New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-26
LONDON NOTES.
a Philosophers Autobiography-
Treasure TroUe at Christie's
London. necemher IL


there was too much talk, and he systematically
sacrificed the essentially human attributes 70
habits OF unoisturbed reflection and processes of
generalization His closing years were passed
IL retirement at Brighton. where he received
few visitors, Gid not answer letters. and brooded
over his physical ailments and looked out hour
sitter hour over the sea He had done his work
and was waiting for the end, not perhaps with
The serenity OF old age. but certainly with utter
Indifference TO the comments and opinions OF
spectators. The autobiography OF q philosopher
50 reserved and reticent yet with mind un-
smbittered by cynicism. ought to be most inter-
esting and instructive: and il is weIInigh GER
tain that. while he avoided observation, he had
some last words for the world which would be
well worth hearing John Stuart Mill whose
place he took as Englands greatest thinker.
wrote one OF the best autobiographies in Eng
ush literature. and astonished his friends by
describing & crisis IN his own mental history
which was the direct result Of the anaIyzing
spirit developed by his education and environ
ment He had become Indifferent 10 the as
sociaIions Of pleasure with any Of the objects Of
human desire. His mind had been perfectly
trained as an instrument Of thought, but his
heart had been neglected; and IN his hours of
detection, when he had ceased 10 have any OBJ
3ect In view, music and Wordsworth's poetry
alone could offer consolation 10 him for the
emptiness OF existence. The autobiography of
Herbert Spencer may relate experiences equally
unique. although markedly dissimiIar. His edu-
cation was also conducted at home. and he was
3 solitary thinker, without school friends or &
university course; and when he had abandoned
the uncongenial profession Of engineering he
diverted his talents 10 writing on abstract ques-
tons Of speculative thought. and became the
greatest scientific reasoner Of the modern age
by passing completely out Of touch with his fell
low men There must have been crises in his
lonely life OF concentrated thought too serious
70 be srnoothed over by his favorite game Of
billiards OF any adaptation Of his gospel OF re-
taxation.
The environment Of the schooIrlaster's son
helped TO explain his retirement from ordinary
fields Of human activity and interest; but he
could not nave constructed a complete body of
philosophy based on scientific order If he had
not been highly favored by fortune and acc-
oentaliy put in the way Of persevering in IN
TemuneratiVe studies. The poet would prob
ably have been lost in Wordsworth if Raisley
Calvert had not left him considerable legacy
and enabled him TO Try experiments in verse
and 10 write the Lyrical Ballads; and the
philosopher in his career received adventurous
aid in the same way, and was relieved from the
necessity Of wasting time in literary hack
work, like Schiller over his TRANSACTIONS, in or
der 10 keep soul and body together. So original
E thinker. without the resources Of imagination
distinction Of style, needed TO be released
from the carAing cares Of earning living as
an essayist and book writer. As time went on
he received considerable returns from his books
which were translated into many languages; but
he lived with extreme frugality and died with
lneagre savings from his contributions 70 Iitera-
rure and philosophy. The burdens Of old age he
bore with the dignity. II not with the stoicisrn
found 2 bent figure a wasted face and man Of
few words CninQuisitive respecting the future,
he did not unsettle other mems faith His chief
relaxation watching the sea from lounge
near q window. Possibly It symboLzed for him
The Unknown Mystery, wherein vengeance could
have place. He himself had written. Mean
while sympathy commands silence toward al
who suffering under the ills Of life desire com
fort from their creed
handsome, illustrated book was published a
Few years ago about Christie's. the most famous
auction house in the world. and 1T contained
many Instances Of the recovery Of lost treas
ures. The record is 4 continuous one for the
occupants Of country houses do not always
know the value Of heirlcoms. and there are
amazing surprises when estates are closed out
b. order Of executors. The masterpieces" Of
art which have been displayed with pride as
eventually sold for their rea. value as copies:
and despised portraits which have been hanging
II servants halls or upper landings are identi-
fed important works by connoisseurs and
competed for with energy by dealers. The
auctioneers do not guarantee the genuineness OF
works sold al this clearing house Of heirIooms
and private collections. but there is much
pert talent among the dealers and curiosity
mongers that the truth is known when the sales
occur, whether values are scaled Up or down
Half a century ago q leather currier bought al
old portrait for e and hung It in his dining
room. IN Baintree. after his marriage. Re liked
the picture because it seemed to suit its en-
vironment N an Elizabethan mansion; but he
did not know who had painted It nor what was
its value. In the course OF the settlement Of his
estate # was recently sold at Christie's as a
Natter for 3 100 guineas One Of the local deal
ers in antiques had made ambiguous offer Of
80 for it,
There are similar romances connected with
the curiosity shops IN London A well known
architect noticed in shop window an antique
silver casket, and purchased It for E25 after
beating down the dealer 40 It is TO be ex-
hibited at the South Kensington Museum. and
counoisseurs are confident that It would fetch
5000 q auctioned Of at Christie's. The casket
stands on eight silver acorns. and is surmounted
By a silver Moorish dome; and the wooden box,
70 which no opening has been found. is about
eighteen by nine inches IN dimensions. and is
OVERHEAD with gesso work and ornamented with |
silver At each OF the four corners there is a
crowned H: in ten places there is q mono |
gram with an II" end two "D's." and there are
three tnterlaced crescents forming the crest of
- -s~o ~ Of