Mr. G. K. Chesterton's The Thing (Sheed and Ward, 7s.
6d.) is a controversial book of essays belonging to Mr. Chesterton's particular brand of controversy. He makes, as always, a gallant attempt to prove what some people believe to be wisdom by what everyone acknowledges to be wit. Even those in agreement • with his conclusions often doubt the cogency of their defence. Yet if we regard this volume not as ammunition, wherewith to annihilate the sceptic, but as the bright plaything of the believer, how delightful it is ! Why should the sceptics have all the good satire? Besides, what wonderful passages are to be found in amongst the controversy. How profound is his thought when self defence or aggression cease to hold his attention. Then and then only he forces his readers to see that conversion to Catholicism May " mean an active fruitful progress and even adventurous life of the intellect." The last two paragraphs of " The Feast and the Ascetic " contain a parable concerned with A magic spring. They are in reality an essay on happiness. It stands out of the book as " The Thing " and could only have been written by a poet.
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