limited to a slightly behind stands the less fully in-
single line—those from the prose portions dicated figure of her mother, stronger, more
The Borderers' alone consisting of passionate, perhaps more really interesting. Histoire abrégée de la Franc-Maçonnerie.
"what seemed to be the most germane bit Beyond the pair lie, first, their immediate Par Robert-Freke Gould. Traduite de
of context. ”. This arrangement of the lines neighbours, and then the streets of Dublin, l'Anglais par Louis Lartigue. (Brussels,
in the sequence of their paginal numbers with shop - windows and people going into Lebègue. That Mr. Gould's work should
holds even where the catchword happens theatres, in clothes that charwomen and have been translated into French is indeed
to be a homograph, that is, a form common their daughters love to stand observing, high testimony to its appreciation on the
was
more
women.
of
## p. 279 (#217) ############################################
No. 4402, MARCH 9, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
279
was
a
cise"
Continent, where already the subject of
Freemasonry has found such able philo- In Two Visits to Denmark (Smith & Elder)
sophic exponents as Findel, Ragon, D'Alvi. Mr. Edmund Gosse has made no attempt
NOTES FROM RUSSIA.
ella, and many others.
at writing a travel book, but, in jotting
The work has received the further recog. down impressions received at first hand, has, ACCORDING to the interesting paper on
nition of having been awarded the Peeter. as he himself puts it, “sought to present 'Public Libraries in Russia 'read before the
Baertsoen Prizo of 4,000 francs by the the portrait of a condition of national
Moscow Bibliographical Society by Madame
Grand Orient of Belgium, as being the most culture as it existed in Denmark some
L. Havkin, there are now in Russia 633
important contribution to Masonic literature forty years ago. This composite portrait public libraries in European Russia 509,
in the decade 1899-1909. Hence, is made up of a number of individual ones,
in Poland 40, in the Caucasus 35, and in
it
fitting that distinguished and the author supplies a series of vivid Siberia 49. The province of Moscow has
Belgian Freemason, M. Louis Lartigue, pen-drawings of many men whose names 37 libraries, more than any other Russian
should have been entrusted with the trans- have since become household words in province. The public libraries in Russia
lation, and he appears to have brought to Europe, as well as of the intellectual and usually receive subsidies from the Zemstvos
his aid much scholarship and sympathetic artistic life of Denmark --and especially of (county councils), and only 11 libraries are
perception. To all who are familiar with Copenhagen - in those days. His friend. subsidized by the Government. The average
Mr. R.
against our friends, must be added theologian, the teacher, the reformer, Carpenter brings a mass of circumstantial
a determined concentration of effort in the artist, and the man of science-all evidence drawn from the Psychical Re-
order to seek out the real enemy that who have sifted and scrutinized life, as search Society, and from the investigations
lurks in our midst, and forge the proper well as lived it are concerned. They of Frederick Myers, in support of his con-
weapons for a far more formidable, but a will have to reckon not only with ception of its immortality and perdura-
far more invigorating, and ennobling the potential and centripetal develop- bility through various phases of existence,
encounter against the deadly forces that ment of Mr. Carpenter's creed of pan- both hereafter and in pre-vital cosmo-
stand in the way of social advancement. theistic unification, which is tolerably gonies. This world, he says, is " a curtain
“
familiar and indeed inherent in the concealing a vast and teeming life,” fuller
majority of religions, but also with the and richer than our own, and the human
wonderful interrelation of their own soul is for ever passing through countless
VISIONS OF LIFE.
crafts, professions, and gospels, which, “sloughings, moultings, and metamor-
with the arrival of a wider self-conscious-phoses, made possible through love-
THE appearance of a new book by Mr.
Edward Carpenter is that of a comet inness, will operate from a central, original consciousness and postulating eternity.
base into a similarity of conclusion. Survival of the subliminal self is through
the literary firmament; so rare are its That potent relevancy the book before continuity of consciousness, " which,
visitations ; so iridescent, yet remote and
us amply demonstrates.
affiliated to some cosmic life “at once
unfamiliar its presence. He belongs, in-
Three salient features, which differentiate the soul of each and God of all," as Cole-
deed, to those latter-day Victorians who,
· The Drama of Love and Death 'from the ridge says, forms the basis of successive
in an age of atrophy, Philistinism, and
artistic decrepitude, placed on its old and earlier prose works, strike us forcibly. In incarnations.
palsied head a fresh coronal of hopes,
the first place, the theories expounded are Through all this complex and com-
visions, and liberation. In another age; The vague, symphonic opulence of lan- personal religious belief, we
,
more formative and definite in character. posite massing of scientific data and
poor in achievement, confused in its
purport, lacking a distinctive voice to guage is happily untarnished by contact fronted with a sureness, a rapidity, and
concentrate and declaim its inchoate,
with psychical, physiological, and scientific a subtlety of reasoning, which only a
embryonic ideals, which it none the less factors, that demand the utmost coherence powerful mind, endowed with the keenest
could
possesses, those Victorians are already and lucidity of argument in the exposition sensibilities, have successfully
stored in the archives of memory; hence
of them. Secondly, we notice the accre- evolved. Innumerable channels of thought
the falling among us of a star from
tion of stores of Oriental conjecture in have flowed into this receptive mind, have
that bright constellation has something from many sources, and incorporated broad, confluent stream, which, in the
the framework of the thesis, gleaned irrigated it, and swept out again in on
portentous, almost Delphic, in its signific-
We have an impression that Mr. I implicitly, and by suggestion, chiefly present reviewer's opinion, may profoundly
Carpenter's reputation is much below through the tenets of reincarnation and modify the ethical, social, and religious
its deserts. Mr. H. W. Nevinson, on the its implications. Bhagaran Das's illu- beliefs of the future.
