The herald., 1894-04-01
TBY l.. BEHYMER.

Among the new books from the ArenI
press, Boston, is one of the most ingeni
GUS, unique and thought provoking sto
ries of the present generation-Ai;
Social Vision, by Rev. Charles S. Daniel
1t is a most extraordinary book, anC
treats of subjects Of philosophical ma
turs. 1t is social vision, and is II
many respects the most noteworthy o
the many remarkable dreams callee
forth by the general unrest ard intel
lectual activity OF the present genera
tion. But, unlike most social dreams
appearing since the famous Utopia oi
Sir Thomas More, this book has distinct
i've qualities which will commend it to
many readers who take, as yet, little in
terest in the vital social problems Of the
hour. A quiet humor pervades the
whole volume which is most delightful.
1t ia full of philosophy, and many of the
sentences bristle with virile thought.
The ideas in All are noble and
calculated to do much good.
They are also, in many respects.
novel. The scene is laid in Philsdel-
pha, and is in some respects a very
clever arraignment of society, the church
and its bishops and preachers, the news
papers and their editors, the law and
it's judges and practitioners. The
brotherhood OF man and various Hocio-
logical and philanthropic ideas,
such as the establishment OF a
college settlement and tine social regen-
Grafton of old Philadelphia are few of
the topics discussed. The social reform
is begun by some young married people
who settle in the old colonial houses
near the Delaware river. The hero is
All, who does much good, is made a
bishop, and sells the jewels and robes of
his Office to provide river excursions for
poor children. The characterization is
clever, as when the bishop and the Jew
are discussing the Christ and the Jew
says: "Yes, he was q friens of de poor,
and 80 far / respect de man, if he did
lif." There is touch of genius in the
qualification.
The method suggested for the treat
ment of hsbitual criminals is an excel
lent one and equal 10 that OF the peo-
ple's bishop. 1t is alternately grave and
gay, and the intellectual freshness re-
minds one constantly of Edward Everett
Hals's stories, with which All has much
in common. 1t is q peculiar and un-
conventional study of the application of
spiritual forces to human social needs.
An earnest, reverent, practical story,
full of valuable suggestions to Chris
tians, showing that closer personal and
sympathetic relations with the poor and
degraded is what is needed to render the
churches properly efficient. The volume
is more entertaining than Mr.. Bellamy'e,
and is certainly more practical. 1t is not
to be expected that the little book should
be taken up as the books of Bellamy and
Mrs. Humphrey Ward have been discus
sed, but in certain respects its merits are
worthy Of wider appreciation than they
are likely to receive. 1t ought to have as
great sale aB Uncle Toms Cabin had.
1t is q clever book, and, what is much
more important, one whose influence 10
for good. The authors name may be a
nom de plume, and probably the author
is woman, as there are touched in it
that are quite feminine but not efethi-
nate.
Carlyle Petersilea, who writes under
the nom de plume of Ernst Won Him
mel, lie the author of psychical novel,
entitled Oceanides. The contents OF
this book, the author claims, were
communicated to him by the spirit of
his father. The volume is dedicated to
the Rev. NJ. ]. Savage, widely known as
the pastor of the church of the Unity,
Boston. The book ia fascinating from
beginning to end. The story is remark.
ably we'll written. and, while not
entirely an ideal story, the writer, in
touching upon the marriage question,
gives an ideal theory of spiritual coun-
terpart. Ernst Won Himmel is the hero
OF the story, and his psychical expert
ences are of the most marvellous charac-
ter. His spirit is lured from his body
by some very lovely spirits who have
passed from this life, and who take it in
charge and show it many of the
glories and mysteries of the spirit world.
The same ideas of natural selection by
the'celestials that were given in The
Discovered Country are enticingly pre-
sented in this story. There is more
exciting interest in Oceanides, the
heroine of the story, who is supposed
to represent to the mind of the writer
tbs highest type of womanhood. This
is a question upon which readers will
disagree, and gives an interesting
question for discussion. The heroine
is a beautiful young married woman,
with whom Ernst falls desperately in
love, and who is living q life of direct
misery with brutal husband,
who several times tries to murder
his gentle and faithful wife, but
ia thwsrted by the influence of guardian
spirits, who are Ernst's dear friends.
She remains proof to all per-
suasion to leave her husband, and
only consents on condition that
the legal separation shall be
be contaminated before the hero receives
his reward by her hand in marriage.
The aim of this book is to show the
meaning OF love, its spiritual nature,
power and law; which it accomplishes
in a manner noticeable greatly for the
vivid realty and presentness, 80 to
speak, of the scenes and situations
which embody its meanings. The two
individuals who are the central figures
of this love story are characters of
strong worth and possibilities, endowed
with spiritual perceptions of unusual
power. At the opening of the story
they seem two very separate individu-
ais; and, judged by ordinary appear
ances, likely to remain 90. But, though
the working Of spiritual law, whose
method is in this instance revealed to
tbs consciousness of the hero of the
story, the law of love, which makes two
souls one in their identity, whether
separate or apart in appearance, leads
them one toward the other with the in.
vincibleness of an absolute power.
The story deals with mighty truths,
and, in all essential respects, in a man