New-York tribune., 1881-09-13

year-it may have been longer ago, but my memory
OF the fact is vivid that give recent date to
the phsnomenon---a volume of Scotch Sermons; of
which heard at the tine copies actually sold
for money. 1t nothing after this to find them
advertising Temple Sermons" by the amiable and
excellent DIR. Vaughan, brother-in-law TO the late
Dean Stanley; or volt me with the thrilling title
of Sermons Preached in College Chapel" by J.
h. Ilingworth, NJ. a. For all this it must be said
that sermons are hardly more than one half penny
worth tc an intolerable deal of bad tctIon. Theo-
logical production takes eXegetical lathcr than
hortatory form. If the sermons are few commen-
taries on Scripture are many. prodigous effort
IS made to keep them orthodox but alas! the stan
caro- ot orthodoxy has to be haulo>i down lower
ait lower. What is orthodox or at any rate per-
mssible in criticism to-day, was blasphemous
h'feSy not five and twenty years ago. There is too
much reason to fear that. in the way. tho
SchlSn of to-day over which bishops grow black
III the face. may supply tho commonplaces of
doctrnal discourses from the soundest pulpits of
the next century
The new volume by Professor Huxley announced
10y Messrs Macmillan, will contain something like
dozen essays and addresses all of which have
been published or delivered, or both during the
last SIX or seven years Science aud Culture
which gives the volume its title was delivered at
the opening of Mason's College in Birmingham
Among the others likely to be found III tis volume
are" Universities Actual and Real' which was Pro-
lessor hUxleys inaugural address Lord Rector of
Aberdeen; "Techncal Education; Joseph
PrleStey an address at the unveiling Of the statue
to Puestley; "The Method of Zadig;" "The
Border Territory between the Animal and the Vege
table kingdoms = Tho Hypothesis that Animals
are AutOmata :" Sensation and the Unity of Struc-
tue of the Sensfcrous Organs :" Evolution" from
the Encyclopedia britannica; and The Coming
OF Age of the Origin of Species" which VAS a
Friday evening discourse at the Royal Institution
The book may be expected in the autumn, though
the contents of 1T are not quite settled and the
above list is not to be taken us complete
1t is among the surprises of the season to find
1he Htt@raay herietc praising an American book
The book thus suddenly lifted to the pinnacle of
fame is Madame Delphine," by Mr.. G. W. Gable.
aud ones surprise at the praise is mitgated when 1t
appears that Mr. Gable is Southerner. The safno
periodical was capable of finding u pure delight in
the harsh style OF Mr. Jefferson Davis. To this
DAY 1T has not forgotten its passionate partialtv
Tor the scene and heroes of the Rebellion. Ii bursts
into euiogtes of the Lost Cause aud the dead who
died with it on the most unexpected occasions A
chance reference to Lee or jackson is enough to
start torrent of iudiscriminating pauegvric ON
thOSo or other of its idols. Th S constaucy is
one must say, more respectable than the tickle
readiness OF Its contemporaries not ALL but some
to burn the gods they adored. Mr. Cables story is
pronounced remarkable, the field he has chosen
new, and his style, barring certain Guinness"
rich aud musical, while his pictures of the glitter
ing lazy. graceful life of the Creole population in
its palny days are "perfectly original" This is
an amiable contrast to the acidulatcd censorious-
ness which too often takes the place of criticism i'm
the columns of our Old enemy. But The Sttgr{ay
Is IN ITS dccadeuce, and its malice and merits have
both lost some OF their ancient vigor. G. W g.