REVIEW.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1482, 21 June 1879, Page 3

REVIEW.

THE APRIL REVIEWS.

The Edinburgh— the old buff nnd blue— lias a very readable and valuable artiole on | tho Electric Light. Its writer not only knows what he knows, but he has the enviable art of clearly imparting his knowledge to others. Without a single diagram, and without many hard words, the reader is put m possession of the main facts and laws on which thia newest discovery depends. That the lightning U but another name, for electricity hns been long well known, but there seems something new and forcible m saying that lightning is one and the same with the electric light. Yet as tho Edinburgh reviewer puts it — " When the storm-cloud dishes its dazzling sjleam into the darkness of the night, it is m reality the electric light which illuminates the sky." Still more striking is the statement that the electric light is tho sun on a small scaln. Xts moat marvellous attribute is this close relationship to tho great luminary of our system . The electrio light proJuces tha eumo chemical effects as the sun, whether m determining chemical combination or chemical decomposition. It very powerfully exritos what is known as the phosphorescent light ; and by its aid photographs can be taken equally at well as by the light sf day. It has recently been announced that Edison is trying to discover some economic means of producing this light on a large scale. He pledges himse'f m a short time to light Mb native town more effectually than is now 'lone by gas, and at ab ut a quarter of the j-reeent expense. The writer of the article m the Edinburgh Review bolioves lhat this can really be done. Thereisnolonger any question of producing many lights of limited intensity from ono generator of the electro current. But the holders of ga« shares will be reassured by what follow.*. It seems to he conclusively established that large areas only c«n be economically lighted. For lighthouses, concert room', and very largo workshops the electrio light will be ad'niirably adapted ; but gas will still be needed for heating purposes, and for the ordinary requirements of life The two things will, therefore, iv all probability, flourish side by side for a long time to come. The main uses of the electrio ligbt are thus summed up by the reviewer : — " It is sure to be used m lighthouses, where a reserve force can always be brought into play whenever the sea and dangerous coast lines put on their cloak of fog. It will be used for all purposes of night signalling, and the illumination of frequented harbors and roadsteads ; and will become a common and a most important resource on board all large war shipß and merchant steamers of a. high class. It will be drawn upon for the night work of constructive engineering where large operations are m progress, and m many night industries whore some increase of cost is at once compensated for by the increased efficiency of the service. This now illuminating pjwer is already used m the London Times printing office, and at the Northern Railway Goods Station m Paris, and m either ca9e with highly satisfactory results. If the Edinburgh shines m science, the New Quarterly may be said to Bbioe m art. In tha article on Michael Angelo, there is some admirable criticism on one of the moit gifted spirits of the human race. It is not always the case that the artist is as great as his work. Yet this can be faid of Michael Angelo. The more we know of the man the more we admire him, for his loftiness of aim and sincerity'of execution. His masterpieces m the Sistine Chapel at Rome are thus referred to :— " Perhaps the first emotions of those who go to study them is one of horror at the barbarous mal-treatment they havo received Still, even m ruins, they strike us with astonishment and awe. We look ad the long series of solemn figures covering the hundred and thirty-two feet of vault ; the primal mysteries of man's creation and fall are brought before us ; we goze upon tho majestic prophets and mysterious sibyls held m almost equal reverence by medieoval Christianity ; and at the world of mighty superhuman beings of their company, and we think what must have been the mind of the roan who has left us this record of the things which lie saw m clear dream and solemn vision, as ho lay there m solitude day after day and month after month. It has been observed by M. Tame " an artist's soul bears within it a whole world, and all the soul of Michael Angelo is here.'" By this famous painter there are two Madonnas extant. One at Bruges, done early m life : the other m the Medici Chapel at Florence, nnd done nearly at the cloße of Angelo's career. Both have the artist's special notes m ample measure : power, dignity, ideality. But "m the earlier work the peace is that of the unruffled sea, when the morning breaks, without a sound upon its serene infinity. In the later work it is the great calm after storm and tempest havo raged, and have done their worst and are nowihushed ; a calm more profound and solemn and awful. The one is the song of a hero before the battle of life has begun— the outpouring of a noble, fresh, and resolute heart. The other is a deeper strain and m a minor key. The fight has been fought, hopes have been destroyed, dearest affections have been wounded by death ; all that ' seems has suffered shock.' But the living will has endured, invincible, and as from out the dust is lifted ' A voice as unto Him that hears A cry above the conquered years.' " To those readers who have both liking and aptitude for abstruse subjects, the new Quarterly Review, Mind, must be very welcome. It is edited by Professor Croom Robertson, one of the acutest mental philosophers of the day. The contributions have hitherto been of the highest kind, and tome of them have been collected and published^ m a separate form, notably, Professor Bain's new book — "Education as a Science." Though the Beview deals with the deepest questions of the human mind, yet this is often done m suoh at way as to leave tome attraction for the

