New-York tribune., 1902-01-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE BOOK OF A GENTLE PHILOSOPHER
LAWS AND PRINCIPLES OF BRIDGE.

Confidence. moderation and normal habits OF
thought and action"-this is the keynote of the
gentle philosophy nculcated in the little book OF
Charles Wagner, THE Simple Life CMcClure
Phillips & Coz. that breaches a gospel much
needed in the modern world. It comes from Paris,
1.-The worlds heart of sophistication'; from
preacher of liberal views. practical humanitarl-
an tireless writer. II is new doctrine that he
teaches; but he conveys it with so much charm
and drectness that it comes with new force
and significance. It is no vain dream OF re-
establishing vanished order Of civilization
that he has in mind in enforcing the doctrine
Of simplicity:
The thing called by this fine name-is It
vanished good? 1 do not think so. If sim
plicity depended upon certain exceptional con-
ditions found only in rare epochs of the past.
must indeed renounce all idea Of realizing
ii again. Civilization is no more TO be brought
back to its beginnings than the flood tide of
a river TO the peaceful valley where alders
meet above its course. But simplicity does not
belong TO such and such economic or social
phases; rather IL is a spirit able to vivify and
modify lives of very different sorts.
The complexity of our life appears in the
number Of our material needs: and from all
this complexity has arisen "a common agita-
tion-a very complex mental state best
pared to the petulance of a spoiled child, at
once satisfied and discontented.' in which the
secondary is confused with the essential. In
pleading for essentials NJ. Wagner pleads for
simplicity-not external simplicity. for it has
no external characteristics by which it may
be recognized. It is a state of mind. There is
simplicity of thought, of speech, of duty, of
needs, Of pleasures, of beauty. Fitful and
sterile curiosity, the mania for analyzng and
examining ones self at every turn. he would
have none of. yet he does invite neglect
of introspection and of the examination of
science. Duty rarely has TO make itself plain
across conflicting circumstances; the plain duty
OF which NJ. Wagner advises is that each
one according to his resources. leisure and
capacity should create relations for himself
among the worlds disinherited Our needs.
IN place OF the servants that they should be-
have become a turbulent and seditious crowd,
a legion of tyrants in miniature, resulting in
the destruction of happiness, independence,
moral fneness. even of the sentiment of COM
mon interest Our pleasures are ruined by ex-
cess; the faculty of being happy is the chief
thing needed to be amused, fostered by conf
dence, moderation and normal habits of thought
and action.
Such are some of the points of NJ. Wagner's
preaching Of simplicity of life-a simplicity that
is far removed from asceticism, but that opens
"a whole forgotten world of strength and
beauty" 1t is not adjuration, but it is
at any rate sincere and that needs con-
slant and ever greater attention in these days.
While acknowledging the inferiority of bridge
to whist between which he says that no
parallel be drawn any more than be-
tween halma and chess, "Hellespont," in his
compact little manual THE Laws and Prin-
ciples Of Bridge (Charles Scribner's Sons),
maintains its excellence easier game and
a more recreative Its continued popularity
and the comparatively small number OF authori-
tative treatises on 1t will make this new one
welcome TO the large and increasing army of
players. It is eninently practical in its method
and is full Of illustrations of it's precepts by
OF diagrams, showing hands completely
played through, with ample comment and
planation. The first part is devoted to
mentary the rules and principles Of the game.
always with the practical illustration ready at
hand; the second is devoted to a series Of games.
the hands being in every instance taken from
actual play.
There is wide divergence of view as to the
proper play in a number of situations that may
arise in bridge, but "Hellespont'' is not dog
matist and contents himself in with
explaining the opposing systems. by which the
adherents of either may be able to follow the
system they prefer. And to points where the
writer declares for one method another Of
play. his attitude is expressed by the following
remarks:
IN no game Of cards. and least of all In such
a game bridge, is it possible to demonstrate
mathematically that any particular method of
play is unquestionably right, and that all other
modes are infallibly wrong. No effort is there
fore made TO bring forward any absolute proof
OF the correctness Of any of the methods OF
play recommended and the student must rest
satisfied with the reasons given, unless he is able
to adduce stronger ones in support Of different
scheme.
It is altogether mistake, says F. warre
Cornish. IN his contribution to the Social Eng
land" series, "Chivalry" CThe Macmillan Com
pany). to in the fantastic ceremonial of
chvalry nothing but empty pageant and
cloak for social immortality. 1t advance
on what had gone before a step in the march Of
social progress; and Mr.. Cornish devotes his
book not only to giving clear view of what
this system was, but TO combating the views of
some recent historians, such as Freeman and his
follower Green, who have dwelt on it's evil
aspects.
ChivaIry was the basis of the whole duty of
gentleman, and his life from his early child
hood was regulated by it: he could never escape
from the rule OF service imposed upon him by
religion. military duty and love-service to God
his lord and his lady. Gentlemen's and mobiles
sons were sent TO great houses to be brought up,
beginning their services pages; and service
IN the hall. the armory. the tiltyard, the
stable the park and all that concerned hunt
ing was eminently noble. Then they became
squres, serving their knights still. in every
thing, till they could themselves aspire to
knighthood Ceremony and symbolism were
chief characteristics Of chvalry; the knights
themselves lived as in an allegory, and
detail of such life could be unimportant
Chivalry was the gay science" War their
business. in which they were trained by the
tournament arranged by herads according to
strictest ritual Generosity itself was reduced