Israel Zangwill's Philosophy.

Israel Zangwill,—the author of "The Master," "The Children [unclear: of] Ghetto," "The Dreamers of Ghetto," and "Without Prejudice"—[unclear: is] known to comparatively few readers. Nor is the reason far to seek; it is only that his books are too good to be appreciated by the [unclear: crowd] that think Marie Corelli is "simply too sweet."

Zangwill describes his own philosophy of life, and says "[unclear: Th] only wisdom is to live; action is substance, and thought shadow," [unclear: and] the gist of what he calls his "Working Philosophy" is that one's [unclear: duty] in life is to do the little good that comes to hand, to be willing to [unclear: see] the good rather than the evil, and be content with a less than [unclear: final] explanation of things infinite.

As far as I may judge the foundation of Zangwill's philosophy [unclear: is] Love of Truth; the sincerity that keeps a man's life healthy, [unclear: tha] forces him always to give of his, and that holds him in touch with [unclear: th] unvarying truth of the stars.

And with this intense love of Truth, comes a love of the [unclear: beautiful] for indeed these two are one. Somewhere Zangwill says, "[unclear: Th] Beautiful that has not its roots in the True, is not the Good." [unclear: N] one can read his great novel, "The Master," without perceiving [unclear: hi] deep knowledge and keen appreciation of the Beautiful; so that to [unclear: him] the glint of sun in a wayside puddle, the sighing of the weary [unclear: wind] and the upward impulses that come amid the most sordid [unclear: surrounding] are but the reflection of the compassionate smile of the great [unclear: Spiri] that rules all things.

No one heeds the vague generalisations concerning life given [unclear: fort] with pompous confidence by men who have (metaphorically [unclear: speaking] spent their lives in suburban villages, and bijou residences. But [unclear: whe] a man, that has really lived, that has sounded the shallows and [unclear: th] deeps of life, that has despaired because of the meanness of his life, [unclear: an] has comprehended its possibilities, when such a man speaks, wise [unclear: me] listen.

And Zangwill speaks, and his message is that beneath the [unclear: preten] and the conventions, the hollowness and deceit of life, there is the [unclear: ever] lasting truth : that human life is noble, and the soul of man a [unclear: thin] past comprehension for its grandness.

There is truth in the ancient legend that truth is found at [unclear: th] bottom of a well; there is truth in the lowest depths, for it is a reflection of the Truth that sits enshrined on the Highest Heights; [unclear: there] truth in Heaven; there is also truth in Hell. Thus is the whole [unclear: world] wrapped about in the garment of the Most High; but sometimes [unclear: ou] eyes are holden that we see not.

Zangwill's philosophy is, before all things, practical. "Life is always concrete; it is built up of emotions, and you cannot have the emotions, brought into your study." And while no one more thoroughly understands the value of high ideals, he is able to discuss to what extent ideals may reasonably be followed. Speaking of the musician, who, rather than play a false note, stopped his music for ever, Zangwill says: "It is sublime—but silly; he had better black boots."

Zangwill views the place which Love holds in the world with the eyes of a critical, unimpassioned, and withal amused observer. He says : "In every language on earth the student may be heard declaring with more zeal than discretion that he, and you, and they, and every other person, singular and plural, have loved, and do love, and will love. Once you can love grammatically, there is a world of things you may do without stumbling"; and again, "there are those who consider Love a variety of insanity; but it is more often merely a form of misunderstanding. When the misunderstanding is mutual, it may even lead to marriage." Moonlight, and apple blossom, and blighted affections, and all silly sentimentality find short thrift with Zangwill.

Zangwill's Philosophy incites to a steady pressing forward to something higher to a manly recognition of the heights as well as the depths of life, and a deliberate choosing of the higher; for he says : "It is true that the keenest joys of the senses leave a scant deposit in the memory, and that if sensual pleasure are doubled in anticipation, it is the spiritual that are doubled in looking backwards."

A. B.

At the last examinations in Edinburgh the following ex-students of Otago University passed their Final in Medicine:—Messrs Barclay, D. Ewart, W. Ewart, Gribben, Herbert, Gilmer, Melhuish, and Phil Macdonald. Mr Barclay graduated with first-class honours, and Mr D. Ewart with second-class honours Mr Barclay will be remembered by older Medicals as one of the ablest men that our Medical School has sent Home.

Dr Logan passed the examinations for M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. in London. He arrived on June 27th, and began his examinations on July 4th, so that his distinctions are not due to any teaching received in England. On latest advice Dr Logan was on the point of departing to Scotland to spend a well-earned holiday with his Scottish relations.