. ;
publication of Civilisation : its Cause minating book The Science of Peace
The idea that the macrocosm, which is
and Cure,' labelled him as “ The Complete is more than once directly quoted. Lastly, the pantheist's “ heaven of heavens,”
Anarchist," and it is as the exponent
we find an apparently incongruous de- should connote an individualizing tendency
of anarchistic doctrines in their most parture from the elemental doctrines of of soul-survival, is an empirical audacity
-
enlightened, visionary, and pacific forms, the monists and the pantheists in the which will excite attention. It is due in
and as the interpreter of the democracy theory of the survival of the identity of part, says the author, to the inflexibly
according to Whitman, that he is best the personality into ever-widening spheres personal character of love, which moulds
known to English readers and thinkers of consciousness.
.
the progressive embodiments and manifes-
He also shares with William Morris, Mr. Carpenter, in this connexion, makes tations of the “world-soul,” and in part to
Mr. W. H. Hudson, and Mr. H. G. Wells
a careful distinction between the self, a theory of the “ All-Self” and the Race-
bounded by the local and ephemeral con- Self,” which is contained in the latter
The Drama of Love and Death : a Study of ditions of earthly life, and the subliminal portion of the book. In the early stages
Human Evolution. By Edward Carpenter. self, the revelation of which is only vouch- of life, both in the animal and vegetable
(George Allen & Sons. )
safed to us through those “ fallings from kingdom and in primitive man, the
are
con-
ance.
>
## p. 275 (#213) ############################################
No. 4402, MARCH 9, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
275
66
9
66
>
-
>>
young Irish
.
Race-Self was paramount. Each self of immortality. It is not known exactly Letters' from 1849 onwards, except in
of a particular animal species, for instance, when the introduction took place. Mr. that published by the Boston Bibliophile
springs from its own Race-Self,” and Williams states that, though Rickman Society. It is the statement that Rick-
at death returns to and is merged into it. was familiar with Lamb's name, he had man is very intimate with Southey, “but
The “ Race-Self is “rich with the not made his acquaintance when, in a never reads his poetry”; whereas the
countless memories” and “ wise with the letter to his friend Southey on July true reading is but does not always
united knowledge ” of the individuals 29th, he told him that “ Mr. Lamb is soon | (read] his poetry a very different
which have comprised it, until at length to be my neighbour in Southampton pronouncement. It was not Amos, but
in the epoch of civilization " a soul-bud Buildings. A certain statement, how- Joseph Cottle who was the author of the
is detached from the race-life and re- ever, in a letter of April 18th to the same tremendous poem Alfred,' in twenty-
embodied as a separate identity. ” It correspondent, makes the conjecture not four books ; and the slip spoils the point
persists, expands, and radiates into suc- | improbable that there had been a meeting of Lamb's story of his visit of condolence
cessive condensations in other spheres, at least as early as that month, for Rick-to the latter on the death of his brother.
finally being reunited into the “ All- man writes : “I learnt at the India House
Self,” which is the very fount of being. that Mr. Coleridge had taken flight north- tions of views of the buildings in New
There are several interesting reproduc-
The preliminary and introductory chap- ward. ” Who was there at the India Palace Yard in Rickman's time.
ters, which treat mainly of the theme of House to know of that fact but a certain
love, are an extended re-affirmation of clerk in the Accountant's office ?
The interest of ‘Letters to William
'Love's Coming of Age,' and also serve For the greater part of his career, Allingham' is mainly literary: it is the
as the groundwork for describing later Rickman was Clerk at the Table of the correspondence of the
the interplay of love with the immortality House of Commons, having been for a Customs House officer who, by sheer
of the soul. The book as a whole leaves few years previously the Speaker's Secre- force of
character and enthusiasm,
us with a dim cognizance of unplum bed, tary. He was also the originator of the became the editor of Fraser's Magazine,
Titanic forces within us, about us, and in Census. He met Southey in 1797, and
a verse writer of merit, and the friend
eternity, of which we are the stuff and between them there sprang up a friendship and correspondent of most of the literary
essence, and from the perception of which which lasted until Rickman's death in and artistic set in London during the
we recognize the transfiguring divinity of 1840. The Southey Rickman corre- third quarter of the nineteenth century.
mankind.
spondence—to which Mr. Williams has
“ You describe better than any letter-
Mr. Carpenter comes to us from another had access—consists of over 1,200 letters. writer I have had since the time of
age, with vitality and enthusiasm un-
Those written by Lamb amount only to Shelley,” says Leigh Hunt, writing with
impaired, and bearing a message we twenty-three. Eighteen of these were that “ heart and imagination,” as his
cannot afford to neglect. His triumphant published by Ainger in 1904 (not 1906, correspondent prettily puts it, “that have
command over language, his searching as stated by Mr. Williams) ; one by Mr. not had time to grow old. ” Leigh Hunt's
perspicuity, retain their dominion, and the E. V. Lucas in 1905; the remainder had generous letters of sympathy and en-
rich ore of his mind is as unalloyed as ever.
been printed previously. Unfortunately, couragement to the young and struggling
To a singular degree he has succeeded in Rickman's biographer has not
has not been poet of Ballyshannon will, we are sure,
reconciling those world-old foes, romance allowed to use the Ainger letters.
