A
Napoleon
knows how to Alone, by Mrs.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v30 - Guide to Systematic Readings
This
friend, Count Fosco, whose wife, a rela- villain is one Lydia Gwilt, who, as a girl
tive of Laura's, will receive ten thousand of twelve, has forged a letter to deceive
pounds on her death. The marriage a father into letting his daughter throw
settlements are drawn up so that Sir herself away. Hateful and hideous as is
a
a
on
a
woman
XXX-21
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322
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
her character, Lydia is so drawn as to to impress Sir Guy, and contents herself
exact a certain pity from the reader, by with a Mr. Boer, appropriately named.
reason of her lonely childhood and her Two of Lilian's cousins, Arthur Chesney
strong qualities. The few minor charac- (a vain suitor for her hand), and Taffy
ters of the book, though distinct enough, Musgrave (a young British red-coat whom
do not detain the reader, eager to know everybody likes), add no little interest to
the fate of poor Ozias, the hero, who is the group, who are of a marrying mind
a lovable fellow. Among the few minor generally. Wholesome, pretty, not too
characters in this novel are Mrs. Older- serious, the story maintains its interest to
shaw, Mr. Felix Bashwood, and Mr. Ped- the last without introducing any startling
gift the lawyer.
episodes. It paints a pleasant picture of
English country life, with sufficient fidel-
Barba
rbara's History, by Amelia Bland- ity to detail and an agreeable variety of
ford Edwards, appeared in 1864. It light and shadow.
is the romance of a pretty girl, clever and
capable, who, passing through some vex-
Samuel Brohl and Company, a novel,
ations and serious troubles, settles down by Victor Cherbuliez. (1879. ) One
to an unclouded future. Barbara Church- of the most entertaining productions of
ill is the youngest daughter of a selfish a writer who excels in delicate comedy,
widower, who neglects his children. When and has given readers an agreeable
ten years old, she visits her rich country change from the typical French novel »;
aunt, Mrs. Sandyshaft, with whom she is though it has little substance or thought.
far happier than in her London home. The action occurs during the year 1875,
Here she meets Hugh Farquhar, owner in Switzerland and France. Samuel
of the neighboring estate of Broomhill; Brohl, a youth of lowest origin, is bought
a man of twenty-seven, who has sowed by Princess Gulof, who educates him,
wild oats in many lands and reaped an and then makes him nominally her sec-
abundant harvest of troubles. He makes retary. He tires of her jealous tyranny
a great pet of Barbara, who loves him
and runs away, assuming the name and
devotedly. The story thenceforth is of history of Count Larinski. Antoinette
their marriage, her jealousy in regard to Moriaz, an heiress of romantic notions,
an Italian girl whom her husband has who undervalues the love of honest Ca.
protected, and an explanation and recon- mille Langis because there is no mys-
ciliation. It is well told, the characteri- tery about him, supposing Samuel to
zation is good, and Barbara is made an be the Polish hero he impersonates,
extremely attractive little heroine.
thinks she has found the man she wants
at last.
Madame de Lorcy, her god-
mother and Camille's aunt, suspects
ford (“The Duchess”), needs « Count Larinski” of being an advent-
elaborate plot to make it interesting. Its urer; and is finally helped to prove it
slender thread of story traces the willful by the Princess, Samuel's former mis-
though winsome actions of Lilian Ches- tress, who recounts to Antoinette how
ney. An orphaned heiress - piquant, airy, she bought him of his father for a brace-
changeful, lovable - she lives, after the let, which bracelet Samuel has given
death of her parents, with Lady Chet- the girl as a betrothal gift. Disillusion-
woode. Sir Guy Chetwoode, her rather ized, she breaks with Samuel, saying
young guardian; Cyril, his brother, and pathetically, “The man I loved was he
Florence Beauchamp, his cousin, complete whose history you related to me” (i, e. ,
the household. Sir Guy, staid, earnest, Count Larinski). Camille visits Samuel
and manly, alternately quarrels with and to get back Antoinette's letters and
pays sincere court to his ward, winning gifts, contemptuously refuses a challenge,
her after she has led him a weary chase, and buys the keepsakes for 25,000 francs.
the details of which form the chief charm The bargain concluded, Samuel theatri-
of the story.
Cyril, twenty-six, pleasant cally thrusts the bank-notes into a candle
but headstrong, finds his love in a fair flame, and repeats his challenge. In the
young widow, Mrs. Arlington, about resulting duel, Camille is left for dead
whose character an unfortunate haze of by Samuel, that picturesque scamp flee-
doubt has been cast — to be dissipated, ing to America. Camille recovers, and
however, in the end. The ambitious Flor- eventually his devotion to Antoinette
ence, as vapid as she is designing, fails meets its due reward.
»
Airy Fairy, Lilian, by Mrs. Hunger-
no
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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
323
Alla
ure.
(
llan Quatermain, by H. Rider Hag- this little work, of one of their num-
gard, rehearses the adventures of the ber, desultory and inartistic as it is,
old hunter and traveler who tells the story,
will be invaluable to the future histo-
and whose name gives the title to the rian. It will at least show the desperate
book. He is accompanied from England earnestness and self-sacrificing spirit
on an African expedition by Sir Henry of some of Russia's noblest sons and
Curtis — huge, fair, and brave — and Cap- daughters. For English readers, the
tain Good, a retired seaman. They take work has the disadvantage of spelling
with them Umslopogaas, a trusty and gi- Russian names in an unfamiliar (that
gantic Zulu, who has served before under is, in the Italian) manner. It was writ-
Quatermain. At a mission station the ten in 1881; and the year after was
party leads an expedition to rescue the published in England, with a preface by
daughter of the missionary, Flossie Mac- Pavel Lavrof.
kenzie, who had been captured by hostile
blacks. The interest of the book is found
Vera Vorontsoff, by Sonya Kovalev.
in the swift movement of the narrative, sky. Sonya Kovalevsky, whose fa-
and the excitement of incessant advent- father was a general at the head of the
Russian artillery, adopted the Nihilistic
procedure of making a fictitious mar-
Underground Russia, by Stepniak. riage, for the purpose of securing her
The former editor of Zemlia i Volia intellectual freedom. She became one of
(Land and Liberty), who for many years the most famous mathematicians of Eu-
hid his identity under the pseudonym rope, won the Bordin prize, and was for
of Stepniak (freely translated «Son
ten years professor of mathematics in
of the Steppe »), wrote in Italian a Stockholm University. Her marvelous
series of sketches of the revolutionary achievements in science did not prevent
and Nihilistic movement in which he her from suffering on the womanly side
had taken such an important part. The of her complex nature. Undoubtedly
introduction gives a succinct history of something of her own life history is to
the individualistic propaganda which re- be read between the lines of her novel,
sulted in Russia in a certain measure (Vera Vorontsoff, which she is said to
of freedom for women, and which, at have written in Swedish. It relates sim-
the expense of much suffering and ply but effectively the story of the
many young lives sacrificed, spread a youngest daughter of a Russian count,
leaven of liberalism through the vast ruined partly by his own extravagances
empire of the Tsars. Stepniak traces and partly by the emancipation of the
the successive changes that have taken serfs. The girl grows up with little train-
place in the attack on Autocracy before ing until Stepan Mikhailovich Vasiltsef, a
and since 1871. He defends even the professor from the Polytechnic Institute
Terrorism that leveled its weapons of Petersburg, removed from his posi-
against the lives of the highest in tion on account of seditious utterances,
power. He who had himself been del- comes to reside on his little neighboring
egated to (remove) certain of the estate and teaches her. They end by
enemies of liberty, could
help
falling in love; but Vasiltsef, who in-
arguing in favor of assassination as a clines to take the side of the peasants in
political resource. Under the sub-title their differences with their former mas-
of Revolutionary Profiles,' he draws ters, is (interned » at Viatka, and dies
pen-portraits of some of his acquaint- there of consumption. Vera sacrifices
ances among the Nihilists: Stepanovich, herself by marrying a poor Jewish con-
Dmitri Clemens, Valerian Ossinsky, spirator, condemned to twenty years' im-
Prince Krapotkin, Dmitri Lisogub, Jessy prisonment, and thereby commuting his
Helfman, Viera Sassulitch, and Sophia punishment to exile to Siberia, where
Perovskaya. The last half of the vol- she joins him. The character of Vera
ume describes various attempts at as- is carefully drawn in the genuine Rus-
sassination, and of escape from prisons sian method; she is the type of the self-
or Siberia. As a description of the prop- sacrificing maiden of gentle birth, of
aganda and methods of the revolution- which the annals of Nihilism are full.
ists in attempting to free their country There are a few pretty descriptions, as
from governmentai tyranny, and as a for instance, that of the app of the
statement of their aims and purpose, spring on the steppes; but the force of
not
## p. 324 (#360) ############################################
324
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
the story lies in its pictures of life at
the time of the liberation of the serfs.
It has been twice translated into Eng-
lish. The author died in 1891, at the
age of forty-one.
pan.
-a
two
Tent Life in Siberia, by George Ken-
(1870. ) The author of this
book of exploration and adventure was
employed, in 1865–67, by the Western
Union Telegraph Company, in its auda-
cious scheme of building an overland line
to Europe by way of Alaska, Bering's
Strait, and Siberia, futile project,
soon forgotten in the success of the At-
lantic Cable. He tells the story of the
undertaking from the side of the em-
ployees, -- a story known to few even of
the original projectors. It is record of
obstacles well-nigh insuperable met and
overcome with astonishing patience and
courage; of nearly six thousand miles of
unbroken wilderness explored in
years, from Vancouver's Island to Be-
ring's Straits, and from Bering's Straits
to the Chinese frontier; of camping in
the wildest mountain fastnesses of Kam-
tchatka, in the gloomy forests of Alaska
and British Columbia, and on the deso-
late plains of Northeastern Siberia; of
the rugged mountain passes of Northern
Asia traversed by hardy 'men mounted
on reindeer; of the great rivers of the
north navigated in skin canoes; of tents
pitched on northern plains in tempera-
tures of 50 and 60 degrees below zero.
Though the enterprise failed in its
special aim, it succeeded in contributing
our knowledge of hitherto
traveled and unknown region. Its sur-
veys and explorations are invaluable.
The life and customs of the natives are
minutely described; while the traveler's
sense of the vastness, the desolation,
and the appalling emptiness of this
northern world of snow and ice conveys
a chill almost of death to the sympa-
thetic reader. The book is written in
the simple, business-like style that, when
used by men of action to tell what they
have done, adds a great charm of real-
ity to the tale.
