New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS
HAMERToNs INTELLECTUAL LIFE.


oo,oranv and kept a high ideal before him in the
midst Of the commonpaces of life. II betrays the
came refined taste the same familiarity with the
choicest literature and the same quiet, unpIetend-
ing wisdom which gave such a delightful flavor to
che nreyious works that have made the author
favonte with wide circle of appreciative readers.
He has attempted difficult species of composition
in which polished dizziness is often palmed OFF as
original suggestion, and dreary platitudes are dis
Ruised in elegant phTaseology and quaint iustra-
ton. His volume consists of didactic essays in the
form Of imaginary letters to certain persons in the
circle of bis acquaintance in which he takes adj
vantage of supposed facts in their experience to
offer his kindly cOunsels. and to descant on the
culture which bears so important part IN the con-
duct Of life. He presents succession OF apt
thoughts on every theme that he takes up which II
sometimes too obvious, and never far-tetched' are
always his own, and bear the stamp OF a rehecuNe
rs we'll as a fertile mind. II he does not exhibit the
admirable skill with which Sir Arthur Helps Nahs
his literary art with air Of the most naiVe SIM
plicity he never follows the bad precedent OF the
Country Parson in cOncealing apoverty OF Thought
beneath a plethora of words His manner is grace
full and winning often even afectiOnate; a tender
vein of sentiment impars delicate perfume to his
expression but habit of masculine vigor preserves
him from every approach TO soft efleminacy. Com
bned with his grave earnesneSs there is the spice
of arch humOr which saves strong thinking from an
excess of severity, and presents mOmentous truths
with a smile rather than a frown.
In treating of the intellectual life, Mr.. Hamerton
considers the physical basis the moral basis, the
effect of education the power of time the influences
of money, custom and tradition, society and soil
tude, women and marriage, anstOcracy and de-
mocracy, intellectual hyqenics, and trades pro-
fesSions and surroundings. As an illustration Of
the effect of judcious physical care on the discipline
of the intellect the author cites the example of the
German philosopher Emmanuel Kant, who though
OF anaturally weak constitution preserved the crea
alive activity of his mind TO extreme old age.
In his manner OF living he did not consult custom but
the needs Of his individual nature IL is not always
easy for great branwOrkers 10 follow with perfect 1de
ity the customs OF the people about them These usags
have been gradually formed by the majority 10 suit the
needs Of the majority but there are where close
adherence 70 them would De serious hnderance 10 tne
highest and best activity. good example Of this is
and he was right in hls nOn-cOnfOTuity TO German
usage on this point but he was mistaken IN believing
belief IN England that what called good breakfast
the foundation OF the labor Of the day. Rants break
sons Of the year. consisted Of a cup of tea and pipe Of
tobacco On this he worked eight hours, either IN lee
He dned a one, and this his only neal for he had
no supper. inc single repast was deviation from
bly, because read 80 the evening from six m quarter
TO tend, and second meal might have ineTfered with
This by diminishing his power OF attention There exists
a strong medical objection to this habit Of taking only
one meal IN "a hours, winch indeed rs almost unknown IN
know old gentleman who for 40 years has lived as
mental ciearness a detail which illustrates Rants at
tentiOu whatever could affect his physical e is ms
effort IS minutes before went bed. His theory,
which Is fully confirmed by the experience OF others,
was that there was rsk OF missing sleep the DalH
was not tranQuized before bedtime He knew tnat
The intellectual life Of the day depended the nights
rest and he took this precautOn to it, The regu
lary OF his daily walk, taken during the afternoon in
rest also helped the OF his sleep He would
not walk out in company, for the whimsical reason that
lungs than that which passed through the nOsrs and
he would not eat alone, but always had guests to DIN
pleasant society at table, and besides these there are
fICu 'eeGT 1O e 6y hb eh hS o no ynS d
in working order more uninterrupted than is usual
with men who through much intellectual labor The
solitary objection his system the excessive regular
fty Of habit which bound him by chains Of his own
indeed happiness is said 70 be commonly found
habit than IN anything else, so deeply does satisfy
regularity Of habit is Objectionable, because IL only
be practicable at home, and Is compatible only with an
existence OF the most absolute tranquility. Kant dd
not travel, and never could have travelled. He a
bachelor and could not have ceased 20 be bachelor,
without disturbance that would have been DtOlerabe
10 hlm He enjoyed the full benefits OF his with
change Of situation would have made the disadvantages
apparent. Few lives can be so mnutey regulated with
out risk Of future inconvenience.
The influence of bodily exercise in the preserva-
q
ence to several illustrious authorities.
Nothing in the habits OF wordswOrth-that model OF
excellent habits-cau be better example to men OF
letters than his love Of pedestrian excursions Wherever
ne happened to be- he explored the whole neghbOrhoOd
loot looking into every nook and Granny Of 1t; and
not merely the immediate neighborhOod, but extended
tracts Of country and in this way be met with much Of
his best material. Scott both pedestrian and
equestrian traveller having often, as he tells u.s. walked
thirty miles ridden hundred IN those rich and beau
tful districts which afterwardprOved 10 him such
OF literary wealth. Goethe TOOK wild delight in all
of physical eXercise-swimmtng in the Him by
moonlight, skating with the merry little Weimar court
on the schwansee ndlng ABOUT the country ON horse
back and becoming at times quite outrageous in the rich
exuberance Of his energy. Alexander Humboldt
delicate III MS YOUTH Dut the longing Tor great enter
prses made him dread the hnderances OF physical insult
hcency he accustomed his body TO exercise and
ugue, ana prepared hlmseH Tor those WQnderiul ex-
plOrdtOns wbcn opened his great career Here are in
Ieleetual lives which forwarded IN their special
aims by habits Oi physical exercise ana IN an carrier
age have also the example OF the greatest intel
who took such delight IN horsemansip tnat although
as Sass SI us PCHe1y E S nun oren' ne never
4 Mr. uameTtons remarks on the study of modern
languages may afford a valuable hint to those who
pride themselves on the facility with which they
read French OF German without sufficient mastery
of either for the purposes of conversation The au
thor was told by of the most mplished of En-
gsh nguists that after fair estimate Of the labors
of Others well his own. he had come TO the
elusiOn that il was not possible 10 learn foreign
language. Under exceptionally favorable circum-
stances, degree Of proficiency may be made but in
ordinary cases the fancy of possessing any but the
mother tongue is mere illusion. As we grow
older this facility of acquisition gradually leaves
NJ Phiarete ChasleS says that il is quite impossible
for any adult TO learn German: an adult may learn
German as DR.. Arnold did for purposes of eruditon,
for which il is enough TO know a language as we
know Latin, but this is not mastery. You have met
with many foreign residents in England, who after
he. for IN har y