ħave the happy result of sending many
and rationalism, and in revealing the
The earlier part of the book, which readers to the Diary’ published not so
spiritual potentialities huddled away under deals chiefly with personal
personal matters, long ago, and thence, it is to be hoped,
the cloak of the formulæ of science. For is the more interesting. The remainder
to the poetry, not a little of which—The
no religion can abide which recks not of is devoted almost entirely to politics, and, Athenæum is glad to remember—was
science. He rolls away the “pall from we must confess, makes but dreary reading published in these columns. “I
our dark spirits," and displays something There are a few fresh details relating to genuine, but not great,” he says of
himself.
of the immensity and infinitude of the Lamb, one interesting fact having been
These pages reveal, indeed, a
deeps within our personalities. The man unearthed, namely, that on two occasions genuine enthusiasm for good letters and
who, however incompletely, can do that, during Mary Lamb's sad absence from great writers. In Allingham's work his
is not to be placed within the pigeon-hole home, Lamb stayed with Rickman at his achievement is highest when he records
of one age or another.
house in New Palace Yard, although it is with least artifice a simple experience, an
a pathetic comment on the friendship, unforced thought. It is this quality of
which was described so glowingly by genuineness that gives their peculiar merit
Lamb in 1800, that his host should be to such poems as The Pilot's Daughter '
characterized in 1829 as only
Four
a sort of
Ducks
TWO FRIENDS OF LETTERS.
The
a Pond. '
a friend. ”
charm of his work, as Mr. Yeats has said,
THE two civil servants who are the joint Two amusing stories are told concerning is everywhere the charm of stray moments
subjects of our article were both promi- Dyer. With reference to one of them
and detached scenes that have moved
nent in literary circles, and will be best how the Lambs succeeded in talking
him. He should have his place in any
remembered as the friends of men whose him into love with Miss Benger — Mr. anthology of English verse.
names are household words in literature. Williams states that Lamb makes no From such a temperament one may
Allingham had, per se, a measure of mention of it. ” Not directly, it is naturally look for an output of good
literary distinction denied to Rickman, true ; but in two of his letters Lamb is letters, especially when they are addressed
but his best writing was due to his inti- probably referring to the incident when to
like Browning, Tennyson,
macy with the leading spirits of his age. he writes to Rickman (November 24th, Emerson, Ruskin, Carlyle, Arthur Hughes,
When, some time in 1800, John Rick-1801): “He [Dyer] talks of marrying";
He [Dyer] talks of marrying"; and almost all the Pre-Raphaelite Brother-
was introduced to Charles Lamb, and, again, to Manning (April 23rd, hood. Unfortunately, there are few of
clerk at the East India House, by that 1802) : George Dyer is in love with an Allingham's own letters preserved here,
"dispenser of benevolence,” George Dyer, Ideot [sic]. " It is incorrect to say that and a great many mere business notes or
the thought could not have entered his the letters in the book written by Dyer perfunctory letters of acknowledgment
mind that the quaint-looking little man are the only private ones by him hitherto from great men. But there are some
before him would be the means of con- known. There is a long one printed in
There is a long one printed in “good obsairves” in the few printed.
ferring upon him, eventually, the patent The Mirror for 1841, in a sketch of Dyer's “ The only quality Browning wants to
life; and others have occasionally turned be perfect is a little stupidity. ” Clough
Life and Letters of John Rickman. By Orlo up in the salerooms. There is a mis- is '* secret as an oyster ; opens a little at
Williams. (Constable & Co. )
quotation in each of two extracts from certain times of the tide, but snaps to
Letters to William Allingham. Edited by Lamb's letters; for one of them, however, again in a jiffy if touched, and maybe
H. Allingham and E. Baumer Williams. Mr. Williams can hardly be held respon- bites your finger. " Of Carlyle, whose
(Longmans & Co. )
sible, as it occurs in every edition of the letters reveal him generously helpful to
or
on
رو
men
man
## p. 276 (#214) ############################################
276
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4402, MARCH 9, 1912
>
6
>
a
>
66
7
6
6
the young student, characteristically pro- mind by the two contributions are by no certain Christian or semi-Christian sects
lific of good advice and encouragement, means identical, but the facts are of a will no doubt be given later under Gnos-
Allingham says in a letter to Emerson :- very complex character, and it is perhaps tics,” “Manichæans,' and other headings.
as well that they should be dealt with Some shortcomings of the Jewish
“ Carlyle's company I enjoy immensely, from entirely different points of view. the series may also be remedied under
part of
and his wife's too I like. Amidst his atmo-
sphere, frowns and laughters, is the finest
We must object to Prof. de Groot's use the heading Kabbalah,' but the entire
upland exercise, climbing rocks, and racing of the term universalism
in the sense absence of a reference to the doctrine
half-rolling down hillocks. Knowing him, of worship of the universe, or nature-cult, of Sephiroth, or emanations, is rather
too, his books have become twice as enjoy- the word being reserved in English to surprising.
