The Age of Science: A Newspaper of the Twentieth Century

by Frances Power Cobbe

The Notices run as follow:—

REVIEWS.

We do not usually in the Age of Science intrude on the province of the sixteen leading daily Scientific Newspapers devoted to critical notices of the books which pour from the press on Electrology, Physiology, Astronomy, Geology, &c. We are tempted to depart from our rule, however, so far as to offer our meed of applause and congratulation on the publication of the last of the six splendid volumes forming the magnificent monograph on Cheese-mites, and the still more costly and exhaustive treatise on the great mystery of the Formation of Dust in Disused Apartments. The Analysis of the Dust Bin, which constitutes Book VIII. of this noble work, is a triumph of scientific investigation and (to employ an obviously appropriate term) of industry. In the inferior non-scientific walks of Literature we find that no Histories have been published during the last twelvemonth, and only one Historical Essay, namely:—

The Fall of the Church of England. By the late (and last) Dean of Westminster. The author of this book composed it, we are informed, during his retirement in the Isle of Anglesea, whither, like most of the clergy, and the Druids in former ages, he retreated after the great victory gained by Science, when the Cathedrals and Churches were made over by Parliament to the Medical Profession. The Dean traces the fall of the Anglican Establishment to the disrepute into which it had sunk in consequence of the folly of a party in the Church, who, in an age of doubt and transition, when religion needed to be presented in its most spiritual shape, made it appear by their practices a matter of rites and forms altogether childish. It is quite possible that these idle doings may have contributed to make sensible men impatient and contemptuous, but we are persuaded that the abolition of the Churches was due to a deeper and more widespread cause, namely, the growth of that sound philosophy which recognises Matter as containing itself the germ and potency of every form of life, and, of course, dismisses the dream of a Soul in man, which might enjoy existence after death. As soon as this great truth had had time to penetrate the minds of the masses, the collapse of Religion obviously became imminent. The sole attention and hopes of all classes have since been confined to the preservation of health and the extension of life to the utmost term of old age. That we have bodies, nobody can for a moment question, and we properly recognise as our guides and masters the Doctors who remedy their diseases. We have satisfied ourselves that we have no Souls, and it would be truly absurd to expect of us to maintain an order of clergy to undertake their “cure.” The endowments originally devoted to the latter profession have been naturally and fitly transferred to the former.

POETRY.

The Loves of the Triangles. Reprinted from the Anti-Jacobin. We rejoice to see the merits of this Poem recognised at last, and the stupid idea of some dull critics that it was intended as a travesty exploded in this graver age. With the exception of the De Rerum Natura of Lucretius, and of Darwin’s Botanic Garden, it is almost the only poem bequeathed to us by the past worthy of retaining a place in our libraries.

The Gout, and other Poems. By the Poet Laureate. We warmly commend this beautiful and affecting volume, especially to our youthful readers. The accuracy wherewith the peculiarly poignant pangs of Arthritis are delineated is beyond praise. We should, however, recommend the omission of the episode of the patient’s marriage to his shampooer. It is a tribute to that false taste which requires Poetry to deal with Romance instead of with the facts of Science.

FICTION.

The Precession of the Equinox, and other Tales. By Wilkinson Collinson, Esq. This is a highly sensational story, and will sell like wildfire at the bookstalls. The interest of the plot turns on the phenomenon in question, but embraces subsidiary problems respecting the sun’s path through the Zodiac.

Daniel Allround. By George Evans. The chief attraction of this book lies in the abstruse technical terminology which the author has employed to illustrate profound observations of men and things. From this point of view the work has a certain scientific value, but too much space is lost by delineations of characters without tracing them to the laws of Heredity.