No More Learning



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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


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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;


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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.


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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.


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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. One of the subjects of Aristotle's
the admission of something involved in interest and research was animal life, the
the conclusion we wish to draw. Aristotle phenomena of which he carefully observed,
does not call his system logic, or claim and a theory of which he endeavored to
to have invented it; but his theory is so form. In his work on the parts of animals,
perfect that no philosopher has been able following that on their history, he under-
to add to it any element of importance took to find the causes of biological phe-
since it was first advanced. The work is nomena, and set forth his physiological
divided into two parts: the first deals conclusions. He showed profound scien-
with the form of every demonstration; tific insight in recognizing the importance
the second, with the demonstration itself. of comparative anatomy as the foundation
In the first dissertation he treats of the of biology, and was one of the first to
terms composing a proposition, defines a look for the laws of life in all organic
syllogism, and shows how it is con- beings. Although making but little ap-
structed. Then he proceeds to demon-proach to the exact knowledge of today,
strate that the various ways in which the Aristotle's study of animals is of great
terms of a syllogism may be employed interest from its anticipation of the best
give birth to three figures, to
one of modern method, and to some extent from
which every syllogism must belong; and the material which it furnishes. The
he describes their nature. After study- whole work is carefully translated and
ing the construction of the syllogism, he explained in Mr. Ogle's volume.


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
333
(
Aristotle's (History of Animals,' in ten Newman, who devotes an introductory
books, is counted one of his greatest volume of 580 pages to a very careful
achievements. It shows an acquaintance study of the political theories of Aris-
with about 500 species, and enumerates totle, in comparison with other Greek
observations very remarkable for the political teaching, and in his second and
time at which they were made. A trans- third volumes gives the Greek text of
lation in two volumes is given in Bohn's the Politics) with very elaborate and
Library.
valuable notes. A less expensive work than
(On Youth and Old Age; Life and Death Jowett's, for a good English translation of
and Respiration, translated, with Intro- the Politics, is J. E. C. Welldon's; a
duction and Notes, by W. Ogle, 1897, is the complete English version, with an analysis
latest of the treatises devoted by Aristotle in 96 pages, and some critical foot-notes.
to the phenomena of animal life; and a To scholars a work of elaborate learn-
specially important one, as containing | ing will be found in (The Politics of
ideas of vitality, of the soul, of youth Aristotle: A Revised [Greek] Text, with
compared with age, of the contrast of life Introduction, Analysis, and Commentary,
and death, and of respiration or the breath by Franz Susemihl and R. D.
Hicks, of
of life, and its function in the animal sys-
which the first volume, of 700 pages, was
tem. Even the errors of Aristotle are published in 1894.
curiously interesting, and in some of his Aristotle's (Constitution of Athens) -
ideas there are remarkable suggestions of Translation, Introduction, and Notes, by
truth as modern research has established F. G. Kenyon, 1891; also an edition,
it. Not a little of Aristotle's reference translated, by E. Poste – is an important
of the phenomena of life to fire would recent addition to our knowledge of Greek
prove sound science if a doctrine of elec- politics.
tricity as the cause of vitality should be (The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle,
adopted. The translator of the work de- newly translated into English, by Robert
votes an elaborate introduction to a care- Williams, 1869-91, is the most important
ful review of all the points made by to the modern reader of all that Aristotle
Aristotle, and he further appends full
has left us. The work is a brief and
notes to his translation of Aristotle's text. methodical system of moral philosophy,
It is easy now to correct the errors of with much in it of connection with
Aristotle, but even as wrong guesses at modern thought. The translation here
truth they are interesting. In his con- given is designed to reproduce the ori-
ception of the animal system the play of ginal in an intelligible and connected
the heart causes heat; heat causes the form for the benefit of the general reader.
lungs and chest to expand; and cold air J. A. Stewart's Notes on the Nicoma-
rushing in checks this expansion by neu- chean Ethics of Aristotle) is a two-volume
tralizing the heat.
work of more than a thousand pages, de-
Aristotle's (Politics. ) G. Bekker's Greek voted to notes discussing and explaining,
Text of Books i. , iii. , iv. (vii. ), with an from the Greek text, the thoughts of Aris-
English translation by W. E. Bolland, totle and the exact meaning of the Greek
and short Introductory Essays by A. terms employed by him. It can be used
Lang, gives a good introduction to this by the English reader, without reference
part of Aristotle's writings.
The essays
to knowledge of Greek.
by Lang, extending to 105 pages, give The Rhetoric of Aristotle, with a
an excellent view of Greek political ideas Commentary; by Edward Meredith Cope:
represented by Aristotle. The fine two- Revised by John Edwin (Sandys: 3 vols. ,
volume edition of Jowett's Politics) of 1877), gives Aristotle's work in the ori-
Aristotle, translated into English, with ginal Greek, with very full and valuable
an elaborate Introduction, a whole vol- notes. Mr. Cope published in 1867 an
ume of critical notes, and a very full (Introduction to Aristotle's Rhetoric,) in
Index, puts the reader in complete pos- which he gives a general outline of the
session of the means of thoroughly know- contents of the treatise and paraphrases of
ing what Aristotle taught on politics. In the more difficult portions. With the four
every respect the work is one of the volumes the English reader can readily
most admirable presentations ever made find the points and arguments of Aris-
of a masterpiece of Greek antiquity. A totle's treatment of the art of rhetoric.
second work of great value is the elab- Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine
orate Politics of Aristotle,' by W. L. Art, with a Critical [Greek] Text and a


