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not close this notice without emphatically recording our admiration of the author ' s varied powers . He seems to be a self-taught man—a solitary , independent thinker who has worked out his conclusions for himself . Had he read much philosophy he would have seen that his ideas are no novelties ; tut they are discoveries to . him , and bear the stamp of original thought . In dash , vigour , sly touches of humour , and occasional bursts of eloquence the book is also remarkable ,, and shows the native force of the author ' s intellect . Had we not already extended this article beyond due limits we would quote some admirable extracts , but the curious reader must consult the volume itself .
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EUPHRANOR . Euphranor , a Dialogue on Youth . Pickering . Cicero has left us , among his legacies , an agreeable and ingenious defence of Old Age—which has been reproduced ~ ln many forms '; but no one , that we remember , has written a defence of Youth . Probably because Youth has written its own eulogies in its glorious deeds , its glowing enthusiasms , its health , insolence , and vigour , its beauty and its charm ! Probably also because it felt that no defence was necessary . " The history
pf heroes , " says Disraeli , "is the history of Youth . " And this is somewhat the opinion of the author of Euphranar , who adopts the definition of Chivalry given by Kenelm Digby in his Godefridus , "the general spirit which disposes men to generous and heroic actions , " and concludes that Youth is the age of all Chivalry . This is backed up . by a weighty aphorism of Bacon ' s : " for the moral part youth will have the preeminence as age hath for the politic . ' " Nay , since we are upon authorities , let us not forget Goethe , who in his old age told Eckerrnann that if he could have his way young
men should be appointed even to the highest offices of the state , they being really the most capable ; and Plato —( whom Euphranor is so fond of quoting that he will be glad to receive this text)—says , iu the Republic , that great works are only accomplished by youths : veuv <^ e wavre ? ol [ AeyuXoi kcu ol ttqaAoj woW—though some one standing beside him might have whispered " you did not write the Republic , nor the Laws , nor the Timccus , nor the Pkccdon in youth ; and your fellow-citizen Sophocles was ninety when he wrote the masterpiece of tragedy . "
But why dispute as to the age of greatness ? That is the age of greatness in which the man is great . We is always young while his genius is creative . It is nut the sprinkled snow of years upon his head which makes a man old , but the loss of elastic hope , enthusiasm , and creative power . We leave the discussion here and return to Euphranor , which we commend to our readers as a scholarly , thoughtful * charming little volume , that leaves the mind hungering for more . The imitation of classic dialogue is admirable , because it is ho thorough an adaptation of the original spirit . Instead of the stiffness of imitations it lias the free
movement of an original fancy . The classical reader will trace the author ' s step among the footprints of the ancients , hut to the ordinary reader it will seem as if the author followed the dictates of his own fancy . The framework is simple yet delightful . The narrator is a physician at Cambridge , with more friends than patients . Kuphranor , a young- collegian , somewhat Puseyite , calls upon him one lovely morning , and insists on dragging him out into the country somewhere . They row ,
they walk , they dine , and they disciiSH . Other figures cross the scent * , just ; to give it variety—all of them admirably touched , especially Lye-ion , the apathetic young Englishman , whose life i « a lounge , a cigar , and a game at billiards— -but who is really capable of high and manly life- if lie were not spoiled by the affectation of gentlemanly apathy . As a specimen of the quiet humour which plays in lambent ilame . s through this little book , tmd nerves to express character , read this passing sentence : —
" Lye ion now called up to his friendH in the billiard room , oik ; of whom appeared lit the window , cue in hand , and bliook his heu <] , haying , however , in u confidential vruy , that ' all would he ri ^ ht in « . lew iiiinuicM , ' and ho retired . On which Lycion hud nothing to do tor il hut light another ci ^ iir , ami ljiii ^; dow n on bin buck with hit > hut over bin eyea , compose Uimaelf to iiuUtcntion . " The conversation i . s discursive enough , but it altvuyn returns to the nmiri topics , which are youth and the cducutiou of youth . l'hiphranor , us a Platonist , in very unwilling to concede any influence to the body over the mind , whereas the physiological Htuduia of the doctor have naturally led him