able ; one can see real fire spurting in every denote some such doctrine as that all We can only note briefly the shorter
emphasis, and recognise undoubtingly the
men will be ultimately saved. Nor can series of papers on Councils and Synods,"
faintest sly twinkle of humour, will o' the
Yet his
we regard his suggestion that one may consisting of a Buddhist and a Christian
wisps and volcanos together.
just as well call Confucianism Classi- section; and on Creeds and Articles,
books also seem but pails of water from a
river. . . ,"
cism as very happy, for Classicism does which in their Christian and Jewish por-
not of itself call to mind any set oftions must necessarily overlap what has
Amongst the more notable letters from religious ideas whatsoever.
already been said under Confessions
other correspondents is a vigorous ex-
The paper on ‘Conformity,' by Mr. in Vol. III. of the ` Encyclopædia. ' Much
position by William Morris of his political Henry Barker, includes the following attention will no doubt be bestowed on
views. Much of this correspondence
courageous and defensible expression of the long series of articles dealing with
is naturally concerned with
poets
Crimes and Punishments. ' Here is, in-
and their works. We are reminded that the day. Speaking of "clergymen who deed, matter that will be interesting alike
* Maud'
by nearly all the critics. Leigh Hunt, do not accept certain propositions in the to the moralist, the legislator, the jurist,
the
referring to the “ Indian Air” of Shelley's Apostles' Creed in their literal sense,” the and the historian. Dr. J. 'MacCulloch
writer says that
opens the list with an elaborate and
lines “I arise from dreams of thee,'
promises to send it to Allingham: "I am
" the only objective definition of the extent highly important contribution on crimes
to have it before long from the lady of the clergyman's obligation is that which and punishments in primitive and savage
is given to it by the authoritative organs times; and among the other writers are
herself, who furnished Shelley with it. "
of the Church's government. And if he Dr. T. G. Pinches (Assyro-Babylonian),
Mr. Rossetti showed that the story of satisfies his own ecclesiastical superiors, who, however, gives us rather less in the
Shelley having written the words to an outsiders have no right to apply to his action article than he appears to promise in the
air brought from India by Mrs. Williams a standard which implicitly sets aside the opening paragraph ; Sir Edward Anwyl
cannot be correct. Mr. Buxton Forman, Church's authority. ”
(Celtic) ; Mr. W. Gilbert Walshe (Chinese) ;
in his edition of Shelley (1882), says that As we are here face to face with a Dr. Th. W. Juynboll (Muhammadan); and
the air to which that lady sang it is very question of personal truthfulness as dis- Dr. M. N. Dhalla (Parsi, the writer holding
widely known in India, and can scarcely tinct from that of truth, it would not the rank of high priest among the Parsis).
be beyond finding. Yet, so far as we have been amiss to discuss this interesting Dr. R. F. Quinton's contribution under
know, that inspiring, but elusive melody problem under the heading 'Conscience, the heading ‘ Criminology,' which follows
has never been recovered.
à subject which is by no means treated the above-named series, deals effectively
exhaustively in the volume, the six articles with the theory, practice, and general
of the series only including, besides an results of punishments in modern times.
Introductory Paper, the Babylonian, The longest series of articles in the
Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics : Egyptian, Greek and Roman, Jewish, volume treats on Death and Disposal
‘
Vol. IV. Confirmation-Drama. (Edin- and Muslim branches of the theme of the Dead. The introductory and
.
'
burgh, T. & T. Clark. )
Why not, one may ask, an article on primitive section, contributed by Mr.
Christian Conscience'? and is there no E. S. Hartland, alone occupies pp. 411-44,
The new volume of this · Encyclopædia ' question of conscience in connexion with and is by no means too long, being filled
will be welcomed with as much heartiness Buddhism and other religious and philo- with well-arranged and highly important
as was each of the previous instalments. sophical systems ? Nor can it be said information on almost every conceivable
The treatment of the subject of 'Con- that the series, as it stands, satisfies part of the subject. It is, however,
firmation,' with which the volume opens, throughout all just requirements, for difficult to accept without qualification
presents an acceptable feature of some under the heading Conscience (Jewish)' his statement that “the obstinate dis-
novelty in the method of showing the we really have an essay on ethics rather belief in the necessity of death” in primi-
different aspects of the theme under con- than an article on conscience.
tive times was caused by “horror of
sideration. Canon H. J. Lawlor's article, Regretfully passing over a long list of death. ” The inability of the savage to
written from the usual Anglican scholarly interesting topics, such as ·Conscientious- understand the natural causes of physical
point of view, is followed by an equally ness,' • Consciousness,' • Consistency,' and decay must have been a strong con-
learned contribution from the pen of the Conviction,' we come upon a long series tributing cause, if not the chief one.
