New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
uppprpr spENCER,s ESSAYS.

This work completes the repubncatloh VI MI
Herbert Spencere Essays. They wore hrs' issued
In England in two volumes and selection from
Them of the more scientific papers, lately reprinted
in this country under the title OF illustrations OF
Trn;ra,s.l proyress" was noticed some months
xince In our columns. The volume before Us COM
rrscs the remaining Essays, and puts the American
pubc in full possession Of this authors niscella-
peous writings.
The subjects treated in this book are of quite
different order from those considered in the former
volume being less purely speculative and scientinc
and of more immediate and public concern. Socia'
ethical and political topics questions OF @S'e
morals, policy, trade, legislation currency anu pun.
bic reform are here Investigated. Yet the methol
of considering them is Characteristic OF MI heiOCi
Hpencers mind which aims to regard All snpJee'S ID
their scientific aspects and relatons-thst is, toI
bring out with precision the fundamental pFihelp4eS
involved in the inquiry. This tendency Is con-
,tuicuous even in the handling Of those @stheue
subjects which are commonly regarded as iyine ell
firelytwithin the region of taste and feeling, and
least amenable to anything like exact or scientific
treatment. The first article in the volume ol the
Philosophy of Style may be taken an illustration,
the method of viewing the subject being indicated
in the following passages:
No general theory OF expression seems Yet 70 he'e
been enunciated. TIE maxims contained IN weeks OF
composition and rhetoric are presented IN an uroreu
tsed form Standing as isolated doglasEas
ed nor much respected, they woud ne we're thet
deduced from some simple list PRINCIPLE We are to!o
that breyitv Is the soul az wit" We hea styles con-
demped as verbose involved. Blair says that ever!
needless pant 81 q sentence interrupts the description
and clogs the image" aud again that cng sentences
fatigue lie readers attention" IL is remarked by lord
Kames that u give the utmos. force 70 peFiod u
ought if possible, 10 be closed with me w9fa mn
makes the greatest figure That pareatheses should Dc
avoided that SaXo words snoud be used IN prefer
ence TO those of Latn origin, are established precep
But however influential the truths thus dogna tcaHy
embodied they would be much more influential II le-
duced 10 something like scientific ordination In tlus
rs in other cases, conviction VIII be greatly srehg,
ened when we understand the rhy And we may De
sure that comprehension OF the general principle RON
which the rules of composition result WI not only
bring them home to rs with create force, but VIII as
cover to Us other rules OF Ike origin
On seeking for some clue 10 the law underlying 'oese
current maxims may see Swallowed forth IN many o.
Them the Importance of ecolOmDing the reader q OF
hearers attention To present ideas that they MAJ
be epprehended with the least possible mental otoI
s. the deside-afum toward Which most Of the rlles
above quo,ed point. When We condemn writing tilat
Ia worry or confused, or intricate-when we praise
shs ST. easy. and blame that rs i!tienng We con-
scionsy or pEconseiously this desideratum az
onr standard Of Judgment Regarding language as ar
apparatus Of symbols for the conveyance of thought
may say that, as IN mechanical apparatus ihe
more simple ard the better arranged its parts the
greater VII be the effect produced In either case
whatever force absorbed BY the machine Is deducted
Sfom the result a reader CT listener has at eech mo-
nsent but limited amount OF mental power available
TO recognize and interpret the symbols presented 70
him. requires part OF this power 10 arrange and com
bne tie images suggested requires further part ana
nly thai mari which remains can DO used realizing
thought convened Hence the more time and attention
it takes TO receive and understand each sentence the
less time and attention be given 10 thc Contained
1dea and the le yvidy viii that ded. be conceived
l.. Carrying ont the metaphor thai language Is
che vehicle of thought there seems reason 70 think that
IN all the friction and inertia OF the vehicle deduct
its efficiency; and that in composition, the ehlei
sole thing ~ be done IL 10 reduce this ric'
zion and inertia to the smallest possible amount Let us
fon is not the secret Of effect alike in the wight choice
and colloc alton of words, the best arrangement o
clause in sentence in the proper order OF is prnei
bal and subordinate propositions in the pd icious use
amle metaphor and otaer figures OF speech, and ever
In tho -lythmieal sequence Of syllsoes.
This essay abounds with interesting ind instruct
five ideas upon the subject of composition, and un
folds principle which may suggest valuable hint
90 the student of the art of writing.
In the short paper on &" Gracefalness,' a kindred
principle is found to prevail in another feldgrace
full movements and attitudes being defined as those
which take place with the least expenditure o.
force In other words, grace, as applied to motion
describes motion that is effected with economy
Of muscular power; grace applied 10 ANNA
forms, describes forms capable Of this economy
grace as applied to postures, describes posurei
that may be maintained with this economy; and
grace as applied 10 inanimate objects, describes
snch as exhibit certain analoges 10 those attitudes
and forms.
The essay on personal Beauty" seeks 20 estab-
1ish the fact that there is relation between beauty
Of features and beauty of mind. Assuming, what
CIV will deny the relationship between character
and expression, he maintains that this passing con-
nection between mental qualities and facial fea-
lures constantly tends 10 become fixed As the
habitual frown at length stamps itself indelby up
on the brow-as habtual seornfulness becomes at
last intellectually set in the angles Of the mouth so
the transient forms Of feeling, by perpetual repcti-
zion, register themselves on the face and produce
a. permanent forms OF feature. Expression being
thus regarded as feature al he moking, it follows
that the meanings of expression must ultimately be
transferred 10 the features. Summingup the points
OF his argument, the author remarks;
IT, then recession Of the forehead protnbeTsncs Of the
tANs and largencss Of the cheek bones three LEADING
Elements OF ugliness demonstraby indicative Of
mental tneriOrityf such other facial defects
width between the eyes, aness of The nose spreading
G its ALA rontward opening OF the Dost,iis, length o
che mouth, and largeness OF the lips. habtaaly
ciAted with these and disappear along with them as
Intelligence increases both in the and in tie ind
vdual. IL it not fair inference thai all such faulty
traits Of feature signify Deficiencies OF mind IT, fur
fher ideal Of human beauty is characterized not
SIMPLY by the absence OF these traits, bat by the pres
ence of opposite onesf this ideal, found in sculp
tnres OF the Greek gods has been used 10 represent
snperhuman power and inteicence-and if the 80
asing il themselves distinguished by mental
superiority which If we consider their disadvantages.