French and German Socialism in
Modern Times, by Richard T. Ely,
associate professor of political economy
in Johns Hopkins University. (1883. )
The author says: My aim is to give a
perfectly fair, impartial presentation of
modern communism and socialism in
their two strongholds, France and Ger-
many. I believe that in so doing I am
rendering a service to the friends of law
and order. » He further says:
« It is
supposed that advocates of these systems
are poor, worthless fellows, who adopt
the arts of a demagogue for the promo-
tion in some way of their own interests,
perhaps in order to gain a livelihood
by agitating laborers and preying upon
them. It is thought that they are moved
by envy of the wealthier classes, and,
themselves unwilling to work, long for
the products of diligence and ability.
This is certainly a false and
unjust view. The leading communists
and socialists from the time of Plato up
to the present have been, for the most
part, men of character, wealth, talent,
and high social standing. ” The work
begins with an examination of the ac-
cusations brought against our present
social order. It acknowledges the exist-
ence of wrongs and abuses, and it con-
veys the warning that the time is not
far distant when, in this country, we
shall be confronted with social problems
of the most appalling and urgent nature.
It is a laboring class,” the author says,
«without hope of improvement for them-
selves or their children, which will first
test our institutions. Without express-
ing any personal view as to how threat-
ening evils may best be avoided, and
holding that only a fool would pretend
to picture the ultimate organization of
society, he describes the principal French
and German plans of reform that have
been proposed. These include the sys-
tems of Babæuf, Cabet, Saint-Simon,
Fourier, Louis Blanc, Proudhon, French
socialism since Proudhon, Rodbertus,
Karl Marx, the International Associa-
tion, Lassalle, the Social Democracy,
Socialism of the Chair (i. e. , the social-
ism held by professors, among whom he
includes John Stuart Mill), and Christ-
ian Socialism. While endeavoring to do
justice to Karl Marx, he thinks Lassalle
the most interesting figure of the Social
Democracy; speaks of the more or less
socialistic nature of some of Bismarck's
projects and measures; and rejoices that
socialists and men of all shades of opin-
ion are more and more turning to Christ-
ianity for help in the solution of social
problems. The book is fair, uncontro-
versial, and full of information concern-
ing the many different schools of French
and German socialism.
to
a
un-
## p. 325 (#361) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
325
(1864. ) A work of great research and
admirable exposition of interesting facts;
showing how human action, such as the
clearing away of forests, the drainage of
land, the creation of systems of irriga-
tion, etc. , very greatly modifies the con-
ditions belonging to the surface of the
earth. Not only are the matters treated
of great practical importance, but the
pictures of conditions and changes in
different lands, and over the many vari-
eties of the earth's surface, are very
entertaining. The work became at once
a standard with international recogni-
a considerably enlarged Italian
edition was issued at Florence in 1870;
and a second American edition, with
further changes, appeared in 1874. In
this final form the title was altered to
(The Earth Modified by Human
Action. ) The earlier title was peculiarly
appropriate; as it is not the earth only
which the modifications by the hand of
man reach, but the course of nature,
climate for example, in connection with
the earth, or vegetation wholly created
by human action. In every way the
book is a most suggestive one.
tion;
Methods of Social Reform, by William
Stanley Jevons. (1883. ) This vol-
ume appeared, with a preface by the
author's wife, after his too early death
in 1882, the papers composing it having
already been published in the Contem-
porary Review.
Professor Jevons takes
the view that the possible methods of
social reform are well-nigh infinite in
number and diversity, becoming more
numerous as society grows more com-
plex, and that the recognized methods at
any given time are to be used not dis-
junctively but collectively. In this vol-
ume, he considers Amusements, Public
Libraries, Museums, «Cram » (in its uni-
versity sense), Trades Societies, Indus-
trial Partnerships, Married Women in
Factories, Cruelty to Animals, Experi-
mental Legislation, and the Drink Traf-
fic, Systems of Conveyance of Docu-
ments, other than the Post-Office under
government control, the Post-Office Tele-
graphs and their Financial Results, Postal
Notes, Money Orders and Bank Checks,
a State Parcel Post, the Railways and
the State. His Inaugural Address before
the Manchester Statistical Society, his
opening address as president of section
C of the British Association, and a paper
on the United Kingdom Alliance, econ-
omic science and statistics, are also
given. Libraries he regards as one of
the best and quickest paying investments
in which the public money can be used,
attributing the recent advance in British
library economics and extension largely
to American example. The paper on
(Cram) takes the view that while the
method of university examinations is not
perfect, it is the most effective known
for enforcing severe and definite mental
training, and of selecting for high posi-
tion the successful competitors; while any
system of preparation for the examina-
tions that leads to success is a good
system. He favors co-operation and pro-
fit-sharing, but opposes government own-
ership of the railways. In all his work,
Professor Jevons has shown that his
practical and exact mind is always in-
formed by a spiritual and ethical influ-
ence that gives his conclusions a special
weight on their moral side; and this
work, written with great clearness and at-
tractiveness, is no exception to the rule.
as
,
Day. The history of Sandford and
Merton has afforded entertainment and
instruction to many generations of boys
since its first publication about 1780.
Portraying the social ideas of the Eng-
lish of more than a hundred years ago,
it can hardly be regarded, in the present
day, as exerting a wholesome influence,-
in fact, it is chiefly remarkable for its
tone of unutterable priggishness.
Master Tommy Merton in this story is
the son (aged six) of a wealthy gen-
tleman who dwells chiefly in the island
of Jamaica. Tommy's short life has
been spent in luxury, with the result
that he has become an unmitigated nui-
sance. Harry Sandford, on the contrary,
though the son of a poor farmer, was
even at an early age replete with every
virtue; and when the two boys are
placed under the instruction of a Mr.
Barlow, an exceptionally wise and good
clergyman, he is continually used as an
example to the reprehensible Tommy.
Morals are tediously drawn from every
incident of their daily lives, and from
the stories which they read in their
lesson books. (The Gentleman and
the asket-Maker); Androcles and the
Lion); History of a Surprising Cure
Man
an and Nature; or, PHYSICAL GE-
Iodi ED BY HUMAN
ACTION. By George Perkins Marsh.
OGRAPHY
AS
## p. 326 (#362) ############################################
326
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
of the Gout,' and other stories of a like description of manly sports: like his ex-
nature, form the food on which these citing accounts of the cricket match
young intellects are nourished.
and the boat-race in his famous (Tom
Not the least remarkable feature of Brown) stories, and The Scouring of
the book is the polished language used the White Horse. )
by these children of six years of age;
Alic
and this juvenile can now only be re-
lice in Wonderland, and Through
the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll
garded as an excellent example of the
(Charles L. Dodgson). Alice's ADVENT-
literature with which our grandfathers
URES IN WONDERLAND. — Alice, a bright
and great-grandfathers were regaled in
their youth.
well-behaved little girl, quite normal in
Thomas Day is said to have been
every way, is the heroine of this fantas-
tic tale, the great charm of which con-
a man of an eccentric turn of mind,
and to have educated two foundling
sists in the perfect plausibility of all its
girls with the idea of marrying one
impossibilities. By following an extraor-
dinary rabbit down into a rabbit hole,
of them. The marriage did not take
she finds herself in a land where unreal
place, and he gave them each a por-
things seem real. But however absurd
tion and married them to tradesmen ;
the doings of the inhabitants of Wonder-
he himself marrying a Miss Milnes in
land, she is never surprised at them.
1778, when he was thirty years of age.
Her mistakes at first barely save her
He died eleven years later, through a
fall from his horse which he was trying
from drowning in her own tears; but
afterwards she meets many queer ani-
to break in upon a system of his own.
mal friends besides a crusty old Duchess,
a mad Hatter, a sleepy Dormouse, and a
The Scouring of the White Horse,
March Hare with whom she has strange
by Thomas Hughes. The colossal
image of a white horse, hewn upon the
experiences, and finally they take her to
chalk cliff of a Berkshire hill, is a last-
play croquet with the Queen of Hearts.
During a trial by jury at the court of
ing monument of the battle of Ash-
down. It was constructed in the year
the Queen, Alice becomes excited and
871, by King Alfred the Great, marking
calls every one there nothing but a pack
of cards.
the site of the turning -point of the bat-
As they rise into the air and
tle, and is the pride of the county.
come flying down upon her, she awakes
and finds herself beside her sister on a bank
The “pastime) of the scouring of the
white horse was inaugurated in 1736,
where she had fallen asleep. THROUGH
and has been held at intervals of from
THE LOOKING-Glass. —The next time Alice
ten to twenty years ever since. The
dreams, she steps through the looking-
whole countryside makes of it the grand
glass; in this land the people are all
holiday of Berkshire. The farmers for
chessmen, and the country is divided up
miles around, with pick and shovel, re-
like a chessboard, with little brooks and
move the accumulations of soil from the
hedges marking the squares. She travels
image, so that it stands out in bold re-
extensively as she moves in the game,
lief, clear and distinct as when first
and is crowned queen at the end. This
dream also comes
completed.
to a climax by the
After this is accomplished, the two
violence of her resentment against so
succeeding days are devoted to athletic
much nonsense, and she wakes suddenly.
sports, - horse and foot races, climbing
Besides kings, knights, pawns, and the
the greased pole, wrestling matches,
other pieces of the game, there are more
and backsword play. The hill is cov-
eccentric animals and people who have
ered with booths of showmen and pub- Queen and the fiery-tempered Red Queen
something to say. The careless White
licans, and rich and poor alike join in
the festivities of the occasion.
are very amusing, and Tweedledum and
Tweedledee are responsible for the song
The particular “pastime” recounted
in this book occurred in 1857; and the
of The Walrus and the Carpenter);
experiences of a
where, to quote the Duchess, one has to
prosperous Berkshire
(take care of the sense, and the sounds
farmer and his guest, a former school-
will take care of themselves. »
mate, lend a personal flavor and interest
to the story.
When
hen Valmond Came to Pontiac,
The book is made for boys, and no
a novel, by Gilbert Parker pub-
writer excels Mr. Hughes in the vivid lished in 1895, has for its motive the
»
## p. 327 (#363) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
327
en-
a
а
a
little army:
Napoleonic glamour which
which still
Barriers Burned Away, by Edward
chants simple folk on the outlying Payson Roe, after appearing as
borders of the French nation. Into the serial story in the New York Evangelist,
little French-Canadian village of Pon- was published in book form in 1872. Of
tiac comes Valmond, mysterious
a cheap edition, issued ten years later,
stranger, bearing about him the at- 87,500 copies were sold. It was the au-
mosphere of a great, dead world. In thor's first novel, and its great popularity
form and manner he recalls Napoleon. led him to adopt story-writing as a pro-
Though but a youth of some twenty fession. The plot of this book is very
summers, he seems the heir of magnifi- simple. Dennis Fleet finds the support
cent memories. Little by little he steals of his mother and the younger children
into the hearts of the simple villagers. devolving upon him, after the death of
Little by little ‘he wins them to the his father. Seeking work in Chicago, he
belief that he is the son of Napoleon. finds it impossible to secure a position
Even Sergeant Lagroin, a veteran of the suited to his social rank and education.