Rev. H. Thurston, S. J. , which is designed, of articles under the heading Cosmogony | In the “ early Christian " part of the
not only to supplement the data furnished and Cosmology. ' The introductory subject we find (p. 457) a long list of
by the first-named writer, but also to article is by Dr. Louis H. Gray, and the authorities for the statement that “the
controvert some of his views from the list includes no fewer than
no fewer than eighteen Christians did not fear cremation, though
Roman Catholic standpoint. The two special sections, dealing, amongst others, they preferred the ancient and better
articles will no doubt be carefully scanned with the North American, Babylonian, custom of burying in the earth. '” In
by theologians of various schools of Buddhist, Chinese, Christian, Jewish, Poly- the Babylonian section, contributed by
thought.
nesian, and Teutonic branches of the Dr. S. H. Langdon, the question as
The design of placing before the reader subject. The longest of these artịcles to cremation in the regions concerned is
different sides of the same problem may is that on Buddhist Cosmogony, by Prof. decided in the following way :-
have also been present in the editor's L. de la Vallée Poussin, who has spared
“ Cremation appears to have been the
mind when he assigned the articles Con- no pains to make his contribution as com- rule in certain parts of ancient Sumer and
fucian Religion' and 'Confucius' to two prehensive as possible, both as regards Akkad, as in the region north of Lagash;
writers so different from one another as subject-matter and bibliographical infor- but in other parts interment in coffins and
Prof. de Groot and Mr. W. Gilbert Walshe, mation. The Christian section appears
vaults is more frequent. ”
the former aiming at being philosophical, rather meagre, notwithstanding its sub- Among the other sections dealt with are
and the latter writing down his statements division into an "early and mediæval” Buddhist, by Dr. L. de la Vallée Poussin ;
in as transparent a fashion as possible and a modern section; but fuller informa- Chinese, by Mr. W. G. Walshe; Coptic,
The impressions left on the reader's Ition on the cosmological systems of l by the late Mr. P. D. Scott-Moncrieff;
6
>
>
6
6
6
>
.
## p. 277 (#215) ############################################
2
THE ATHEN ÆUM
4402, MARCH 9, 1912
277
sects
nos-
ings.
rt of
nder
ntire
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ther
6
orter
ods,"
Etian
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has
ons'
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on
with
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6
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och
and
nes
are
en),
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e);
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6
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73
6
No. Egyptian, by Mr. R. H. Hall; Muham-
madan, by Dr. Stanley Lane-Poole;
THE expressed purpose of Poetry and
Prose : being Essays on Modern English
and Tibetan, by Dr. L. A. Waddell.
POETIC CRITICISM.
Students of folk-lore and occultism will
Poetry, by Mr. Adolphus Alfred Jack (Con-
stable & Co. )"to make a little clearer
find abundant material to interest them Lectures on Poetry. By J. W. Mackail.
what every one feels about poetry"_is both
in the series of articles on ‘Demons and (Longmans & Co. )- This is the final instal-
vague and vast. It is moreover unsatisfy-
Spirits' and on ‘Divination. Of more ment of the lectures which Mr. Mackailing in view of the fact that a distressingly
general interest are the eleven papers delivered from the Chair of Poetry at Oxford. large proportion of modern readers do not
“ feel about poetry
under the heading ‘ Disease and Medicine,' In an inaugural lecture he announced his
at all. Whether or
not Mr. Jack has succeeded in his aim does
dealing with the various notions and purpose of taking the “ Progress of Poetry
as the dominating idea of his professorship. not greatly matter. He has, in either case,
practices in vogue among savages, in This idea he illustrated first in three lectures produced a series of critical essays of singular
mediæval times, and among the nations on Chaucer, Spenser, and Milton; next in a value and marked individuality. Much
of antiquity. It is, however, difficult series of lectures on the development of familiar ground has of necessity been re
to see why a brief survey, from the moral poetry in Greece; and now, in the volume traversed-eighteenth-century rhetoric and
and psychological point of view, of some
before us, he takes subjects apparently at didacticism, the inevitable Romantic Re-
present-day aspects of the subject should random Virgil and Virgilianism, Shake-vival," and the changing phases of the
have been excluded from an Encyclo- and Life, The Divine Comedy, Imagination o'er travelled roads'
speare's Sonnets, Arabian Romances, Poetry Victorian era. Such a “backward glance
pædia which avowedly embraces an ex-and treating these sometim
--and treating these sometimes from the instruct, suggest, or
may easily fail to
entertain, for the
ceedingly wide range of topics. Still literary, sometimes from the scholastic,
sometimes from the scholastic, average reader who dabbles in these things
less excusable seems to us the absence of sometimes from the philosophical point of is prone to think in the groove which criti-
an article on the modern stage from the view, still interweaves from time to time cism has hollowed out for him—to accept
series given under the heading 'Drama'
the idea of a progress of poetry.
theories of literary movement and tendency
at the end of the volume. There surely Mr. Mackail's emphasis is not laid, we without vitalizing them for himself by
is an aesthetic and ethical side in the think, on what is really most valuable in personal study. Mr. Jack, on the other
drama of recent times which demands his contribution ; and the ideas which under hand, while paying all reverence to expert
treatment in a work like the present. lie his treatment are, perhaps, too large and contemporary commentators and those great
ones who have gone before, has the merit of
We have so far dwelt mainly on the vague to be of much service in criticism.
principal series of articles contained in of poetry, we may mean its passage, pageant-
For example, when we speak of the progress independence, by virtue of which his “ back-
ward glance” becomes at once illuminativo
the volume, and we can now only refer like, from one country to another, or its and, in a mild degree, controversial. A
briefly to some few of the other contribu- successive appearance in the mind first of single instance will suffice.
