The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-24
LITER ATu r e.


TIE LIYB OF RoBERT OWEN. Philadelphia; Ash
mead & Evans, No. 724 Chestnut street. 1885,
Pew biographies can be so warmly commended
10 general popular favor as the work announced
above, and which has been thrown into the book
market during the past week. II is what 1t pro
fesses TO be, in the truest sense Of the title.
most biographies are lndlscriminate eulogies,
and many rise no higher than the unqualified,
fulsome panegyrc. This is q Life; and it seems
to be strictly true to life, to its virtues and to its
faults. A faithful biographer should be both.
Sculptors aud painters may immorsalize the bad
as we'll as the good qualities of subjects-the Vice
of Cleopatra, or the virtue of Elizabeth Of Hun
gary; the bloody Mary, or Lady Jane Gray. The
highest merit of art is adelity; so the chief merit
of biography is truthiuluess. A biographer, what
ever his partialities must be faithful to the life Of
his subject and faithful to the demands of pure
morality. In the work before us we have good
illustration of such fidelity. This, indeed, con-
stitutes one of its many attractions.
Robert Owen, the subject of the work, was
undoubtedly one of the most notable men OF his
generation. He was naturally endowed with
every remarkable talent. Those talents he I'M
proved by assiduous and commendable self-cul"
ture; such culture as is made possible by the
learning and labors of diligent scholars, who
rarely get credit for being what all truly great
men are-selEmade men. To these intellectual
qualities he added an unquenchable ardor OF
temperament, If not glowing warmth OF heart,
knded and kept alive by enthusiastic humant-
tartan benevolence, or refined, indomitaole
ambition, or an incongruous, yet inseparable
mixture of both. Under the pressure of such
stimulants he prosecuted business with untiring
energy; and, after amassing a handsome com
petence for private comfort, devoted the sur
plus gains with lavish prodigality to the execu-
ton of favorite schemes of universal social and
moral reform.
Thenceforth his life was wholly absorbed in the
prosecution of these schemes, in efforts to COM
mend them to others, and to secure influential
aid In their general adoption. To describe
these schemes, therefore, to analyze the
principles on which they rested, to show
Their excellence or their defects, to follow
I'D and report the various experiments
made with them, and point out the causes which
wrought the utter failure of those experiments
iu New Lanark, in Harmony, and in other
places was the biOgraphers proper work. And,
as already intmated, he has very faithfully, yet
kindly, performed tine duty. His sympathies for
the poor, neglected. and often oppressed laboring
classes are manfestlY as warm and sincere as
those of Mr.. Owen, He exhibits, also, as keen
q discernment of existing social evils, and as
benevolent desire to have those evils allevated.
But, on the other hand his judgment ts not
warped by those prejudices which controp5d and
distorted the opinions and schemes of the New
Lanark socialist.
To all socialists, therefore, and to such
as are disposed to look with some favor
upon modern Fourierism, humanitaranism, or
aspiritualism; to all progressive reform asSociG-
tons and friends of radical agrarian movements;
this book may be safely and warmly CON-
mended. They would find it most interesting
and profitable book, written IN style which
makes the perusal OF it Ike gliding along a
smooth, swift current. The publishers, too,
have produced the book in the best style of
their art, and have made it, In every material
respect, volume of which the American press
may be proud.
HIt is desirable that cheaper form might be
published, which would place the work within
the easy reach of those who have but few dimes
to spare for literary investments We hope the
publishers will find themselves encouraged to
issue such an edition. 1a
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