New-York tribune., 1908-08-23
M4CHL4FELLI.
( Brilliant ESsag by Lord Morley
Of Blackburn.

-g--T-AL MIs~ELL--ANTF3S. BY John Morley
S-o ~ u SE. The Macmillan Company.
-.-= gorIev-s new volume Of essays is in a
-r recslsa- sense the work OF a writer who
4. .seo : uzn Of affairs. Indeed, only a states
~ could have written the fine analysis Of
,,.-r:a-elH which 5 the outstanding thing in
- Collection. The whole book is readable 1t
-a--ez from tha pen Of one who never speaks
eq-e When he has something to say, and it is
-o-.b while 70 listen when he is dealing. as he
5s.-s II various Of these papers. with John
s-ns-- MI NJ Lecky OF Democracy. and
s-e1 NJ Frede-i- HaTrison's historical romance.
--heoIlano" Bu; il IS IN his pages on the
r-est Floren,ine master OF political speculation
.-s, Lord Morley does most 20 recall not only
ne sahder virtues but the Intellectual charm Of
-5asa books OF ToIJaire, Diderot and Burke.
al 50 CT which long since gave him his high
--1k as 9 thoughtfu- writer. We say thought
e--- aay5sedIy for there are few modern writ
s-s Tho know Sc well how 10 pack their every
-zs xith meaning and suggestion, who are 50
-5z y the stimulus springing from the mind
-.,ter kan from The emotions. MachiavelI Is
vel worn theme I ever there was one. but
.-ss study C. nm is fresh and luminous
-.-5 Na-Ie- first brought Il forward in the
AA-N4L-s NlLr--' ILt Nt---A
--l Z Is III Romanes lecture in 1897. Pos
-r ae has Cve-lauled Il for publication in
5rz to--r hu- = so. he has done nothing 10
-.s.sy I'll energetic tone adapted 70 z public
-z--se :, IS q rapid. nervous piece Of prose.
-=-s- precisely eloquent. but always persuasive
.-z frc-1 beginning 70 end, absolutely linpid
Is broad outlines are by themselves engaging.
IL -le-le IS approached with just the neces-
--- 10
s--zl-y and cz-ec- are tersely but very sym
sa1be,iealIy slstcleG. and then his works and
| ne leading ideas = them are dissected, char
s1,sr.ze6 and ser II the light Of what the trend
/ Il Civilization las done 10 confirm or impugH
:her value. To me knowledge Of the scholar IS
as5s6 tie reasoned wisdom Of the moralist-
---lo-s Ct Na-H5aEelIl continue 70 vary, and
-1-5 Morley Is hardly the man TO claim that
-e has uttered The last word on any subject, but
ne student who followed his guidance il this
much debated matter could not go far wrong.
u, is because he Is Sc disInterested IN his at
rude. SC persis-enJly solIciJoUs Of getting, If
| possible a tha truth And the truth about
ga-layeIL Is profoundly difficult 10 establish
Il = simple enough 70 state his position, 10 ex-
/ -ar- ron tn Prince what We may describe
Is he author system II is another matter
4 pace tna- system II the right perspective.
make -lg.G.y impartial examination OF II As
contribution e The ar q government. Not
z-sv one ca bring 70 such q task quite the
-glzszonare candid alG fearless method which
4 --t Morley employs
L his opi.ior .'EEacLiave-Ii's merit in the his
\ -g = politica- literature is his method" He
j rings th-s CT = many pages Of subtle analysis.
4 10 nowhere more --.u--iTlatingly than in the
4 1vllg passage. devoted Al once to the Ital-
/ AIS point OF view and his style:
4 Esaoleor hated a general who made mental
L cures g TLaI le saw. instead OF looking at
4 G-lg clearly through z field glass Ma
II -aTe-ls is rre s1Eie q The field glass. y want
L FrJe something. ne said, that may be use
q TIE understanding man: II seems better
/ Ne % g behind 10 the real truth Of things,
-1s than u . fancy picture Every sen
4 = represents thought or thing he Is
- open 70 The -eproaCb thrown by Aristotle
/ t<io- THIS Is 20 talk poetic metaphor. As
| q tee1 SAID much less truly Of MonteSQuleu,
1 lien lS not broken by monuments and land
4 -p% he has the highest OF all the virtues
4 q prose writing can posSeSS-Save the half
Il = cases i literature OF genius with uncon-
1 ---le R--Es-le Is simple. unaffected C1recl'