Old Guard, coming to challenge his After many hard experiences, he is hired
pretensions, is won to him by his man- to shovel snow in front of a fine-arts shop
ner of authority, and his utterance of where he afterward becomes a porter.
watchwords thought to be buried forever
Though he cheerfully performs the hum-
within the dead lips of the great Gen- blest duties, his superiority to them is
eral. The Sergeant's complete surrender evident. His employer, Mr. Ludolph, a
to this strange young Napoleon estab-
rich and money-loving German, finds him
lishes his claim with the village-folk. valuable enough to be made a salesman.
Valmond has dreams of reconquering Mr. Ludolph is a widower, having an only
France. He forms his adherents into a
daughter, Christine, with whom Dennis
The movement attracting falls in love. She treats him contempt-
the attention of the government, soldiers uously at first, but soon discovers his
are sent to demand the surrender of
trained talent for music and knowledge
Valmond and Lagroin. The latter dies
of art. He rises above the slights he
under the fire of their rifles, refusing receives, and makes the impression of a
to the last to wake from his beautiful
nobleman in disguise. Then follow an
dream.
estrangement and a reconciliation. The
«Valmond stood over his body, and
most noteworthy feature of the novel is
drew a pistol.
the striking description of the Chicago
(Surrender, Monsieur! ) said the of-
fire.
ficer, (or we fire! )
(
Never!
A Napoleon knows how to Alone, by Mrs. Mary Virginia Terhune
die! ) came the ringing reply, and he (who is better known by her pen-
raised his pistol at the officer.
name, Marian Harland”), was her first
(Fire! ) came the sharp command. novel, and appeared in 1854, when she
"Vive Napoléon! cried the doomed was twenty-four. The scene is laid in
man, and fell, mortally wounded. ” Richmond, Virginia, where Ida Ross, an
Valmond also, refusing to surrender, orphan of fifteen, goes to live with her
is shot. Dying, he confesses that he guardian Mr. Read, and his daughter
was the child of Italian peasants, reared Josephine, a girl of her own age. With
as a page in the house of Prince Lucien the Reads, who are cold, worldly, and
Bonaparte. After his death, however, it reserved, the impulsive and affectionate
is discovered that he was really what Ida is extremely unhappy. Fortunately
he made pretense of being, the son of her life is changed by friendship with a
Napoleon, born at St. Helena.
schoolmate, Carry Carleton. In the well-
bred and kindly households of the Carle-
A"
mber Gods, The, a novel in minia- tons and their relatives, Ida finds friends
ture, by Harriet Prescott Spofford, and lovers. When the girls enter society,
was published in 1863. It is remarkable Josephine becomes jealous of Ida's greater
neither for plot nor for character-draw- attractiveness, chiefly because a certain
ing, but for a magnificent depth and rich- Mr. Lacy falls in love with her. Mis-
ness of color, like a painting by Titian. understandings ensue. Ida gives up her
An amber amulet or rosary, possessing | lover, and returns to the home of her
mysterious influences, gives the title to childhood to devote her life to philan-
thropy. But the misunderstandings are
the story.
## p. 328 (#364) ############################################
328
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
name
explained, and the well-disciplined recluse American, The, by Henry James, was
is married to Mr. Lacy. The book had published in 1877. It was the novel-
a very great vogue, and made a reputa- ist's third book of fiction, a volume of short
tion for the author. It is simple in plot, tales and a novel preceding it. The cen-
contains a transcript of every-day life, tral character, Christopher Newman, is
and is deeply religious in tone, but be- a typical product of the United States:
longs to a fashion in fiction which no cool, self-confident, and able, impressing,
longer prevails.
by the force and directness of his nature,
Arm
rmorel of Lyonesse, by Walter Be. all who come in contact with him. Hav-
sant, published in 1884. The scene is ing made his fortune, he is traveling in
the Scilly (or Lyonesse) Isles (twenty-five i Europe for pleasure. He falls in love
miles south of England). Alone on one
with a Parisian lady of noble birth, who
of these (Samson) lives an old woman of
is half English, - Madame de Cintré, a
nearly a hundred, Ursula Rosevean, with
widow; and she comes to care for him
her great-great-great-granddaughter Ar-
enough to disregard the mésalliance, even
morel and the Tryeth family of four. To
to engage herself to him. The obstacles
them come Dick Stephenson and Roland
in the way of their marriage give rise to
Lee, the latter an artist saved from ship- many dramatic incidents.
wreck by Armorel. Roland finds a strong
attraction in Armorel, and remains at the Alton
Iton Locke, by Charles Kingsley, was
islands three weeks. He returns to Lon-
published in 1850, when the author
don, where, later, Armorel is instrumental
was thirty-one. It was his first novel,
and like Yeast, which closely followed
in extricating him from a network of
evil in which he has become involved
it, showed Kingsley's broad humanitarian-
through one false step. The intricacy of
ism, unconventionality, interest in and
sympathy for the wrongs of the English
the plot is worthy of Wilkie Collins.
working classes. It made a great stir,
Sandra Belloni, by George Meredith. . and did much in England to turn the
This musical novel was first pub- thoughts of the upper ranks to their re-
lished in 1864, under the
of sponsibility for the lower. Its hero is a
(Emilia in England. ) The Greek Peri- poet-tailor of a mystic turn - Alton Locke,
cles, ever in search of hidden musical Tailor and Poet, is the full title; he feels
genius, finds it in the voice of Emilia deep in his soul the horrors of the sweat-
Sandra Belloni, while visiting Mr. Pole. ing system and other abuses which grind
Pole has squandered the money held the poor, and devotes himself to their
in trust for Mrs. Chump, a vulgar but amelioration. I am,” he says of him-
kind-hearted widow, and is therefore self, “a Cockney among Cockneys”; he
forced, with his children, to submit to is sketched from his boyhood in a mean,
her attentions. Wilfred Pole, his son, suburban quarter of the city, through his
loves Emilia, but means to marry Lady struggle for education and maintenance,
Charlotte. Discovering this, Emilia which brings him into contact with the
wanders away, loses her voice, and is case of the toiling city masses, to his
rescued from starvation by Merthyr leadership of their cause, his advocacy
Powys, who has long loved her. He of Chartism, and final failure to realize
goes to fight for Italy. The Poles are his dreams. The purity, ideality, and
brought to the verge of ruin by Pericles. altruism of Locke and his friends Cross-
Emilia's voice returns. Pericles saves thwaite, MacKaye, Lady Ellerton, and
the Poles, on her signing an agreement Eleanor, make them inspiring prophets of
to study in Italy for three years and the war of the Emancipation of Labor.
sing in public. Wilfred hears her sing, The story is full of vigorous, earnest, ela
casts off Lady Charlotte who favors the quent preaching, and would now be called
Austrians, and throws himself at Emil- "problem fiction of the frankest sort;
ia's feet. She now realizes his incon- and it is also often dramatic and thrill-
stancy and Merthyr's nobility, writes to ing
the latter that she loves him, and will
be his wife at the end of the three years
Ase
ge of Reason, The, by Thomas Paine,
for which she is pledged.
The story
was first published in a complete
contains all of Meredith's marked man-
edition on October 25th, 1795.
nerisms; but also flashes with wit, and is the First Part appeared, but no copy
full of life and vivacity.
bearing that date can be found. When
(
In 1793
## p. 329 (#365) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
329
.
it went to press the author was in prison, with commentaries. While these are not
in France, having been arrested almost sequentially connected, they are yet so
at the hour of its completion. Referring arranged as to illustrate the author's
to this in the preface to the Second Part, purpose, to address his thought to the
he writes:–«Conceiving
that I unspiritual but reflecting mind of the sup-
had but a few days of liberty, I sat down posed pilgrim, who is led from worldly-
and brought the work to a close as speed- mindedness to the acceptance of spiritual
ily as possible; and I had not finished it religion. Coleridge takes up the argu-
more than six hours, in the state it has ment on the pilgrim's (imputed) princi-
since appeared, before a guard came there ples of worldly calculation. Beginning
about three in the morning, with an order with religion as Prudence, resultant from
signed by the two committees of Public the sense and sensuous understanding,
Safety and Surety General for putting me he ascends to the ground of morality, as
in arrestation as a foreigner, and convey- inspired by the heart and conscience, and
ing me to the prison of the Luxembourg. finally to Spiritual Religion, as presented
I contrived on my way there to call on by reason and the will.
Joel Barlow, and I put the manuscript of This argument is by no means patent
the work into his hands, as more safe to the casual reader, for the author ad-
than in my possession in prison; and not dresses himself to the heart rather than
knowing what might be the fate in France to the reasoning faculties. The doctrines
either of the writer or the work, I ad- of the book are held to be those of the
dressed it to the protection of the citizens Church of England, broadly interpreted.
of the United States. His motive in writ- The language is choice; and notwith-
ing the book is thus set forth in the first standing the philosophical and somewhat
chapter: -«It has been my intention, for sententious nature of the treatment, the
several years past, to publish my thoughts book is eminently readable, exhibiting,
upon religion;
the circumstance in several passages, Coleridge's prose at
that has now taken place in France of its best.
the total abolition of the whole national
order of priesthood, and of everything ap- Self Help, by Samuel Smiles. This
pertaining to compulsive systems of reli-
book, first published in 1859, has
gion, and compulsive articles of faith, has
held its popularity down to the present.
not only precipitated my intention, but
It was the second of a series of similar
rendered a work of this kind exceedingly
works.
necessary, lest, in the general wreck of
(Self Help) is a stimulating book for
superstition, of false systems of govern-
young people, written in an interesting
ment and false theology, we lose sight of
manner; and while full of religious feel-
morality, of humanity, and of the theology
ing, is free from cant. The tenor of the
that is true. ” He goes on to state his
work may be judged by a quotation
creed, his belief in one God, in the future
from the opening chapter: "The spirit
life, in the equality of man, and in the
of self-help is the root of all genuine
duty of benevolence. Part First consists growth in the individual; and, exhibited
of an inquiry into the bases of Christian-
in the lives of many, it constitutes
ity, its theology, its miracles, its claims of
the true source of national vigor and
revelation. The process is destructive and
strength. Help from without is often
revolutionary. In Part Second, the author enfeebling in its effects, but help from
makes critical examination of the Old and
within invariably invigorates. ) The book
abounds in
New Testament, to support the conclus-
celebrated
anecdotes of
ions and inferences of Part First. Yet
men,- inventors, scientists, artists, sol-
the work is not wholly negative. «The
diers, clergymen, and statesmen: Min-
Word of God is the creation we behold. »
ton and Wedgewood, the potters; Ark-
Lanthenas's French rendering of Part
wright, Watts, and Peel; Davy, Fara-
First contains this remarkable reference
day, Herschel, and many others, among
to Jesus, found presumably in the lost
scientists; Reynolds, Michael Angelo,
original version: “Trop peu imité, trop
Haydn, Bach, Beethoven, and others in
oublié, trop méconnu. ”
the arts; Napoleon, Wellington, Napier,
Livingstone, as examples of energy and
Aids
ids to Reflection, by S. T. Coleridge, courage. The various chapters dwell
which appeared in 1825, is a collec- upon National and Individual Self-
tion of moral and religious aphorisms, Help; Application and
Perseverance;
## p. 330 (#366) ############################################
330
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
)
(
Helps and Opportunities; Industry, En- society in a contract; (2) the theory of
ergy, and Courage; Business Qualities; sovereignty and the general will; (3) the
Money, its Use and Abuse; Self-Culture; constitution of a government; and (4)
and Character.
