The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-12
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY e. CAvAZZA.

French and English. BY Philip Gilbert
Hamerton. Anything from the pen of Mr..
Hamerton is well worth reading with care
and attention. II is sure to he distinguished
by clear perception and knowledge of the
subject in hand, by good sense, manly and
sympathetic temper, and liberal judgment.
Mr. Hamerton's style is a model of unaffect-
ed, copious and attractive diction; he has in
variably something to say, and says it forci-
bly, and agreeably. In reading his works
oneis confident that the author has taken
much pains and has applied the trained per-
ceptions of an artist and thinker to the end
that he maythoroughly ascertain the truth and
thoroughly impart It, Hence his observations
upon the likenesses and differences which
exist between modern Frenchmen and their
English contemporaries are not merely the
clever comparisons of resident in each
country, but also of keen and philosophi-
cally impartial student of Gallo and British
civilization. 1t may frankly be said that these
two nations are too much unlike to render
comparison of them as brilliant and as subtle
as that which, for instance, Mr.. Brownell
was able to make in his papers on French
and American Traits. Mr. Hamerton has
chosen to treat his theme rather effectively,
and with method and scrupulous fairness
which hold the respect and attention of the
reader. III he has preferred to say French
and English rather than English and French
he bids us observe it to be purely for the
sake of euphony. He is careful to disclaim
partisanship of either country, though cir
cumstances have rendered him affectionate
toward both. A grave and noble utterance
is that in which he says:
1t seems to me that the best patriotism does NOT
consist in speaking evil of another country. but in
endeavoring to serve ones own. There are many
Kinds OF service. That of writer is above ali
things to tell the TRUTH and not to deceive his
IL he fails in veracity he Is guilty of a kind of
treachery to his own country by giving it errone-
cry may become serious when the subject is inter
national. When public writer's are patriotic i'm
the ola narrow and peryerse meaning Of the term,
lice, when they systematically treat the foreigner
as being, who has neither rights nor merits nor
feelings, then, whether Intentionally or not they
are urging their own nation on the path that leads
TO war. When they endeavor TO write truly and
Justly about the foreigner. with due considera-
ton for his different position and fair recOgni-
ton OF his rights and feelings then they are favor
ing the growth Of conciliatory temper which,
when difficulty arises, will tend to mutual con-
cession and to the preservation of peace.
With this commendable and wise theory
Mr.. Hamerton's work will be found every
where consistent. His temper is admirably
compacted of sincerity and goodwill; and
whatever structures, in course of his essays,
may have been made upon England or France,
patriots of either nation should be slow to
resent and doubly slow to reject the criticism.
The general topic is divided into parts, re-
lative to Education, Patriotism, Politics,
Religion, Virtues, Custom, Society, Success
and Variety-with an Epilogue and Index,
also successful and varied. IL is impossible
in the limits of newspaper notice to give
sketch of the opinions and comparisons
which render Mr.. Hamerton's volume a
social parallel to his authoritative critical
works. Among points which may be noted
in passing is his just declaration that the
remedy for the dangers of physical deteriora
ton in both races, caused by industrialism
and by the rapid use of life in large cities, is
to be found in the modern scientific spirit,
and in the extension Of military training, the
latter school of moral authority, of self-re-
spect and of 81 splendid spirit of courage
and self-sacrifce."
clever observation is that in which Mr.
Hamerton points out the reason of the en-
thusiastic acceptance by Englishmen of Mr.
Ruskin's apostolate of Art-"because it
seemed for the first time to place art upon
substantial moral foundation, making truth,
industry, conscientiousness, its cardinal
virtues" while, in reality, art sis only acct
dentally connected with them. 1t is truth
well worth emphasizing in Mr.
Hamerton's persuasive style that "utterance
is that which best keeps feelings alive" and
he warns Englishmen not to hold their I'M
readiness of tender speech more worthy than
the phrases of the Frenchman. At the same
time, he finds the English superior to their
Gallo neighbors in the excellent virtue of
Kindness to dumb animals. People who are
tired of the trite remark chat the French are
not domestic people because they have no
word from home. will wickedly rejoice to
remember that the English language has no
word equivalent to patrie, country fails as
synonym because used in many ways which
have no connection with the patriotic senti-
ment. And, by the way, French writer
is 1T Mr.. Max O'Rell-has recently declared
that the term chez nous is derived from the
Latin casa noStrd, and thus triumphantly
proves the French dictionary to be no longer
homeless.
Mr.. Hamerton notices that the English
have mental habit of contempt for other
nations. while they do not overrate them
selves. In war, he says, they almost invar-
iably underestimate the strength of the an
tagonist and the difficulty of the enterprise,
thus imposing needless hardships on the in
adequate little force that begins the war; In
face of natural forces, the perils of sea or
land, he finds them equally apt to underes-
Innate the foe. Perhaps this trait may be
due to the Anglo Saxon lack of imagination.
In answer to the possible question: When
an Englishman despises, how does French
man express intentional antagonism? Mr..
hamilton cites phrase of Prince Bismarck,
10 the erect that the French hate their
neighbors. 1t is evident that the millennium
is not yet Instituted on either side of the
Channel. Mr.. Hamerton's observations
upon the honorable position of French
soldiers, their just sentiments of devotion to
their country, and the affection in which
the army is held by the people, are sympa-
thetic tributes to the value of military dis
cipline for nation. In the chapter upon
Liberty he notes the mistake, disingenuous
or not, by which Englishmen represent the
French Egalite as equality in all things,
whereas the French intention is merely
equality before the law. A similar and still
more mischievous error, mentioned in later
chapter, is that by which English translators
confouud the French communists and com
mundrds-the latter term means, very nearly
township-home-rule men.