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
334
men.
Translation of the (Poetics,' by S. H. instructor of youth. It is Alcibiades who
Butcher, (1895,) is an excellent treatment draws the portrait of his master. He has
of Aristotle's theory of poetry in connec- just entered the banquet hall with some
tion with other aspects of his comprehens- of his boon companions, and is himself
ive thought. The insight of Aristotle in tipsy. His potations, however, serve to
his conception of the essential character add fire and energy to his description of
of poetry, his penetrating analysis of the the philosopher, whom he says he knows
imaginative creations of Greece, and his thoroughly, and of whom he has also a
views of tragedy, limited by the theatre good many personal reasons to complain.
of his time, give a special interest to Dr. Socrates, he continues, is not unlike those
Butcher's volume.
Silenuses you find in the studios of the
sculptors, with reed-pipes or flutes be-
Banquet, The, a dialogue by Plato.
,
tween their fingers. Separate the two
(The Banquet) is usually considered pieces composing a Silenus, and lo! the
the finest of Plato's dialogues, because of sacred figure of some god or other, which
its infinite variety, its vivid and truth- was hidden by the outer covering, is re-
ful discrimination of character, and the vealed to your eyes.
As far as outward
ease with which the author rises naturally appearance goes, then, Socrates resembles
from the comic, and even the grotesque, a Silenus or satyr. Indeed, any one who
to the loftiest heights of sublimity. A looks closely can perceive clearly that he
number of guests assemble at the house is the very image of the satyr Marsyas,
of Agathon. The subject of love is intro-morally as well as physically. Can he
duced; they proceed to discuss, praise, deny that he is an unblushing scoffer? If
and define it, each according to his ideas, he does, witnesses are within call ready
disposition, and character. Socrates, sum- to prove the contrary. Is he not also
moned to give his opinion, relates a con- a flute-player, and a far better one than
versation he once had with a woman of Marsyas, too? It was by the potency
Mantinea named Diotime. This artifice of the sounds which the satyr's lips drew
enables Plato to make Socrates responsi- from his instruments that he charmed
ble for ideas that are really his own. In
The only difference between him
the opinion of the Mantinean lady, the and Socrates is that the latter, without
only way to reach love is to begin with instruments and by his discourses simply,
the cultivation of beauty here below, and produces the same effects. Alcibiades
then rise gradually, by steps of the lad- next dwells on the oracles that predicted
der, to supreme beauty. Thus we should the advent of his divine teacher, and their
proceed from the contemplation of one mutual relations at Athens during the
beautiful body to two, from two to sev- military expedition to Potidæa and in the
eral; then from beautiful functions and defeat at Delium. He then returns to
occupations to beautiful sciences. Thus his comparison between Socrates and a
we come at last to the perfect science, Silenus, and declares that his discourses
which is nothing else but the science of also are Silenuses. With all his admi-
supreme beauty. A man absorbed in the
ration for the philosopher, he must ac-
contemplation of pure, simple, elementary knowledge that at first his language
beauty — beauty devoid of flesh, color, and seemed to him as grotesque as his per-
all other perishable vanities; in a word, The words and expressions form-
divine beauty, one and absolute - could ing the exterior garb of his thought are
never endure to have his ideas distressed
quite as rugged and uncouth as the hide
by the consideration of ephemeral things. of some repulsive satyr. And then he is
Such a man will perceive beauty by means always talking of such downright asses
of the organ by which beauty is percep- as blacksmiths, cobblers, curriers, and so
tible; and will engender here below, not forth, and he is always saying the same
phantoms of virtue, because he does not thing in the same terms. But a person
embrace phantoms, but true virtues, be- has only to open his discourses and take
cause he embraces truth. Now, he who a peep inside, and he will discover, first,
engenders and fosters true virtue is loved that there is some meaning in them after
by God; and if any one deserves to be all; and after closer observation, that they
immortal, surely it is he. The end of are altogether divine, and enshrine the
the dialogue is almost entirely devoted to sacred images of every virtue and almost
the praise of Socrates, and to a picture of every principle that must guide any
of his life as a man, a soldier, and an one ambitious to become a good man.
son.


