The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-20
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

APHoRISMS FROM HERBERT SPENCER'S
WRITINGS.-lt is not a difficult task to
CLEAN from the writings of such a man as
Herbert Spencer volume Of quotations
which will contain much that is instructive
and of interest 10 the ordinary reader.
Julia Raymond Gingell. who has compiled
this volume, appears to have entered upon
her work with a degree of zeal that is
commendable and in its accomplish ment
evinces thorough familiarity with the
writings of the great philOso pher. 1t is
doubtful, however. if taken as a whole
the result is satisfactory. Many of Mr..
Spencer'S finest thoughts are but links in
a chain of argument that need to be
studied closely and in continuity in order
to have their full weight with the student.
Miss Gngell appears to have appreciated
this. as she says in her preface: al fear
the task has been inadequately per-
formed; but while Of great interest
it has proved no easy one, so
many of the finest conceptions being EN-
bodied in paragraphs too long for the pur-
pose. In all works there is danger that in
eliminating small portions OF the context,
the line of thought being broken, the
clearness will either be lost or wrong
impression of the authors meaning con-
veyed; but in the case of the Synthetic
Philosophy the danger is even greater, for
every paragraph is part of great whole,
and though many passages are fine when
standing alone, all gain Increased signifi-
canoe and beauty when considered in re-
lation to the rest" All things considered,
however. there are in MISS GingelPs book
a host OF wise sayings and we'll balanced
thoughts tina. will impress themselves
upon the mind Of the reader. There are
several excellent quotations from the
Essays on Education" and THE Rights
OF Children" Here are few:
The error made by those who discuss ques-
tlous OF domestic discipline lies In ascrbing all
the faults and difficulties 10 the children and
none 10 tie parents.
Be sparlng of commands Command only
failed.
Do but gain a boys trust; convince him by
your face that you have his happiness at heart;
let him discern that you are the wiser OF the
Two; let him experience the benefits of follow
Ing your advice aud the evils that arise from
disleEafding IL; and fear not you Will readily
guide him.
New York: d. Appleton & Co. For
sale by the Bancroft Company.l
THE DISEASES OF THE WILL.-This
work, by Tn. Ribot, companion volume
to THE Diseases of the Personality" has
just been translated from the French by
Merwin Marie Smell. The translation
reads like an English original. 1t is
hardly necessary, then. to state that 1t Is
good. The rationale of the book is by the
study OF The anomalies of the will to draw
conclusions regarding its normal state. 1t
Is good method as far as 1t goes, but on
the lace of 1t il Is an Incomplete one.
The will is impaired by defect of impulse,
as was the case of Thomas de Quincy, or
by excess OF impulse, of which many ex-
Rmpies are given, or by impairment of
voluntary attention, as seemed TO be the
case with Coleridge, or 1t is rendered
incapable by various caprices. The
causes of all these varying defects are
thoroughly studied and illustrated and
the examples given are very curious read
ing and full OF interest. The extinction of
the will is brought about by two states.
ecstasy and somnambulism. Cases of abso-
lutte extinction are quoted as also cases of
resistance. The will Is declared to be the
final term of a progressive evolution, Of
which the simple reflex is the first. aud the
general conclusion reached is that ii is a
mere state of consciousness having IN itself