On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    astonish us with the queer compounds from the Greek which doctors are so fond of , and which are only appropriate so far as theyexpress in an enigma the nature of an equally enigmatical disease ; he docs not affect the mystery of classification ; in fact , in various par ts ' his work , he pronounces _ some vjc-orous sentiments against the " iron bonds ol svsfenis ; but he gives us a general survey of the laws of life and health in clear and sensible language , and intersperses his more theoretical disquisitions ¦ with various practical remarks on disease and its Ireatment . Every man—even a professional onewould derive useful information from the perusal of this book ,-which exhibits considerable originality , both in the independence of thought arid the manner

    of dealing with the subject . Though Dr . Ridge treats lightly of systems , it inust not be thought that he is altogether exempt from the common frailty of framing one of his own . It must however be admitted that his is so simple , that it rather helps than perplexes the reader in the perusal of his work . He distributes all the substances of the body—organic functions and external actions influencing the human system—into three divisions : we have , for example , hard , soft , and fluid substances ; acid , alkaline , and neutral secretions , and so forth . This is a compendious method , open , no doubt , to criticism , but very suitable to a popular work .

    The merit , however , of this treatise is , that every chapter on science is charged with its practica message ; it is the union of the two that makes the book so agreeable to read . It is full of useful hints ; for instance , in a chapter on the Senses , the teeth are adverted to , and the author throws out a suggestion with respect to the fitting of artificial teeth , which will be acceptable to thousands of persons who do hot need to put them to such good use as a Citv alderman . He tells us that the principal

    reason why artificial teeth do not fit well is because they are adapted too soon after the removal of the natural ones . If the reader ask why this should be so , he is answered that the gums shrink , and that therefore a . considerable time should be allowed to elapse before the artificial set are fitted . This is-a very simple and true explanation , yet it embodies a fact that is almost invariably lost sight of even by dentists ^ and-consequently we do not find one person in . a dozen who has well-fitting teeth . Such observations abound in this volume ; it is therefore practically useful and worthy of commendation .

    Untitled Article

    THE MAGAZINES . We are apprehensive we shall have from time to time to press upon the attention of the monthly caterers for the patronage of the reading public the fact that the Magazines , in some instances , are losing their original character of " light" reading , and acquiring a . reputation for " solidity , " that may possibly operate on their audiences , making them Jess numerous , and certainly more select . Whether this will be an advantage , commercially considered , it is not for us to say ; but assuredly , if the " grave " is not more generally accompanied with a larger admixture of the " gay , " we fear we shall , at no distant period , miss more than one established literary star froan its literary orbit . Blackwood ' s—conies first to hand , and affords a practical illustration of our opening remarks . The tablicofcontentsi consisjta qf seven articles j two on . ^ Cherbourg , " occupying ho fewer than W pages ' out of the 131 , winch constitute the number for September ; The subject of Cherbourg , though sufficiently interesting , is by this time very well worn ; the daily and weekly press have pretty fairly exhausted the interest as well as the novelty , and therefore it was a feat of no small hardihood for even such a renowned monthly ns Maga to give up so large a space to minute details and descriptions which cannot offer the excuse of novelty , and are certainly of evanescent value . Then we have An elaborate article on " Respiration and SuiTooall

    wer's " What will he do with it" novel , which wes refrain from criticising in its present fragmentary form . We light on a " Parochial Epic , " amockheroic poem , which brings on the tapis such bygone Cockney celebrities—if ever they had existence at all—as Sir Siniffle Whilk , who is thus introduced : — Sir Smiffle Whiikj a London knight , They say he ' s worth at least a plum . Sir Smiffle Wbilk— ambitious he Who thinks the name of shop a sin ,

    Nor tells us if the plum were tea , Or oats , or indigo , or gin . Next we have Mr . Canon Brown the Rector , and Mr . Banks , a pattern Curate , The living becoming vacant , a deputation go to the Patron , a noble Duke , to ask him to appoint Curate Banks . The noble Duke , who is introduced smoking a clay pip ' e , thus replies to the request of the deputation : — - " A—' pon my soh ! " theDuke began , " A—shud ' ve been happy beyond bounds—A—a ;—cleanM put when Favourite ran—A—sold it for two thousand pounds . Some fla—a—didn't ask his name—A regular trumpeter , I ' m told-Is first in hand—It s all the

    sameom e passionate writing , and each part is so detached in its interest that it can scarcely be reckoned a regular serial . The incidental criticism on Shakspeare and Tliackoray we fully agree with . The elaborate article on Fishing , ¦ en titled" Chalk Stream Studies , " we must leave to the judgment of professed anglers , " Shipwrecks , Waifs , and Strays" is a very small article on a very large subject . TJieold book of ' " Tlie Lawful Regiment of Women , " is made the means of giving an interesting Life of the Earl of

