Evening star., 1933-01-28
THE LIBRARY TABLE
BY SARAH C. BOWERMAN,

Probably no more single minded phi
losopher ever lived and devoted his life
to meditation than the Dutch Jew of
Spanish origin. Benedict (or Baruch)
Spinoza. The year 1892, Just ended,
was the 300th anniversary Of his birth,
and was marked by several biographies
and accounts OF his philosophy, among
them "Spinoga the Biosopher," by
Frederick Kettner; "Spinoza, Lberator
Of God and Man." by Benjamin de
Casseres. and Blessed SpinoEa" MAC
milan Coz, by Lewis Browne. The
last is most specifically personal biog-
raphy, with only 50 much analysis of
Spinoza's philosophy as is inevitable in
relating the life Of man whose whole
life was one Of thought. Readers of
Lewis Brownies biography, THAT Man
Heine," know his ability to make a
living person emerge from his pages,
regardless of the centuries which have
elapsed since his subject walked the
earth. Heine was, Of course. more
sensational subject for a biographer
with his inferiority completes and sex
obsessions; but Spinoza, austere, con-
sistent in adapting his life to his be-
liefs, lacking in egotism. almost with
Cuk 1uultSy 0kRSAA0 do CNadky 44u4iAdli
and arouses greater admiration. That
he was excommunicated by the Syna-
gogue Of Amsterdam was theological
essential character.
Mr.. Browne says In his preface
Biographical literature. especially in
these latter days, positively crawls with
eccentricS, monsters, fools, and blath-
erskites. But rare is the life story of
q good man. And, therefore, the biog-
raphy of such a one as Spinoza is
peculiarly deserving to be retold. Here
is man who was indisputably good.
Even his pious contemporaries had to
ccncede that to him. They considered
his ideas pernicious and abominable,
and his books the sinkholes of Satan S
own lies. Yet his conduct. they were
forced to admit. was exemplary. His
lnfagging love Of the contemplative
life, his utter disinterestedness in fame
or fortune, his fortitude in the face of
wasting disease, his patience under re-
lentless persecution, his sweetness, gen.
tility and superlative tolerance-these
were virtues which none could deny
him. Not until centuries later did his
W Q6SCElDe
him as the holy outcast' and the God
intoxicated man. But even at the time
Of his death his barber already spoke
OF him as Mr.. Spinoza Of blessed men,
ory." That Sp1noza. in spite of un-
interrupted poverty and illness, was
a happy man, as well as a good one,
was due to the fact that he was able
to live his philosophy and find COM
plete satisfaction in it. That is why
one finds in his writings no trace Of
those repressions which rise from the
mouths of the conventional saints, like
stencil from hidden carrion The man
was integrated, never lunging frenziedly
to lay hold Of some abstinence. and
then falling back in hysterical despair.
He was secure in goodness, serene in
his Joy Of Ife-because he let reason
guide his steps. - These are DAYS
when men are once more learning to
doubt the saving power of reason But
here was a life ruled completely by
reason-and who shall say it was not
Saved?"
Baruch Spinoza inherited from his
mother a tendency to tuberculosis.
which he alternately contended with
and ignored until his 45th year. when
he succumbed to the disease. The chill
and dampneSs of all his places of resi-
dence. invariably on the edge of canals,
IN Amsterdam, Ouwerkark, Rijusburg,
Voorburg and The Hague, and the ma
ture OF his occupation for earning a
livelihood, lens grinding, did not give
him any aid in throwing of the dis
ease. Neither did his habit of alb
stemious eating A few pence q day
were all he allowed himself for food
In an unheated attic room, which he
often did not leave for weeks at a
time. he ground his lenses and studied
and wrote. Books were his only ex-
travagance, and before he died he had
accumulated more than a hundred VOL
umes. He declined an offer of the
chair of philosophy at the University
OF Heidelberg, which would have given
MIN a fixed income. distinction and
security, because he feared to sacrifice
his freedom OF time and thought. AT
the time of his death his Ethics" was
ready for the printer. He left direc-
tlonS that his name was not to appear
on the book. He did not want his
doctrine to be called after him; it was
true and needed no signature. He was
proud of the book-he knew it was his
life workout he saw no reason to
vaunt his pride"
A foreman carpenter, obstinate and
disagreeable. is the hero of Neil Bells
novel The Marriage of Simon Harper. -
Harper led an austsre and independent
life in his native village of Brenton
until he met and married Bessie Pearce.
Then he progressed rapidly to riches
tne mayoralty and the paternity OF
numerous children. But happiness did
not attend his success. His children
did not turn out very creditably. his
wife was not very satisfactory, and then
the World War came and spoiled things
Tor him generally. An old man, he had
lost his independence, his purpose and
his prosperity.
The tenth volume of the Dictionary
OF American Biography, consisting OF
676 articles, has been completed, under
the direction of the American Council
OF Learned Societies. with DR.. Dumas
Malone as editor In chief Though
Thomas Jefferson's career receives the
most space, it Is rivaled in length by the
biographies of John Jay. diplomat and
statesman; Robert M. La Toilette. Wis
consin Senator: John Paul Jones, nava
superintendent of Indian affairs. The
biographies range from jefferson to
Capt. Kidd from Sidney Lanier, poet
to Jean Laffite, pirate; from President
Andrew Johnson to Kicking Bird, CHIEF
OF the Kiowa Indians. Among the many
colorful figures included is Mike Kelly
Boston base ball player. whose name is
perpetuated in the refrain. Slide, Kelly
slide" Newton D. Baker, Secretary OF
War in President wilson's cabinet, con.
tributed the sketch of Tom L. johnson
mayor Of Cleveland The article OF
greatest interest and length is that or
Thomas Jefferson. who is portrayed BY
DR.. Dumas Malone, the editor of the
dictionary, not only as a philosophica'
statesman. but also as major prophet
OF American development, notable
pioneer of American culture and per.
hapS the most versatile of the great
figures in the history of the Republic.
X X X
Franklin Bliss Snyder in his "Iife
of Robert Burns" gives some evidence