New-York tribune., 1875-09-25


umes; life of Xenophcn, with analysis of the
general principles of education, IN ten volumes q
commentary on Hesiod, with final analysis of the
principles of political economy, in nine volumes and
a general description Of the geology and botany of
the Alps. in twenty -four volumes"
In all. 70 volumes! Did ever a man SO
years old. in doubttal health, propose to himself
such gigantic tScRs : Not even Mr.. Ruskin thinks
he can DC them all Though all carefully projected,
and some already in progress-yet. allowing for the
duties of my Professorship, possibly continuing at
Oxford and for the increasing correspondence
relating 10 FoIs Clavicora-t does not seem tGm me,
even in my most sangrine moments. now probable
tha; shall live 70 effect such conclusion as would
be satisfactory TO me- Hence he deems II only
prudent. though bumiliating" 10 do what he can
at once or, he puts il i'll his picturesque
imaginative wav-"t throw together at once out
of the heap of loose stones collected for TINS many
lowered city which | am not able to hnish'
such fragments Of good marble as may
perchance be useful 10 future builders ana 10
clear away. out of sight, the hme ana o'her
rubbish which meant for mortar 30 ne pegins
with geology. the thing which earliest III 'iile at
tracted him. in company with other natural sciences
for which he had a natural disposition; the summit
indeed os his earthly ambition having been 10 reach
He has long studied and lectured about geology and
the precise plan he now proposes to hlmsef-ih 'he
execution of which these two parts of Deucalon
are the first install nentis 10 collect of these de-
tached studies and lectures what seems deserving OF
nreserva;ion: together with the more carefully
written charters or geology and botany in the latter
volumes of Modern Painters adding manuscript
memoranda and some further illustrations. These
be dedicates &c Proserpne and Deucalion, respond
ing 10 the anticipated question of the pous
modern reader. Why not rather 10 Eve, or AT least
! to one of the wives of Lamech and TO Noah' Ill "A
passage too characteristic not TO be quoted even al
/ the end Of a long letter
Because think 1t well that the Young student should
first learn the myths of the betrayal and redemption a.
the spirit which moved the face of the wide
first waters taught them 10 the heathen world
Gallon are M least as true Eve Noah and all four
together ncomparaoy truer than the Darwlnan Theory
And in general the reader may take IL for hrst primer
p both IN science anG literature that the feebest myth
s hetter than the strongest theory the recording
notoroI mmrssion on fae iIarnation- of great men.
and ending muittdcs the other an unhAtuTa
exertlOn Of the wits OF little men, ana hail"lts o iii
pertinent multtudes
! There is something neXpressibly pathetic IN the
glimpse Of himself which Mr. Ruskin gives us i'll this
/ Introduction. counting up al htty-sX the great
works he had all his life been meditatng, and lind
ing he must renOunce them. The work he has al
ready done is such a. few men have done. In mere
bulk il rank, among the biggest for Mr.. RuskM
already published writings fill some 30 volumes
| What he has done for English art what brilliant
examples he has given of the capacity of the English
I language what lessons of morality, OF courage OF
perfect independence and perfect truthfulness he
has taught-of these and many other things II is
happily too soon TO speak. But one likes now and
then 10 protest against the notion which has got q
certain currency among careless people, that the
later publications of Mr.. Ruskin may be neglected
The truth is. that. in spendor and power, much OF
hs recent work il surpassed by nothing in his more
famous writings G' W. 9