The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-01
NEW ROOKS.

Rhetorical Pfax5s," &c. Third edition,
New York: IL SCRIBSER & Co. Gin
cInnati: ROBERT CLARKE q Co.
Mr.. Day takes as a motto for his
book, Coleridge's ~aphorism, that he
who thinks loosely, will write loose
IT," If ,cept loose writing as a
manifesto ion Of imperfection or shift
Iessness-as Miss Ophelia would term
it-of thought, we must conclude that
close thinkers do not abound in this
country to any extent. We deem It
high time that attention was directed
to this matter, and DO not see how it
can be better done than in a work
similar to Nr. Days Art of English
Composition" While it is true that
the style Of writing depends much up
on the character of thought, it is.
equally true hal we think in the pre-
scribed forms of language. The more
familiar We become with correct gram
NAUTICAL construction, the clearer and
more distinct will be the thought
to which W seek to give ex-
preston. Mr.. Day claims that it
is unnatural for one who speaks
English to study the grammar of
that language according to the com
mon systems, and therefore in the
present book attempts to develop the
whole art Of Composition, the whole
science of Grammar, from the thought.
Throughout the book he ~endeavors.
to keep up a distinction between
thought itself and the matter Of
thought, between thinking and that
of which we think." A somewhat
hasty examination Of Mr.. Days work
cOnvinces US that it is a very valuable
acquisition to the multiplied books
on the same subject, already existing,
and that he has marked out a new
track for himself, and pursued it with
fdility throughout. We certainly wish
some Of our correspondents would
procure each a copy of the book
and study it faithfully for several
months, because if they do, they will
certainly write less often and more
in~telligently when they do have some
thing worth communicating.
DAVID, THE KINGO OF ISRAELI Por-
trait drawn from Bible History and the
BoOk of Psalms. By FREDERICK Will
LIAM KRUMMACHER, D.. D., Author OF
by Rev. NJ. q. EAsToN, NJ. A. New Yorz:
RPE Cincinnati: RoBr.
CLARKE q Co. Price, 81 70.
DR.. Krummacher's first Bible Por-
trait, Elijah the Tishbite," was well
received in this country, and in an
address preixed to the present vol
ume, he appeals to Americans for a
continuation of their favorable con-
~sideration. The book pretends to
nothing more than an effort to make
plain the way-for here and there one
who needs ito that far greater Ous
than David, to Him whom, though he
was David's son after the flesh, he
calls, in prayerful worship, his
Lord" As may be expected, the
book is a collection Of excellent les
sons gathered from the Old Tesla
ment Scriptures, and clothed in a
manner to attract and iivet the at
tention of many who would overlook
them as expressed in the simple and
abbreviated manner of the Bible.
While, as a general rule, We
are disposed to discountenance
the many efforts which are be
ing made to make the Scriptures
more Observation-Disclosures, as we do,
that in their simplicity consists much
Of their grandeur-to the great mass
of Bible readers David, as manifested
in his Psalms, is not clearly under
stood and appreciated. IF DR.. Krum-
macher has been successful, as We
think he has, in presenting David,
the King of Israel, to Bible students,
in his true character, naIght extern
uating," so that they can obtain a
clear comprehension of his greatness.
and his weakness as well, he will have
conferred a favor upon the Church
and Christianity. DR.. Krummacher's
style is terse and vigorous. He uses
no superfuous words in giving ex-
preston to his thoughts. We cheer
fully recommend the book to al
classes. and are confident that all who
read it carefully will feel amply com
pensated for the time thus occupied.