The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-28

intense mind and one not easily diverted, and
takes seriously some forms of discomfort, quite
the fashion in certain circles. This discomfort
is much the same that has been the ornament
of Byronic young persons for some time, but
has changed its vocabulary of the cypress and
myrtle, the vulture and turtle, for the less
musical and equally melancholy phrases of the
postivists. This, it is evident, allows much
larger personnel to the party of the respondent;
for individuals too far gone in years to appro-
priately bewail their sentimental sorrows, may
with great propriety darkly disbelieve the
heavenly origin of mans soul, and the care,
that having caused the world, watches over it.
Mr.. Mallock's reasoning is close, sustained,
and does whatever reasoning may. Such phil
osophy is praiseworthy and good OF its kind
but alas for the need Of it. 1t is sad and
heavy reading; and Strengthening the feet of
faith, fetters the fight of its wings Indeed,
Mr. Mallock evidences too little of the Joyous
sense of life of the ancient delight because the
sun is in the sky and the earth is wide and
warm under our feet, too little pleasure be-
cause of life for ITSELF careless whether it be
done ON this or that day-to speak with the
sure, inborn human feeling. The satire of the
New Republic was the prelude to the serious
argument of the later volume. Mr.. Mallock's
sarcasm was hard and bitter, sometimes touch
ing the latter limits of suitability. 1t was not
the genial satire for love of his kind, but had
something of the snarl of a chained creature
about it. No lovely flower of laughter springs
| from bitter root; and to be most effective,
| the satirist should have joyous belief in man
| at his best, and a smile, not unkindly, for the
absurd prauks that the wisest and most we'll
meaning of us all play for season between
earth and heaven. Mr. Mallock deserves
| credit for sound and firm adherence to truth,
for earnest and care-taking investigation and
compact and eloquent expression-he has done
his best, but he takes no delight in his day and
| cannot give what he himself lacks so utterly.
Messrs. Harper of New York publish an ex-
ceedingly fine edition of Humes History of
England. 1t is in six volumes, with thick
creamy paper, the type is large, clear and
particularly agreeable to the eyes, and the rich
cardinal-red cloth of the binding, with its
simple lettering and gilt top-make up an edi-
| ton as luxurious as it is substantial and suit
able. A fine steel engraving, from portrait,
| preface, so familiar to readers of Hume.
| Portland Loring, Short & Harmony.
| Recreations in Astronomy, by H. w. War
| rem, d. d., (New York; Harper Brothers;
| Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony. For the
| many readers. who, without pretensions to mi
mute scientific knowledge of astronomy, enjoy
| full and reliable information in regard to it,
| given in pleasant form-Dr. Warren's book
| will be agreeable and useful. The recent adj
| vances in science form the subject of the open
| ing chapters of the work; and other chapters
| contain information as to celestial measure
ments the sun, the planets, meteors, the spec
;al conditions of the planets individually, etc.,
ETC. The letter-press is reinforced by eighty
two illustrations, colored plate representing
spectra, and a series of maps, designed to as
sist the reader in finding the places in which
the stars appear at various seasons in the sky.
DIR. Warren, in his zeal for the truth of the en-
tire amity of science and religion, falls into
| the error of too great insistence upon the ver-
bal precision of Scriptural science. He con-
siders that in the poem of Job some of the
speeches were the direct voice of the Lord, and
reasons from them accordingly quite in oppo-
sition to the general opinion that Job was not
an historical parsonage with whom God Ia
bored and reasoned, but that the whole poem
was an artistic and moral work, matchless in
deed in the whole course of poetry through the
ages, for its superb imagery and music of Ian
guage. For example: DR.. Warren observes
the nice distinction which is made in the book
of Job as to the impossibility of perceiving the
i - 1 II
of the earth, many man to-day would have
answered yes But the eternal ice keeps us
from perceiving the length of the earth, and
shows the discriminating wisdom of the ques-
tion," says DIR. Warren. Should the north
west passage be found, as it seems likely to be
DIR. Warren will be obliged to arrange it with
Job as best he can. With the fullest belief in
the essential truths of the Bible, and in
the ultimate union of knowledge and faith
most readers will see how really useless and
even harmful are such arguments as these form
the book of Job. Many persons will enjoy
DIR. Warren's work as very clear treatise Oh
astronomy and will accept the result of hi
reasoning overlooking the failings of its pro
cesses; while others will agree with and greatl.
enjoy the verbal correspondence which h,
brings forward in support of his belief.
Thoughts in the Religious Life, by JOSEPH
Alden, d. D.. LII. ID. (New York: G. p. Put
nam's Sons; Portland: Loring, Short q Har
mon) is prefaced by an Introductory chapter by
Mr.. William Cullen Bryant, who was a warn
personal friend of the author. Although lef
uncompleted, this chapter is Of much interes
as recording some of the thoughts and belle
which influenced Mr. Bryant's long and emf
nently useful life. The book itself, thus nota
bly, prefaced, is clearly and manfully written
1t is plain in its style, with a precision of de
tail that somehow recalls the books of the
late Mr.. Jacob Abbott. The reader will fine
much to heartily agree with in the vo,
, | ume, whether he belong or not to the same de
, | nomination as Dr. Alden; and will, at an
, | rate, greatly respect and like so practical
, | manual of religion.
The Round Trip, by John Goldman, (Nev
York: G. P. Putnam's Sons; Portland: Loring
, Short & Harmony is readable and pleasant ac
count of the journey by way of Panama, througl
California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho an
Colorado. Mr.. Codman's descriptions ar
lively and graphic, and entirely without pre-
tension. His journey included many points OF
the usual route of travel, and he reports neatl
and with effect. His notes upon the Chimes
problem are short and to the point; he consid
ers the Chinaman as sat worst labor savin
! machine" and is inclined to sympathize wit
, | him. Observation and the remarks of INTEL
| gent men whom Mr. Goldman met, seem
have confirmed his liking for the Chinese, an
he was moved to sympathy by the wrongs il
flicted upon this quiet and generally peaceabl
class by hoodlums and citizens responsible
enough to have done better. a signihcan
fact which Mr.. Goldman noted, was the ditfel
ence between the personal and official ute
ances of prominent Californian editor, VIII
in private conversation expressed himself d'
cidedly in flavor of Chinese immigration
while his paper was daily declaring that til
Chinese must GO All which tends to COZ
vince the reader that we cannot decide II
qnestion at the East without actual inspecto
and comparison of the facts as they exist
California MANY other interesting tonlcs NJ