civil religion. It overthrows the old
conception that property and birth should
Molinos the Quietist, by John Bige-
alone give a title to political power, and
low, (1882,) is a little volume, nar-
upholds the claim of the toilers to share
rating in the tone appropriate to the
subject the eventless history of Michel
in the government of the State which
de Molinos, a priest of Spanish descent,
they sustain by their productive labor.
who was the originator of one of the
Kant, Immanuel: Critical Philoso-
most formidable schisms that ever rent phy for English Readers. A new
the Latin Church. (Il Guida Spirituale,' and complete edition. By John P. Ma-
the book containing the obnoxious doc-
haffy and John H. Bernard. Vol. i. :
trine of quietism, appeared at Rome in The Critique of Pure Reason. Vol. ii. :
Italian in 1675; and in six years went Translation of the Prolegomena. The
through twenty editions in different lan- two works here mentioned form the first
guages, an English translation appear- stage of the career of the greatest of all
ing in 1699. The main points of the modern philosophers. The Critique
doctrine are thus described: The human (1781) stands highest as a product of
soul is the temple and abode of God: genius in philosophy. The second was
we ought therefore to keep it unspoiled designed more clearly to explain the
by worldliness and sin. The true end portion of the (Critique) which might
of life is the attainment of perfection, in be called the gateway to philosophy.
reaching which two stages exist, medi- A second great (Critique) Kant de-
tation and contemplation. In the first, voted to ethics, morality, what practi-
reason is the faculty employed; in the cally we ought to think,- the Critique
second, reason no longer acts, the soul of Practical Reason. ) For this the Eng-
merely contemplates the truth in silence lish reader may consult the following:
and repose, passively receives the celes- (Critique of Practical Reason and Other
tial light, desiring nothing, not even its Works on the Theory of Ethics, Trans-
own salvation, fearing nothing, not even lated by T. K. Abbott. With Memoir. )
hell, and indifferent to the sacraments In addition to these two critiques, of
and all practices of external devotion, things theoretical or speculative, and of
having transcended the sphere of their things practical or ethical, Kant made a
efficacy. Sixty-eight of the propositions third called the “Critique of Judgment,'
in this work were condemned as heret- or the philosophy of matters æsthetic,
ical at Rome in 1687; and its author the products of art,- beauty, sublimity,
was imprisoned for life, dying in con- design. This appears in English as
finement in 1697.
(The Critique of Judgment. Translated
by John H. Bernard. The chief diffi-
PRINCIPLES
Social Contract, The; or, Principles
OF POLITICAL RIGHT, by Jean Jacques
culty for English readers of Kant is that
of translation.
Rousseau. In French this is a master-
Professor F. Max Müller
piece of style. The principle that «Will,
has published a translation of the Cri-
not force, is the basis of the State » has
tique of Pure Reason); and Dr. Edward
Caird's (The
never been more effectively proclaimed.
Critical Philosophy of
Kant) is another book of value.
(The Social Contract) was published in
1762, and was regarded as the catechism H"
uman Intercourse, by Philip Gilbert
of the
Hamerton, (1884,) is a collection of
European life and thought was essays on social relationships, opening
Rousseau's aim was to guar-
with a short treatise on the difficulty of
antee individual rights and social liberty discovering fixed laws in this domain
by transforming existent States; and in which all inhabit, which so few under-
explaining this he dwelt upon the right- stand. The remaining essays treat of
ful authority of the general will. (The passionate love, of friendship. of filial
Social Contract) has little or no claim duties and affections, of priests and
to originality, but the borrowed doc- women, of differences of rank and
trines are strikingly presented. The wealth; in short, they cover nearly all
work is divided into four books, treating divisions of the subject. The author
respectively of—(1) The origin of civil brings to the consideration of his theme
on
enormous.
## p. 331 (#367) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
331
an
man,
are
a
reasonableness and sympathy. In his which approaches nearest to God. »
essays on marriage and on love, espe- « Nothing can separate two souls which
cially, he shows a keen knowledge of
for
instant have been good to-
human nature, and of the hidden springs gether. » «I know not whether I would
of passion. It is his comprehension of dare to love the man who had made no
passion, indeed, which makes possible one weep. ”
his intelligence on other subjects related
to human intercourse. The essays are Greek
reek Education, old, by J. P. Ma-
well supplied with concrete examples haffy, (1881), considers a subject
from life, in illustration of the points in which is not often presented systemati-
question. They are written in every- cally. The author traces the develop-
day forcible English, well fitted to the ment of a Greek youth from the cradle
subject-matter.
to the university; thus leaving off where
most writers on Greek life and customs
Treasure of the Humble, The, a series begin. In this obscure field, his scholar-
of essays by Maurice Maeterlinck,
ship presents much that is unfamiliar
makes its appeal to the God which is in to the general reader. The successive
The writer of soul-dramas here chapters treat of the infancy and ear-
presents his mystical, twentieth-century lier childhood of Grecian boys, of
philosophy in concrete form. This mys- their school-days, of the subjects and
ticism seems the direct fruit of modern methods of education, of military train-
science, which has so completely dis- ing, of the higher education, of the-
proved the existence of the soul that a ories of education, and of university
new immortality is henceforth insured to life. These subjects
considered
it. But the converts of the end of the in familiar, popular manner,
de-
century, among whom Maeterlinck may signed to bring the reader closer to
be numbered, find that they must estab- the ancient civilization, to enable him to
lish the claims of the spirit on no super- appreciate it upon its every-day side.
ficial or acknowledged grounds. “We do The work is valuable as a preparation
not judge our fellows by their acts for a wider study of Greek customs,
even by their
secret
manners, and institutions. It is written
thoughts; for these are not always undis- with a nimble pen, and its entertaining-
cernible, and we go far beyond the un- ness is not eclipsed even by its scholar-
discernible. A man shall have committed ship.
crimes reputed to be the vilest of all,
and yet it may be that even the black Art of Poetry, The (“Ars Poetica»), by
est of these shall not have tarnished
The name by which this
for one single moment the breath of
famous work is known is not the name
fragrance and ethereal purity that sur- given it by its author, who called it sim-
rounds his presence; while at the ap- ply a Letter to the Pisos. It does not
proach of a philosopher or a martyr,
pretend to be a didactic treatise, and
our soul may be steeped in unendurable is rather in the nature of a friendly talk
gloom. These essays go, indeed, far by a man of exquisite taste and discern-
beyond the undiscernible; whether the ment. It has become the type of all works
author write of Mystic Morality,' of
of a similar character, In the first part
(Women,' of 'The Tragical in Daily Horace treats of the unity that is essen-
Life,' of The Invisible Goodness, or of tial to every composition, and the harmo-
(The Inner Beauty. ' Some spiritual ex-
nious combination of the several parts,
perience is needed to comprehend; other- without which there can be no lasting
wise they will seem but words full of
The metre and style must also
sound and fury, signifying nothing be in unison with the particular kind of
They are not addressed to the intellect poetry in question: the form of verse suited
primarily, but to the universal soul of to tragedy not being suited to comedy,
“It is only by the communica- although it is allowable for a tragic hero
tions we have with the infinite that we to use occasionally the speech of ordinary
are to be distinguished from each other. ” life. The language must be adapted to
« To love one's neighbor in the immova- the situation and passions of the char-
ble depths means to love in others that acter, and must be consistent through-
which is eternal; for one's neighbor in out with the disposition assigned him
the truest sense of the term is that by history or fable. and with the age
most
nay, not
success.
man.
## p. 332 (#368) ############################################
332
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
in which he lived. In the second part, tells us how we may disentangle it from
the poet confines himself to the form of ordinary or oratorical language, and re
the drama, the principles he has already duce it to scientific form by stripping it
established being so general that they of the extraneous ornaments that hide it
apply to every class of composition. This from our view. In the second treatise,
form is the representation of the action he discusses the logic of science. Every
itself, and he points out the limits be- science has its own primary, universal,
yond which the dramatic writer may not and immediate principles. These prin-
go. In the third part Horace shows how ciples are not innate, but the result of
a young poet will find ample material for
reason or observation. He deals also
his works in the writings of the philoso- with other forms of reasoning; notably
phers, and above all in a careful observa- induction, which he endeavors to reduce
tion of life and society. He then traces to a syllogistic form. «Induction,” he
the character of a perfect poem. But says, “is in some sort the opposite of
perfection is not to be expected. Faults the syllogism: it is a mode of reasoning
are excusable if they are rare and unim- by which we demonstrate the general by
portant. What neither gods nor publishers means of the particular. ” A part of the
will excuse is mediocrity. Yet mediocrity treatise is devoted to the classification of
is the order of the day. One of the causes the fallacies employed in argument, and
of this is that poets do not take their art shows that every unsound reason is the
seriously. But poetry is of more im- counterfeit of a sound one. Aristotle re-
portance than many think. Horace con- gards deductive reasoning as the most
cludes by counseling the author not to be conclusive form of demonstration.
in a hurry to publish, and to seek the ad-
vice of some safe guide and critic. AT
ristotle in English. An edition of
Aristotle for English readers has not
Analytica, The, by Aristotle, is the been made; but the most important of his
third treatise in the philosopher's writings can be studied in either transla-
(Organon,' or Instrument. It embraces tions of single works, or in commentaries
in general all that concerns the art of on the Greek text of some of the most im-
reasoning. The four principal weapons portant works, the introductions to which
of dialectics are: an ample store of un- are so elaborate, and the notes so full, as
answerable maxims, the study of the dif- to open everything of importance to read-
ferent significations that may be given to ers without regard to their knowledge of
terms, the determination of differences, Greek. Among books of chief importance
and the observance of resemblances. He are the following: -
shows how an argument should be con- (The Parts of Animals,'translated, with
ducted, and the method to be adopted if Introduction and Votes, by W. Ogle, 1882,
we would hide from an opponent what opens for the reader a special field of in-
we wish to prove, until we trap him into terest.