tions which have specially arrested our one, then of another, representative poet ; Mr. Jack is keen to detect the elusive
attention. The article on Conversion we may mean that the form and content of beauties which lurk in Wordsworth's simplest
strikes us as valuable, though we think future poetry are conditioned by the form poems. We should imagine that the famous
that emphasis should have been laid on
and content of past poetry; or we may lines from ‘Peter Bell,' touching
the psychological aspect of the theme. simply mean that, as a poet grows older,
A primrose by the river's brim,
there will be progress, a developing mani-
Particularly bright and spirited are the festation of the spirit of poetry, in his work.
would arouse in him, and rightly, as much
papers on Criticism,' the history and The phrase, in fact, may have many different appreciation as they excited undiscerning
bearing of the Old and New Testament associations ; all of them useful and signi- laughter in the poet's own day. When,
parts of the subject being treated in dif- ficant, so long as we distinguish between however, he comes to the 'Ode on Intima-
ferent contributions. There well-them; but Mr. Mackail, in availing himself
tions of Immortality,'
he develops a tendency
more unorthodox. He writes :-
illustrated articles on the Christian Cross of them, fails to distinguish. Thus, in the
and non-Christian Crosses, as well as a
course of his lecture on The Poetry of “ The fact is of course, that these experiences
Oxford,' the question arises whether there are not spiritual at all, and Wordsworth's fond
separate paper on the American Cross. is at Oxford a progress of poetry or not.
thesis that the child is more spiritual than the
Mr. Andrew Lang writes on Crystal- Mr. Mackail's first answer seems to be in
man is the exact contrary of the fact. ”
gazing,' and Mr. Benjamin Kidd con- the affirmative. He quotes close
To those who are fated to dwell continually
siders Darwinism. ' The German heading hundred lines from 'Aeromancy,' a work of within sound of a nursery this view will seem
' Deutsch-Katholicismus' is given to an
the Oxford poetess, Mrs. Woods, and says plausible enough, but it is not poetical
interesting paper on the reform move-
that they exemplify “ the new method in criticism. Wordsworth bases his "fanciful"
Art,” and that in them " the poetry of theory on a doctrine of pre-existence which,
ment which sprang up within the Catholic Oxford speaks still the same language as being, as Mr. Jack observes, a belief, like
Church in Germany about the middle of that of the “Scholar Gipsy, though in a
all other beliefs is incapable of proof. ” He
the nineteenth century,” and has ended different manner and with a different accent ; omits to make allowance for the fact that,
in the renunciation of
and also, I may add, with a new grace. " for precisely the same reason, it is also in-
Yet he has hardly made this pronouncement capable of disproof, and does not appear to
"all definite formulation of doctrine, in before we find him admitting, apparently, perceive that its actual truth or untruth
order to avoid falling back into the dogmatic that the present period is unpoetical-50 is a question of no poetical moment. If we
Christianity which they condemn in other
Churches. "
unpoetical, and so deeply to be despaired of, approach the matter on scientific grounds,
that we might almost infer from our wintry such data as exist are both meagre and am-
Noteworthy in the history of this body is state the imminence of a new poetic biguous. But poetry has no concern with
the alliance into which they entered in spring:-
data. It has been given to the poet, in
1859 with the free Protestants known
the present case, to visualize for mankind
“The poet in every age is under the impression his own conception of existence ; and the
“the Friends of Light” (Lichtfreunde). that he has been born too late and that cry is militant-minded may reasonably contend
Among the comparatively few bio generally most audible just at the time when
graphies contained in the volume special and its most splendid achievements. ”
poetry is on the verge of its greatest movements that, inasmuch as Wordsworth's fanciful”
theory touches sublimer heights than those
mention might be made of the accounts
attained by Mr. Jack's eminently practical,
given of Constantine the Great, Democri-
Mr. Mackail is at his happiest, we think, somewhat prosaic view, it is therefore poeti-
tus, and Descartes, much stress being,
when he allows his rare power of critical cally more nearly true.
of
tact and discernment to work untrammelled
the philosophical
course, laid
For the purpose of his volume the author
systems of the last two named. Nor
by any artificial scheme of thought. His has chosen poets representative of the
should one omit to mention Dr. Gold-
charming remarks on Shakespeare's ro- various phases of poesy-Gray for “social
mances, his enthusiastic tribute to Keats,
or prose poetry,” Burns for “natural or
ziher's
paper on the great Muhammadan bring him out in his true character, that of spontaneous poetry," Wordsworth for
jurist Dawud b. Ali b. Khalaf (815-33). a poet appreciating poetry. His philosophy basic or elemental poetry," and Byron for
We have looked in vain for an article on he holds in common with many other oratorical poetry"; while the “ Poetry of
the Intellect” is represented by Emerson,
the arch-heretic Dositheus. The missing writers, some of whom are perhaps able to
Arnold, and Meredith. The selection is
information may, of course, be supplied express it more persuasively than he ;
later under such a heading as
but, face to face with the poets, he shows perhaps a trifle unexpected ;
Heresies
we should
and Heretics,'but at least a cross-reference
an insight and a grace of sympathy which have imagined Browning—for one-worthy
al
are
1
1
6
on
a
66
>
as
on
6
are individual, and cannot be too highly of separate treatment; but Mr. Jack goes
from the name should have been given.
his own way, and we are on the whole
prized.
