New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-11-16
Literary .Nes4,s and Criticism

for independence, TO WHICH ne S2cT10CeO
his friendship for Wagner and his rever-
ence for Schopenhauer, and he exulted
in that intellectual isolation which ne
won for himself by aggressive polemics
and merciless criticism. The time came
when he had neither faith nor friends,
and. tortured with i'll health and dread Of
insanity. he had nothing better out Of
philosophy than q theory OF eternal re-
currence by which in the infinite reach
Of time man like himself would be
seated on the self-same rock and evolV-
ing from silent reflection and harass-
ing conflict the same thought This, &C
cordinC TO his own estimate, was his
greatest discovery-the doctrine Of the
return. which by comforting eternity on
the most fugitive things restores IN each
Of them the lyrical power, the religious
value necessary TO the soul
Th, tragic story Of NietZsche's strug-
gle for intellectual freedom and recog-
milton as an original thinker and lun-in-
o3Is writer has never been adequately
told until this book was written. The
most interesting passages relate TO his
intimacy with Wagner at Triebschen
and Bavreuth and their final estrange-
ment. Throughout his overwrought life
ne was q singu!arly Iovable and unselfish
dreamer. getting as little comfort out Of
his pessiTnistic philosophy as reputation
nv his exquisite style as a literary ar
list. and drawing nearer year by year TO
the final frenzy Of insanity Halevy de
sc-ibes him with a touch Of biographer's
hero Worship as "a latter day saint
THE ruined intellect could not De
saved IS the last sorrowful word, but
+1e ,,ncorrupted soul stayed sweet and
charming. open to pure Impressions.
The Newer spritualism." another
hook IN MI. Unwin's autumn list, is the
last work Of the lamented Frank Pod
more whose life ended tragically not
MANY weeks ago. He was an Interested
but wholly sane investigator Of pine
rlomena which have been engaging the
attention Of the Societies OF PsychlcaI
Research in England and America This
volume contains an impartial account OF
recent evidence bearing upon the ny
pothesis OF life after death. At the out
set the experiences Of Daniel Douglas
Home are described with the processes
Of deviation and the fire ordeal; anc
The governments with Eusapia Palladinc,
the Italian medium, are rehearsed III
detail. with many OF the Geceptlons
practised in the past by charlatans IN
der the gIise Of spiritualists. From the
familiar ground Of conjuring tricks and
Illusions there is an abrupt passage TO
messages received through trance and
automatic writing from the spirits OF
the dead. The nature Of the psycnlca4
Troblern and the stage setting OF the
trance are clearly described; the ne
diurnship OF Mrs Piper and Mrs
Thompson is coptously illustrated; the
subject Of cross-corresp ondences is deaIt
with in detail: and the most recent COM
n!unications and evidence are critically
analysed.
Mr.. Podmore. while he remained to his
death an lnconvinced skeptic respecting
the Eenuineness Of these conmunlca-
lions with the unseen world. dismissed
as incredible the hypothesis that fraud
was the sole explanation Of the reveal
tons made in trance and automatic
writing. He admitted that the trance
medium was in an abnormal condition
involving impaired moral control. ana
thar there might he II some instances
make believe or play-actlIS' and that
con5uring tricks and sham telepathy
might enter into the automatic romance
/ Yet striking evidence had been obtained
which left the possibility Of spirit com
niunication, 81 least an open question;
and new light mad been thrown on the
structure Of the human mind and on
elastic extensions Of mortal intelligence
M Podmore was an honest and not an
infatuated and creduiOu5 investigator
His book brings the record Of psychical
research Of . large group Of phenomena
up TO the present moment. It leaves
out Of account q reflection of the deep
est significance 10 sensible observers
such communications as have been re-
ceived. Whether with or without make
believe and sham. indicate intellectual
deterioration after death. VIII not total
annihilation be preferable TO immortality
with spiritual decadence? I. \. T.