SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
ttrndor ate healing too motto. ottoh Books of IN week es have not been reserved fur misty in other forms.) A New Way of Life. By J. St. Lee Strachey. (Macmillan and Co. ls. net.)—As this little book is a reprint from our own pages, wo can do nothing more than announce its appearance. We may illustrate its intention, however, by the following quotation from
the introduction :—
"' Solomon tells us of a poor wise man who saved a city by his counsel. It bath often happened that a private soldier, by some unexpected brave attempt, hath been instrumental in obtaining a great victory. How many obscure men have been authors of very useful inventions, whereof the world now reaps the benefit ? The very example of honesty and industry in a poor tradesman will sometimes spread through a neighbourhood, when others see how successful he is ; and thus so many useful members are gained, for which the whole body of the public is the better. Whoever is blessed with a true public spirit, God will certainly put it into his way to make use of that blessing for the ends it was given him, by some means or other. And therefore it bath been observed in most ages, that the greatest actions for the benefit of the commonwealth, have been performed by the wisdom or courage, the contrivance or industry, of particular men, and not of numbers; and that the safety of a kingdom bath often been owing to those hands from whence it was least expected.' I can find no better introduction for the articles reprinted from the Spectator which make up this little book than the above quota- tion. It is to be found in Swift's sermon on Doing Good,' an epitome of patriotism which won the whole-hearted commenda- tion of Burke. It meets, I trust, the objection that may be brought against me that I am too insignificant a person to venture to address the nation on the need of a new way of life. Swift shows that no man can deem service to his country too high for his endeavour. May I suggest that what is true for the writer is true for the reader, and that those who give way to the feeling that they are too weak to affect the groat march of events, and that all they can do is to submit in anxious acquiescence to the decrees of destiny, are guilty of a crime against the State ? Such impotent pessimism is base. In patriotism as in every scene of life the victory is won in the spirit. If the nation with a single heart will determine that no matter what the sacrifice she will retain the command of the sea and all that goes with it, humanly speaking, there can be no doubt as to the result. All that is wanted is the will to will that no effort, moral or material, shall be neglected, which will secure the strength of the nation. The material power of
fleets is necessary, but it is not the one or the only thing necessary. It must be supported by the general resolve of the individuals who make up the State."
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