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Leader (1850-1860), 22nd February 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 181, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      They have , on the contrary , developments that are bizarre and inherent in their property of being steered by seven united dominants j hence arises in their case the euperdominant umtyism , producing effects that are very strange , and more valuable than brilliant . They caa by no means reconcile themselves with the civilizee order , windti thwart * their development in every direction . Nature only gives one couple of them for a union of phalanges containing 29 * 222 persons ; none of thfem have ever been seen in the eminent posts of civilization . " Else ^ ndre Fourier cites himself as the only specimen of an omhigyne lie had ever known , qualifying the apparent egotism by saying that omnigynity is by no means a character to be vain about , and that the amiable qualities are entirely on the side of the Heptagynes .

      Society is at present so constructed that all the varieties of character ate jumbled and dashed against each other in the most destructive possible mantler . No passion can have fair play : no character dan do its best . But in the process of time this wilt be remedied . By the necessity of its nature , human society must pass regularly through eight stages in succession . 1 . Edenism , or simple confused passional aeries . 2 . Savaaeism . 3 .

      Pairiarchism . 4 * Barbarism . 5 . Civilization . 6 . Guaranteeistn . 7 . Simple Passional Harmony . 8 . Compound Passional Harmony . We are at present only in the fifth stage , that of Civilization , though touching at some points on the period of Guaranteeism . Courier has no words of contempt strong enough for Civilization , and its systems , which he calld Civilizee Metaphysics , Civilizee Gibberish , and the like .

      In that state of Harmony to which the human race is gradually approaching , and which will be brought in by a series of cosmical changes , affecting the constitution of all the planets , society will be organized in such a manner that each character , Monogyne , Digyhe , Heptagyne , or whatever it may be , shall have unbounded scope , and yet all shall be richer , happier , and more mutually helpful . Cities , villages , && , will be done away ; and the social unit will be the Phalanx , consisting of some 1600 individuals of both sexes , all busy according to

      their respective tastes , and all enjoying material luxury . The Phalanxes again will be associated into groups , so that the whole world will be covered with one vast network of Phalanxes bound together by devices for their general government . The organization of each Phalanx , and of all the Phalanxes in combination , will be such that every individual human being will be simply called upon to gratify his passions , conscious that by so doing

      he will be performing tile best service to humnanity , and the highest function of his being . One of Fourier ' s great ideas is this , of the necessity of settling every marl only to that species or to those species of occupation , to which his natural bent leads him , and which he can do with pleasure . All work ought to be pleasurable ( attrayant ) , and done with enthusiasm ; and it is on the anticipation that this Will be the case in the state of Harmony , that he founds his calculation of the enormous

      increase of produce that labour will then produce , compared with what is produced at present . The foregoing exhibits tile mere meagre skeleton of the work before us . The volumes abound with expositions , analyses , and collateral dissertations , of which we have taken no notice . Many parts of the book are extremely lively and interesting ; others almost defy perusal . On the whole , the value o f the book will consist , not in its acceptability as a systematic treatise—no human bouI could accept Fourier's system—but in its containing many happy conceptions and ingenuities

      which readers of any set of opinions whatever may gladly avail themselves of , and work up in their <» wn language . There is real merit , for example , in that attempt of Fourier ' n to classify the different kinds of character according to certain primitive dominants ; and one might borrow a useful hint from it . Of Fourier ' s terminology we cannot spea k highly . It is rarely felicitous ; and it is often 8

      *> vitiated by contradictory associations as to be quite confusing . It may have helped himself , but seem s b y no means to bo essentially connected with anything that is useful in his notions . Lastly , us r < 'gor < ls the general imprcsoitm left by the book , we should say that it paints forth the author as an u-xtreinely , fertile , laborious , and original man , capable , notwithstanding his craze , of casting snrewd and powerful glances horizontally all round ;

      "uc somewhat grogs in hits conceptions of what is «« sirabte for mankind , and with little of the upward " moll , httle of the noble or divine in his constitution . Mr . Morell seems to have performed his task a < iinirably . Nor is this a slight praise . None but

      a man of superior mmd and acquirements could have translated such a work intelligibly ; none but a careful man could have done it so faithfully . The only objection we have to make to Mr . Morell ' s work as a translator is that his explanatory notes do not occur at the right places—a word , for example , sometimes occurring in the text page and after page , which is at last explained in a foot note distant a hundred pages or more from the place of its first appearance . Mr . Doherty's sketch of Fourier ' s life and his preliminary dissertation and notes are useful additions to the work .