friend, Count Fosco, whose wife, a rela- villain is one Lydia Gwilt, who, as a girl
tive of Laura's, will receive ten thousand of twelve, has forged a letter to deceive
pounds on her death. The marriage a father into letting his daughter throw
settlements are drawn up so that Sir herself away. Hateful and hideous as is
a
a
on
a
woman
XXX-21
## p. 322 (#358) ############################################
322
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
her character, Lydia is so drawn as to to impress Sir Guy, and contents herself
exact a certain pity from the reader, by with a Mr. Boer, appropriately named.
reason of her lonely childhood and her Two of Lilian's cousins, Arthur Chesney
strong qualities. The few minor charac- (a vain suitor for her hand), and Taffy
ters of the book, though distinct enough, Musgrave (a young British red-coat whom
do not detain the reader, eager to know everybody likes), add no little interest to
the fate of poor Ozias, the hero, who is the group, who are of a marrying mind
a lovable fellow. Among the few minor generally. Wholesome, pretty, not too
characters in this novel are Mrs. Older- serious, the story maintains its interest to
shaw, Mr. Felix Bashwood, and Mr. Ped- the last without introducing any startling
gift the lawyer.
episodes. It paints a pleasant picture of
English country life, with sufficient fidel-
Barba
rbara's History, by Amelia Bland- ity to detail and an agreeable variety of
ford Edwards, appeared in 1864. It light and shadow.
is the romance of a pretty girl, clever and
capable, who, passing through some vex-
Samuel Brohl and Company, a novel,
ations and serious troubles, settles down by Victor Cherbuliez. (1879. ) One
to an unclouded future. Barbara Church- of the most entertaining productions of
ill is the youngest daughter of a selfish a writer who excels in delicate comedy,
widower, who neglects his children. When and has given readers an agreeable
ten years old, she visits her rich country change from the typical French novel »;
aunt, Mrs. Sandyshaft, with whom she is though it has little substance or thought.
far happier than in her London home. The action occurs during the year 1875,
Here she meets Hugh Farquhar, owner in Switzerland and France. Samuel
of the neighboring estate of Broomhill; Brohl, a youth of lowest origin, is bought
a man of twenty-seven, who has sowed by Princess Gulof, who educates him,
wild oats in many lands and reaped an and then makes him nominally her sec-
abundant harvest of troubles. He makes retary. He tires of her jealous tyranny
a great pet of Barbara, who loves him
and runs away, assuming the name and
devotedly. The story thenceforth is of history of Count Larinski. Antoinette
their marriage, her jealousy in regard to Moriaz, an heiress of romantic notions,
an Italian girl whom her husband has who undervalues the love of honest Ca.
protected, and an explanation and recon- mille Langis because there is no mys-
ciliation. It is well told, the characteri- tery about him, supposing Samuel to
zation is good, and Barbara is made an be the Polish hero he impersonates,
extremely attractive little heroine.
thinks she has found the man she wants
at last.
Madame de Lorcy, her god-
mother and Camille's aunt, suspects
ford (“The Duchess”), needs « Count Larinski” of being an advent-
elaborate plot to make it interesting. Its urer; and is finally helped to prove it
slender thread of story traces the willful by the Princess, Samuel's former mis-
though winsome actions of Lilian Ches- tress, who recounts to Antoinette how
ney. An orphaned heiress - piquant, airy, she bought him of his father for a brace-
changeful, lovable - she lives, after the let, which bracelet Samuel has given
death of her parents, with Lady Chet- the girl as a betrothal gift. Disillusion-
woode. Sir Guy Chetwoode, her rather ized, she breaks with Samuel, saying
young guardian; Cyril, his brother, and pathetically, “The man I loved was he
Florence Beauchamp, his cousin, complete whose history you related to me” (i, e. ,
the household. Sir Guy, staid, earnest, Count Larinski). Camille visits Samuel
and manly, alternately quarrels with and to get back Antoinette's letters and
pays sincere court to his ward, winning gifts, contemptuously refuses a challenge,
her after she has led him a weary chase, and buys the keepsakes for 25,000 francs.
the details of which form the chief charm The bargain concluded, Samuel theatri-
of the story.
Cyril, twenty-six, pleasant cally thrusts the bank-notes into a candle
but headstrong, finds his love in a fair flame, and repeats his challenge. In the
young widow, Mrs. Arlington, about resulting duel, Camille is left for dead
whose character an unfortunate haze of by Samuel, that picturesque scamp flee-
doubt has been cast — to be dissipated, ing to America. Camille recovers, and
however, in the end. The ambitious Flor- eventually his devotion to Antoinette
ence, as vapid as she is designing, fails meets its due reward.
»
Airy Fairy, Lilian, by Mrs. Hunger-
no
## p. 323 (#359) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
323
Alla
ure.
(
llan Quatermain, by H. Rider Hag- this little work, of one of their num-
gard, rehearses the adventures of the ber, desultory and inartistic as it is,
old hunter and traveler who tells the story,
will be invaluable to the future histo-
and whose name gives the title to the rian. It will at least show the desperate
book. He is accompanied from England earnestness and self-sacrificing spirit
on an African expedition by Sir Henry of some of Russia's noblest sons and
Curtis — huge, fair, and brave — and Cap- daughters. For English readers, the
tain Good, a retired seaman. They take work has the disadvantage of spelling
with them Umslopogaas, a trusty and gi- Russian names in an unfamiliar (that
gantic Zulu, who has served before under is, in the Italian) manner. It was writ-
Quatermain. At a mission station the ten in 1881; and the year after was
party leads an expedition to rescue the published in England, with a preface by
daughter of the missionary, Flossie Mac- Pavel Lavrof.
kenzie, who had been captured by hostile
blacks. The interest of the book is found
Vera Vorontsoff, by Sonya Kovalev.
in the swift movement of the narrative, sky. Sonya Kovalevsky, whose fa-
and the excitement of incessant advent- father was a general at the head of the
Russian artillery, adopted the Nihilistic
procedure of making a fictitious mar-
Underground Russia, by Stepniak. riage, for the purpose of securing her
The former editor of Zemlia i Volia intellectual freedom. She became one of
(Land and Liberty), who for many years the most famous mathematicians of Eu-
hid his identity under the pseudonym rope, won the Bordin prize, and was for
of Stepniak (freely translated «Son
ten years professor of mathematics in
of the Steppe »), wrote in Italian a Stockholm University. Her marvelous
series of sketches of the revolutionary achievements in science did not prevent
and Nihilistic movement in which he her from suffering on the womanly side
had taken such an important part. The of her complex nature. Undoubtedly
introduction gives a succinct history of something of her own life history is to
the individualistic propaganda which re- be read between the lines of her novel,
sulted in Russia in a certain measure (Vera Vorontsoff, which she is said to
of freedom for women, and which, at have written in Swedish. It relates sim-
the expense of much suffering and ply but effectively the story of the
many young lives sacrificed, spread a youngest daughter of a Russian count,
leaven of liberalism through the vast ruined partly by his own extravagances
empire of the Tsars. Stepniak traces and partly by the emancipation of the
the successive changes that have taken serfs. The girl grows up with little train-
place in the attack on Autocracy before ing until Stepan Mikhailovich Vasiltsef, a
and since 1871. He defends even the professor from the Polytechnic Institute
Terrorism that leveled its weapons of Petersburg, removed from his posi-
against the lives of the highest in tion on account of seditious utterances,
power. He who had himself been del- comes to reside on his little neighboring
egated to (remove) certain of the estate and teaches her. They end by
enemies of liberty, could
help
falling in love; but Vasiltsef, who in-
arguing in favor of assassination as a clines to take the side of the peasants in
political resource. Under the sub-title their differences with their former mas-
of Revolutionary Profiles,' he draws ters, is (interned » at Viatka, and dies
pen-portraits of some of his acquaint- there of consumption. Vera sacrifices
ances among the Nihilists: Stepanovich, herself by marrying a poor Jewish con-
Dmitri Clemens, Valerian Ossinsky, spirator, condemned to twenty years' im-
Prince Krapotkin, Dmitri Lisogub, Jessy prisonment, and thereby commuting his
Helfman, Viera Sassulitch, and Sophia punishment to exile to Siberia, where
Perovskaya. The last half of the vol- she joins him. The character of Vera
ume describes various attempts at as- is carefully drawn in the genuine Rus-
sassination, and of escape from prisons sian method; she is the type of the self-
or Siberia. As a description of the prop- sacrificing maiden of gentle birth, of
aganda and methods of the revolution- which the annals of Nihilism are full.
ists in attempting to free their country There are a few pretty descriptions, as
from governmentai tyranny, and as a for instance, that of the app of the
statement of their aims and purpose, spring on the steppes; but the force of
not
## p. 324 (#360) ############################################
324
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
the story lies in its pictures of life at
the time of the liberation of the serfs.
It has been twice translated into Eng-
lish. The author died in 1891, at the
age of forty-one.
pan.
-a
two
Tent Life in Siberia, by George Ken-
(1870. ) The author of this
book of exploration and adventure was
employed, in 1865–67, by the Western
Union Telegraph Company, in its auda-
cious scheme of building an overland line
to Europe by way of Alaska, Bering's
Strait, and Siberia, futile project,
soon forgotten in the success of the At-
lantic Cable. He tells the story of the
undertaking from the side of the em-
ployees, -- a story known to few even of
the original projectors. It is record of
obstacles well-nigh insuperable met and
overcome with astonishing patience and
courage; of nearly six thousand miles of
unbroken wilderness explored in
years, from Vancouver's Island to Be-
ring's Straits, and from Bering's Straits
to the Chinese frontier; of camping in
the wildest mountain fastnesses of Kam-
tchatka, in the gloomy forests of Alaska
and British Columbia, and on the deso-
late plains of Northeastern Siberia; of
the rugged mountain passes of Northern
Asia traversed by hardy 'men mounted
on reindeer; of the great rivers of the
north navigated in skin canoes; of tents
pitched on northern plains in tempera-
tures of 50 and 60 degrees below zero.
Though the enterprise failed in its
special aim, it succeeded in contributing
our knowledge of hitherto
traveled and unknown region. Its sur-
veys and explorations are invaluable.
The life and customs of the natives are
minutely described; while the traveler's
sense of the vastness, the desolation,
and the appalling emptiness of this
northern world of snow and ice conveys
a chill almost of death to the sympa-
thetic reader. The book is written in
the simple, business-like style that, when
used by men of action to tell what they
have done, adds a great charm of real-
ity to the tale.
