Oliver Wendell Holmes is a philanthropist in the world of letters.
Since his college days at Harvard, where he distinguished himself by
his contributions to the _Collegian_, he has been giving to his wide
circle of readers strong, clean, good thoughts, mixed with the happiest
humor. His essays have been among the most enjoyable of his writings.
His publishers have recognized this and collected a dozen of them into
“Pages from an Old Volume of Life.”[K] There are many subjects touched,
but his “Phi Beta Kappa” oration of 1870, “Mechanism in Thought and
Morals,” is, perhaps, the best in the collection. The two essays,
written during the war for _The Atlantic_ readers, have a pathos so
touching, it completely does away with the false idea that Holmes is
only a humorist. The volume is a pleasant book for an hour’s reading;
indeed, it may well be classed along with what the author himself has
aptly called “pillow-smoothing authors;” not a dull, heavy book, but
one whose easily-flowing thoughts and continued good humor, quiet the
mind and allow the reader to pass into dreamy forgetfulness.
“Things that have to be done, should be learned by doing them.”
Teachers know as well, perhaps, as any class of people how applicable
this old truism is to their work. They only learn by doing; but too
often they learn the routine, not the science. A little book just
published by A. Lovell & Co.,[L] is sent out in the interest of
thoughtful teaching. There are some excellent development lessons, in
which, simply by questions, and a few simple materials, are developed
ideas of the senses, of forms, flat and solid, ideas of right and
left, etc. A series of lessons on plants and insects have for their
object “to bring the child into contact with nature, to teach him to
observe, think, reason, and to express himself naturally.” The book
contains an excellent paper on the much-discussed “Quincy School
Work.” No new departure in the educational world has caused more talk.
That there is something in it no one doubts that knows of the results
of Superintendent Parker’s system, but how to use it is not easily
explained. This essay will help teachers to understand the method and
show them how it may be used.
During this year Messrs. Harper & Brothers have added to the
biographies of eminent Americans three very valuable works. Following
Mr. Godwin’s life of Bryant, is the “Memoirs of John A. Dix.”[M] In so
pretentious a work as the latter it is unfortunate that the compilation
should have been made by his son. The unbiased, impersonal judgment
that makes a biography trustworthy, is wanting. The fondness of the
writer is continually evident to the reader. The book, however, is
valuable from its fullness and exactness. It is really an epitome of
the history of the most exciting times in our annals. General Dix’s
part in the stirring events before and after the rebellion, his work
as secretary of the treasury, as military commander during the New
York riots in ’63, and his position upon various questions of national
policy, are all explained minutely, and his correspondence is given in
full. Although so voluminous, the work is never fatiguing. A feature
which adds to the interest of the book is the selections from his
translations, sketches, etc. General Dix added to his political and
military ability a literary taste that led him to cultivate letters.
His translations are particularly good. _Stabat Mater_, his son has
seen fit to publish; it seems a pity that _Dies Iræ_ was not also given.
The third of these biographies is the “Life of James Buchanan.”[N]
The author himself says of this work, that “it was followed within a
week by an amount of criticism such as I do not remember to have seen
bestowed on any similar book in the same space of time.” Mr. Curtis was
assigned a task from which most men would have shrunk. Mr. Buchanan’s
administration as President of the United States was not popular. The
belief that he favored the secession of the Southern States has been
general. For his biographer to treat him as a conscientious actor in
the struggle before the war has necessarily entailed criticism. Mr.
Curtis says in his preface, “My estimate of his abilities and powers as
a statesman has arisen with every investigation I have made and it is,
in my judgment, not too much to say of him as a President of the United
States, that he is entitled to stand very high in the catalogue—not
a large one—of those who have had the moral courage to encounter
misrepresentation and obloquy, rather than swerve from the line of
duty which their convictions marked out for them.” Mr. Curtis will not
change the popular opinion on the Buchanan administration, but he must
modify that opinion. This treatment alone makes the work worth reading
by both friend and foe. The most entertaining part of the book is the
voluminous private correspondence, which well portray Mr. Buchanan’s
social and friendly nature.
One of the most delightful books of the season is “Spanish Vistas,”[O]
by Mr. Lathrop. The publishers have given us a genuine _édition de
luxe_, heavy paper, numberless choice illustrations, and beautiful
binding. The book is the joint product of two artists, and if one
wields the quill instead of the pencil he is no less artistic. Two
things are particularly noticeable in Mr. Lathrop’s fine descriptions
of scenery, of architecture, city sights and peasant gatherings: the
skill with which he chooses his point and time of observation, and
his really superior coloring. He knows at what hour the Alhambra will
exercise its supreme spell, where the picturesque vagabondism of these
handsome Spanish rascals will be most striking. To this power add his
ability in colors and there is not a page but glows with effective
pictures. Character sketches enliven the volume. The commonplace
American abroad is introduced in Whetstone, a man of “iron persistence
and intense prejudice,” who continually exclaims “I don’t see what
I came to Spain for. If there ever was a God-forsaken country,” and
who amid the grandeur of the cathedral of Seville squints along the
cornice to see if it is straight. The writer has been ably assisted by
his “Velveteen,” alias Mr. C. S. Reinhart, whose pictures give doubled
value to the book. To all contemplating a trip to Spain the chapter on
“Hints to Travelers” will be valuable.
“Spanish Vistas” represents one class of books on travels. There is
another more interesting to the majority of people, in which facts
and adventures are the chief elements. Such a work is “The Golden
Chersonese,”[P] by Isabella Bird. After having traveled on horseback
through the interior of Japan, and braved the roughest passes of the
Rocky Mountains, and spent six months among the wonders of the Sandwich
Islands, this indefatigable woman penetrates that _terra incognita_,
the Malay Peninsula. The dangers and inconveniences which she undergoes
to get there and get through are remarkable. She sailed from Hong Kong
not long after a party of piratical Chinese, shipping as steerage
passengers on board a river steamer, had massacred the officers and
captured the boat. There was but one English passenger on board besides
herself, and some two thousand Chinese imprisoned in the steerage, an
iron grating over each exit, and an officer ready to shoot the first
man who attempted to force it. The decorations of the saloons consisted
of stands of loaded rifles and unsheathed bayonets. She penetrates the
country where the mosquitoes are a terror to life; snakes, land-leeches
and centipedes are everywhere, but the enthusiastic traveler mentions
them but casually. The dangers and bravery of the writer of course add
piquancy to the interesting description of the scenes, the customs and
peculiarities of “The Golden Chersonese.”
Along with these fresh works comes out a new edition of one of the
pioneers in this field of literature. We refer to Dr. Hayes’ “Arctic
Boat Journey.”[Q] In 1860 it was first published, and speedily took
its place as an authority on Arctic travels. The fresh interest given
to this subject by the sad fate of the “Jeannette” has led to a new
edition. The accounts lose nothing of interest by time, but rather
become clearer from the added knowledge we have of the frozen seas and
icy lands.
No work will be found a more valuable addition to a C. L. S. C. library
than Lübke’s “History of Art.”[R] In connection with the art readings
it will be found invaluable. Since its first publication in 1860 it has
gone through seven editions, and that, too, in critical Germany. The
new translation from the latest German edition is the best.