EL
## p. 278 (#216) ############################################
278
No. 4402, MARCH 9, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
can
or
a
content. Not infrequently he makes asser- to two or more words of different sense, and big policemen with eyes and feet that
tions to which we feel bound to take excep- radically or grammatically distinct. For turn naturally in the direction of shy young
tion, such as that (p. 63) to the effect that example, the lines assembled under the catch- girls. Through every scene runs a twisted
the small nations produce our only litera- word "well ” are printed in the order in thread of humorous observation and of
ture”; yet, as a set-off, it must be con- which they occur in the pages of the text, kindliness somewhat akin to the spirit of
ceded that he epitomizes with truth and not in three separate subdivisions exhibiting : Wee Macgreegor'; but the humour of
dexterity. Thus the eighteenth century is respectively the form “well ” as (1) sub- 'The Charwoman's Daughter 'is subtler, and
aptly described as a period of literary“stock- stantive, (2) adverb, and (3) interjection. its literary style is far finer. Some bits of
taking"; and of Gray's 'Elegy 'it is said — In a very few cases only-as in that of““ can description are exquisite. Page 135, for
“ Sometimes I think this Elegy the greatest, -has a subdivision of the group according instance, calls up all Dublin, and almost
the most universal thing in the world; it so
to the different senses of the catchword been all Ireland, in a single paragraph that con-
perfectly expresses the feelings of man as man, carried out; where this plan has been tains the very essence of a grey Irish as
of an erect peripatetic biped one day to lie quiet adopted, the subsection exhibiting the sense distinguished from a grey English day;
and at full length. "
of rarest occurrence is placed first under and the paragraph is not allowed to spread
In his estimates of Burns and Byron,
the common catchword of the group. into and overwhelm the history of a worthy
laying emphasis on the “terrifying ” lapses
Thus under ” the lines containing the woman's shopping. The women through-
of the former, and the latter's maddening noun are ranged first, and below them, in a out are the people of interest, the subjective
habit of stressing the metre as if his readers separate lot, those containing the verb. figures. The men matter only in so far
were metrically deaf,” Mr. Jack is felicitous Over against each line are printed (1) its as they affect the women.
and penetrating, as also in his exposition of paginal number, (2) the Concordance-title
Suddenly, all this sober story of real life
the power possessed by Arnold-pre-emi- of the poem whence it is taken, and (3) the
collapses into a fairy tale. The char-
nently a "Poet of the Intellect "--of blend- number of the line itself. No attempt is woman's illusive dream of unearned wealth
ing the critical and creative faculties, so as
made to register the variant readings of comes true, the curtain runs swiftly down,
to produce that rarest of phenomena, the successive editions other than those recorded and the reader perceives ruefully why the
“critical poet. ”
in the 'Oxford Wordsworth. ' Poems not
name of the heroine waz Mary Makebelievce
Students of English poetry, and others,
included in this, but found in the ‘Eversley. '
will peruse Mr. Jack's volume with pleasure The Letters of the Wordsworth Family,'
edition, in that of Mr. Nowell Smith, or in
THE FABIAN WOMEN'S GROUP is producing
withstanding. A word must, however, be the editor. About fifty words-pronouns,
and much profit, differences of opinion not have been indexed for the Concordance by by degrees a valuable series of tracts, ali
of which deserve careful reading. The in-
spared for certain mannerisms.
A super:
fluity of foot-notes may perhaps be a fault
prepositions, auxiliary verbs, &c. —belong-
formation in Women and Prisons, by Helen
Blagg and Charlotte Wilson, is full and
on the right side, but the same can hardly objective and invariable
in use and meaning,
ing to the fixed element of the language,
particularly well arranged, and no thinking
be said of the use of “poeticalize and
similar words,
the phrase quite
find no place in the Concordance ; while person will be able to read the twenty-four
one hundred and fifty of a similar character, pages of facts without perceiving the
uniquely " ; while the dictum that “ Dickens
certain reforms. It
when he is most Dickens has no consciousness yet not wholly incapable of subjective treat- urgent necessity of
1910-11
is shocking to think that in
of a vast” recalls faintly the two “Literary
ment, are partially indexed.
24,999 women
The distinction of Wordsworth's vocabu- default of payment of fines. Even if we
Ladies, friends, it will be remembered,
were sent to_prison in
of the Mother of the Modern Gracchi. lary lies less in its numerical strength than
subtract thousand to represent such
in its delicacy as an instrument of precision.
Discarding the suits and trappings of poetic to pay on principle, we have 24,000 women
women as Militant Suffragists who refused
A Concordance to the Poems of William
Wordsworth. Edited for the Concordance the potentialities of common speech ; and punished with imprisonment, not because
Society by Lane Cooper. (Smith, Elder by dint of enormous pains he finally attained poverty enforced it. Upon many of these
& Co. ,—This Concordance is a portly demy that perfect mastery of the dynamics of the mere fact of having been in prison
quarto of some eleven hundred and fifty
plain words which “makes his work, at its
pages. Within a year after his announce-best, as inevitable as Nature herself. ”
must have brought the further punish-
As
ment of the enterprise in December, 1907, in his choice of subjects, so in that of words,
ment of being debarred thenceforward
from honest employment. When it is con-
Prof. Lane Cooper had enrolled a staff of his aim was to give the charm of novelty to
sidered that in the same twelvemonth the
forty-six volunteer assistants, and issued
things of every day. He new-minted the
his Instructions to Collaborators. ' The well-worn coinage of ordinary life. Words
total number of female prisoners (including
* Oxford Wordsworth' was chosen as the dimmed and devitalized by custom acquire 43,000, we see how comparatively small is
reconvictions)
considerably under
basic text, and loose sheets distributed. at his hands a point, a pregnant force, a the number of convictions for serious crime
With scissors, paste, and rubber stamps, nice fitness, which lift them above the
incurred by women.
slips of copy,” mainly in type, to the dead level of prose to the plane of poetry.