to view the connection as extremely intimate . Euphranor appeals to the " ' Instances we have of the greatest t » ind » dwelling in the craziest and puniest bodies " . * " < Great parts , ' I answered , < as ? great Wit in Pope , for instance . ' » i-. v . " ' Mens curva in corporedurvo , quoted Euphraaor . ' No , wit itself is said to be a kind of dishonesty of thought , so let it e'en he a disease—of the body , if you like . But look at Pascal now— * " * Well , ' said I , ' great ^ atbematieal »»»* « a 8 OJ " S faculty . But these do not make up a Man , Abou-mpt , a poem , a problem , are po , more specimens aC tb , e whole Man than that celebrated brick wa , s of the , " whole house . What is your author in his Affections and Temper as well as hie understanding ? What as relative , friend , neighbour , and so forth ? the "whole , sound , round-about manas Locke . ' ; .. . ; # ^ ^^^^
, says , " ' But Pascal was a notoriously religious and good man , ' argued Euphranor . ¦ ¦ ; 11 ' Notoriously ascetic , ' said I > * that i $ to say , of a diseased religion . He would not let his family be too much about him lest their mutual love should deprive God of hiadue . I should instance Pascal ' s religioivas looking much like the refraction from a , sickly boqy . ' " , The Doctor , indeed , throughout shows a sensible , open , manly mind , and his . scheme .. . f ar the educa ^ tion of a young gentleman is that of one who knows his subject . Here is one passage from it : —
" ' After the due dandling and rocking of first infancy , give him a clear stage to roll , in ; he , wil , ! find bia own legs when they are strong eqough to "b , ear him . Then let him romp as much as he likes ; . and roar . tpo—a great part of children ' s fun , and of great ; service tQ the lungs . And that ( besides the fresh air ) is so great , an advantage in sending children to play out of doors , th , ey don ' t , dis « turb the serious and nervous elders of the house , who ruin the health and spiritsi of , thpqgands ^ y \ Be quiet , child—Don ' t make such a noise , child ,, et cetera . ' " , " Ah , I remember , said Euphranor , ' hovr you used to play at hide-and-seek with us in the shrubbery , rather exciting us to rebellion , when my aunt ran qut to warn us in , or reduce us to order . ' ,, , i
" ' Or for fear your dresses should be jdirtaetJr . i-ejoJrjed I , ' for that is one of the fetter * laid . upon , children ' a wholesome growth . They must earjy learn ¦ to . lQOki ? " $ - spectable : as also shouting is vulgar , you know . Th . en ¦ what screaming from the window if a little dew lay on the grass , or a summer cloud overcame theisky . ' " I suppose you . would have shoea with holes v& then * , on purpose to let in water , as Locke does , ' said Euphranor , laughing . " * I wouldn ' t keep a child from exercise in the dirt because he has no whole shoes" at home , at all events / answered I . " ' He catehes cold . ' " ' I dose him instantly and effectually . ' "' But he dies . '
. '' ' Then , as a sensible woman said , '' he is provided for . " Your own Plato , I think , says it is best the sickly and delicate should die oil' early at once . ' ' " * Itather a Pagan doctrine , if he does , ' replied Euphranor . ' However , we will suppose Sir Launeelot survives — what else ? ' •• '"Whcie did we leave him ? ' said I , — ' O yes—I remember—in the mud—where , by-the-bye ( much better than if shut up in a school-room or pairlb ' iir ) , h ' 6 makes acquaintance with external nature , sun , moon , stars , trees , flowers , stones , so wholesome in themselves , aixd
the rudiments of so many olot / ies for hereafter . ' " 'Not forgetting animals , ' said Euphra ' nbr . *• ' By no means , ' said I , ' and especially the fr . Q . r . se and the dog , whose virtues we said he would do wei . 1 to share . " ' Horses and do >< 3 , in the women ' s apartments !* « ai ^ Euphranor , laughing . * O yes , ' I said , 'his acquaintance with the dog begins in the cradle : and thcr horse , Whb , an we said , tins given his very name to the spirit ofYoulh , Devotion , and Courage , we . began talking atyputr—fcJir , Launeelot cannot too goon niake liis acquaintance—rtq pat him—to feed him—to ' he set upon hia back , either iji the Htable , or during exerciHeup and ddHvni the avetihe . '