    XNUrl / lKlllipUJlJ . J . 11 C cvLiiuonujj . ouujuuu V - ~ — — •*• » u attended to in an article on the " Oude Proclamation . " The concluding is the best , though not perhaps the most entertaining , article in the number ; it is an answer by Mr . Froude himself to the criticism upon his "History of Henry the Eighth" in the Edinburgh Jtevieto . The able writer maintains his peculiar views with rill the acumen and information for which he is celebrated . The scandal of three hundred years since is resuscitated in this contest , and the delicacy and virtue of " the good old times" do not seem to be established by it . This

    paper is a valuable historical essay . Titan—Monies out in more than wonted force this month . There are several exceedingly good articles , and the subjects are well contrasted . The opening contribution is entitled " The Modern English Pulpit , " and it deals with a grave question in a tone ^ of candour , moderation , and complete mastery . The writer does not attempt to disguise ^ the fact that the general feeling of dissatisfaction with the

    pulpit is owing to a want of " harmony between the pulpit and the # ge . " He then proceeds to dissect and account for this condition of things , and we venture to say that but few readers will be disposed to dissent from his reasons and his deductions . One main cause of the apparent decadence of religious feeling among the masses the writer attributes to the spread of commerce and the lax system of commercial moralitv which of late years has been

    suffered to grow up and diffuse itself without stint or check . The writer says : — , Society , under the pressure of a vast and prosperous commerce , whilst if presents * probably , a more general diffusion of material comfort , has been slowly approaching a state in which all that beautifies , softens , and hallows , is well-nigh crushed out of its commercial relations , anJ is admitted and exercised as a thing ab extra and casually , but which does not attach ever to the man . There is a harsh Telentlessness acknowledged , and even justified ,, by the disciples of commerce , inseparable , it is said , from the principles of trade—and the ground they cover , and the multitudes they influence , it is fearful to

    contemplate—unaffected by the cries of oppression , the waitings of misfortune , and the ravings of despair . It is a simple matter of fact , the morality of which does not now concern us , that the system , as such , whirls on ruthlessly and sublimely indifferent to the welfare of the million , and admits of the exercise of no kindly virtue except sidewise , and in proportion as a man , liberating himself from the all-crushing thraldom * acts upon the unsophisticated dictates of the heart . It is a dread Moloch to which , for the time being , the finer feelings of "humanity , the gentler offspring of the soul , arc daily sacrificed . Rapacity is frequently made to gather and to supply in one relation what benevolence casually nnd

    scantily dispenses in another . A kind of subtle Manichoenniarn pervades the great henrt of society . Get what you can , by any means short of what those around you are pleased to pronounce positive dishonesty , is acknowledged tp be on irreproachable policy ; nny compunction that may arise may bp easily silenced by a quiet reference to some law in political economy , and the conscience and tlio heart may be satisfied by doling out , however niggardly , in . other waya and . relations , thosubstnnce which has been thus acquired . Let it be noticed that this system , thus briefly characterised—the innuequacica of which ore mournfully attested by the Ingoing efforts of an expanding benevolence , to chock nmt to ameliorate , in other ways , its crying ovila— hns beon growing in paat voars into a dark , huge , gigantic tiling , the

    well-nigh hiding heaven from view , overshadowing earth , and beglooining , for years to come the -whole horizon of thought ! There is , no doubt , much truth in all this , but there is sonic exaggeration . The commercial taint , which recent disclosures have shown to exist in the commercial body is , after all , but superficial and cxtraWedus : —TlrefpTlTn ^ leTTJf ^^ not to blame—it is the abuse of those principles which is in fault . Altogether , this article is worth careful study , " Four Essays . of a Modest Maiden aflor a Husband , " is pleasant reading . " Lrvita Bfe'fcenda" ia an observant traveller ' s exporic- 'neca of Italy and Italian life ; somo portions ol the ground have been trodden before , but never m a more genial , penetrating , and gooa-naturc-lly sarcastic mood . " What befel my Companions ; or , the Memorials of the Jolly l > ogs , " is somewhat

