New-York tribune., 1874-09-12
PHILADELPHIA NOTES.


NEW SCIENCE OF MnND-wE THINK BY MEANS OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ANNOUNCEMENTS
PORTFOLIO OF THE PHILADELPHIA SKETCH
CLUB
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNE'l
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 9.-Messrs. Claxton,
Remsen Haffefnger have inst published work on
mental philosophy. which contains many novel IDEAS
and makes the bold attempt to lay the foundation for
new Science Mind, which shall explain the processes
of thinking by rule as strictly mathematical as the
Rule of Three The work perhaps all the more note
worthy from the fact that although new as printed
book the manuscript prepared more than 20 years
ago. long Science took it latest departure on the
road to Materialism The title OF the book is " New
Elements from Old Subjects presented as the Basis for
n Science Of Mind; to which added the Philosophy
Of Numerdtion the Philosophy of Government and the
Philosophy of Definitions" The author was John
Gaskell, an Engshman who came TO this country In
1879 and died In Philadelphia in 1856, leav-
ing his book as q legacy TO his friend, John
W. Huff, who introduces 1t to the
reader editors preface in which he frankly says
that scarcely TO his conscience for baying
so long DELAYED its publication The editor, it would
appear has last been stimulated TO bring out the
book by the apprehension that other minds travelling in
the same track pursued by the author, will at length
reach his conclusions and thus take from him the honor
of what he deemed his great discovery, namely that we
think In cOrreations all subjects whatsoever This
is the law OF mind which Gaskel thought himself the
first 70 perceye and the book devoted to its eucda
ton He maintains that correating " forms kind OF
subsratum throughout all thinking and buds our ideas'
together. and that without this principle our ideas
would be like many particles OF dust, devoid OF all
connection" correlation, according to his definition,
denotes three things reciprocay connected IN such
way that they differ degrees relative to that with
which they agree. The human mind is so constructed
that it must correlate three things in one correlation
and no more SO that I'VE think as cycledly in CORE
laons as any wheel turns mechanically upon its axis
The author illustrates this theory in various ways the
most interesting and curious being by his philosophy OF
enumeration The decimal system did not arise,
he maintains from the fact that man has
ten fingers and used them in his primi-
tive state, aids to counting. Dnt from
the invarabe law according TO which the human mind
correlaes three things The prior mode in the case OF
numbering was "tbis. that yon," or first second, and
third The nine dgits form succession or correlation
of three three the mind having made progress thus
far turned instinctively back and began again.
In the periods OF three notation unit refers to an In
diyidual, ten TO arrangement OF individuals, and
hundred to an of arraugementsthe prin-
ciple OF eorrelatng by threes always prevailing The
author claims that grammar as popularity taught Is
fou science of broken correations" Instead OF only
two distinctions of members singular and plural there
sbould be three, expressed thus One. More. All,
making a perfect correlation For example: World,
worlds, universe; man, men, mankind; WORD, WORDS
speech The author applies his theory also TO the mu-
s,cal scale but In manner that cannot easily be
paiued 10 less than the dozen pages occupied with his
argument.
The latest novel published by Claxton Remsen Haf
feinger TO step suddenly from philosophy down 10
fcton is Justin Harley" by John Esten Cooke, the
well known Virginia romance writer. Eighteen full
page illustrations from drawings by W. l. Sheppard
give the book an unusually attractive appearance.
The September bulletin OF Messrs. j, b. Npplncott *
Co contains few new announcements. Many works
advertised as nearly ready June and July have been
held back for the Fall trade, and are not yet out.
Among them are ARer's Llfe of Edwin Forrest, and
volume of Buwers speeches and addresses The second
volume of the new edition Of Prescos Philip H. Will
appear very soon. and also the third volume OF the
Memoirs OF J. O. Adams. The most successful novels
recently published by this firm The Second Wife,
by f. Marlitt and Huda," by f. Lewald. both trans
lated and well translated too by Mrs. Wster Che first
has lust reached an eighth edition. aud tho latter Is
rapidly running through the fifth edition.
publication deserving the favorable attention OF
lovers of art the Portfolio of the Philadelphia Sketch
Club" q unique periodical, issued once a month by
Messrs Taylor & Smith. Each number consists OF five
or six photoithographo prints, on thick paper from
sketches furnished by tho members OF the Club ncosed
in a handsome cover. The drawings are of unequal
merit excellent many show talent which
only has Just beyond the budding stage. while few
barely tolerable 1t seldom happens however. that
monthly number 10 without some sketch OF decided