" ' And it is wonderful , ' Euphranor observed , •'¦¦ ' what forbearance the nobler animals show for children ; how great dogH suffer thciuselveH to be ynllW aU . aut for hours by them : and horses will carry bpys with a kind of proud docility , who would kick arid plunge under ^ grow ^ -ijip rider . Perhaps they like children ' ** ijio ^ t voipes und , Mght wci ^ htH ; for which very reason , I , have heurd ., thqy ^ jrq more manageable by women . ' ' , "' Yes , ' ai » idl , ' and l » ave they not also a Henne of humour that i « amused at being bestrid by urchins ; , » y , and real griKToaUy , too , tui ^ L will lmt . tuJveiidvuuUgo uf , weakness . ' " We trivc also hia Humming up : —
" What I Uuve to turn out j [« , not u Geuius , hut * You ^( l ( JuNTLiiMAN , « iualiUe . d ut lewiBt f >^ the k-, ojnmoi > profVhsioUH , or Uades , if you likq \ t . Or If b , e l | avu nieui ^ und inclination to live independently on his eeUite inny in wpite of hie * geniuH , turn into a very good husbmwj , fu-Ihei , nttiglibour , and Tiia « isirKt « . No menn vocation , in luy opinion , who really believe tl ^ H t Iteallliy , ' couragcoum , K « iod humour , und uotivity of isoul , do iri » il »» t « a more liappy ulinortphere throughout a little circle , and , through that , imperceptibly , to the whole world , than curt-loudH of poeniH , neriiu > i » B , mid etiufcyrt , by dyspeptic divinc-M , authorn , mid uuiveraal philunthrDmHtu , vhono Hne feelings und bud Htoiuncha luuko tb ^ m tyrantH iu their own fmillion , nnd whose books go to druw others into a like uu ~ happy condition with theiuKelvcH . " TJio voluiao may b (; read iu uu hour , and no one will regret the hour upunt over it .
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TUK CHUHOH IN DANGER . " Gad is l * m' * 'A Sermon preached in St . PeUr > » Church Brighton , on Sunday , Oece ^ r , 29 , 1850 k By vb « Ttewsend H . M . Wagner , M . A ., Vicar of Brighton . Hamilton , Adama , and Co . A Letter addressed to tf # Vic < tr of Brigteon . in Beptg < a a Ser ~ ' man entitled " God w Love . " By William Coninjjham . C . GUpln . A Letter to the Reverend & . M . JPagner , on kit Sermon . Bv John Nelsoii Goulty , Prt ) te » tatit Dissenting Minister . C . GHIpin . God is Love , and demands Church Rates ! If you are startled at the impiety of this logie blame not us . The logic is not oor own ; to the Vicar of Brighton belongs the merit of this incomparable syllogism j but whether the English People will raise statues in honour of % h . $ mo ^ rn Ariatotle we venture not to prophesy . One thing wa will say : If the Church is " in danger / ' as loud voices tell us , it will never be fescued by vicars of Brighton . It appears that a targe majority in the vestry negatived , a motion for a new Church Rate . Those who wanted the rate were , in nowise perplexed by this decision against them ; tile chairman declared the votes of the majority null , and carried the motion by the minority ! The rafcp thua made was enforced by violence : two parishioners who refused payment are now involved in a lawsuit . To defray expenses of this lawsuit , and assist these stedfast men in their refusal to pay a minority rate , a committee has been formed in Brighton and subscriptions collected . Whereupon the vicar , incensed with Christian indignation , and alarmed for his rates , preaches a sermon on the text , "God is Love . "; This sermon , and two replies to it , lie on our table . .. . > ^^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^ «^^^^ ^
We will not be merciless- —we yn \\ not treat this clerical sermon with the same seriousness as we should treat a te # production * faults of logic , and faults of style , maybe , passed over in silence , as they only caane from a vicar who is accustomed to have it all his own way -with an uninquirjng audience . , We wiU merely remark , in passing-, that- clergymen of his calibre should
be very cautious Wipw they step out of the pu } p > t into th \ e public streets . This sermon , we have no doubt , was sufficiently effective from the pulpit . It did as well as another to sleep over . But when the public see it in print , they will judge it by the ligb f t Vof \' reason and say . . . . But we promised not to be cruel 1 Besides , he is in better hands : Messrs . Coningham and Gonlty have already ripped his sermon to pieces .
