New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-04

The translation of GOethe's Conversations
with Chancellor Won Miller" by C. C. shackiord IN me
Radical presents the old poet III the unoiess OF
familiar social talk about half century ago, and not
quite fifteen years before MS death They form an inter
estinc suppement 10 his Conversations with Ecker
mann" discussing the same class Of topics III tle
same spirit Of smiling wisdom when gives rue"
perpeual fascination that work Here is one OF the
bite Of description in which he often hits on the
secrets Of character or two subtle touches lie
then spoke Of Frauein Caspers actress at Vienna,
who had sent him greeting by Strive; that she was
one Of those lovely, but neutral, Indifferent feminine
temperaments which endowed with hut little sensu-
Gus attraction and go through the world with the
more safety because they excite no deeper feeling than
that one likes he with them. On another occasion he
has some suggestive Lucretus, ingcniousy
accounting the passion for denial which inspired the
ancient skeptc 1.-The religious views OF Lncretus TOT
instance ought to he medded with; his idea OF ma
ture on the other hand grand. elevated, subhine
and this was TO be extoled-what opinion he held In re-
gard 70 ultimate basis Of things was matter OF III
difference At that period terrible fear of their condi
ton after deathhaunted mems brains somewhat IKE the
bigoted Catholics belief in purgatory: Lucretus grew
wrathy this and fell into the opposite extreme wish
fng 10 cure hy his doctrine Of annihiaton
Through the whole poem there was TO be traced this
gloomy rae spirit which wanted 20 elevate itself above
the wretchedness Of its cotemporsries 30 1t had al
ways BEEN so with spnoza and other heretcs If
men were not paltTy, the philosophers would
Under the date OF May 1919, Won Miller says met
at Goethes who in very good spirits, young Amer
,csp from Boston, named Bowel. who had been already
travelling three years in Europe" This impossible
name can certainly be recognized In Boston nut
prohahv is mistake for COgSwel professor Joseph g.
who al that time was travelling and pursuing his studies
H. Europe. Al article The Problem ef the New
PliloscpLy"by Francis Gerry Fairfield discusses, in
somewhat exclusive style the teachings Of Huxley,
Epencer MIL and Balm, opponents OF English thought
The oponiOn Of the writer the scientific alternative
Of the day summed up in the concluding sentence;
Professionalism runs through the whole gamut from
pautheism 10 toleTahly pure theismbut Cathoiciiy is
more positive IN that It the whole method OF
the two and reasons from God through revelation, to
man. instead OF from man, through revelation as sub
ective necessity, God either a. phantom OF con
siousness a. cosmOssOu or az sort OF metaphysical
absolute necessary the Protestant ontOOgy The last
approxmaes pure theiSm hut lacks the fine person
slty of conception that nheres to the Catholic Idea OF
God and as without this fine personality OF conception
God is simply metaphysical entity 10 elude metaphys
ics science will at last De compelled TO adopt Catholic
theisn or wholly reject ultimate cause" We are not
sure that we the full import OF TINS
statement but our metaphysical readers mas oe more
successful