French and German Socialism in
Modern Times, by Richard T. Ely,
associate professor of political economy
in Johns Hopkins University. (1883. )
The author says: My aim is to give a
perfectly fair, impartial presentation of
modern communism and socialism in
their two strongholds, France and Ger-
many. I believe that in so doing I am
rendering a service to the friends of law
and order. » He further says:
« It is
supposed that advocates of these systems
are poor, worthless fellows, who adopt
the arts of a demagogue for the promo-
tion in some way of their own interests,
perhaps in order to gain a livelihood
by agitating laborers and preying upon
them. It is thought that they are moved
by envy of the wealthier classes, and,
themselves unwilling to work, long for
the products of diligence and ability.
This is certainly a false and
unjust view. The leading communists
and socialists from the time of Plato up
to the present have been, for the most
part, men of character, wealth, talent,
and high social standing. ” The work
begins with an examination of the ac-
cusations brought against our present
social order. It acknowledges the exist-
ence of wrongs and abuses, and it con-
veys the warning that the time is not
far distant when, in this country, we
shall be confronted with social problems
of the most appalling and urgent nature.
It is a laboring class,” the author says,
«without hope of improvement for them-
selves or their children, which will first
test our institutions. Without express-
ing any personal view as to how threat-
ening evils may best be avoided, and
holding that only a fool would pretend
to picture the ultimate organization of
society, he describes the principal French
and German plans of reform that have
been proposed. These include the sys-
tems of Babæuf, Cabet, Saint-Simon,
Fourier, Louis Blanc, Proudhon, French
socialism since Proudhon, Rodbertus,
Karl Marx, the International Associa-
tion, Lassalle, the Social Democracy,
Socialism of the Chair (i. e. , the social-
ism held by professors, among whom he
includes John Stuart Mill), and Christ-
ian Socialism. While endeavoring to do
justice to Karl Marx, he thinks Lassalle
the most interesting figure of the Social
Democracy; speaks of the more or less
socialistic nature of some of Bismarck's
projects and measures; and rejoices that
socialists and men of all shades of opin-
ion are more and more turning to Christ-
ianity for help in the solution of social
problems. The book is fair, uncontro-
versial, and full of information concern-
ing the many different schools of French
and German socialism.
to
a
un-
## p. 325 (#361) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
325
(1864. ) A work of great research and
admirable exposition of interesting facts;
showing how human action, such as the
clearing away of forests, the drainage of
land, the creation of systems of irriga-
tion, etc. , very greatly modifies the con-
ditions belonging to the surface of the
earth. Not only are the matters treated
of great practical importance, but the
pictures of conditions and changes in
different lands, and over the many vari-
eties of the earth's surface, are very
entertaining. The work became at once
a standard with international recogni-
a considerably enlarged Italian
edition was issued at Florence in 1870;
and a second American edition, with
further changes, appeared in 1874. In
this final form the title was altered to
(The Earth Modified by Human
Action. ) The earlier title was peculiarly
appropriate; as it is not the earth only
which the modifications by the hand of
man reach, but the course of nature,
climate for example, in connection with
the earth, or vegetation wholly created
by human action. In every way the
book is a most suggestive one.
tion;
Methods of Social Reform, by William
Stanley Jevons. (1883. ) This vol-
ume appeared, with a preface by the
author's wife, after his too early death
in 1882, the papers composing it having
already been published in the Contem-
porary Review.
Professor Jevons takes
the view that the possible methods of
social reform are well-nigh infinite in
number and diversity, becoming more
numerous as society grows more com-
plex, and that the recognized methods at
any given time are to be used not dis-
junctively but collectively. In this vol-
ume, he considers Amusements, Public
Libraries, Museums, «Cram » (in its uni-
versity sense), Trades Societies, Indus-
trial Partnerships, Married Women in
Factories, Cruelty to Animals, Experi-
mental Legislation, and the Drink Traf-
fic, Systems of Conveyance of Docu-
ments, other than the Post-Office under
government control, the Post-Office Tele-
graphs and their Financial Results, Postal
Notes, Money Orders and Bank Checks,
a State Parcel Post, the Railways and
the State. His Inaugural Address before
the Manchester Statistical Society, his
opening address as president of section
C of the British Association, and a paper
on the United Kingdom Alliance, econ-
omic science and statistics, are also
given. Libraries he regards as one of
the best and quickest paying investments
in which the public money can be used,
attributing the recent advance in British
library economics and extension largely
to American example. The paper on
(Cram) takes the view that while the
method of university examinations is not
perfect, it is the most effective known
for enforcing severe and definite mental
training, and of selecting for high posi-
tion the successful competitors; while any
system of preparation for the examina-
tions that leads to success is a good
system. He favors co-operation and pro-
fit-sharing, but opposes government own-
ership of the railways. In all his work,
Professor Jevons has shown that his
practical and exact mind is always in-
formed by a spiritual and ethical influ-
ence that gives his conclusions a special
weight on their moral side; and this
work, written with great clearness and at-
tractiveness, is no exception to the rule.
as
,
Day. The history of Sandford and
Merton has afforded entertainment and
instruction to many generations of boys
since its first publication about 1780.
Portraying the social ideas of the Eng-
lish of more than a hundred years ago,
it can hardly be regarded, in the present
day, as exerting a wholesome influence,-
in fact, it is chiefly remarkable for its
tone of unutterable priggishness.
Master Tommy Merton in this story is
the son (aged six) of a wealthy gen-
tleman who dwells chiefly in the island
of Jamaica. Tommy's short life has
been spent in luxury, with the result
that he has become an unmitigated nui-
sance. Harry Sandford, on the contrary,
though the son of a poor farmer, was
even at an early age replete with every
virtue; and when the two boys are
placed under the instruction of a Mr.
Barlow, an exceptionally wise and good
clergyman, he is continually used as an
example to the reprehensible Tommy.
Morals are tediously drawn from every
incident of their daily lives, and from
the stories which they read in their
lesson books. (The Gentleman and
the asket-Maker); Androcles and the
Lion); History of a Surprising Cure
Man
an and Nature; or, PHYSICAL GE-
Iodi ED BY HUMAN
ACTION. By George Perkins Marsh.
OGRAPHY
AS
## p. 326 (#362) ############################################
326
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
of the Gout,' and other stories of a like description of manly sports: like his ex-
nature, form the food on which these citing accounts of the cricket match
young intellects are nourished.
and the boat-race in his famous (Tom
Not the least remarkable feature of Brown) stories, and The Scouring of
the book is the polished language used the White Horse. )
by these children of six years of age;
Alic
and this juvenile can now only be re-
lice in Wonderland, and Through
the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll
garded as an excellent example of the
(Charles L. Dodgson). Alice's ADVENT-
literature with which our grandfathers
URES IN WONDERLAND. — Alice, a bright
and great-grandfathers were regaled in
their youth.
well-behaved little girl, quite normal in
Thomas Day is said to have been
every way, is the heroine of this fantas-
tic tale, the great charm of which con-
a man of an eccentric turn of mind,
and to have educated two foundling
sists in the perfect plausibility of all its
girls with the idea of marrying one
impossibilities. By following an extraor-
dinary rabbit down into a rabbit hole,
of them. The marriage did not take
she finds herself in a land where unreal
place, and he gave them each a por-
things seem real. But however absurd
tion and married them to tradesmen ;
the doings of the inhabitants of Wonder-
he himself marrying a Miss Milnes in
land, she is never surprised at them.
1778, when he was thirty years of age.
Her mistakes at first barely save her
He died eleven years later, through a
fall from his horse which he was trying
from drowning in her own tears; but
afterwards she meets many queer ani-
to break in upon a system of his own.
mal friends besides a crusty old Duchess,
a mad Hatter, a sleepy Dormouse, and a
The Scouring of the White Horse,
March Hare with whom she has strange
by Thomas Hughes. The colossal
image of a white horse, hewn upon the
experiences, and finally they take her to
chalk cliff of a Berkshire hill, is a last-
play croquet with the Queen of Hearts.
During a trial by jury at the court of
ing monument of the battle of Ash-
down. It was constructed in the year
the Queen, Alice becomes excited and
871, by King Alfred the Great, marking
calls every one there nothing but a pack
of cards.
the site of the turning -point of the bat-
As they rise into the air and
tle, and is the pride of the county.
come flying down upon her, she awakes
and finds herself beside her sister on a bank
The “pastime) of the scouring of the
white horse was inaugurated in 1736,
where she had fallen asleep. THROUGH
and has been held at intervals of from
THE LOOKING-Glass. —The next time Alice
ten to twenty years ever since. The
dreams, she steps through the looking-
whole countryside makes of it the grand
glass; in this land the people are all
holiday of Berkshire. The farmers for
chessmen, and the country is divided up
miles around, with pick and shovel, re-
like a chessboard, with little brooks and
move the accumulations of soil from the
hedges marking the squares. She travels
image, so that it stands out in bold re-
extensively as she moves in the game,
lief, clear and distinct as when first
and is crowned queen at the end. This
dream also comes
completed.
to a climax by the
After this is accomplished, the two
violence of her resentment against so
succeeding days are devoted to athletic
much nonsense, and she wakes suddenly.
sports, - horse and foot races, climbing
Besides kings, knights, pawns, and the
the greased pole, wrestling matches,
other pieces of the game, there are more
and backsword play. The hill is cov-
eccentric animals and people who have
ered with booths of showmen and pub- Queen and the fiery-tempered Red Queen
something to say. The careless White
licans, and rich and poor alike join in
the festivities of the occasion.
are very amusing, and Tweedledum and
Tweedledee are responsible for the song
The particular “pastime” recounted
in this book occurred in 1857; and the
of The Walrus and the Carpenter);
experiences of a
where, to quote the Duchess, one has to
prosperous Berkshire
(take care of the sense, and the sounds
farmer and his guest, a former school-
will take care of themselves. »
mate, lend a personal flavor and interest
to the story.
When
hen Valmond Came to Pontiac,
The book is made for boys, and no
a novel, by Gilbert Parker pub-
writer excels Mr. Hughes in the vivid lished in 1895, has for its motive the
»
## p. 327 (#363) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
327
en-
a
а
a
little army:
Napoleonic glamour which
which still
Barriers Burned Away, by Edward
chants simple folk on the outlying Payson Roe, after appearing as
borders of the French nation. Into the serial story in the New York Evangelist,
little French-Canadian village of Pon- was published in book form in 1872. Of
tiac comes Valmond, mysterious
a cheap edition, issued ten years later,
stranger, bearing about him the at- 87,500 copies were sold. It was the au-
mosphere of a great, dead world. In thor's first novel, and its great popularity
form and manner he recalls Napoleon. led him to adopt story-writing as a pro-
Though but a youth of some twenty fession. The plot of this book is very
summers, he seems the heir of magnifi- simple. Dennis Fleet finds the support
cent memories. Little by little he steals of his mother and the younger children
into the hearts of the simple villagers. devolving upon him, after the death of
Little by little ‘he wins them to the his father. Seeking work in Chicago, he
belief that he is the son of Napoleon. finds it impossible to secure a position
Even Sergeant Lagroin, a veteran of the suited to his social rank and education.