ordinary reader. The first article m tho 1 April number, for example, is concerned with Laura Bridgman, the American woman who lost all her senses but that of touch, by scirigt fever. During hor illness all recollection* of her baby-hood was completely effaced. At the age of eight she started m life with one sense only — that of touch. Dr Howe began hiß instruction by pasting on common objects — chair, spoon, Btovn, Sec. — their names, printed m reined letters. As soon as she bad learnt to associate name and object, the raised labels were taken off, and she was taught to selec the object for a corresponding name, and the reverse. By-and-bje she -was taught to Bet up types of raieed letter*, and impressing them on paper to produce a copy which she could read on the reverse side. In this way communication whs established between her tutor and friends, and the reports of her progress and experience have for many yean been received with warm interest and sympathy. Mr Stanley Hull has recently been experimenting upon her with a view to determine some unsolved metaphysical questions. The result is embodied m the able article before us. Amongst other things, we are told that this blind, deaf and dumb girl describes herself as hearing through her feet ; knows lhat her room is square, but is not mre that the house is so ; tells the fr.ime of mind of her friendß by touching their faces j and m "very positive that her nichtly devotions are without vocal and manual signs." Professor Bain givs Ihe first instalment of a Life of John Stuart Mill. Having been a personal friend of Mill for the greater part of his life, and having n any unpublished letters m his possession, the forthcoming articles are likely to prove of great value. The presei.t paper gives us a-idilinuil proofs of the excessive mental application which marked Mill's early studies. In striking contrast to Mill's voracious reading is the advice given by Mr Frederic Harrison m the current number of the Fortnightly. The subject i« iho ' Choicii of Books.' Mr Harrison is very strong m condemning tho prevalent negl> cfc of the great, masters of literature for the sake of the trivial novelties which are nlwayß teeming from the Press. He is right, no doubt, m saying thnt people read about the great books, rather than road the great books themselves. They content, themselves with second hand impressions, when they might easily and with more profit and pleasure go to the fountain head. Every thoughtful reader will instantly feel how true it is that " poetry an 'l Iho highest kind of romanoo are exactly that order of literature which not only will bear to be read many time?, but thnt of whi.-h tho truo value can only bo gained by frequent, and indeed, habitual reading. A mun can hardly bo paid to know tho Twelfth Mass or the Ninth Symphony by virtue of having once heard them played ten years hgo. He can hardly be said to take air and ex»rcise because ho took a country wa'k last autumn. . . The immortal and universal poets of our race are to be read and re-read, I ill I heir music and their spirit are a part of our naturei they are to bo thought over and digested till we live m tho world they created for us ; they are to bo re id devoutly, as devout men read their Bible and fortify their hearts with psalms." Sir G.Campbell contributes tho second nnd concluding article on the negro question m America. After giving many interesting details, ho says : — " My owr view,then,is extremely sanguine. I cannot see why tho black difliculiy m America should notbe settled, and well settled, and why this (jveat people Bhould not retain among them a settled, industrious and progressive colored population, fitted to fill the portions of the country not adapted for the white race, and there to contribute to the wealth, the greatneti, and the resources of their common country." Prejudices, however, are proverbially stubborn things, and though legal differences arc swept away, caste feeling has become stronger than ever, and appears to have driven the races farthei apart than they were before the war. The Poet Laurealo leads the way m the Nineteenth Centurg, with two compositione, one on the death of Princess Alice, the other on the Defenco of Lucknow. The two things seem a little incongruius, and neither piece is worthy of Tennyson's reputation. Ii may seem treason to cay co, but Lord Stradford De Kedcliffe'a stirring ballad, "Inondula," m the " Weekly Times" of the same month, is roally better both m choice of subject and m execution. It has more spontaneity, more of the genuine dash and ring of war. By the way, iv " CornlnU," thero is a fine song on the ga'lunt conduct of Major Stuart Smith, who, m the splendid defence at Rorke's Drift, Isandula, before dying spiked his gun. The rong has been written by Sir H. Doyle. One stanza runs 89 follows : — " Happier than his comrades, then, He kept a clear unwavering will ; They could but fight and fall like mm, But he worked hird for England still. His lust sad stroke rang firm and true, And his whole heart wat filled with one Proud thought to sweeten death — he knew That he had spiked the gun." Mr Alfred Wallace does not seem at home m dealing with " Reciprocity — the true Freetrade." The title is a good illustration of the question-begging style. Reciprocity has again and again been conclusively shown to be our old friend Protection under a new faoe ; and for Mr Wallace to urge that we should reply to Protectionist countries by putting the very same import duty on the very same articles that they do, changing our duties as they ohange theirs, is, to cay theJeast, impracticable m most cases. Could France and England, for instance, act on this principle ? If France were to tax English alpacas, how could England retaliate when French alpacas never enter the country ? England could only tax another commodity,. say wine; but m doing so she would plainly be taxing the very thing she wants to get. ai cheaply as possible.