    Sorry you're so immensely sold . " The Rev . Ebenezer Maw , the Rector elect , then comes on the stage , the opposite of Curate Banks ; the brotherly parish soon get to loggerheads under the new teaching , and the parishioners come to hate each other cordially . Sir Smiffle Whilks turns Puseyite , and the result is thus indicated : — Now half the houses are to let , And half the others to be sold , We find our new converted set So different from the sinful old . And sad the memories we recall

    Of the sweet days that cheer d our town ; And the deer links * that bound us all To Mr . Banks and Canon Brown ; Here ends the facetice , ji odicum rather too small to balance sufficiently tire amount of serious matter . With respectr to the articles on Cherbourg , we shall extract the following from the first : •— - To a certain august bodyj Cherbourg must have given many lessons . It must have given them eyes to see , and ears to hear , what defence means ; must have told them how defence is attained , and taught them that the confidence inspired by strong defence is well bought by is not in

    expenditure . They will have seen that peace - consistent with preparation , and have heard that the power can best maintain peace which is the most strong , and most confident in itself . It is to be hoped that when next they discuss the Ways and Means , the impregnability and capabilities of Cherbourg may arise before them , not as a menace of aggression , but as a lesson and a warning of defence . . And from the second , written by an M . P ., we select the following , because it shows that the spectacle will not be lost on the people ' s representatives , who appear to have drawn both warning and wisdom from what they witnessed : —

    Be assured that I am very far from being , the only member of the Legislature on whom , without regard to party political considerations , what we witnessed that day made an indelible and very deep impression . The results of a century ' s untiring labour , engineering skill , and enormous expenditure are now visible , as on the eve of completion ; and must force grave consideration on every English observer , with reference to our ambitious , warlike , and fickle neighbours' means , intentions , that

    and opportunities for the future . lean tell you not one of our party quitted the shore , at the close of that memorable afternoon ' s reconnoitring of the Cherbourg araenal , disposed to undervalue the tremendous , capabilities at length acquired by France , or underrate the commensurate responsibility cast upon those charged with maintaining the safety and honour of Old England . My own individual conclusions collected themselves into a single brief sentence—To be Forewarned » a to bo Forearmed . at

    Fbasbr .- ^ TIus Magazine is least always multifarious in its articles ^ and has something to the taste of all its readers . It opens with a thoughtful , though rambling paper , " Concerning Work and Play / ' A sort of guide-book article on Egypt follows , which seems to have some practical iuioiv motion , but we can hardlyjjudge of what is intended WTiI » s sc ^ the serial novel " Hanworth , " follows , which , as we do not admire fragments of exciting works , thus served up at intervals of a month , wclmvo not read . The analysis of Mr . Clark ' s work on the Peloponnesus is interesting . A learned article on Cormorants follows ,-wbiolfis heavy reading" "to those who take no delight in verbal criticism ; nevertheless , it is a scholarly dissertation , and lias some points of natural history that arc interesting . The seventeenth chapter of "Catarina in Venice" contains

    Rfl ! Br * . Jffi ., yw -fa T O - T ?[ fif \^ r \ Q ! iy > ? . > ^ i . 9 * .. ' ? y € ta r ^ H ?] ? j nfiy i ^ ceasing to breathe are treated medically , philosbp hically , and experimentally ; a tough subject at the best , but rendered still more difficult ot digestion to delicate literary stomachs by the closeness of , reasoning , the nice calculations , and the illustrative examples poured out upon it % the able author . " John Company ' s farewell to John Bull" has 14 pages to its share ; this is another article of w ' ght / ' and will nof ; , wo fear , afford any tiling approaching to mental relaxation on the part of the Attentive reader . Then comes a continuation of Bui-

    Untitled Article

    .. THE LEADED [ No . 441 , September 4 ; 1858 . fc / UvJ ' ' ' ¦¦ ¦ ' . _ _ ¦ -. ' _ ' ; ' ¦ " ¦ ¦ ¦ ' rr- — - ¦ - " ' ; ; ~~^~~""~*~"""" T™~——^— - ¦

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 4, 1858, page 908, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2258/page/20/