Old Guard, coming to challenge his After many hard experiences, he is hired
pretensions, is won to him by his man- to shovel snow in front of a fine-arts shop
ner of authority, and his utterance of where he afterward becomes a porter.
watchwords thought to be buried forever
Though he cheerfully performs the hum-
within the dead lips of the great Gen- blest duties, his superiority to them is
eral. The Sergeant's complete surrender evident. His employer, Mr. Ludolph, a
to this strange young Napoleon estab-
rich and money-loving German, finds him
lishes his claim with the village-folk. valuable enough to be made a salesman.
Valmond has dreams of reconquering Mr. Ludolph is a widower, having an only
France. He forms his adherents into a
daughter, Christine, with whom Dennis
The movement attracting falls in love. She treats him contempt-
the attention of the government, soldiers uously at first, but soon discovers his
are sent to demand the surrender of
trained talent for music and knowledge
Valmond and Lagroin. The latter dies
of art. He rises above the slights he
under the fire of their rifles, refusing receives, and makes the impression of a
to the last to wake from his beautiful
nobleman in disguise. Then follow an
dream.
estrangement and a reconciliation. The
«Valmond stood over his body, and
most noteworthy feature of the novel is
drew a pistol.
the striking description of the Chicago
(Surrender, Monsieur! ) said the of-
fire.
ficer, (or we fire! )
(
Never!
A Napoleon knows how to Alone, by Mrs. Mary Virginia Terhune
die! ) came the ringing reply, and he (who is better known by her pen-
raised his pistol at the officer.
name, Marian Harland”), was her first
(Fire! ) came the sharp command. novel, and appeared in 1854, when she
"Vive Napoléon! cried the doomed was twenty-four. The scene is laid in
man, and fell, mortally wounded. ” Richmond, Virginia, where Ida Ross, an
Valmond also, refusing to surrender, orphan of fifteen, goes to live with her
is shot. Dying, he confesses that he guardian Mr. Read, and his daughter
was the child of Italian peasants, reared Josephine, a girl of her own age. With
as a page in the house of Prince Lucien the Reads, who are cold, worldly, and
Bonaparte. After his death, however, it reserved, the impulsive and affectionate
is discovered that he was really what Ida is extremely unhappy. Fortunately
he made pretense of being, the son of her life is changed by friendship with a
Napoleon, born at St. Helena.
schoolmate, Carry Carleton. In the well-
bred and kindly households of the Carle-
A"
mber Gods, The, a novel in minia- tons and their relatives, Ida finds friends
ture, by Harriet Prescott Spofford, and lovers. When the girls enter society,
was published in 1863. It is remarkable Josephine becomes jealous of Ida's greater
neither for plot nor for character-draw- attractiveness, chiefly because a certain
ing, but for a magnificent depth and rich- Mr. Lacy falls in love with her. Mis-
ness of color, like a painting by Titian. understandings ensue. Ida gives up her
An amber amulet or rosary, possessing | lover, and returns to the home of her
mysterious influences, gives the title to childhood to devote her life to philan-
thropy. But the misunderstandings are
the story.
## p. 328 (#364) ############################################
328
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
name
explained, and the well-disciplined recluse American, The, by Henry James, was
is married to Mr. Lacy. The book had published in 1877. It was the novel-
a very great vogue, and made a reputa- ist's third book of fiction, a volume of short
tion for the author. It is simple in plot, tales and a novel preceding it. The cen-
contains a transcript of every-day life, tral character, Christopher Newman, is
and is deeply religious in tone, but be- a typical product of the United States:
longs to a fashion in fiction which no cool, self-confident, and able, impressing,
longer prevails.
by the force and directness of his nature,
Arm
rmorel of Lyonesse, by Walter Be. all who come in contact with him. Hav-
sant, published in 1884. The scene is ing made his fortune, he is traveling in
the Scilly (or Lyonesse) Isles (twenty-five i Europe for pleasure. He falls in love
miles south of England). Alone on one
with a Parisian lady of noble birth, who
of these (Samson) lives an old woman of
is half English, - Madame de Cintré, a
nearly a hundred, Ursula Rosevean, with
widow; and she comes to care for him
her great-great-great-granddaughter Ar-
enough to disregard the mésalliance, even
morel and the Tryeth family of four. To
to engage herself to him. The obstacles
them come Dick Stephenson and Roland
in the way of their marriage give rise to
Lee, the latter an artist saved from ship- many dramatic incidents.
wreck by Armorel. Roland finds a strong
attraction in Armorel, and remains at the Alton
Iton Locke, by Charles Kingsley, was
islands three weeks. He returns to Lon-
published in 1850, when the author
don, where, later, Armorel is instrumental
was thirty-one. It was his first novel,
and like Yeast, which closely followed
in extricating him from a network of
evil in which he has become involved
it, showed Kingsley's broad humanitarian-
through one false step. The intricacy of
ism, unconventionality, interest in and
sympathy for the wrongs of the English
the plot is worthy of Wilkie Collins.
working classes. It made a great stir,
Sandra Belloni, by George Meredith. . and did much in England to turn the
This musical novel was first pub- thoughts of the upper ranks to their re-
lished in 1864, under the
of sponsibility for the lower. Its hero is a
(Emilia in England. ) The Greek Peri- poet-tailor of a mystic turn - Alton Locke,
cles, ever in search of hidden musical Tailor and Poet, is the full title; he feels
genius, finds it in the voice of Emilia deep in his soul the horrors of the sweat-
Sandra Belloni, while visiting Mr. Pole. ing system and other abuses which grind
Pole has squandered the money held the poor, and devotes himself to their
in trust for Mrs. Chump, a vulgar but amelioration. I am,” he says of him-
kind-hearted widow, and is therefore self, “a Cockney among Cockneys”; he
forced, with his children, to submit to is sketched from his boyhood in a mean,
her attentions. Wilfred Pole, his son, suburban quarter of the city, through his
loves Emilia, but means to marry Lady struggle for education and maintenance,
Charlotte. Discovering this, Emilia which brings him into contact with the
wanders away, loses her voice, and is case of the toiling city masses, to his
rescued from starvation by Merthyr leadership of their cause, his advocacy
Powys, who has long loved her. He of Chartism, and final failure to realize
goes to fight for Italy. The Poles are his dreams. The purity, ideality, and
brought to the verge of ruin by Pericles. altruism of Locke and his friends Cross-
Emilia's voice returns. Pericles saves thwaite, MacKaye, Lady Ellerton, and
the Poles, on her signing an agreement Eleanor, make them inspiring prophets of
to study in Italy for three years and the war of the Emancipation of Labor.
sing in public. Wilfred hears her sing, The story is full of vigorous, earnest, ela
casts off Lady Charlotte who favors the quent preaching, and would now be called
Austrians, and throws himself at Emil- "problem fiction of the frankest sort;
ia's feet. She now realizes his incon- and it is also often dramatic and thrill-
stancy and Merthyr's nobility, writes to ing
the latter that she loves him, and will
be his wife at the end of the three years
Ase
ge of Reason, The, by Thomas Paine,
for which she is pledged.
The story
was first published in a complete
contains all of Meredith's marked man-
edition on October 25th, 1795.
nerisms; but also flashes with wit, and is the First Part appeared, but no copy
full of life and vivacity.
bearing that date can be found. When
(
In 1793
## p. 329 (#365) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
329
.
it went to press the author was in prison, with commentaries. While these are not
in France, having been arrested almost sequentially connected, they are yet so
at the hour of its completion. Referring arranged as to illustrate the author's
to this in the preface to the Second Part, purpose, to address his thought to the
he writes:–«Conceiving
that I unspiritual but reflecting mind of the sup-
had but a few days of liberty, I sat down posed pilgrim, who is led from worldly-
and brought the work to a close as speed- mindedness to the acceptance of spiritual
ily as possible; and I had not finished it religion. Coleridge takes up the argu-
more than six hours, in the state it has ment on the pilgrim's (imputed) princi-
since appeared, before a guard came there ples of worldly calculation. Beginning
about three in the morning, with an order with religion as Prudence, resultant from
signed by the two committees of Public the sense and sensuous understanding,
Safety and Surety General for putting me he ascends to the ground of morality, as
in arrestation as a foreigner, and convey- inspired by the heart and conscience, and
ing me to the prison of the Luxembourg. finally to Spiritual Religion, as presented
I contrived on my way there to call on by reason and the will.
Joel Barlow, and I put the manuscript of This argument is by no means patent
the work into his hands, as more safe to the casual reader, for the author ad-
than in my possession in prison; and not dresses himself to the heart rather than
knowing what might be the fate in France to the reasoning faculties. The doctrines
either of the writer or the work, I ad- of the book are held to be those of the
dressed it to the protection of the citizens Church of England, broadly interpreted.
of the United States. His motive in writ- The language is choice; and notwith-
ing the book is thus set forth in the first standing the philosophical and somewhat
chapter: -«It has been my intention, for sententious nature of the treatment, the
several years past, to publish my thoughts book is eminently readable, exhibiting,
upon religion;
the circumstance in several passages, Coleridge's prose at
that has now taken place in France of its best.
the total abolition of the whole national
order of priesthood, and of everything ap- Self Help, by Samuel Smiles. This
pertaining to compulsive systems of reli-
book, first published in 1859, has
gion, and compulsive articles of faith, has
held its popularity down to the present.
not only precipitated my intention, but
It was the second of a series of similar
rendered a work of this kind exceedingly
works.
necessary, lest, in the general wreck of
(Self Help) is a stimulating book for
superstition, of false systems of govern-
young people, written in an interesting
ment and false theology, we lose sight of
manner; and while full of religious feel-
morality, of humanity, and of the theology
ing, is free from cant. The tenor of the
that is true. ” He goes on to state his
work may be judged by a quotation
creed, his belief in one God, in the future
from the opening chapter: "The spirit
life, in the equality of man, and in the
of self-help is the root of all genuine
duty of benevolence. Part First consists growth in the individual; and, exhibited
of an inquiry into the bases of Christian-
in the lives of many, it constitutes
ity, its theology, its miracles, its claims of
the true source of national vigor and
revelation. The process is destructive and
strength. Help from without is often
revolutionary. In Part Second, the author enfeebling in its effects, but help from
makes critical examination of the Old and
within invariably invigorates. ) The book
abounds in
New Testament, to support the conclus-
celebrated
anecdotes of
ions and inferences of Part First. Yet
men,- inventors, scientists, artists, sol-
the work is not wholly negative. «The
diers, clergymen, and statesmen: Min-
Word of God is the creation we behold. »
ton and Wedgewood, the potters; Ark-
Lanthenas's French rendering of Part
wright, Watts, and Peel; Davy, Fara-
First contains this remarkable reference
day, Herschel, and many others, among
to Jesus, found presumably in the lost
scientists; Reynolds, Michael Angelo,
original version: “Trop peu imité, trop
Haydn, Bach, Beethoven, and others in
oublié, trop méconnu. ”
the arts; Napoleon, Wellington, Napier,
Livingstone, as examples of energy and
Aids
ids to Reflection, by S. T. Coleridge, courage. The various chapters dwell
which appeared in 1825, is a collec- upon National and Individual Self-
tion of moral and religious aphorisms, Help; Application and
Perseverance;
## p. 330 (#366) ############################################
330
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
)
(
Helps and Opportunities; Industry, En- society in a contract; (2) the theory of
ergy, and Courage; Business Qualities; sovereignty and the general will; (3) the
Money, its Use and Abuse; Self-Culture; constitution of a government; and (4)
and Character.
