New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-18
Santayana's SoIiloquies
By Burton Roscoe

the end Of this beautiful you will find these
nts which reveal tho spirit which permeates this
the most distinguished philosophical discourses
I,d English during this century Profound skepcism
conventions doubts that criticism Of conven-
,,g than they FcTyent believers look for some system
or religion that shall be literally worthy Of super.
- current assumptions Of daily life look for thing
~ moment bring myself to regard human systenn-a
" a dscourseas than system Of notation sometimes
s sometimes abstract and mathematical 1t is because
10 that wish 20 keep sweet as TO be able % love alto
III wish for others dare recommend that
keep their lives sweet also, not after my fashion. but
n. own way My critics apparently. that
l. re GOOD some particular way Of life type
alone vrtuous and which ought to be Alas
, How they have filed with hatred darkness
49, How they still the eternal obstacle every
- b.sr.to simple happiness!
heart then Of these queonnr and specuatons concern
5 his relation the world about him very simple and
,ssee Live live commonplace pro-
tho wise words Of counsel which man has evolved from the
ererce Perhaps because Of its very familiarity
- reed Of emphasizing its truth We forget those
. know TOO well Mr.. Santayana helps remember the
wisdom everyday life by showing how strangely beautiful
zen ucei the fine garments Of rich and exquisite
> =. yacatonng among peoples and books.
- frs sentence that chapter from which have Just quoted
Tm disciple Of Socrates And Socrates the most personal
- this volume Mr. Sanayana has produced his sounds
- 81 philosophy by making it his personal expression He
allowed the dictum, Know hyse the first and
"a he cy Of knowing The habit Of questioning has
q
v,h be vhhods dogma Il does restrain him from
g., his testimony truth for what it IS worth others
ideal for another nor labor to realize
y his leave his spokesman perhaps ready with the
.,rao Mr. Santayana is d magician with words
n are no ess than fftyfve essays this book Some Of them
- M compact observations formes fragmentay but
mid perfect in expression And some are sustained fights Of
reason and fancy Three Of them Carnival The Comic Mass
- he Tragic Mask" the finest essays phiosophc nhism
m my privilege read In them he has sent his serene and
v al sareerng through Of delightful Probabilities He
ru1fff 0ofafco riorcnQ * ont Of
ne human He wooks solemn and tkes sedate ribs
4 IS having, phi. osophcaly good time
TIE more d among US accustomed to yield our preferences
fright before the tyrannical Of literary fashion, bring
m sets Of Dickens from and again set them with pride
s m shelves affection for Dickens has long been
social comparable to tuckng ones napkin under ones ehi
s ga, spirit English literature for whom Anatoe FRANCES
m aor has by arbter of taste eccen-
p BE in French genius unfamiliar with the eXavagances
original considered sentimental vuearan whom it was
d rod form 20 read
b., M sanayana has all this One gets the impression
reading bis essay too had been long deferred
reading Dickens by Of his associates; but mat IN e
ey ivory Paris he once yentued TO sa'siy ms curl
opened one Dckenss novels The result was an over"ne
admiration. lie down at once after reaong al Oh D' anu
70 the world this essay, perhaps the finest most sypaheuc anu
r.r critical apprecation Of Dickens written He was
bring 70 IL fresh point Of view Dickens was IN the nature OF
pr Tl vino of Dickens" writes "is Of the richest the
e tho sweetest the most terrifying the blood there distilled
v.f the perfec.ion Of comedy, the perfection Of morals
x Dickens is one Of the friends mankind ever had IN
quarters OF Ine Slooe parents
children will Go we'll Dickens aloud Of winters evening;
will love winter and one and God the better for It,
To some Of Mr. santayana admirers the more agated intel
M this chapter (and this book entre something in the
m Of eachry lie has been their idol an awful
IN rafed atmosphere Of metaphysics and esoterc aesthetic doc
about they spoken respectful whispers And here he
Fund rnc with the exchanging condolences with common
-, 5trrc reason celebrating emotions smiling sadly the
y Of liberalism concluding that if this not the best Of possible
Us Il as GOOD as be likely have and good or bad II
Us 10 make the He would achieve happiness but
ss, sure that we would follow his advice even if we should really
happiness follow IT, for he IT, each man should
teruh his heart him is the greatest good For himself he
upon freedom neither Of custom nor Of property
socrn world he says slaves houses to furniture TO
on least it slavery to him.
could not endure freedom imposed by posses
t-. perhaps these things form Of freedom to others
aso,al charters in eucdaon Of the English character lie
great ration for the English. What the Eneishnan
writes inner atmosphere the weather in his soul 1t is nothing
y spiritual or mysterious When he has taken his exercise and
linking tea or and lighting his pipe when IN his garden or
FIRE he ls in an aggressivey comfortable chair when well
i and brushed resouey church to the east ana
Greed with cnufcxons if he likes genuheXons) without IN
that he believes word Of it. when he hears or sings
sentimental and thnes Of popular songs unmoved ou
gu when he makes up his mind who his best friend or MS
MARTY sweetheart when he is hunt-