The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-07-19
Recent Publications.
The Spiritual Delusion, BY Dyer D. Lum.
Published by Lipuincafi RhiIa deinhia

The Spiritual Delusion, BY Dyer ID. Lum
Published by Lippincoti, Philadelphia.
We quote, since it throws quick light up
ON the aim of this work, the sentence in which
it is dedicated. ''To the memory of nv
brother and sister, this attempt to rescue the
names Of our loved ones beyond the silent
river, and the tender memories associate
with them in the secret recesses of our hearts
from PROCLAMATION by strolling jugglers and
their credulous dupes, these pages are affec-
tionately dedicated"
The author examines his subject, 1st as to
its philosophy; and pronounces it unscien-
tiic in its methods, ,unphilosophic in its teach
ings, unnatural in its effects. I'd He consid-
ers its Phenomena and letting in unchallenged
host of marvellous statements, shows that
equally wonderful phenomena, and perhaps
these, are traceable to natural causes; chief
among which are unconscious cerel rition,
magnetic forces and sympathetic impressions.
He quotes to the point from Frances Power
Cobbe, G. Lewes, and continually draws 10
his support from those writers on mental
philosophy whose works are established as
authorities. The whole tone of the work in
di ,ates the endeavor of well cultivated and
carefully trained mind to lead others forth by
paths which we must conclnde he has cleared
for his own egress, since he adds that these
pages are addressed to those who have neither
the time nor inclination to thoroughly inves-
tigate the subject in the light of modern scien-
tific research, but are still perplexed with the
apparent mystery surrounding it; the author
believing that a statement of the reasons
which have led him out of this treacherous
quicksand to heallhful moral action, may be
of service"
For sale by Loring, Short and Harmon.
The,I ntellectuai Life. BY Philip Gilbert
HamertOn.
Mr.. Hamerton, already favorably known in
literature by his 70. mer books, "A Paint
er's Camp" "The Unknown River and
Thoughts about Art" will by this later
production, add much to his enviable reputa-
tation for sincere, refined and brilliant
thought. The present volume is devoted to
the consideration of the conditions and in
fuences to which intellectual life is subject:
anu Iuc essays vi WutCu IL COnSlStS are written
in the form of letters to various real or sun-
positions persons. Mr.. Hamerton SAYS in his
preface:
have adopted the form of letters addressed
to persons of very different position, in order
that every reader may have chance of finding
what concerns him. The letters, it is unneces-
sary to observe, are in sense as fictitious as
those we lind in novels, for they nave never |
been sent to anybody by the post, yet the persons
to whom they are addressed are not imaginary. |
made it q rule, from the beginning, TO think |
of real person when writing, from an appre- /!
hension that by dwelling in world too exclu |
sively ideal might lose sight of many impedi- |
most exceptional and fortunate.
This form gives to the essays an ease, an
individuality; and prevents any lapse into
the heavy didactic style 10 which the ex-
preston of philosophical theories might nat
urally tend--if unenlvened by the more IA
miiar, sympathetic and suggestive manner
appropriate to friendly letter. Mr.. Hamer- |
toms style is exceedingly attractive; and his
constant support of his theory by anecdote
and illustration adds greatly to the readers
pleasure. An idea of the general tone of |
the work; of the very practical view which
the author takes of intellectual culture will
be formed from the following sentences, Sc
lected from the preface:
am fully convinced of this, convinced by
the observation of living instances IN an
classes, that any man or woman OF large nav