The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-09
Literary Notes.

when he says in his own work Just out, THE
Philosophy Of Carlyle, by E. d. Mead Hough-
ton Mifain &c Co., Boston,) that the Boswelism.
OF which we have had so much, about the sage
OF Chelsea, is scarcely than in its incipien-
cy-that the man who has been such force in
his generation, is not half understood, and that
other methods than "Reminiscences, and Sketches.
and Repiet0 articles and personal and literary
gossip must be made of, before the actual
man can be correctly measured. He considers
all that has been done in this direction as little
more than trihing with the subject. Mr.. Froude's
contribution, he thinks, ought to be dealt with
after Lynch-law fashion, as being a murderous
assault on Carlyle's reputation.
1t is Philosopher that Mr.. Mead brings
the lens of his criticism to bear upon CARLYLE.
though he owns that he is considered by the
world in general, as more of prophet, seer, or
poet The Philosopher is one who does his
own thinking, and speaks upon first principles"
according to Mr.. Meads definition, and this
Aristotle, and Butler. and Goethe, and Emer.
son have done. He instances DR.. McCosh as
not belonging even to the middle sized philos
ophers, like Mr.. Lewes"
He takes up Carlyles contradictions and
them
upon his lifelong dyspepsia. That he was
peSSin,ist. is not to be denied but that was be-
cause he had a prophetic vision for the deep
evils of the age just as all iconoclasts have
from Eljah's time down. He gives the reader
his ideas to .Carlyle's religion and afirms
that very true conception of it may be gath
cred from his many utterances thereon,-a de-
claration by no means borne out by those who
have most closely studied them. Truly enough
he says that his mind was sort of epitome of
the German mind and almost all the clashino
elements of German thought find some sort of
representation in him." This is saying but lit
tie for the solidity and clearness and "sweet
reasonableness" of our philosopher of Cheyne
Row With the philosophy of England Mr..
Mead finds his author has small sympathy. be
ing SO essentially a German idealist. Large
quotations from Carlyle's many works are scat
tered through this volume, with a view to civ.
ing his opinions upon Ethics, Calvinism, Reli.
gion, Reform, the Labor Question, Democracy,
Supernaturalism, and many more subjects. Mr.
Mead is very modest as to the estims te he him
self has been able to form of Carlyle, and only
puts forth his Study as a tentative one in the
right direction. But on closing the book, al
though Mr.. Mead has furnished tboupbtfnl
mental portraiture, one has no very clear idea
of what the Carlyle philosophy was after all.
The Houghton press issues Classic Vol
ume," of less than 200 pages, called Garfeld's
Words These WORDS are gathered from all
sources-private letters, public orations, Review
articles, Congressional speeches, and are com.
piled by William R. Bach, Editor of The Aner.
lcanE They are arranged under proper heads
and full index is given of topics, which makes
the collection of sententious aphorisms greatly
more valuable. There are multitudes of wise
sayings within the covers of this small volume
which go to show how tolerant and self con-
trolled and high principled, and pure-hearted
man our dead President was Many of these
aphorisms will, no doubt, be twined into the
warp OF American thought for coming years, and
we'll will it be for the younger politicians and
leaders of men, in whatever line of work, if these
Judlcious and sensible ideas became controlling
The laborer has but one commodity to SELL
his days work. He must sell it to-day. or it is
lost forever" "a pound of pluck is worth
ton of luck" 81 Be fit for more than the thing
you are now doing" 1.-THE best thing in this
Republic, next to Liberty, is the labor of our
people Virginia and Massachusetts were the
two focal centres from which sprang the life
forces of the Republic. They were in many
ways, compliments of each other each supply.
ing what the other lacked, and both uniting to
endow the Republic with its noblest and most
enduring qualities" 81 would rather be beat
en- in Right, than succeed in Wrong" There
are some things afraid to do 1 am afraid
to do mean thing"
These are mere dip Of the hand into this
spring of pure influence but from these exam.
pies, it may be seen of what practical import is
the book Some of the sentiments read like
those of Marcus Aurelius but most of them have
deeper wisdom. The portrait in the work is
the finest of all the likenesses Of the President.
The attention that of late is being given to
Morse Literature has been unprecedented, and
seems to be on the increase. Translation follows
translation, as fast as the Publishers can send
them out. Here we have also from the Hou0h-
ton house, two of the works of the Norwegian
writer, dramatist poet, and statesman, with the
unpronounceable name. Bornstjerne Biornson-
Of whom it might be said as Byron used to say
Of some of the Germans-that he saw no chance
Of Immortality for any but Goethe, inasmuch as
his was the only name an Englishman could
pronounce" These two books are Arne and