The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-02
NEW YORK HERALD MONDAY APRIL s77-w1TH SUPPLEMENT

ID Mr. Charles W. Fredericton. who is said to keep
his books IN barrels instead OF shelves He has a
great many literary curiosites and editions OF
Shelley, sheIlcyana, autographs, letters, &c, than
any man In the country He Is the author OF a sonnet
10 Shelley which Is said to contain the longest limo In
any sonnet In the English language. Mr. Frederick
son has prepared elaborate and Interesting intro
duction TO ''Ihe Home OF Shakespeare, about to DO
published by J. Sabin Son, Of which only sixty
copies on large paper will be printed That fact
makes tho book almost unique aud Will give n a value
TO collectors that merit alone could not mpart.
Mr. Joseph W. Drexei, Philadepnias wealthy banker,
has hne library OF extended books He. well as all
the living collectors abovs mentioned is represented
ut every book sale Of importance In this city, but not
withsandng, the knowing buyer often .pick up'-
that Ii tho collectors terma good book for ttlo
money. The subject OF this article is Interesting
enough to be worked up into the dignity Of book, but
that can only DO we'll done by who has madc tho
matter life study-such . Mr.. Philes, for In
stance
The SPIRIT OF NEW FAITH AND OTHER DrscouRsgS
BY o. b. rockingham. g. r. Putnam's Sons.
We have experienced series OF entirely new sensa-
lions while reading this little volume. As q general
rule the object of books OF sermons Is TO increase the
little faith which human nature possesses to fan II
namc that must DO carefully guarded II wo would
courses, perhaps tho author would prefer word
"cssays," such fundamental matters as "The Golden
Rule" forgiveness" The Perfect Iifc.n &c., tho
purpose OF which Is TO tell us that what have been
accepting all these many centuries Is myth and must
be torn down without delay II he had loft anything
Of the old tcmpic-a PEDESTAL bit Of fricze, u single
chip of marble. or even the roadway by It's portal
along which SO many generations have gladly
walked-wo might have been content; but no insists
making Short sharp and decisive work with the
whole structure The Red Sea passage 10 a mud.
die, Sinai mistake, tho miracles imaginary and Con-
tuclus and Zoroaser NIL in ALL We read the vol
with n feeling OF perfect willingness to break away
from misrue and 10 Sit the feet OF any better
II such teacher could be found To DO sure, were
little startled and rather felt flesh creep when
read these words about the Is salts
1ed!" The exclamation point In the book is supposed
to express infinite sarcasm.) "The almighty love Is
free to step in and forgive. The drama Is full OF
scenic effect 1t is piece of mythology have been
describing, transaction utterly inconceivable by
rational mind" Still If Mr. rockingham had any
thing better TO offer than this 'myth" which has boon
accepted historical by scholars whom tho author IS
very bold to call irrational, roadv accept il
and to become disciple Of the new order OF things.
But to great chngrn and disappointment Mr.
rockingham spends all his time In telling US what
not to believe and then leaves clngng TO spar OF
tho very vessel We have helped to scutle IN
Common sense teaches man to keep on board even
OF square-headcd and slow-moving Dutch galliot
II it takes months the Atlantic, rather
than to throw himself overheard with the expectation
OF floating until clipper ship comes along and picks
him up. Mr. rockingham repeatedly uses tho word
"Bible," but he writes It with small b. Ho tells
that the Old Testament Is very detective and that the
Now Testament must BIO taken with pinch Of salt.
Ind hod uu
mcnts entirely correct except those Of the author
OF this volume
The book will OF course have limited circulation,
but VIC cannot help wondering why It should havo
that Preachers whose only mission Is to under.
mine the little faith we have may crafty their
ambition by publishing book Of doubts, but tho world
finds 1t worry hard to thank them for doing so.
ESSAYS on POLITICAL ECONOMY BY Frederick Bastiat
With Notes By David A. Wells. e. 7. Putnam's
Sons.
The number Of books On what some ono has called
"Thc Dismal Science" which the various publishing
houses Of this city have issued during the last twelve
months shows plainly enough the interest which
attaches to tho subject American mechanics rs well
merchants, fond Of this kind OF literature
Every thoughtful business desires TO know some
thing OF the general principles which underlo society
and something OF the laws Of financial progress and
These books political economy therefore,
to be found not only among the half calf volumes
Of tho hterdtenr. but tie ruder book shelves OF
thinking workIngmen.
The Putnams have done service to all IN issuing
this popular treatise a very abstruse subject II
does not pretend to any unusual proiundty, but In
conversational why, and ut times In way that is
dscursve, treats OF some OF the relations between
capital and labor. The popularity OF the book, and
ono which will commend It TO tho ordinary reader is
truo Fronchman who finds It hard to connno himself
to monologuc, breaks out every once in while into
dialogue, and thereby givos certain piquancy to his
topic. II is always moro interesting TO have an
swcr A, when We know that Is only o dummy,
who is SO completely under tho clairvoyant power OF
that ho dare not ask any questions except those
which suggests. IL Is always pleasant, too,
to have subject naturally dry broken up
by incidents, told by way of illustrating
theories. We may lnd 1t hard to read treatise GU
the question: fought Capital Produce Interest," but
when the subject matter Is deity hidden under cover
OF story about sack OF corn house u broken
window and who ought to pay Tor 1t attention is
fixed. and the principle involved remains In our men,
DRY. This, Of course, would not be the case with
scholars who delight in kndrcd logic but the pros
ont volume is one OF popular SERIES and It's and
style is we'll adapted class OF readers
It is intended to reach. wo have looked the book
with considerable care and put IL shelf for
further use.
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.
Poets are in request In England. where Mr.. Austin
Dobson's extremely pleasant and finished "vcrs do
Socete" have reached their nth edition.
DIR. SchIiemann's recent enormous "Finds'' at
Mycenm will have authoritative examiner in Mr. G.
I. Newton, OF the British Museum. who has gone to
inspect the collection at Athens. The charges OF modern
gold and alagrcc work and "Brummagcm" ware will
now be siftcd.