New-York tribune., 1868-05-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


being occupied with familiar ground We rather
like TO read the description of well known scenes
because it brings into contact with the impress
sOns of another mind and serves to correct the
rOrs and shortcomings of our own experience. We
are not without a standard of comparison by which
to judge the views of the writer and willingly sub
init for time to his guidance in order to refresh
personal knowledge. If 1.-THE traveller is a person of
sense and information it is gratifying to witness the
exhibition of familiar objects in a new light and we
not disposed to find fault with his statements be-
they relate to points Of interest in beaten
track. He may challenge attention either py
description or comment. He is welcome IN DOM
eases, provided he has observed with accuracy anu
writes with freshness. No matter if he brings De
fore MS old scenes if he has looked at them WIN his
own eyes. and relates his impressions WIN Ho"eSV
sincerity his book will always ma readeis ana
though like other fashions OF the woiId' IL
will soon pass away, 1t does goou scINloo
hv contributing 70 the entertainment OF the
hour Thus much, we think, may be CLAIMED
bv the present journal of travel 1t is the work OF
well-informed,viga mpressible and fluent writer
DIR. Bellows brings a large secular experience to the
discussion of his themes and though the influence of
professional sympathies is often prominent in his
napes he is to a great extent, free from the pTeu-
dices of a caste, and gives you the opinions OF man
of the world rather than of clergyman or a recluse
His method is chiefly that of comment. He rarely
induges in tedious descriptions of European common
places Taking it for granted that there have been
travellers before Agamemnon he offers yOu bis sug-
geStions in regard TO objects which You may be sup
posed to know something about as well as himself
His remarks are usually shrewd rather than pro
found, often hasty and superficial sometimes at war
with what he has previously stated, but always live
ly. gracious and sweet-tempered. The egOtism
which frequently crops out is perfectly harmless,
and indeed adds TO the interest of the book by Civ
ing it flavor of flesh and blood, instead of reading
like a tissue of prosy distractions.
Like most educated American travellers, Dr. Bel
lows found his inability to speak French and Ger
man an almost insurmOuntable obstacle to any sat
isfactoTy social intercourse with Europeans An ac-
quaintance with the written language and lltera-
ture, however intimate, is of but little practical
service man may be quite familiar with the
standard authors and yet unable to ask the time of
day or if haply he is equal TO that linguistic effort
cannot understand the answer to his question.
Hence Dr. Bellows strenuousy urges the Importance
of drilling pupils in the effective knowledge of spoken
French and German. 1t is certain this does not
come by nature; nor does it come with any more GER
tainty from studying grammar and reading books
nothing but course of practice for the special pur
pose OF training the to distinguish foreign sounds
and the tongue to repeat them of the slightest
One may understand thoroughly the construction of
the French and German languages, and be able TO APP
preeiate the beauty of their immortal productions,
and yet be obliged to keep his mouth shut like
dumb dog or an idiot before the waiter at table who
asks him what wine he will take to his dinner No
doubt teacher of foreign languages in this country
who should make it his principal object to instruct
his pupils to speak rather than to read, would meet
with ample success, and do away with one of the
most formidable obstacles to the enjoyment of
foreign travel.
The accounts given by DR.. Bellows of the state of
religion in Europe present theme for earnest
reflection. In Paris, there is great show of
religious education, without insisting urgently on
ecclesiastical dogmas. Modern Catholics soy very
little about doctrine, but seek to recommend their
religion by good works. The Church has a pro-
digious hold on the common people; the middle
class are rather apathetic than hostile to it; while
the fashion of the cultivated class is skeptical,
materlastic atheistic, especially with young men.
Professionalism makes no impression. 1t has never
been popular in France. and seems to find no soil Tor
its modern growth. In Germany there Is a great
decay in the faith and spirituality of the people.
The Catholic Church has great influence in some
regions as a political power and mighty super
stition: but where it has died out nothing vigorous
has shot up in its place The people have settled
into decorous, aesthetic materiasm; but are with
out aspiration devOutness, faith in the invisible
Professionalism enters very little into national social
or domestic life. The instinct for God and immor-
taity appears TO be asleep aud the prospect that
Christian faith and worship will for some time to
come undergo further natural decay on the Con-
tInent
There is Of course religious body in Germany, and
IS in the main souudy orthodox M HS heOiogy IA Be
liz and other great cities yon find Protestant churches
well attended, especially by where the preaching
~ o srufIDenfal and vague is sl earnest and evan
gohcal and where the prayers and hymns are very
thorough IL their orthodoxy The general participation
in the singing gives much warmth to the worship. This
Is true also OF the Catholic worship where, uu
like other Catholic churches the people universally sng
and seem really interested in and to helping the
worship There. however il is only the humber class
attends. But these manifestations arc exceptional
This kind faith is against the grain and spirit OF the
time. Evangeliclsm Is maintained in the Protestant
Church BY prOdgiOus effort the part OF few anxious
and faithful souls, alarmed at the general tendencies OF
thought and life and willing TO shut their own eyes and
the eyes OF others only so the OLD confidence ana the
old pcty can be upheld or brought back. Meanwhile
the intelligence the political aspiration, the science
and philosophy, the experience and courage OF the
community are all leaning me otbeF way 4hS unI
VerscS, "a rule, are favOrng the secular ana non
religious view and feeling The Sayans ana metaPhysl
CiaDs are mostly openly or coVefly sgCca 'u posi. ~
lists. few months at one OF the universities, te
birthday Of one OF the most venerable ana opoaT OF e
professors was celebrated wh literary ana sOe. Iesy
tes and after dinner II Is said Ia an address 10 the com
paIy, be openly boasted OF bis atheism seems
10 be the preNalng plOsOny auu Wnic its FIsht WIZ
s scautOuy respectful 10 Christian faith us left s less
dangerously, perhaps, derpnclaOry OF H. Inc aDOIs OF
have produced more eject than We are aware on
among the educated minds OF Germany Theauthentcty
aud sennneeSs OF ne G1speis, ~ seeiaS Feiy s
scholarly mcn, tied To Ocial necessities nave te
courage 70 treat with the least respect 1t seems settled
al least for the time, ~ the pnXScts OF nsand ana nc
svaus and metaphyscans of France and Germany that
whatever may be sbOUt Christianity, there 40
need Of considering any further The possibility OF events
an institution or religion survive the prevalence Of
opinions 80 radically destructive as this
The following sketch of the ascent of the Rgi pre-
sents favorable instance Of the descriptive powers
of the writer, which, on the whole, we think are