The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-12

1t is indicative Of the current Of
present day thought that two new
books should appear in the same week.
and 1t may be observed both books
OF definite value. protesting against
the national apotheosis of the low
brow: Americas Coming OF Age, by
Van WICK BROOKS lB. W. Huebsch,.
and .~AristocrdcV and Justice. by PAUL
ELMER MORE CHoughton Mift,in Com
pany). OF these Mr.. Brooks's book
is the more entertaining and brilliant:
Mr.. MOre's the more substantial and
serious.
To one who has carefully followed
the current Of thought throughout the
ShelbOurne Essays this mint, volume
brings indeed nothing new in the way
of doctrine. bur it does bring "A fiuidity
and maturity vi expression. a mellow
ness Of thought, an ms irrational feel
ing which new to the reade" of the
one time editor of the Nation.
Paul Elmer More is n trenchant II
not often IA sympathetic critic. He
speaks with the voice OF the scholar
and of the thinker who has not
Stunned logical conclusions. and this
his latest volume. dealing AS it does
with questions of immediate moment.
is Of vital importance to all who in
the present chaos of conflicting Opin-
ions desire to see straight. For Mr..
More's cleavaees between right and
wrong. true and untrue, are sharp.
Beyond all else it Is this confusion
Of frontiers between possible and i'm
t.nSsihla fpiyn aud ,tnfrt,a pioht and
wrong. which Mr.. More attacks in his
new volume OF essays. To all real in
tents and for reformative ar-
ton, and the logic Of though; that pre-
cedes and i~nst!gates action. he warns
Us we Cannot gather up all the phc-
nomena of life and explain it as an
amiable fragment OF the same great
truth"
In the ~dedicatory letter 10 Mr..
Henry Holt, editor G. the Unpopular
Reriew, he explains his antagonism,
not So much To the theory of evolution
as To the modern slack interpretp tion
of il. As To evolution as a scientific
law w~arranting a belief in the gradual
transformation Of species from simple
forms Of cellular life to the compli-
Gated structure of the human body 10
confesses that he remains in a state
Of suspended judgment. But the doc
trine of evolution as an expression of
the power of nature to progress to-
ward perfection. Willy nilly. and with
out the assistance OF the NNiblt.ons
and sanctions Of man-against this doc
trine he has beer protesting for wears.
and he protests afresh and vigorous.
in his new vOlume.
Mr.. More traces our present disa. .eys
to preceding modes of thought: for il
Is n too little realized truth that
thought does create event. He points
out that as the sentimentalism and
naturalism Of Rousseau preceded the
Napoleonic wars. so our present day
umanitarianism. feminism. socialism
equalitarian ism and pacifism have pre-
pared the material for the present war.
These may not have been the spark
that started the flame, hut the wood
was dry and ready:
All this is not the end. 1t is an admoni-
ton to consider thos. ideas OF Justice snl
discipline and true government which We
have so lightly thrus, aside FOR the
nat;ering liberties Of the sslf.s,yled new
morality. VIII III" warning h. needed
when the peace % exhaustion has come. or
shall We mistake fatigue for wisdom. aud
SO drIn ON to the utter catastrophe?
1t is natural thai, The subjects there
fore of the first two ESSAYS should he
Natural Aristocracy" and ".Academi,
Leadership" In the same vein and
developing the same line of though,
follow the essays on Justice prop
800 .Frt
and THE Philosophy of the War
The two essays on THE Paradox OF
Oxford and "Disraeli and Conserva-
tism" do not seem to fit quite so in
d~ispensably into the general theme.
To begin with an analysis of the
first essay we have found nowhere else
a more incisive denial of our national
/ doctrine of the more the truer. The
real cure of democracy. says Mr.. More
i not by any means more democ.
racy but better democracy, The legitl-
mate foundation of interest in human
ity is to begin at the top and S,
downward:
Before anything else can be done, ",
must purge our minds OF the current cant
OF humanHarianism, This does not Near
that we are to deny the individual appeals
Of pity and introduce a wolhsh eeotisn
into human relations. On the contrary. II
Is just the preaching OF false humanitarla
doctrines that results practically II
Weakening the response to rightful obliea
tons ard by turning mems duties init
doubts throws the prizes of life + thu
hard. grasping mater!alist and the coars,
talker. In the end the happiness Of tn,
people also, in the wider sense. depend