The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-06
Books and Authors
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Facts and Comments. BY Herbert Spen-
Ger, New York: D. Appleton & Co. Price
$1.20 net. 80
The distinguished scientist announces thar
this, the thirteenth volume of his works will
be his last although, In second edition, he
may add few more apapeTss These papers
are on various subjects, including a few re-
lated to the Speneerian~ philosophy and the
reader will be glad to know the great think
er's views on such subjects as Sanitation in
Theory and Practice, gymnastics. 'Some
Musical Heresies," 'Vaccin aton" Imperial
ism and slavery Party Government, pa
triotism," "a Few Americans "Origin of
Music" There are nearly forty papers and
the reader will hardly skip any of them Mr.
Spencer shares the regret Ruskin had that
modern utilitarianism is destroying rural pic
turesqueness and obtruding upon natural
beauty: which is refining and, in every way
benehcient In Its influence. In discussing
"Americapisms, he rebukes us for our
''linquistic outrages'tby which he means that
we say .'operate'' instead OF work, - Claim
instead of ''assert," ION" instead of .'in'
Mr.. Spencer admits, however, that English
men are not in the habit of speaking Spen-
cerian English either.
He declares, in speaking OF corruption in
music that music performers and teachers
Of music are corrupters of music" because
they are intent upon encouraging pupils to
pay more attention to the powers of execu-
ton, the gymnastics of the art than to rem
dering faithfully the meaning of the pieces
they play. Co.,.
In Spontaneous Reform he suggests that
while evil is very great:,it attracts little
or no attention, but when through natural
causes 1t begins to decrease, then LEGISLATION
is demanded as the only way to effectuate re-
form. Agitators insist on legislation to effect
moral reform, which Mr., Spencer thinks can
be accomplished by social Improvement due
to natural causes. - 13&,s'P
Here are some more Spencerisms; taken at
random from this book Is -. ,z.-..xs.
Judgments are determined less by intel
lectual- processes than by feelings; and feel.
ilgs are Eswayed this way and that way large
ly by mere personal likes and dislikes, or by
the desire to express authorized opinions-to
be in the fashion,. 49, = =, 49,. -...s.,
sis there not reason. for the opinion that
immense evils may result If INSTRUMENTATION
Is pushed in advance of moralization?''
'There is a prevailing belief that dictation
is apt to cause diffuseness, and think the be-
lief is we'll founded. 1t was once remarked
to me by two coed judges that the style of
Social Statistics is better than the style
OF my later works, and, assuming the opinion
to be true, the contrast may, I think, be
ascribed to the deteriorating effect of dicta-
ton. A recent experience strengthens me in
this conclusion : 80
"Beauty is not attained by filing a room
with beautiful things. : The total effect of
room so filled is destroyed by the separate
effect of its contents, These distract atten-
ton from one another, and. in. their totally
distract attention from he. room. y. 49,, $50
''To me the cry Our country, right or
wrong seems detestable. By association
with love of country the sentiment. it ex-
presses gains a certain justification, Do but
pull off the cloak, however. and the con-
tanned sentiment is seen to: be OF the lowest. ;"
'*The things that we can be certain of are
happily the only things worth knowing"
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