New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
PROFESSOR SHACKFORD'S ESSAYS.

SOCIAL AND LITERARY PAPERS. by Charles
Cbauncy Shackford, Emeritus Professor In Cornell
University 12mo, PIP. 900 Boston; Roberts
Brothers.
This volume contains fifteen essays by the late
Professor Shackford, OF Cornell. His death occurred
while the book stu m press the proofs OF less
than hundred having passed under MS
scrutiny The work of editorial supervision was then
committed 70 Mr.. A. W. Stevens OF the University Press
and he appears have performed his task with equal
care and judgment. The papers cover a.wde range
OF subjects, but certain unity OF thought ana ten
dcncy may be perceived in most Of them The utles
are as follows: "Aeschyus on some Modern Social
Problems; a satlrist In the Second Century !;
a Scoptic in the Eighteenth Century; "NemeiS
In Greek Tragedy; "The Pope in the Ring ana the
Book y; "Brownng's In Balcony y; "The Greek
Comedy OF Manners; "PiatO's Republic; AIRS
totlos Politics.; Social Progress; "Social Plans and
Problems; social Tendencies; The Nation as an
Organism In Shakespeare; The Common Reason In
Social Reforms: History Development
The essays classical subjects have been given an
entirely modern interest by the authors demonstration
OF the coincidence of ancient and modern theories piim
ciples and problems. The opening paper, "Aeschyms
OH some Modern social Problems deals principally
with tile esotei1c meaning Of the Prometheus." In
Professor Shackfords view the punishment Of the
Titan symbOllzes the suffering which attends always
tire breaking away from tradition and convention and
the endeavor To lead the world forward to its higher
planes OF civilization and thought. Prometheus had
fact the law OF martyrdom that is illustrated in the
drama, and I" this law OF martyrd nm is In the
very constitution OF the natural world Each succes
sve step Of ascending life gained by the rendering
up Of life In that which precedes growth comes out
of decay life ont Of death. The earth is fertile because
innumcrabe forms have lived and died. The soldest
rock is crumbed into finest impalpabe powder; the
hardest mineral renders up It's FORM and equally with
the tenderest mass disintegratng at the touch IL
becomes dissolved Into dust; plants springing from
these inhae the atmosphere and rains of heaven and
mnisering juices of the SOIL and then give themselves
up in turn to animals and Each higher form
lives by the martyrdom OF lower, and death Is
everywhere the price OF life Is it any different ia
the moral and social sphere: Is not the present civil
zaon OF the word-its knowledge art, comfort, we'll
bepg-the result of innumerable and deaths ?,
This extract may afford idea OF the essay
lists line of thought but the best part OF his argu
ment Is that in which he points out the misconcep
ton Of Aeschylus into which previous critics have
fallen for instance. In supposing that the poet
meant to hold up PrOmctheus example of rash |
audacity TO be stunned whereas he really launches
his condemnation against that view of the supreme |
THE Greek Zeus) which represented him as power
that has seated itself by mere force on the throne
and who hates the human race that he is willing
to 1t perish, that It's place may be supplied by
creatures OF his own PrOmetheus was 4 non-con- |
formist and for this he punished. But not |
rightcously righteously because the Zeus of
Aeschyus not the supreme Being but only "a
divine order In the making Prometheus was
rebel, but a rebel against wrong and tyranny The
Greek God in the process of evolution, as well
as the Greek world and the Greek man."
Another principle TO be found I'm Aeschylus IS that
OF heredity. thought commonly to be so modern; and
moreover the view which he presents is fully in ac
cord with the newest theories the subject. lie
teaches that tendencies both TO virtue and to vice
inherited lie aside the old Greek notion Of the
Jealousy Of the gods as an explanation of human mis-
fortune and suffering. This essay is indeed full OF
interest and freshness of ideas, and did space permit
we should like to follow 1t more fully. But there
no papers in Professor Shackfords book which
deserving Of notice. That Nemesis i'm Greek
Tragedy" is another specially suggestive The essay
on Lucian is equally satisfactory, though in another
direction. The articles "Plato's Republic" and {
g Astoe's Politics" have the rare merits Of brief
with the problems connected with social progress, and
they characterized by a snguarly sane and lib
eral spirit The author is all for ordered liberty.
There is fustan, demagoglsm in his consldera-
tons. His democracy is genuine and deeprooted.
but he never sympathzes in the least with that ir-
RATIONAL narrow view which condemns the accumua-
ton Of capital. In several of these ways, in fact he
himself to expose the falacy Of the Socialists and
his arguments vigorous and pertinent In every
OF Socialist schemers he shrewdly observes: 9" Here
plainly the radical defect OF all such panaceas
They profess furnish for all, the catholcon or
universal remedy, for all the Ills that social flesh is heir
TO. All wants are to be supplied, all suiierings re-
moved. all Affections healed. by external arrange
ments which money and modern improvements fur
nlsh. These viii form mans character perfect his
morals purify his motives and make him dsnterescd
manly and loving! That he shall form his own char
Is, Of course, absurd. Even Lamennais. whose
deep spiritual sympahies stirred, and whose in
terest that Of man In the sufering Of his fellow
men, says that from the holy maXms Of equality, lib
erty and fraternity being immovably established the
organization OF society will cmanate. But embody, II
you WILL these maXims in external form. and how
long will IL last unless there Is the internal spirit per
vading its every pat? To gather brothers BY blood
under roof has never yet proved a cathocon for
an unbrotbcry temper The records OF many ex-
peiments exist To confirm the truth Of these remarks
though unfortunately the majority of refuse to
learn the lessons OF the past.
All these social essays thoughtful clearly stated,
and timely In the best They deserve TO be read
widely. and scholars less than economists will find
the contents Of Professor shackford book both useful
and interesting.