      Untitled Article

      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . Hittory of England for Junior Classes . With Questions for Examination at the end of each Chapter . Edited by Henry White , B . A ., Trinity College , Cambridge . Simpkin and Marshall . As a manual of English History , this is a carefully compiled little work : beginning with the landing of Caesar , and ending with the Sikh war of 1850 . Without attempting to inculcate political opinions , it steers pretty clear of those stereotyped prejudices which are almost universal in such works , and which are so very pernicious to the cause of truth and freedom—we allude to the " martyrdom of Charles I . " as an example , wherein boys are always taught to see wicked rebellious subjects beheading the most pious and exemplary of kings ! Mr . White does not " take sides" with either party ; he contents himself with a brief condensation of the facts . The Wonderful History of Peter Schlemihl . By Adalbert von Chamisso . With , a Vocabulary and Copious Notes . By Falck Lebahri . Simpkin and Marshall . Another aid to students of German , and an excellent one ! First , we have the incomparable fiction with which Chamisso charmed Europe , and a very full vocabulary of words and idioms , then some valuable notes on peculiarities and difficulties occurring in the text . We advise such of our readers as have the least smattering of German to read the story first , which the vocabulary will enable them to do , and , having thus obtained a rough knowledge of the language ( for this one book will give it them ) , they should study the Notes on the peculiarities . Fifty Lessons on the Elements of the German Language , By A . Heimann , Ph . D ., Professor of the German Language and Literature in the University College , London . D . Nntt . Dr . Heimann is one ^ of the most accomplished and popular of our German teachers , and he here puts forth the method which he has so long followed . The lessons are so arranged that the whole of the grammar instead of being " committed to memory" is committed to practice by its distribution over the whole fifty lessonseach lesson opens with a vocabulary , then follow

      exercises on that vocabulary . The verb of course forms the chief part of each lesson—round it are grouped all the rules of declension , cases , and construction . We should expect to find the pupil making rapid and efficient progress on this plan . The only modification that occurs to us is this : at present the pupil is exercised in translating English at once into German , but we think if , between the vocabulary and the exercise , there were placed some German sentences formed from the vocabulary , the mas tery would be more rapid .

      Orations . By the lieverend John W . Lester , B . A . Pickering . There are sixteen papers in this little volume which Mr , Lester thinks are " most appropriately" called " Orations , " because they are not Essays , nor are thev simple and spiritual enough for sermons . We think * ' ilhapsodies" would be a better title for the work . It is Rliapsody foaming lit the mouth . It writhes , it splutters , it runts , it raves . We seldom see such affluence of diction throwing its ermined robe over such beggary of thought ; in this respect the book ia a curiosity . Although wo must condemn the staple of common place , varied by outbursts of foolishness , which forms the matter , and al » o condemn the tawdry tits to of the

      manner , we cannot push this book aside without a word in acknowledgment of the rhetorical vehemence and rhythmic power often displayed . There i . s something of an orutor in Mr . Lester—ihe accent , the rhythm , the language , the trick of a fine player has been ciiupht , though the earnestness and genius be wanting . Considered as Rhapsodies they are decidedly striking ; and will doubtless elicit from the provincial press hyperboles of praise similar to those which lie has had the foolish immodesty to place ul the end of his book , an having beeil bestowed upon hiH former work ! The very want of sense , taHte , and sagacity which makcH him parade thoxu " opinions of the imcsh "—as if to bully us into admiration— intikcs hiti nrcuuiit work worthless .

      Untitled Article

      Stale mi ill of t / ttf 1 ' rtwtit Ctijm Citmi . AddriMHed to tho Society lor Reform oi' (/' olonial ( iovt-rniiicut . Ity ( , ' . It . Adderley , M . I ' J . W . I ' arkn . ( , ' aulioiM for Ilia Tii / ltn . AddrnHHcd to the I ' . n inliionci k of a 1 'urihh In ICngliiiiil . Ify thoir former Krclor . Nos . 1 mid ;» . J . W . 1 ' arker . Lftio : n f'ision of lltutlitij . Jltunor : and Other I'oems . lly Patrick Kcott . (; h ; i ) itimu ivnil Hall . llointm tUithnlicisDi ; l > ein << an Historical and Li ' . tfcnd lleview of its 1 'iist 1 'osttion ami 1 ' iTxr-nt ( Hnims in I ' n ^ hiitd . Uy ; l | t : i | - _ liHtoi . l . on ^ miin and Co . I'ni'tns by a I ' risoiwr in Ihtthlchtnn . Kditrd by Jo | m Pcrcovul Km | . Mliiifrhaiu Wilaon ! Mailers and Workmen . A Talo . IIIuhIi alive of tho Kooiul iiltl \ Moral Condition of llio Pcojilo . Ky Lord II . ; j voln . T . C . Nowl . y . The yision of the I'atieun . A Hntiio . Uy [ . { . | . A . W . 8 tran ( f «) . Claudia : Drawn tin Trnis Avlfit ct i : ? i prosti . Pur U < : or ^ o Hiiud . W . JiiIIk "