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
335
to
Banquet, The, a dialogue by Xenophon, part of the oration he exposes the men-
is the third work directly inspired dacity of Clodius, and says that as
by the author's recollections of Socrates, his accusation that he, Cicero, had pro-
and was probably written with the view faned the ground upon which his house
of giving a correcter idea of his mas- stood, that was impossible, for it had
ter's doctrines than is presented in "The already been officially decided that this
Banquet) of Plato. The scene takes ground had never been consecrated, in the
place at the home of the wealthy Callias legal sense. In the second part of the
during the Panathenaic festival. Callias speech, which is full of fire and vehe-
has invited a large party to a banquet mence, he discusses each point in the re-
arranged in honor of young Autolycos. ply of the aruspices, and shows that every
Socrates and a number of his friends are one of them applies directly to Clodius,
among the guests. The extraordinary who has incurred the anger of the gods by
beauty of Autolycos has such an effect his profanations, his impieties, and his
on the assembly that every one is struck unspeakable outrages. Therefore, Cicero
dumb with admiration. The buffoon concludes, Clodius himself is far more the
Philippos makes vain efforts to dispel this foe of the gods than any other Roman,
universal gravity; but he has only poor and is the most dangerous enemy of the
success, and complains with mock solem- State as well. This speech takes rank
nity of his failure. When the tables are among the greatest of Cicero's orations,
removed, three comedians, a harper, a though the orator had little time for
flute-player, and a dancer enter, and with preparation, and suffered under the dis-
them their manager. The artists play, advantage of addressing an audience at
sing, and dance; while the guests ex- first openly unfriendly.
change casual remarks, which, on account
of the distraction caused by the entertain- Archæology, Manual of Egyptian, and
ment, become more and more disconnected. Guide to the Study of Antiquities in
Socrates proposes that conversation take Egypt, by Gaston Maspero. Translated
the place of music entirely, and that each by Amelia B. Edwards. Fourth Revised
describe the art he cultivates, and speak Edition: 1895. One of the most pictur-
in praise of it. Then several discourses esque, original, and readable volumes in
follow. The most important of them are the immense literature to which our vast
two by Socrates, in one of which he eulo- new knowledge of the long-buried Egypt
gizes the dignity of the trade he himself has given rise. With its many
has adopted. In the other, he speaks of facts and new views and interpretations,
love. The love, however, which he cele- gleaned by M. Maspero with his unri-
brates, is the pure love that has the i valed facilities as director of the great
heavenly Aphrodite for its source, and Boulak Museum at Cairo, the volume is,
has no connection with the popular Aph- for the general reader and the student,
rodite. After these discourses an imi- the most adequate of text-books and
tative dance is given by the artists, in handbooks of its subject.
which the loves of Bacchus and Ariadne
are portrayed.
Ak kbar-nahmeh, by Abul Fazl. (1605. )
A history in Persian of the nearly
Aruspices, On the Reply of the, an fifty years' reign of Akbar, Mogul em-
oration by Cicero. After Cicero's re- peror of India (a contemporary of Queen
call from exile, different prodigies alarmed Elizabeth); the greatest Asiatic monarch
the people of Rome. The aruspices of modern times, and in genius and
(priests who inspected the entrails of character one of the most remarkable
birds, etc. , to draw omens of the gods' men that ever lived. A recent Life)
will or temper from their appearance), has appeared in the English (Rulers of
being consulted, answered that the pub- India' series, edited by Sir W. W. Hunter.
lic ceremonies had been neglected, the According to this history, Akbar was the
holy places profaned, and frightful calam- | grandson of Baber, the first of the Great
ities decreed in consequence. Thereupon Moguls in India. He succeeded his father,
Clodius assembled the citizens and de- Baber's eldest son Humayun, when barely
nounced Cicero the cause of the fourteen. At Akbar's birth, October 14th,
misfortunes that menaced the city. On 1542, Humayun had lost his dominions,
the following day the orator replied in and had only begun after twelve years
the Senate to the attack. In the first of exile to recover them, when his death
new
as