Mr . Coninghain ' s Letter contains much valuable matter on the legal and constitutional side of this subject of Churoh Rates . We extract one passage : •^ Itwilt be worth While < o trace briefly the gradual $ teps by wbieh the High Church party has endeavoured insensibly % q > build up a precedent in favour of the validity , of chur ^ li-r ^ tes ( those ffee-v ^ U , off ( erinH » of & $ faithful on which ^ omftny law-suits are * pending ) "wh , eu levied by the minority of the veVry . ' The Church in the first instance violated the-p-eikei ' sl eanoh law of Europe , by ekhifting fraio itsj qwn f » houUi « r » th « li / ibility for church reDairS j and endeavouring , by cuatpm , tp fix thp bqrden oivthe parishioners , who vpluritkril y taxed U > eraselve » for th «> ponrpose . r The enstorn being egtarjliahfed ^ the next $ tep w »« t » enforce it by edriettfoBticar censure * , at > d when ^ V $ 9 fujled , b , y the aid of / tK « temporal courts . Fihally , w ^ n i \\ s l » w pr oved . in ^/ fici « n ^ , tt »» no ^« l and un iiqnBtitutionpil principle of goverrjmenLhyminpritie * , * principle unknown to the laws of KtiRliiaa , wa « declared firat Ja the ecclesiastical and" then fn " the teVripot-al coutts ; t' « ciutom of ft , voluntary tax upon fche' conscience tlm * beipg C 9 nverted iutp an . oVligfction which the par »» W < wier « ' by the commpo la . nr q ( ^ iJt (^ Q 4 are hound tp per form , and the veatry reduced tft a mere wuttisterial body without , a voice in the matter . " Having settled tho legal nount , Mr . Coningham says : — , "And now , jn > , I wiH proceod . { o ii ^ stkale tU « nrtlty tit your s « rmoii , and of your prqecedinga w <»» u * ortiiMf twd'hryotir par'fehldh ' ers t 6 apboax in the Court of Arches for non . pnynwm * of rates , * nS Ih refi ^ srng to wait ti | l U » 0 . / B « nin » roe «* & should b « dtcitled m the h » ghe »* comrt . i ^' apuen ) .. ,.. ,,.. "Ttappeuxs to ru * t | i » t v . PU WMV nae t , wf thing * which are not founded on fa ( jt ! Krat , that a churoh -rate pmde by the mirtoriuy ( / f vtftti-y fa u valM rate by th < 5 l * w " KuKlluul : t »» t BlBKleeaaenrtwset upa *' * prf ^ edemt TiffiiJ ? aetu * Hjf ! iinder 4 ppeal . A « a , neaon « l | y tb « t y » a » m « youic warUena have beeu eoinpelMbj a , « on > m ol <** V '
. and b y tli « neeenHity of repairing tb , e pariab «^ hweV >«» , 7 - th « thin * * heJng ' not of 6 ur own neeking , ' to eujjaue in an © xpeh 8 iv « | aw- « ,, it . () n the iohirttary prin « ip \ the principle upon wMuh OhH » c desired Peter W \ t * f * " * b ^«—y «« nfti KHUav ^ wadilji oatlcetml n « t mtunlf " >» ponujr rutu to wl * iQb , by rigid atU > rnejUD » you fe » ir «> •>< ' * reduced , hut that much desired t * ix , p « tta « ( n t , U « pou * 4 , wTifoh you vniitty attempted to carry pu trie ? 8 tt of May . IM \ , And which vta . t refrtsed upon' a '^ iill hy I 32 d vote « to 704 . Jn the f « eo at thrd tftatnnent , *« p / por « ed «¦ jt '" by an unan 8 w « nibl «? array of faots , yo «; wtH hardly t «» - ilir'J ^ J * !!" * thtU * " thua ViOKKiu * ftUtt * u ;«» . i ^» U ^ * " ? Mighell fnto the KcclcaiaaticaiCourta you uro only
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86 ®* VLeatoet . ? tSATDRPAr ^ ¦ - ¦ ¦ - . - . . - ^ ^^^^ M ^^^»^^^^ M ^^^»^*^**^^^^^^ - b f \ ¦ - __^_ ¦ j . * ¦ HM 4 K h ' ^ - — . . .
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 25, 1851, page 86, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1867/page/14/
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