civil religion. It overthrows the old
conception that property and birth should
Molinos the Quietist, by John Bige-
alone give a title to political power, and
low, (1882,) is a little volume, nar-
upholds the claim of the toilers to share
rating in the tone appropriate to the
subject the eventless history of Michel
in the government of the State which
de Molinos, a priest of Spanish descent,
they sustain by their productive labor.
who was the originator of one of the
Kant, Immanuel: Critical Philoso-
most formidable schisms that ever rent phy for English Readers. A new
the Latin Church. (Il Guida Spirituale,' and complete edition. By John P. Ma-
the book containing the obnoxious doc-
haffy and John H. Bernard. Vol. i. :
trine of quietism, appeared at Rome in The Critique of Pure Reason. Vol. ii. :
Italian in 1675; and in six years went Translation of the Prolegomena. The
through twenty editions in different lan- two works here mentioned form the first
guages, an English translation appear- stage of the career of the greatest of all
ing in 1699. The main points of the modern philosophers. The Critique
doctrine are thus described: The human (1781) stands highest as a product of
soul is the temple and abode of God: genius in philosophy. The second was
we ought therefore to keep it unspoiled designed more clearly to explain the
by worldliness and sin. The true end portion of the (Critique) which might
of life is the attainment of perfection, in be called the gateway to philosophy.
reaching which two stages exist, medi- A second great (Critique) Kant de-
tation and contemplation. In the first, voted to ethics, morality, what practi-
reason is the faculty employed; in the cally we ought to think,- the Critique
second, reason no longer acts, the soul of Practical Reason. ) For this the Eng-
merely contemplates the truth in silence lish reader may consult the following:
and repose, passively receives the celes- (Critique of Practical Reason and Other
tial light, desiring nothing, not even its Works on the Theory of Ethics, Trans-
own salvation, fearing nothing, not even lated by T. K. Abbott. With Memoir. )
hell, and indifferent to the sacraments In addition to these two critiques, of
and all practices of external devotion, things theoretical or speculative, and of
having transcended the sphere of their things practical or ethical, Kant made a
efficacy. Sixty-eight of the propositions third called the “Critique of Judgment,'
in this work were condemned as heret- or the philosophy of matters æsthetic,
ical at Rome in 1687; and its author the products of art,- beauty, sublimity,
was imprisoned for life, dying in con- design. This appears in English as
finement in 1697.
(The Critique of Judgment. Translated
by John H. Bernard. The chief diffi-
PRINCIPLES
Social Contract, The; or, Principles
OF POLITICAL RIGHT, by Jean Jacques
culty for English readers of Kant is that
of translation.
Rousseau. In French this is a master-
Professor F. Max Müller
piece of style. The principle that «Will,
has published a translation of the Cri-
not force, is the basis of the State » has
tique of Pure Reason); and Dr. Edward
Caird's (The
never been more effectively proclaimed.
Critical Philosophy of
Kant) is another book of value.
(The Social Contract) was published in
1762, and was regarded as the catechism H"
uman Intercourse, by Philip Gilbert
of the
Hamerton, (1884,) is a collection of
European life and thought was essays on social relationships, opening
Rousseau's aim was to guar-
with a short treatise on the difficulty of
antee individual rights and social liberty discovering fixed laws in this domain
by transforming existent States; and in which all inhabit, which so few under-
explaining this he dwelt upon the right- stand. The remaining essays treat of
ful authority of the general will. (The passionate love, of friendship. of filial
Social Contract) has little or no claim duties and affections, of priests and
to originality, but the borrowed doc- women, of differences of rank and
trines are strikingly presented. The wealth; in short, they cover nearly all
work is divided into four books, treating divisions of the subject. The author
respectively of—(1) The origin of civil brings to the consideration of his theme
on
enormous.
## p. 331 (#367) ############################################
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
331
an
man,
are
a
reasonableness and sympathy. In his which approaches nearest to God. »
essays on marriage and on love, espe- « Nothing can separate two souls which
cially, he shows a keen knowledge of
for
instant have been good to-
human nature, and of the hidden springs gether. » «I know not whether I would
of passion. It is his comprehension of dare to love the man who had made no
passion, indeed, which makes possible one weep. ”
his intelligence on other subjects related
to human intercourse. The essays are Greek
reek Education, old, by J. P. Ma-
well supplied with concrete examples haffy, (1881), considers a subject
from life, in illustration of the points in which is not often presented systemati-
question. They are written in every- cally. The author traces the develop-
day forcible English, well fitted to the ment of a Greek youth from the cradle
subject-matter.
to the university; thus leaving off where
most writers on Greek life and customs
Treasure of the Humble, The, a series begin. In this obscure field, his scholar-
of essays by Maurice Maeterlinck,
ship presents much that is unfamiliar
makes its appeal to the God which is in to the general reader. The successive
The writer of soul-dramas here chapters treat of the infancy and ear-
presents his mystical, twentieth-century lier childhood of Grecian boys, of
philosophy in concrete form. This mys- their school-days, of the subjects and
ticism seems the direct fruit of modern methods of education, of military train-
science, which has so completely dis- ing, of the higher education, of the-
proved the existence of the soul that a ories of education, and of university
new immortality is henceforth insured to life. These subjects
considered
it. But the converts of the end of the in familiar, popular manner,
de-
century, among whom Maeterlinck may signed to bring the reader closer to
be numbered, find that they must estab- the ancient civilization, to enable him to
lish the claims of the spirit on no super- appreciate it upon its every-day side.
ficial or acknowledged grounds. “We do The work is valuable as a preparation
not judge our fellows by their acts for a wider study of Greek customs,
even by their
secret
manners, and institutions. It is written
thoughts; for these are not always undis- with a nimble pen, and its entertaining-
cernible, and we go far beyond the un- ness is not eclipsed even by its scholar-
discernible. A man shall have committed ship.
crimes reputed to be the vilest of all,
and yet it may be that even the black Art of Poetry, The (“Ars Poetica»), by
est of these shall not have tarnished
The name by which this
for one single moment the breath of
famous work is known is not the name
fragrance and ethereal purity that sur- given it by its author, who called it sim-
rounds his presence; while at the ap- ply a Letter to the Pisos. It does not
proach of a philosopher or a martyr,
pretend to be a didactic treatise, and
our soul may be steeped in unendurable is rather in the nature of a friendly talk
gloom. These essays go, indeed, far by a man of exquisite taste and discern-
beyond the undiscernible; whether the ment. It has become the type of all works
author write of Mystic Morality,' of
of a similar character, In the first part
(Women,' of 'The Tragical in Daily Horace treats of the unity that is essen-
Life,' of The Invisible Goodness, or of tial to every composition, and the harmo-
(The Inner Beauty. ' Some spiritual ex-
nious combination of the several parts,
perience is needed to comprehend; other- without which there can be no lasting
wise they will seem but words full of
The metre and style must also
sound and fury, signifying nothing be in unison with the particular kind of
They are not addressed to the intellect poetry in question: the form of verse suited
primarily, but to the universal soul of to tragedy not being suited to comedy,
“It is only by the communica- although it is allowable for a tragic hero
tions we have with the infinite that we to use occasionally the speech of ordinary
are to be distinguished from each other. ” life. The language must be adapted to
« To love one's neighbor in the immova- the situation and passions of the char-
ble depths means to love in others that acter, and must be consistent through-
which is eternal; for one's neighbor in out with the disposition assigned him
the truest sense of the term is that by history or fable. and with the age
most
nay, not
success.
man.
## p. 332 (#368) ############################################
332
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
in which he lived. In the second part, tells us how we may disentangle it from
the poet confines himself to the form of ordinary or oratorical language, and re
the drama, the principles he has already duce it to scientific form by stripping it
established being so general that they of the extraneous ornaments that hide it
apply to every class of composition. This from our view. In the second treatise,
form is the representation of the action he discusses the logic of science. Every
itself, and he points out the limits be- science has its own primary, universal,
yond which the dramatic writer may not and immediate principles. These prin-
go. In the third part Horace shows how ciples are not innate, but the result of
a young poet will find ample material for
reason or observation. He deals also
his works in the writings of the philoso- with other forms of reasoning; notably
phers, and above all in a careful observa- induction, which he endeavors to reduce
tion of life and society. He then traces to a syllogistic form. «Induction,” he
the character of a perfect poem. But says, “is in some sort the opposite of
perfection is not to be expected. Faults the syllogism: it is a mode of reasoning
are excusable if they are rare and unim- by which we demonstrate the general by
portant. What neither gods nor publishers means of the particular. ” A part of the
will excuse is mediocrity. Yet mediocrity treatise is devoted to the classification of
is the order of the day. One of the causes the fallacies employed in argument, and
of this is that poets do not take their art shows that every unsound reason is the
seriously. But poetry is of more im- counterfeit of a sound one. Aristotle re-
portance than many think. Horace con- gards deductive reasoning as the most
cludes by counseling the author not to be conclusive form of demonstration.
in a hurry to publish, and to seek the ad-
vice of some safe guide and critic. AT
ristotle in English. An edition of
Aristotle for English readers has not
Analytica, The, by Aristotle, is the been made; but the most important of his
third treatise in the philosopher's writings can be studied in either transla-
(Organon,' or Instrument. It embraces tions of single works, or in commentaries
in general all that concerns the art of on the Greek text of some of the most im-
reasoning. The four principal weapons portant works, the introductions to which
of dialectics are: an ample store of un- are so elaborate, and the notes so full, as
answerable maxims, the study of the dif- to open everything of importance to read-
ferent significations that may be given to ers without regard to their knowledge of
terms, the determination of differences, Greek. Among books of chief importance
and the observance of resemblances. He are the following: -
shows how an argument should be con- (The Parts of Animals,'translated, with
ducted, and the method to be adopted if Introduction and Votes, by W. Ogle, 1882,
we would hide from an opponent what opens for the reader a special field of in-
we wish to prove, until we trap him into terest.