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336
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
(
in 1556 left Akbar the throne of Delhi, gives a series of sketches of certain
with an able but despotic Turkoman parts of astronomy which especially rep-
noble acting as regent. Akbar at seven- resent new knowledge.
teen took the government into his own The large work on (The Story of the
hands; and by his vigilance, energy, and Heavens,' revised to represent recent
wisdom, with a magnanimity, toleration, progress, brings within a single volume
and generosity rarely seen
in power-
all the principal facts of the magnificent
ful rulers, extended and consolidated story of the sun and moon, the solar
his empire on a scale of territory and system, the laws which rule it, the plan-
strength, and to a degree of order, peace, ets of our system, their satellites, the
and prosperity, wholly unexampled. In minor planets, comets, and shooting
addition to economic and social reforms stars; and the vast depths of the uni-
of the most enlightened and equitable verse filled with suns which we see as
character, Akbar rose far above his age, stars. The special questions of the star-
and above his own creed as a Moslem, land known by the telescope and the
in establishing absolute toleration. He spectroscope are all carefully treated.
gave the Hindus freedom of worship, Dr. Ball mentions Professor Newcomb's
only prohibiting inhuman barbarities. Popular Astronomy,) and Professor
He had Christian teachers expound their Young's volume on "The Sun, as works
faith at his court, and made Hindu, Mos- from which he has derived valuable as-
lem, and Christian meet in a parliament sistance, and which readers may include
of religions, to study the sympathy of in a complete astronomical library. Two
faiths. He even founded a new-depart- small works by Dr. Ball, not mentioned
ure faith for uniting all believers in God. above, are (The Cause of an Ice Age,'
He promoted schools for Hindus as well discussing the possible astronomical ex-
as Moslems, and was a munificent patron planations of the ages of excessive cold
of literature. The enduring record of this in the immensely remote past of the
great reign, and picture of this noble earth; and (Time and Tide,' a couple of
character and great mind, which his able lectures on the very beginnings by which
prime minister, Abul Fazl, made, was the globe came into the shape and place
worthy to have been seen by Shakespeare. through which it could become the earth
as we know it.
Story of the Heavens, The, by Robert
(1894. ) Dr. Ball is pro- Hegel, The Secret of. Being the He-
fessor of astronomy in the English Uni- gelian system in Origin, Principle,
versity of Cambridge, and his books Form, and Matter. By James Hutchison
constitute one of the best existing libra- Stirling. (New revised edition, 1897. )
ries of knowledge of astronomical facts, A very elaborate work (750 pages) which
guesses, reasonings, and conclusions. In drew from both Emerson and Carlyle
his (Star-Land; or, Talks with Young the strongest possible commendation for
People about the Wonders of the Heav- its lucid analysis and exposition of the
ens, there is a story which no less a teaching of the most difficult of German
man than Mr. Gladstone has justly pro- philosophers. Originally published in
nounced «luminous and delightful. ” His 1865, its learning, power of thought,
volume on The Great Astronomers) is and perspicuity, made an epoch in Eng-
a most interesting biographical account lish study of philosophy. The literature
of the progress of the science, from Hip- of the subject hardly shows a greater
parchus and Ptolemy to our own time. masterpiece. The author followed it in
The large volume devoted to The 1881 with a complete (Text-Book to
Story of the Sun) is a richly illustrated Kant,' comprising a translation of the
exposition of the great central facts of (Critique of Pure Reason,' with a com-
our system of nature, those of the sun's mentary and biographical sketch. In
nature and action, which all modern in- Dr. Stirling's view, Hegel's philosophy
vestigation more and more proves to is itself but «a development into full
have supreme significance for all life on and final shape of Kant's antecedent
the earth. In a special volume entitled system. The reader of Dr. Stirling may
In Starry Realms,' Dr. Ball reviews thus cover under one master the two
the wonders of the world of stars, for most famous of modern philosophies, who
popular readers; and in a second vol- have turned the very principle of unreal-
ume, called "In the High Heavens," he ity into a basis for deeper realities.


