New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-11

is quite transparent; one Of those frankly brutal
natures which are all on the surface. Mat is an
other perfectly lmpid and thoroughly natural
creation whose rough faithfulncss and service
ability tighten the story. The novel cannot he
said TO be of the kind which publishers recommend
for use at the seaside. II is not fitted to aid a
hammoclx-drowse on q hot afternoon. 1t demands
close attention and some depth OF perception and
imagination for it is essentially and not artii-
cIally realistic and il sets in operation the same
faculties which are called into activity by the
daily and hourly requirements of social inter
course or the power and skill with which " Tenn
pie House" is written there can he no question
We find it defective only in one point The peo-
pie talk too much alike There is failure to
differentiate their expression with due sharpness
But this does not at all seriously diminish the
singular attractiveness of the book, and the i'm
preston Of force which it conveys 1t well de-
serves new edition, for it has an honest claim
TO permanence.
"The Pcclster Professorship- is not only an
interesting and well-written, but typical novel
1t may be regarded as literary landmark showing
the extent of the change which has taken place
in the treatment of what is. most infelcitousy
called the supernatural. From the point Of
view Of Anne Radcliffe TO that of Mr.. Quincy, is
indeed long stretch. The conventional ideas of
the supermundanc which pleasantly titillated the
superstitous side OF ancestors have long ceased
to evoke any sympathetic popular response. The
advance OF physical science has compelled all who
hold to other-world" beliefs, all who maintain
the possibility OF relations between embodied and
disembodied spirits, TO cast their arguments hnd
contentious in more less scientific form. This
movement has been helped by the accession OF
many and distinguished men OF science TO the
ranks of the supemu ndanes, and we have now
reached q point where Spirit-to employ the
language Of Professor Huxley-is dealt with in
terms Of Matter, and is presented, so to speak, in
q physical rather than a psychical way. The
Peckster Professorship' Is story of this kind,
in which psychical research, telepathy the pro-
lection Of the astral FORM" and other modern
ancient marvels, are introduced with adroitness
and handled with admirable aplomb and defines
II must be regretted that the famous projected
experiment with Mr. Pccks,cr could not be made
on account of the inopportune recovery of that
obliging millionaire: for If Professor Hargrave
had been able to show BY his delicate apparatus
that the body diminished in weight at the moment
of death. and if he had further succeeded in pho
toqraphinp the soul as it rose from its WORKOUT
cnvelope. il is obvious that the conclusions to be
drawn from those facts would have been eX-
ceednglv important, and that even DR.. benSe
must have given in his adhesion to the new
psychology, however reluctantly.
Lacl; nQ these conclusive demonstrations how
ever perhaps the fact OF Professor largrave IN
projecting the main points of an eloquent sermon
from Brazil into the cercbrum Of the Rev Samuel
Greyson as he stood in his Boston pulpit may be
accepted as well nigh up to the high-water marx
of modern credibility. As to the pcrccntlon OF
spirits by Mrs Targrave that is comparatively
little, but Mr.. Quincy might have consulted
Andrew Jackson Davis with profit on the physical
expression-if we may use the tcrn-of souls fresh
from incarnation 1t may also be said that IN
his ideas as TO the future OF such entities, MI
Quincy is not fully up 20 the most advanced
hypothesis which refuse to all these carth-bound
phantoms a role more exciting or potential than
that of astral Shells" incapable of experiencing
emotion, and consequently beyond any such man
Hesitation of distress and regrets as marked the
intan gible conference Of the deceased Mr. Ephram
Peclxster. The story, nevertheless. is capItaly
told. full of bright thought and sharp girds at the
materiaistic view of science, and generally speak
ing. of a nature to please not alone the devotees
of theosopby and spiritualism, but OF all, no
matter what they believe or disbelieve, who ap-
preciate and enjoy good novel