New-York tribune., 1875-02-05
BOSTON LITERARY NOTES.
A NEW BOOK BY SIR ARTHUR HELPS.

| BosToN Feb. IL have before spoken OF
| tho new book by Sir Arthur Helps entitled "Social
as about to be issued this side the water
| by Roberts Brothers. II is nearly ready, ana
| have read the proof sheets with real enjoyment We
meet here the accustomed Friends IN Council, with
Sir John Ecsmerc for the host this time, instead of
| Milverton. But Milverton, who, 1 am sure must be
Helps himself ia still the leading spirit. IL Is at Files
meres villa on the banks of the Thames that they all
are spending the Easter vacation; and Miyefton being
greatly exercised in mind about the "Socal Pressure
caused by the GENERALIZATION in large cities of great
OF human beings wishes the Friends to listen TO
his essays subject and discuss his plans for
| governmental social reform. Happily each
| OF tho party has hobby OF his her own,
which fact introduces q great many other matters
beside social science into their discussions and these
side issues arc for the most part mucn more interest
ing than the subject proper OF the book Government
emigration the two objects to which Sir Arthur
Helps appears to think every rational being will natu
rally devote most OF his time and thoughts; but one
travel the road forever, even in
such notably good company Sir Arhur's; therefore,
venture say this book will be most valued for that
portion OF 1t which the author holds most lightly But
1t is. as a whole, admirable contribution to the
thought OF the time. Few writers suggestive as
Helps He stimulates you spcculations Of your own;
and therefore, like good host who pleascs his guests
by discovering that they, themselves had more
IN tIem than they previously aware.
| In the first chapter the Friends have been talking
about the desIableIess OF making life eOmforta
blc. Says Ellesmcrc
Wish for III or course wish for It, There are also
n good many other things TO b. wished fOr-tnat II
should never rain EXCEPT at nlgh between the nOuIs
shells! and that shOald open Of their own ac-
shOud he irregulnr verbs ~ language, ana no
gendcrs to the substinyes that ntators' notes
difficult passages should not omit, in more than nine
out Of ten To deal with the difficulty; that every
body shuulf be only Of other peoples merits ana
| moi
words tnan three times over IN the course OF the
same day.
| am afraid Ellcsmcre Is right, and that there is
about as much use wishing the things he mentions
as FOR many OF tho sanitary AMI governmental Improve
which Arthur ardently desires; but It is
well to have 10 reveal 10 our own sbOrcom
ngs whether nations or as iudyldutls and We are
sure to ali Ia Sir Arthurs mirror Perhaps II
there were Shortcomings aud nothing TO grumOlc
abou, we slould really be less comfortable tnan we are
FOR IN a grievance itself tbere a certain melancholy
luxury
Sir Arthur anirns without fear NJ contradiction that
one OF the greatest evils Of modern life is the existence
great Their excessive bgness causes loss OF
health, OF time Of comfort, o material resources OF
every kind.
Il is not only T. The animal lower life, 'but to the lfe
of man, that Ot those huge towns Is dlsad
vantaycous Everything Is rendered more dhcult by
their enormous size and by their wan OF concentration
WORK d hi nit and play (Which 49, afttr all, "A
great part OF mans lcj 10 FAR more difficult IL seems
regard 70 thc happiness OF mankind ihat busy man.
great ccuars Of population, cannot. amer the
do so, ior instance, Ljdd0a where IN several drcc-
tom. taere ten continuous miles OF hodscsi
Soc!ety lie thinks is made difficult You are tempted
crowd your houses that an entertainment becomes
4 lam: and you have no opportunity to hud out the
real character habits OF those with whom you aSso
caie Y0u meet person with whom on first ac1iiiut
ancc you disposed to he sympathetic; but perhaps il
Is two years before you encounter that same person
again Then 10 takes twice long 10 transact business
in a huge You suffer, moreover in spite of the
best means modern science yet DEVISED, for want OF
;rcsl vital air. II has been cd that every year the
hospital surgeons London nd t diff cult 20 cure
wounds ana injuries Of all kinds 10 the human
body on account is supposcd. of the growing in
ferio ity the London Private ana public chart
ties are rendered difficult by the immense siz2 of such
metropolis as London. There other DISADVANTAGE
too against wncn you cannot protect yourself as for
Instance you take the water provided for your
quarter OF the whether il agrees with you or not
You are part OF huge machine. This Is only be-
ginning OF the long array OF cvs forth by sg Ar
thur a. result OF hcrdnx together in large towns
lie describes vigorously aud protests manfdiy; but the
way which these evils arc to be remeiied seems to he
n much conunIrdm 10 him as to The Of II he
could Organize "a government TO suit am sell, ard II he
could compel all the superiuous populations OF crowded
towns and states take up their Dais ana walk, or sail
10 Australia South America, then, indeed we might
live model world Blu IL i Snl'luu- Ed'hci WhcH
we are made aware OF disadvauages; we shall be-
more likely to remedy them tuan il we were ieft 10
buudy, never opening our eyes to the reveal
ing light.
AL sad however the side issues OF this book interest
me far moro than its subject. How good for in
stance are these a1oat the power OF women
which occur tho discussion OF the worth to human
creature of seltreiiauce and seli-rtsbcct
Iblyc 6ften wondered at the singular influence pOa
scs-ca by women; aud have Away i3und thit
they we're women VINO Looked ap To thcmSeIvcs-not
necessarily brilliant persons nor ne'r1'ariy WHY, Dut
original t 'lr-e person Is "rltAd 10 Idh' sl''
pains 10 iOrm III, or her couytron; AMI then "a, most
women are very synplacilc, TINS combination 0i orig
| inAl,y aud sympathy mikes them the mos Charming
companions-inore charnlhs oI eourSe ll men OF 'le
like nature, because such men may not De
sympatuetC, whereas tue women are nearly sure 10 ne
,ympathlzet with Antony, hut hal IDEAS ana views OF
her own which gic1iy iHtrtc,t'd ana #t.ifr,eu nn.
And 50 with the great ladies ~ FHce VINO ruled certain
sections OF society. GUu may take u Tor granted ttl
! thcy were women ""o lo'N@I mp 90 iith'el'esi We
! t.,yc had sCCh women IN EiGlduG-tlat d..
o. ,nt conn ~ pl,cas tncr, are romcn OF tlc Rind
mean, who have Immense power III tn ioFn Oi lhhuehce
From this clever analysis OF one element of wOinIns
power the discussion takes in love IN general It's way
wardness, its unaccjuntabenesS. One OF the party
spcls Of the first men OF the age being desper
ateIy in love with a girl has merits that other
people can perceive. She Is rather plain she has
compishmcns. powers OF conversation aud neither
riches rank anything earth, lar critic can
sre to rec lmmend her Is the great man hewtched or
nadl by no Suitability Of character Is more
precious aud binding attraction than any external
t or grace Whatever and doubt the great man has
dccrned this hidden treasure, and tho love at which
s.oH rs wonder The mans thoroughly Justified attrac
non toward the other half OF himself lis true counter
! part
Sir Arthur thinks that "a perfect host is as rare
beiug as great poet" and needs rare combination
M ou,luies After this statement il delightful
know that out Of three perfect hosts whom he has
known in his life one was OF letiers-nO other
Ii.nn nu . In