New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-21
SOME NEW BOOKS.

Professor J. p Mahafy has written an ingenious
and suggestive essay on the Art OF conversation
&C. p Putnam's sons 1t is arranged WIN anap"
nrecsion and inquiries into the various ap''uucs anu
qualifications which necessary TO eAcelencc IL.
tho social exchange II not Of thought, at least OF
speech The sum of the inquest appears 10 DC .na'
the good talker is rather born than MADE anu NAV
while study observation and practice VIII ehaoie an
ordinarily intelligent person TO talk inteesunsD u
der certain conditions, the want OF tact ca'o' 10
compensated by any other preparation lor 'no WIN
An unavoidable inference from these premises "ouu'
but for the perverting influence OF human VANITY ioio
gate to a refreshing silence all who were aware Oh
the,r dedciepcy I'm the divine aiatus. II only those
essaved conversation whom nature had endowed 10
that end Il may be doubted whether human TAX
would have so declined 10 the mere bandying OF fVo
flies and ineptitudes. But as the automatic ana an
oue definition OF the poet, which should have warned
from the outskirts of Panassus the tunccss Iegions
has never hindercd the raising Of their harsh voices
within the sacred precincts of Apoos groves, SO the
social aspants unblessed by tact hesitate none tho
more TO enter the conversational arena
II NAV be thought too by readers Of Professor
Mahafys bright little book that the palm In CONVEX
sailon can only be by ethical concessions ana
compromises, suggestive of danger 10 moral integrity
The maintenance Of that agreeable mean in which all
are amused and none are offended obviously requires
40 careful choice and treatment of topics as must
exclude nearly all subjects about which strong emo
lions of any kind are centred Controversy Is OF
course possible only when both sides equally
Of their own self command and this is in the nature
of things an uncommon conjunction. But Professor
Mahay has many things TO say which the thoughtful
reader will find Of interest and after dgesiing the
little volume he may discover, after the manner of
NJ Jcurdaln that he has been conversng all his life
without knowing It
aThe Book of Genesis "a. c. Armstrong & Son. by
Marcus Dods, d. d. is painstakng presentation OF
the historical incidents recorded in the first book OF
the Bible and Of the theology which underiies thcm
While It contains nothing especially original, 1t puts
many things IN a fresh and interesting light 1t is
strongly evangelical I'm tone
Brcvct Brigadler- General Henry L. Abbot, of the
Engineer Corps OF the Army, delivered series OF
lectures upon the Defence OF the Sea Coast OF the
United States before the Naval War College, New
port r. L. In November last. No man in the Army
or Navy was better qualified to present this subject
in thorough and comprehensive manner than was
General Abbot. He presented facts showing that the
coast and harbors practically defenceless and
that expenditures for defence should be regarded
as necessary business outlay. These lectures have
been compiled and published in a small volume by d.
Van NostraEd
evolution anu its Relation TO Religious Thought
By Joseph 10 Comic Cd. Appleton & Col, Is an ex-
handed answer to the three questions" What is
evolution? Is it true? What thcnP The little
book IS an admirable exposition in small compass of
the scientific doctrine of evolution 1t shows that the
truths of religion are not ieopardlzed by any facts
which evolution has established. Clergymor who
contemplate attacking evolution In their pupits will
find much helpful matter in this book-matter which
might lead them to take somewhat different attitude
on the question.