The sun., 1883-12-23

alton is familiar. and many also that only ap-
pear in scraps In English works down even to
the day OF Thackeray. There arc no moro
beautiful ballads than those OF England. Scot
land. and Ireland. and the best and most IA
nous OF their old melodies have been chosen
with the highest judgment and appreciation.
In addition to these there are numerous
American songs. besides the political and ne.
gro. which. although many Of them have been
forgotten. are OF great merit and interest 10
students OF our music. An exceedingly at
tractive feature OF tho collection are the short
histories that accompany the songs. describing
the origin OF the melody and tho circumstances
that caused Its production. often with the ad-
dition OF concise account Of the authors life.
Hero we learn the true foundation OF Wood
man. Sparo that Tree" and what were the
people and accidents that prompted " Rory
O'More" or Sally In Our Alloy" The first
glance at the table OF contents will convince
any one OF the value OF the book as library OF
ballads. and the heads under which they are
classified show that this one collection Is
adapted to people OF all moods and tempera-
ments. The selections are catalogued as songs
Of ofReminiscenco. OF Home. OF Exile ;songs OF the
Sea, and Of Nature; songs OF Happy Love. OF
Hopeless Love. OF Sentiment; and songs Mar
tial. Conviviai. Political. Moral. and Religious.
present, as 1t must be a valuable addition to any
library. irrespective OF the taste Of the owner.
A New Book from DR.. Mandsley.
On several occasions during the last ten
years. DR.. HENRY MAUDsLEY has discussed in
lectures and addresses tho physiological basis
OF tho will. The book however. entitled Body
and Wiu which is now published by the Applo-
tons. is not mere collection Of those lectures
but methodical essay on tho will. considered
in its metaphysical as we'll as its physiological
and pathological relations. Yet even where tho
metaphysical aspect OF tho subject is exam
ined. the author writes as n student OF physical
science not as motaphysiclan. and eschews
the technical language OF speculative philos-
ophy. because as he Gays. it's terms convey 10
him no clear and definite ideas.
DR.. Maudsley's point OF view and method
may bo exempliiod by showing how he deals
with the equation OF free will and necessity.
which has taxed for ages the ingenuity OF theo-
logians. Is there any real difference. he asks.
between the choice that a man makes between
two courses OF action when he is in doubt and
the choice that q piece OF iron makes between
falling to the earth and rushing to the mag
net-any difference. that Is. except In tho
far greater number and complexity OF
the circumstances affecting tho mans choiceP
1t is possible to imagine the piece OF iron
placed so nicely between the attraction OF the
earth and the counter attraction Of the magnet
that 1t shall be held suspended in doubt. in an
equilibrium OF choice. unable to resolve which
way to CO. like a man between two evenly bal
anced motives. or like the legendary ass. fixed
exactly half way between two exactly similar
bundles Of hay. II 1t be true" he continues.
when the man decides. that his free will
has put an end to the difficulty for
him by giving the requisite preponder-
ance to the attraction OF ono OF the
opposing and equal motives; and II it be true
that the ass may count ON its FREQ will to pre-
vent 1t from standing still until it Is starved to
death. Notwithstanding the exact eauipoise Of
motives presented in the two bundles OF hay;
why is it not true also that it is the free will Of
the piece OF iron that determines it either to
rush to the magnet or to drop to the ground
since it is practically impossible to balance
the counter actions so nicely as to keep It
in suspense between them? And II the least
change. q change so trifling that we cannot even
fix and appreciate 1t. was enough. In that case
to give the pre- ponderance In one direction. and
to move 1t from the ideal centre OF Indifference.
is 1t any wonder that In q far more subtle
province OF matter we cannot always apprehend
and measure the slight change that gives the
preponderance to one or another motive In the
complex workings OF human volition?" In
other words. what metaphysicians have called
necessity has. from the point Of view Of
physioloGist. no objective existence.
any moro than smell has objective
existence; 1t Is merely tho general
expression or statement OF all human expert
ence that definite antecedents are invariably
followed by definite consequences; u declara-
tion OF invariable uniformity the opposite con-
ception to which Is not freedom but contin-
gency. 1t Is a law OF nature. and therefore "a
necessity. that the sun rises day after day; but
time was when the sun did not rise on human
| doings. or at all. and there will be o time when
1t will not rise on them any more or at all.
General laws. then, arc not outward realities.
but our notional relations to outward real
tiles. Change the antecedents Of choice OF
| will. as person docs when he profits by ex-
perience. and where is tho necessity Ho Is
now under the necessity. that his past acts have
| made for him, to follow the changed antece-
dents. The man who walks to the cliff ono day
In order to commit suicide. and does not do 1t.
and walks to the cliff another day and does
| DO it-other things being the same-would not
| have done 1t the second time had 1t been the
first. and would have done 1t the first time had
1t been the second.
| part OF DIR. Maudsley's book which will be
| read with special curiosity by social reiormers
La that devoted to the investigation Of the
pathology OF the will. In section treating OF
the moral sense and will In criminals. he says
OF those habltual offenders who seem morally
incapable OF adjusting themselves to the exter-
nal conditions OF civilized life. that their fate
is indeed hard one. Congenital outcasts
from the social organization. by the pre-
ordination OF the society that has pro-
duced them. 1t is nevertheless demand.
ed OF them that they should conform
to the laws OF body OF which they are
notla part. but from which they are apart and
they naturally fall back upon the inallenable
right OF the individual to be-the right. that is
to live and to pursue tho means to llve" DR.
Maudsley thinks 1t deplorable blunder;that