New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-06

THE CONTEMPORARY REVIEW May. II. S. King CO.
In an article almost grOtesquely character
stic on Home and its Economies" Mr.. Ruskin amuses
himself with the utterance OF grave paradoxes
on English society at the present day. and entertains
his readers with some sngulary frank confessions OF
personal autobiography. He lets know in the follow
ing remarks love OF country in reply to Mr. Herbert
spencers recent argument the subject that he IS
quite free from the "sublme passion" Of saving souls
and equally from all enthusiasm for the progress Of
science: There modes Of the love OF country
which are definitely selfish. cats OF the hearth-rugs
yet entirely balanced and calm in judicial faculty; pas
sions which determine conduct, but have influence
on opinion. For instance, 1 have bought for my
exclusive qualification tine cottage iR which am writ
Ing near the lake beach which used play when
was seven years old. Were publicspirted scientific
person, benevOently piOus one, should doubtless
instead be surveying the geographical relations OF the
Mountains OF the MOon or translatng the Atbanasan
Creed into Tartar Chinese. But hate the very of
the public and labor under oppressive anxiety either
the advancement OF science or the salvation OF man
kind therefore prefer amusing myself with the lake
pebbles, Of which know nothing but that they
pretty, and cOnversng with people whom under
stand without pains and who far from needing to be
converted, seem to the whole better than myself
This is moral egosm, but it is not intellectual
never form, much less express any opinion TO the
relative beauties OF Yewdae Crag and the Mountains OF
any exaggerated light the spiritual advantages which
possess In my familiarity with the Thirtynne Articles
know the hight of my neighboring mountains TO foot
and the extent OF my real possessions theological and
material TO article. Patriotic egosm attaches me TO
the one personal egoism satisfies in the other and
the calm se6shness with which Nature has bes all her
unphiosophical creatures blinds TO the attractions
as 10 the faultsof things with which have no concern
and at from the folly OF contempt and the
discomfort Of envy" He takes a fOrOrn view of tho
prospects Of England in her present OF moral deg
radiation. "Patriotism is, however, perhaps the last
emotion he conveniently study 10 England for
the temper which the JOY Of life with the sweet
ness and decorum OF death scarcely be manifested
clearly in country which ia fast rendering herself one
whose peace Is pollution, and whose battle crime
within whose confines IL is loathsome 10
live, and in whose cause 1t is dlsgraceful TO die"
In the controversy between capital aud labor which
now threatens 10 disturb the basis Of financial civil
tzaton Mr.. Ruskin takes strong grounds against tho
pretensons OF the former no ever became or can
become largely rich merely by labor and economy All
large fortunes quitting tressuretrove and gambling
ont OF confederation founded either on occupation
of land usuTy, taxation OF labor Whether openly or
Ooeultly the landlord. money-ender, and capitalist en-
poyer ather into their possession certain quantity OF
the meaps OF existence which other people produce by
the labor OF their hands" The capitalist. argues Mr.
Ruskin cannot all the means OF life upon him.
calf lie nyes thcin " other persona whom no employs