New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-31
tlqueD that is sympathetic, just, clear suggestive
fascinating

fascinating.
sCrrycr AND SENTIMENT With other Papers ohieny
PhjiosphIoal BY NOAH PORTER ID d. LIE ~ L+T
ident OF Yale College. syo PIP ooo' 0n''i'S '''''
ners Soma -,
All the PAPERS included IN this volume have
already been gwen to the public either az lectures
or NJ contributions TO periodicals, but the DOCK VIII
be read with no less interest on tha1 account,
There is such similarity Of topics among '"eu'' ""'
they illustrate such clear line OF thcush'' 'H"'
they NAV almost be taken as the chapters ia SS''
.r,otc treotise Their subject is the supposed op-
nosition between contemporary science, so-calieu'
and religious belief and President Porter rs our
readers hardly need to be told is ono oil the most
efficient of the champions of faith, because inc
vipor of his reasoning is aided by slngulaiiy
clear and easy style, tact In meeting
popular proiudices without a1ronting them ana
courteous. attractive manner He deals here with
general principles of unhelief, and also with some
of the most conspicuous OF its recent indiydul man
ifestatioIs- with John Stuart Mill. Professor lyn-
dali. Professor Huxley Professor Clifford, and
Herbert Sper cer-and in both parts of his task he
shows an ability " hich Will command the respect
of his opponents
TIE STORY OF TIE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPAET.
MFNT OF TIL! CRY OF NETWORK. BY GEORGE
W. SHELDON svo, PIP. xii, 575. Harper Broth-
ers
Mr.. sheldon mas an interesting stOAJ " 'S4' 40
this handsome illustrated book. and he has done
well to put it IN record while many of the old Ie-
men are with us to give their recoections OF state
of Times which is fast fading out of memory. The
volunteer fireman was one Of the most curious
features of New-York life. and we doubt whether
there is any exact account of him in existence
unless IL Is to be found in this volume There Is
a literature in which he always figures as an ac-
complished hero and another in which he appears
as an unmitgatcd rowdy, and both representations
are unlike the truth. On the rolls of the depart
mcnt in its earlier days are the names oil our pesl
citizens. merchants, professional men, members OF
illus.uOus families: and many OF these veterans
still love to talk of The days WHOM they ran to ires
and spent their money on " the Machine" n
manly spirit of emulation and thirst for excite
ment com biued with nobor impulses TO sustain the
morale and efficiency of the department. ana there
can be no doubt that its history is distinguished by
splendid examples of gallantry and seli-sacrliice.
Mr. Sheldon has done ample justice to this honor
able record ard he has been fortunate as TO OBJ
tain great store of anecdotes and remnlVcences
from the men who were identified with the yolun-
tcer fIe-cOmpanies in their best estate. Some OF
the tales Of daring, of hair-breadth escapes, of
death in the line of duty thrilling, and there is
an excitement of another kind in the stories Of the
races and other contests of rival organizations.
which Gle author tells extremely well. The worse
side of tins life Mr.. Sheldon touches briefly; and
perhaps it IS as well that he has not cOmmemoraled
more fully the abuses which made the department
in its decline so often public reproach, and which
contributed with other causes to bring about the
introduction Of the present system in 1855. The
engine houses, - SAYS Mr.. Sheldon. "became the
political and social headquarters OF companies who
in the discharge OF fre-duty were constantly i'm
peded by accessons of outsiders of doubtful or in
disputable moral character And when these out
sders actually got inside of the companies they
wrought mischief of course. 49,. But 10 just man
ever held the volunteer firemcn body response
bic TOR mischlefs caused by outside rOwdes OF In
side frauds and the typical volunteer fireman him
self has always been and to day. the most relent
less of those conspiratoIs against his good
name"