New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
hGRACIAN'S BOOK OF MAXIMS TRANSLATED

TIE ART OF WORLDLY WISDOM. BY Batha rm,
Gracisn. Translated from The spanish py Sos'p"
Jacobs. PIP. lXNivp 191. Machlhlah ~ w.
What self-satlsfed person must he be WHO se's UP
10 tell others how to get on In lic For the c'se' "
no two persons are alike and the differences are as
rule the only thing important In the comparison
Maxims OF conduct are generally the u''era''' VI ~
who never succeed. He that has mos P'"'
least occasion for any. unless he may ma one " ''"'
for, him In his mlshaps. Those who succeeo uo ~
usually before the CALLED jade OF proven -,
within shouting distance. 1t IS perhaps p"'"'"'
illustration of the usclcssness OF wise Sa"' CIR" "
tnjunctions and all the rest OF inc guam. '''
handed by tradition that ore OF inc i" SUI
cessfui among modern nations should nave 'hc ''S'
n,ovcrbs and should have the best ana most enter
..,n,nc ,ooL AZ maxIms ever written III was 'he
ssmc with sntiquity. No race was ever Jess s"'o'S
I'M, than the Hebrews In politics. Yet the DOOM vi
preverbs f. a treasury Of political WISDOM opa"iu
m.v ~ he chooses. cap every incidcht oi MS c"'i
with a telling and epigramma'ic saying b"' 'ne
beauty Of the saying seems someho" u "o""'' "'''
It's utility In practical affairs.
Mr. Jacobs has given to his translation the tcrSe-
,sss the sharp contrasts. the abrupt changes uia'
add beauty to his original and these are the th'SS
lopsed for In such & book. Tins "A WISE maui
re,s more use from his enemies than 1901 from HIS
friends. or "'Ts a troublesome thing to rule men,
SIN more fools or bockhcads double sense Is he'u'
with those who have none" Again, III you WIS"
to he valued be valued for your talents not lor any
thing adventurous" Under the 222d maAn'
serve Is a proof OF prudence 1t Is remarked. Inv
tongue is a wild beast; once let loose IL - ~
10 chain 1t is the pulse OF the soul, 10y whch "Sc
men nudge Of It's health" Every paragraph Is " w
light. The combination of mild cynicsm ana seeming
candor, the gcncness OF the dove WIN Inv '"7
y, sernent AS bcfted Gracans religious procession
Is we'll reflected In this English version. but ior inv
rough and ready necessities of real HE 'he'e n''N'"'
and comments are of more use than IL Damas'"H
blade would be for peeling potatoes
The hook has some notable features H. addiuoh W
the translation Right after the preface qui'e III
the manner OF not few volumes oauhs lro" INV
revival of learning. there is collection Oh leSumo
I'm various languages TO the merits OF "iac'Sh
comes an Introduction discussing the WHY a"'no'
.nd hi. works. and maxims in general as differing
from, aphorsms and proverbs :" Where the aplofiN"
STATES a fact of human nature says he, "a m"An
ADVISES a course OF action" And he remarks III
another place, 1t was, we may DC sure o'"''''
ENGLISH lraffer who first said penny wise, ponhu
,oolisb :, IL we knew his name we would cal +"
maxim: as his name is unknown, it ranks aS prov.
orb Finally he discusses the merits OF "rac'ah
"OracuIo Manual" The author had the eoou Drew"
,ur Of \ Jesuit, he had the literary skill OF IL S'c-
cessful romance writer. and he lived nj Just the n'e
In the seventeenth century when the proper sly w
heen perfected for making a good book Oh naAii'S
The introduction is followed by photography oil"
then comes a list of the leading maxims. the trans
,srons being followed in each case by the spanish
ORIGINAL After the body of the book come Few
oc.s of notes upon obscure matters. once or twice
fbere is an infusion OF something quite modern ana
personal For example, after quoting the nl,inctiol
" Never become paradoXical in order TO avolo Inc
fritep Mr. Jacobs adds IN the underone Oh loo'
note: Mr. Oscar wdes attention may be respect
fully called to this