The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-08
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAND.
MONDAY MAY, 8, 1871.


AseCeMt EuDucuu0u0s
Even the most ardent admirers Of Arthur
Helps must have felt little apprehension
when 1t was lately announced that he had
written another volume. After four Or five
books appearing in rapid succession his best
friends might well be excused for thinking
another just speck de trop. But whoever
reads these new conversations on War and
Culture, in which the familiar names Of NM
Friends in Council once more appear, cannot
iail OF amusement. Mr.. Helps knows as well
now 70 adapt his wares to the public taste as
II he were poor penny-a-liner, writing for
DAILY bread, instead Of public officer, occu.
pying responsible position, and acquainted
WIN what is said and done in the very high
est onc'ai circles. So he chops his wares ND
very hne, SO that the largest mind gets hold
OF them easily, dilutes his thought well fer
the sake OF the weak apprehension of his read
ers, and is as discursive as Tristram Sbandv.
Yet there will be found good deal OF wisdom
floating around in this book, Written after
the great German victories, it Is ostensibly a
consideration, in cOlloquial way, of the re-
lations OF cult Ire or rather want of culture to
war; but this is only pretext to enable Mr..
Helps to express opinions, in which he is as
prolific as any man now living, on almost
every question that can be suggested to the
human mind. One reads with mingled feel
ings OF admiration and dissent as, though the
captivating artiice of conversation with bis
friends, he now discusses war and its horrors
in humane spirit that does him great credit,
the woman question with the crudeness of q
stump-speaker who wants to know "whO will
take care of the baby while the good wife
votes" journalism in a complimentary and
appreciative style, Palmerston as the eulogist
OF personal friend, decentralization of pow
er as desirable, and Machiavelli as an admir-
er. He seems to labor under the impression
that he is the first In this generation to recog-
nize the much abused Florentine as person.
age altogether distinct from his Satanic Maj
esty, but those who have known anything
about Machiavelli except from hearsay, from
the days of the author Of Hudibras to the
present time, have reached the same conclu-
sion. Many Of Mr.. Helps best thoughts are
expressed in an aphoristic style that is
pleasant, and his suggestions as to the best
methods of preventing the recurrence Of wars
strike us as really profound and worthy Of
more than passing attention. Being an
Engishman, he is naturally of the opinion
that his country did right not 10 get involved
in the late Continental struggle, and moreov-
er that 1t was governed by anything but selfish
motives in coming to pacific decision, hav-
ing really to restrain its natural belligerent
impulses on principle. Or, in other words to
use his own language, England kept out OF
the fight because her statesmen, being God
bearing men, thought they would be damned
if they took part in it. This is certainly a
healthful feeling, and we much prefer to be,
lieve in its reality rather than to accept as
true the stinging innuendoes Of The Fight of
Dame Europa's School concerning John
Bulls selishness and avarice. Mr.. Helps
"trade" unfortunately sometimes disturbs the
operations of a naturally fine judgment. Be-
ing, as we understand, public officer, he ar
CUES repeatedly in favor ofpaying men Of his
class high wages, interfering as little as pos
sible with their expenditure of public money
and making their position a pleasant one
generally. tRoberts Brothers, Boston. For
sale by Loring, Short & Harmony
France before Europe, by Mlchelet, the well
known French historian, has been translated
and is published by Roberts, Brothers, Bos.
ton. 1t is explosiv. and vituperative, like al
French argumentative writing, but it Is GER
tainly vigorous. Many faults of temper and
style will certainly be forgiven French writ
or who treats of the late war. Mchelet will
need such consideration as little as anybody
(Roberts Brothers, Boston. For sale by Lor.
ing, Short & Harmony
Messrs. Hoyt, FOgg & Breed have received
from the publishers, @. Scribner 6 Co. anoth
er volume Of the Illustrated Library of Won
ders entitled "The Wonders of the Heavens
1t treats of the general arrangement of the
universe, the planetary system, the terrestria
globe, the plurality Of inhabited worlds, and
many other subjects in fascinating and in
structive manner, and is, equally with 1t
predecessors work OF permanent interes
and value. When completed, this series viii
be one of the most valuable ever issued from
the American press, and as its great merit
come to be more generally understood it vii
find its way into all "well regulated" libraries
and be sought for by parents as an invaluabl
adjunct to text books in the education &
their children.