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SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
337
move
scenes
are
or
one
Short Studies on Great Subjects, by connected with early English life and lit-
James Anthony Froude. The pecul- erature; among them The Druidical In-
iar charm of Froude as an essayist and stitution; Cædmon and Milton; Dialects;
historian lies in his picturesque and Early Libraries; The Ship of Fools; and
almost romantic manner, making past Roger Ascham. The second volume, pos-
events and persons live once more and sessing less unity of design, has thirty-two
across his pages. The graphic chapters on subjects strange, familiar, and
in these (Short Studies)
quaint : Rhyming Dictionaries are treated
highly effective, though preserving no of; Allegories and the Rosicrucian Fludd
logical sequence
relation to
are discussed. There are chapters on Sir
another. The first volume begins with Philip Sidney, on Spenser, Hooker, and
a treatise on (The Science of History); Drayton, and a dissertation on Pam-
and the fourth ends with the social phlets. The book as a whole is a pleas-
allegory called “On a Siding at a Railway ant guide into the half-hidden by-paths
Station,' where the luggage of a hetero- of English literary history. It is a re-
geneous group of passengers is supposed pository of much curious book-gossip and
to be examined, and to contain not of authors' lore.
clothing and gewgaws, but specimens
of the life-work of each passenger or Phalaris, Dissertation on the Epis-
possibly nothing at all, — by which he tles of, by Richard Bentley: (1699. )
then is judged. The very discursiveness (The Letters of Phalaris ) was a Greek
of these studies enables one to find here work purporting to be real correspond-
something for various moods, — whether ence of a ferocious Dorian tyrant of
classic, moral, or æsthetic; whether the Sicily in the sixth century before Christ.
thought of war be uppermost in the The educated world of Swift's time ac.
reader's mind, or of travel, or science, cepted them as genuine; and Sir Will-
or some special phase of the conduct of iam Temple, in a pamphlet assuming
life.
the literal truth of many of the wildest
legends and myths of antiquity, and set-
Amenities of Literature, by Isaac Dis-
ting the ancients in general above the
raeli, father of Lord Beaconsfield, moderns in a series of comparisons cu-
was published in 1841, when the author riously naïve for an educated man, had
was seventy-five years old. The title was extravagantly lauded them. This led a
adopted to connect it with two preceding young Oxford man, Charles Boyle, to
volumes, (Curiosities of Literature) and edit the Letters) for English readers of
(Miscellanies of Literature. ) As the au- Greek; and in doing this he used an
thor relates in the preface, it forms a por- insulting expression with regard to a
tion of a great work projected, but never fancied wrong done him by Bentley, who
accomplished. "A history of our vernacu- had just then (1694) become librarian
lar literature has occupied my studies for to the King. Bentley had promised a
many years. It was my design, not to friend, who wished to take the other
furnish an arid narrative of books or of side in the discussion with Temple, an
authors, but following the steps of the essay on the Phalaris letters; and in
human mind through the wide track of this he showed clearly that they were
time, to trace from their beginning the a clumsy forgery by a Greek rhetorician
rise, progress, and decline of public opin- of about the time of Christ. Boyle took
ions.
In the progress of these offense in connection with the appear-
researches many topics presented them- ance of Bentley's essay, and with the
selves, some of which from their novelty help of several Oxford wits brought out
and curiosity courted investigation. Lit- a sharp reply, January 1698. It was
erary history, in this enlarged circuit, to dispose of this that Bentley, fourteen
becomes not merely a philological history months later, March 1699, published his
of critical erudition, but ascends into a (Dissertation); not merely a crushing
philosophy of books. ) In the midst of reply to Boyle, but in matter and style,
his studies toward the working-out of on lines which were then new, a master-
this design, Disraeli was arrested by loss piece of literature.
It was
a brilliant
of sight. The papers in Amenities of piece of criticism, based on accurate his-
Literature) form a portion of the pro- torical research; it presented on several
jected history. The first volume con- points, which are still of interest, stores
sists of thirty-eight chapters on subjects of learning rarely ever equaled; and it
;
(
XXX-22


