Books.
Volume 14, 1903, pgs. 391-393
Wordsworth, by Walter Raleigh (Arnold, 6/-). (google books) Most lovers and disciples of Wordsworth will, we believe, consider that Professor Raleigh has made the "authentic comment" (to quote the poet's own phrase) on the philosophy and the poetry of Wordsworth. He approaches his subject in a spirit of reverence which wins our confidence. He assumes to start with that which Wordsworth considered of vital importance is of vital importance; or, at any rate, must be held so by those who set themselves to understand Wordsworth. We feel anew, in reading Mr. Raleigh's book, the force of the poet's contention that the occurrences of daily life among the simplest folk, and expressed in the simplest speech, are themselves of the essence of poetry, and conceal "thoughts too deep for tears." Also, that other profound doctrine is borne in upon us, that "nature" is sacramental, not only in the sense that it is an outward and visible sign of spiritual things signified, but also that it is a means of grace whereby we receive the same, i.e., a large content, simplicity, humility and healing. This great doctrine Professor Raleigh interprets, we think, worthily, with the dignity and comprehensiveness it deserves. All lovers of Wordsworth should read the book both for gratification and instruction.
A Short History of the Ancient Greek Sculptors, by H. E. [Edith] Legge (Fisher Unwin, 5/-). Professor Percy Gardner testifies that Miss Legge's book is "trustworthy, giving a sketch of what is most clear and definite in our knowledge of Greek sculpture." The author desires that the book should be used as a reader in schools, and we hasten to testify that here is a school-book after our own hearts. The Scylla and Charybdis of the makers of school-books are triumphantly passed. Here is no hint of a dry-as-dust compilation, nor of that worse fault still, the free and easy and, we think, odious familiarity with great matters which is assumed when a colloquial sentence or paragraph appears to give a complete knowledge of a matter the very fringe of which is not touched. Miss Legge does not talk down to her readers, and her simple direct descriptions carry the fire of enthusiasm. She contrives, too, to string her comments on a thread of history which has never the air of telling the whole story. We venture to endorse the advice which Professor Gardner offers in his introduction, as also the hope with which he closes--"To take full advantage of Miss Legge's teachings, the reader should go through them slowly section by section, and try to impress them on the mind by visits either to the British Museum or a museum of casts . . . I hope that to many this little book may be the door leading, if not into a new world, at least into a beautiful and noble province of the old world." The book is illustrated by thirty-two photographs.
Clear Speaking and Good Reading, by Arthur Burrell, new edition, (Longmans & co., 2/6). Principal Burrell is a past master in the art of reading, and, is he the sole authority on that most exquisite art of story-telling? His words carry weight, and the diligent student of Clear Speaking and Good Reading should be able to speak and read in a way to give pleasure by the time he has finished his course. Chapter II. deals with vocal mechanism and vocal gymnastics in a very thorough way. The chapter on Pronunciation is a just presentation of the view of cultivated persons; "to be able to assume the provincial at pleasure is looked on as a gift, but to be the provincial is looked on as a sin." Mr. Burrell appreciates, while he forbids, "the wavy tones, the curious, often beautiful cadences of dialect which mark off provincial ** standard speech." "Study to be quiet" in all reading and speech, is the author's special recommendation. Various chapters contain interesting and valuable lists of books dealing with the parts of the subject they treat of. The dedication is characteristic of the author, "To the unconscious teachers of the beautiful in speech--little children--a learner dedicates this book."
Co-Education, edited by Alice Woods (Longmans, 3/-). Miss Woods has got together a record of the practical experiences of some six or seven successful workers in the field of co-education, a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the subject. It would appear on the whole that girls work better when there are boys working in the same class, and that boys are more gentle when girls are amongst them; that boys and girls do not play together, nor, considering the more delicate physique of the latter, is it well they should; that mixed schools do not tend to boy and girl difficulties, flirtations and the like; but that boys seldom continue in a mixed school after the age of 14, so that in the higher forms such schools tend to become girls' schools. The general lesson Miss Woods gathers from the papers she has collected is, that "in order to be a genuine success, experiments in co-education must be whole-hearted."
The Study of the Gospels, by T. A. [Armitage] Robinson, D.D (Longmans, 2/6) net). This little book, the work of a scholar, is one of a series of Handbooks for the Clergy, but it is of singular value to the lay reader as well as to the clergyman. Canon Robinson tells us that, "my object has been to present in plain language such results of my own study as may serve as a guide to the studies of others," and it is, perhaps, this personal element which makes a small book on a great subject surprisingly rich in suggestion as well as in instruction. The author writes from the standpoint of modern textual criticism, noting especially Dr. Harnack's latest pronouncements, and giving its full value to controversial criticism as regards date, authorship, etc. But it is not on such matters that Christianity rests, for him. He boldly maintains that, had there been no documents traceable to Apostolic days, the contents of Christianity would have been practically what they are to-day. The inherent value of the Gospels depends upon the manner of their presentation of Christ; but our idea of Christ does not depend solely upon the Gospels. "I should not ask a man who had serious doubts of the truth of Christianity to enter upon a literary enquiry as to the date and authorship of the Gospels. I should say: Leave that untouched for the present. Read the books themselves wholly irrespective of when or by whom they were written, or even of their accuracy in detail. Take the picture of Christ as drawn by the vigorous hand which wrote our second Gospel. Read it as a whole; let the story grow upon you; watch that powerful, sympathetic, original Character; ask how the simple unliterary author came by his story, if it was not that the story was a direct transcript from life. If a new power was then manifested in the world, revealing a new idea of human goodness, saying men everywhere, and only refusing to save Himself, must you not yearn to welcome the belief that this Power was not finally vanquished by death, but still lives to save men to the uttermost?"
Proofread by LNL, Nov. 2008