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      TO LAYARD , DISCOVERED OF &ABYL 0 N ANB NINEVEH . No harps , no choral voices , may enforce The words I utter . Thebes and Elis heard Those harps , those Voices , whence high ineri rose higher ; And nations crown'd the singer who crown'd them . His days are over . Better men than his Live among us : and must they live unsung Because deaf ears flap round them ? dr because Gold lies along the shallow * of the -world , And vile hands gather it ? My song shall rise , Altho' none heed or hear it : rise it shall , And swell along the wastes of Nineveh And Babylon , until it reach to thee , Layard ! who raisest cities from the dust , Who driest Lethe up amid her shades , And pourest a fresh stream on arid sands , And rescuest thrones and nations , fanes and gods , From conquering Time ; he sees thee and turns back . The weak and slow Power pushes past the wise * And lifts them up in triumph to her car : They , to keep firm the seat , sit with flat palms Upon the cushion , nor look once beyond To cheer thee on thy road . In vain are won The spoils ; another carries them away ; The stranger seeks them in another land , Torn piecemeal from thee . But no stealthy step Can intercept thy glory . Cyrus rais'd His head on ruins : he of Macedon Crumbled them , with their dreamer , into dust : God gave thee power above them , far above ; Power to raise up those whom they overthrew , Power to show mortals that the kings they serve Swallow each other like the shapeless forms , And unsubstantial , which pursue pursued In every drop of water , and devour Devour'd , perpetual round the crystal globe . * Walter Savare Ijantjob .

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      SEXTUS V AND AZAEL . On Monday night a crowded and exuberant audience at the Olympic declared that Albert Smith ' s dream of establishing in England a drama imitated from that which distinguished Le Theatre Ilistoriqxte , under the management of Dumas the Incomparable , is no longer a dream , but a fact . The lovers of " situation" ought to be in ecstacies . High Art is buttered from her pedestal . Lea Dieujc- s ' en vontl The Gods are leaving us ! The Drama , us an Art ,

      has been so mismanaged by managers , and so maltreated bv authors and actors , that what wonder if an age of scepticism , succeed an age of irreverent twaddle , wlnit wonder if faith be succeeded by contempt , what wonder if the love of the noble , tho beautiful , the impassioned , tho delicate , be borne down and trumpled upon by the insurgent senses , and shows , noise , glitter , clung , tumult , and " situation " raise up their Barricade , from behind which they win a Revolution ? " Situation "— " stage effect "— " incident " —these

      are the watchwords of the Material School . They mean very good things . I am the last man in the world to undervalue them . For many years I have been preaching the absolute necessity of fiuch things in dramas intended for representation ; and it is because poetic dramatists have been bunglers , or disdained these necessary aids , that dramas with " high Art . " pretensions have been ho mercilisBly dull . But let us understand each other . "Situation" Is

      only the embodiment of an idea . The " Htugo effect " is only effective because it is the culmination and material presentment of some puns-ion or Home thought . Not for its own sake , but for tho Hake of what it expresses , is n situation interesting . Just us colours carelessly rubbed upon & pnletto , though pleasing to the eye us colour , acquire artistic Miguitlcauct ! only in connection with Deriign ; mid Design itaelf borrows its luatio from lllo thought it cinhodicH .

      Thus you see how u little philosophic utnilysis will dispose of tho " Fast School " and their eluitnn for . " situation . " The Drtynn , as nil Art , is the mutorltil representation of an ideal conception . It places before our eyes the proghssand culmination of some pillion , the story of some ideal life . But , inasmuch rts It mutft re-

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      Fhb , 28 , 1851 . ] ® l , e ? Lram > r . isi

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      * Been through a uolar ttiicroacope .

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      We should do our utmost to encourage the Beautiful , ick the Useful encourages itself . — Gobthk .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 22, 1851, page 181, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1871/page/17/