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338
SYNOPSES OF NOTED BOOKS
abundantly testified Bentley's genius as a was forty per cent. The Irish were bit.
controversialist. As a scholar, a learned terly enraged, became turbulent, and every
critic, and a university educator, Bentley effort was made to conciliate them. A
stands not only at the highest level, but report sustaining Wood, which had been
at the head of the stream which has drawn up by Sir Robert Walpole, was
come down to our time. There began answered by Swift in these letters. Swift,
with him a broad and thorough scholar- who viewed Wood's patent as a death-
ship in Greek and Latin literature, which blow to Irish independence, asserts that
before him was only beginning to get the English Parliament cannot, without
under way. He is thus to scholars one usurpation, maintain the power of bind-
of the great names of learning and of ing Ireland by laws to which it does not
letters.
consent. This assertion led to the arrest
ttle of the Books, The, by Jona-
of the printer of the letters; but the grand
Battle
Swift
than Swift, was written in 1697, but
jury refused to find a true bill.
remained in manuscript until 1704. It
triumphed, and Wood's patent was re-
voked. The Letters) were published in
was a travesty on the endless contro-
1724; the sub-title being, “very proper
versy over the relative merits of the
ancients and moderns, first raised in
to be kept in every family. ”
France by Perrault
. Its immediate cause: A
rtevelde, Philip van, a tragedy, by
Swift's Sir Henry Taylor: 1834. One of the
patron, Sir William Temple, as to the best English tragedies since Shakespeare,
genuineness of the Letters of Phalaris. ) by an author distinguished for his pro-
(See previous article. )
test, in the spirit of Wordsworth, against
In the satire, the Bee, representing the the extreme sentimentalism of Byron.
ancients who go direct to nature, and His (Isaac Comnenus) (1827)—a drama
the Spider, representing the moderns picturing the scene at Constantinople
weaving their webs from within, have a when the hero was Roman (Byzantine)
sharp dispute in a library, where the
emperor there (1057–59 A. D.