The corresponding
number of men convicted was nearer to
number of about 211,000, were prepared, Wordsworth toiled indefatigably to render
sorted, and finally arranged in groups for his style a transparent, colourless medium
199,000 than to 198,000. In fact, the pro-
the printer ; and in this way—though the of his thought-a" window plainly glassed. "
blem of crime among women resolves itself,
editor and most of his staff were new to the So resolute was he to avoid whatever might which two (drink and prostitution) are
practically, into three lesser problems, of
work—the huge task of compiling the whole defeat this end that he would discard the
was accomplished within less than seven most familiar word (such as “ frame,”
large, and one (feeble-mindedness) is small.
months. After some delay a publisher was removed from over thirty places in the
Important as it is to reform an inhuman
found, and in May, 1910, the printers set text of 1827) rather than retain it with an
prison system that works evidently more
to work. Within two years and three months obsolescent or unusual shade of meaning,
injuriously upon women than upon men,
from its actual beginning, the whole was The vocabulary of so conscientious an artist
it is more urgent still to fight these
in print. To the editor's wise foresight, his must surely deserve and repay diligent
evils nearer to their source ; and the only
careful partition and economy of labour, study.
effectual ways of fighting them are, on the
and the zealous co-operation of all concerned,
one hand, by opening to women
this satisfactory result is due. Of him and
avenues of independent and adequate earn-
his staff it may be said, in the words of Prof.
ing, more social interests and safe recrea-
Dowden, that they “ have shown their
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
tions, more knowledge of the dangers
reverence for Wordsworth, if not by fervid The Charwoman's Daughter. By James
around them, and more education in the
words, at least by industry and fidelity Stephens. (Macmillan. )—It is not easy to duty of taking care of themselves ; and, on
in their record of facts. ”
the other hand, by the punishment, for an
decide precisely why this book is charm.
offence common to both, of men as well as
The plan of the Concordance is, briefly, ing, but charming it certainly is, in spite of
this. Under each catchword is cited, in a mixture of styles that might reasonably
of women, and by a genuine attempt to
render really dangerous and unprofitable the
the page-order of its occurrence in the basic be expected to spoil it. A very young girl,
trade—now extremely lucrative-of persons
text, every line or versicle in which the word delicately and realistically drawn from her
appears. The quotations or excerpts from own point of view, occupies the centre;
who live upon the immoral earnings of
the text are in every instance limited to a slightly behind stands the less fully in-
single line—those from the prose portions dicated figure of her mother, stronger, more
The Borderers' alone consisting of passionate, perhaps more really interesting. Histoire abrégée de la Franc-Maçonnerie.
"what seemed to be the most germane bit Beyond the pair lie, first, their immediate Par Robert-Freke Gould. Traduite de
of context. ”. This arrangement of the lines neighbours, and then the streets of Dublin, l'Anglais par Louis Lartigue. (Brussels,
in the sequence of their paginal numbers with shop - windows and people going into Lebègue. That Mr. Gould's work should
holds even where the catchword happens theatres, in clothes that charwomen and have been translated into French is indeed
to be a homograph, that is, a form common their daughters love to stand observing, high testimony to its appreciation on the
was
more
women.
of
## p. 279 (#217) ############################################
No. 4402, MARCH 9, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
279
was
a
cise"
Continent, where already the subject of
Freemasonry has found such able philo- In Two Visits to Denmark (Smith & Elder)
sophic exponents as Findel, Ragon, D'Alvi. Mr. Edmund Gosse has made no attempt
NOTES FROM RUSSIA.
ella, and many others.
at writing a travel book, but, in jotting
The work has received the further recog. down impressions received at first hand, has, ACCORDING to the interesting paper on
nition of having been awarded the Peeter. as he himself puts it, “sought to present 'Public Libraries in Russia 'read before the
Baertsoen Prizo of 4,000 francs by the the portrait of a condition of national
Moscow Bibliographical Society by Madame
Grand Orient of Belgium, as being the most culture as it existed in Denmark some
L. Havkin, there are now in Russia 633
important contribution to Masonic literature forty years ago. This composite portrait public libraries in European Russia 509,
in the decade 1899-1909. Hence, is made up of a number of individual ones,
in Poland 40, in the Caucasus 35, and in
it
fitting that distinguished and the author supplies a series of vivid Siberia 49. The province of Moscow has
Belgian Freemason, M. Louis Lartigue, pen-drawings of many men whose names 37 libraries, more than any other Russian
should have been entrusted with the trans- have since become household words in province. The public libraries in Russia
lation, and he appears to have brought to Europe, as well as of the intellectual and usually receive subsidies from the Zemstvos
his aid much scholarship and sympathetic artistic life of Denmark --and especially of (county councils), and only 11 libraries are
perception. To all who are familiar with Copenhagen - in those days. His friend. subsidized by the Government. The average
Mr. R.
