The Washington herald., 1908-03-10
IN THE BOOK WORLD.

Mr.. Charles Johnston, In the course OF
an exceedingly interesting article in the
current Harper's Weekly, entitled Touch
ing Hands with Eternity" in which he
discusses Sir Oliver Lodges recent re-
markable, declarations concerning the
proof Of life after death. makes this sug-
gestive remark. 1T is" he says, IAN
ironie commentary upon the processes Of
thought that, after emerging from the
naturalistic superstitions OF sll savage
races and building our elaborate cos
mogonies and theologies. seemingly un-
alterable. We should appear to have COM
pleted the circle. and to be driven hack
again upon the old traditions. There is a
tradition that there is also a divine way
OF communicating with departed spirits.
through raising of the threshold Of
ones own consciousness till II includes
the spiritual realm; but there is a world
Of difference between this and the possess
sion OF an entranced body by sons .er-
sonality which has recently passed
through death" Mr.. JOhnstOn's article is
illustrated with Photographic reproduc-
tions Of a number of actual transcriptions
OF the spirit" messages alleged by Sir
Oliver Lodge to have been received from
the late Mr. F. W n. Myers. DR.. Richard
HodgsOn, and others who have gone over
10 the other side"
in Korea with MARQUIS Ito by Prof
George Trumbun Iadd. VIII be brought
out during February by Charles Scrib-
ner's Sons. II Is one OF the most impor-
tant books on Korea and the present
plans Of Japan in that country that have
appeared. Prof Lsdd. for some years pro-
fessor OF philosophy al Yale University,
and The author OF important works on
philosophy and psychology. was invited
by the Japanese government 10 lecture
in japan a few years ago Just after the
lectures were finished. Marquis Ito. who
was entering upon his mission for the
reorganization Of Korea. invited Prof
Ladd 70 accompany him there and aid in
nis work OF Transforming and moderniz-
Ing the Hermit Kingdom by lecturing on
ethics and education 10 the Koreans
Prof Ladd accepted what was at once
an extremely fattering invitation and an
exceptionally honorable duty. He spent
q number OF months IN Korea with Mar
quis Ito, whose important civillzing work
he was enabled 10 assist by incidental
counsel connected with the attitude OF the
foreign missionaries. as we'll as by his
addresses TO the Koreans on the funda-
mental truths OF civilized government and
social progress. His new book contains
the account not only OF his personal ex-
periences. but OF present conditions in
that country, OF which he gained an inti-
mate and first-hand knowledge. As the
Impressions OF so able a man who was
given such exceptional opportunities for
observation. the book must carry great
weight. His estimate OF the Marquis Ito
rfc
OF the resources and finance. education
and public justice. foreigners and foreign
relations, is Of the greatest and most
vivid interest while his Impressions and
observations OF travel IN many parts OF
Korea make graphic and suggestive. as
well as agreeable reading. The book Is
illustrated by photographs.
The beginning OF the year 1880 saw the
appearance OF the first number OF A maya
zine which, though short-llved (onIv four
monthly numbers were Issued. was des-
tined to win ar abiding place In the his
tory OF English literatu-e. This was The
Germ. which was the organ OF the Pre-
Raphselite Brotherhood. a small group OF
earnest young artists who were TO change
the art OF England and TO influence the
whole course OF later European art. The
original brotherhood was a company OF
seven. consisting Of five painters-wiliiam
Holman Hunt. Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
John Everett Millais. James ColIinson.
and Frederic George Stephens: one sculp-
tor. Thomas Woolne-. and one William
Michael ROssetti. a writer. and editor Of
The Germ. In spite OF is short existence.
the little magazine published some re-
markable work, largely the production OF
the richly gifted Rossetu family. Here
appeared Dante Gabriel ROssettis The
Blessed Damozel," D" Hand and Sou. ."
THE Carlton" From the Gins. Noon
(afterHard called sea Limits'D MY Sis
ters Sleep. and six .SOnnets for Pic
tures;" Christina Rossettfs "DreamIand. %
a Pause of Thought" and "Repinlng:"
Coventry PatmOre's The Seasons. - stars
and Noon" and an essay on Macbeth
and Thomas WOOlner's My Beautiful
Lady" This little magazine is now very
rare. and set Of the four numbers DOS
sesses a value Of which the producers of
ii could never have %reamed. A set OF the
four numbers OF The Germ now in the