New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-09

THINKERS AND THINKING. By Z. G,REErsoy. NJ D. John
Darby) limo. pp 2jE J. B. LPpi-eoii Co.
In this new volume from the versatile pen
of the author of odd of Physician, the reader
will find the same marks OF literary culture, philosoph
zeal reflection and acute observation OF society and ie
which formed the OF that genial and suggestive
work The production before us il OF
deeper tone, dealing with subjects that demand
a more active exercise of thought anu pre-
supposing wider range OF inquiry on the part
both of the author and the reader II consists mainly
of reflections on the development Of philosophical theo
res in different periods Of speculation, with notices OF
the ustrous thinkers who have LETT the impress OF
their genius the opinions OF the world Mr. John Oar
by has evidently been wide reader. He has SKINNED
over OF the leading systems bOth or ancient
and modern times mind Is not only singularly re-
ceptiye but acutey apprehensive. Like the skful en-
gineer who takes in the capabilities OF a given
place at q glance, he peneTates the spirit OF
theory by "a spontaneous act OF intuition. We do not
find. however. that he adds anything TO the original
wealth Of his masters. He takes accurate inventory
of their goods but never uses them for the purpose o
increase or OF commodity They do not fructify in his
hands but in the state OF barren material HIS
work. accordingly. adds nothing to the sum OF human
knowledge Il furnishes a pleasant guide 10 the garden
OF the Hcsperides, but does not enlarge our store OF
golden fruit. The best things IN the book are,
perhaps, the brief occasional notices OF eminent
persons both among the living and the dead
but they are rarely without quaint expression.
and primitive flavor that the sincerity OF the
writer Thus Of the famous Hebrew pantheist he re-
marks: Few greater thinkers has the world produced
than SpnOza few thinkers have been more reviled and
more dcrded by the world. Simple in his nature anu
habits extent scarcely 70 be appreciated in these
modern days Of luxury and expenditure the lessons OF
his daily living less than Of his philosophy, overflow
with suggestions. Abundance not to him necessity
life was too full OF enrapurng reflections 10 be wasted
in the provision Of cOrporea supcrfues; enough was
enough, and enough oftentimes found in the eX-
penditure OF threepence day. Aphosopher and gentle
man he was never ntolerant the opinions OF others"
The sage OF Concord and fayorite Boston poet are
placed in uxtapositiOn Ever with rs in our
gatherings ever talking 10 Us, ever telling something
new and manly and grand are Emerson and Holmes
old j. the fOrmer,stem except 10 the friends
whose good fortune puts them close to his heart. We
watch his protruding intellectual eyes, and understand
the restless soul that squeezes Itself into the orbits,
Gliding the organs which will not because they may
not look far enough and wide enough for its mpatence
Then turn the other face, knowing never whether
it laughs with mocks misunderstanding scarcely the
positiyism OF Elsie Mountaineering in doubt the
structures the Poet About the neck OF the old
would throw arms Of love, and think how grand
II be to dwell with such in heaven. At the OF her
distantly look, and wonder If The crust conceals
a cynic. Upon the surface floats Emerson midway
between the face OF his river and its bottom
look we ever for Holmes" OF Bacon he says :
AT fifteen il is affirmed the coegan had thought out
his system. At twenty when the flush OF life and Of
passion upon most Bacon wrote with the placid
ity of sage Attwentysx, when produced his trea
tse on the Sublime and Beautiful the gorgeous
the neck Of the most enchanting beauty might
not betfsy him into style unbecOmng grayest matters;
ana yet at fifty and at sixty and even in the midst Of
all the shame and depression which encompassed him in
the years Of his fe his style grew into fragrance
aud flowers and the tree which had borne and east it,
hIut covered itself with blossoms" The memory OF
the writer here a fault as not Bacon who pro-
duced the " Treatise the sublime and Beautiful" at
the age OF twenty-sI, but Burke.