FASHIONABLE PHILOSOPHY***
Transcribed from the 1887 William Blackwood and Sons edition by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
FASHIONABLE PHILOSOPHY AND OTHER SKETCHES
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BY LAURENCE OLIPHANT
AUTHOR OF 'PICCADILLY,' 'ALTIORA PETO,' 'MASOLLAM,' ETC.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCLXXXVII
PRICE ONE SHILLING
PREFACE.
That railway travel is not, as a rule, conducive to serious thought, may fairly be inferred from the class of literature displayed on the bookstalls at the stations. I have therefore refrained from any attempt to excite the reflective faculties of the reader, excepting in the first and third of the accompanying sketches, and even in these have only ventured to suggest ideas, the full scope and pregnancy of which it must be left to his own idiosyncrasy to appreciate and develop, the more especially as they bear upon a certain current of investigation which has recently become popular.
I have to express my thanks to the Editor of the 'Nineteenth Century Review' for the kind permission he has granted me to reproduce "The Sisters of Thibet"; and I avail myself of the opportunity thus afforded of removing the impression which, to my surprise, was conveyed to me by letters from numerous correspondents, that the article contained any record of my own personal experiences. The satire was suggested by the work of an author whose sincerity I do not doubt, and for whose motives I have the highest respect, in order to point out what appears to me the defective morality, from an altruistic and practical point of view, of a system of which he is the principal exponent in this country, and which, under the name of Esoteric Buddhism, still seems to possess some fascination for a certain class of minds.
The other articles originally appeared in 'Blackwood's Magazine,' and I wish to express my acknowledgments to my publishers for their usual courtesy in allowing me to republish them in this form.
ATHENAEUM CLUB, _January_ 1887.
CONTENTS.
Fashionable Philosophy The Brigand's Bride: a tale of Southern Italy The Sisters of Thibet Adolphus: a comedy of affinities
FASHIONABLE PHILOSOPHY.
SCENE--_A London Drawing-room_. TIME--5 _o'clock_ P.M.
_The afternoon tea apparatus in one corner of the room_, _and_ Lady Fritterly _on a couch in another_. The Hon. Mrs Allmash _is announced_.
_Lady Fritterly_. How too kind, dear, of you to come, and so early, too! I've got such a lot of interesting people coming, and we are going to discuss the religion of the future.
_Mrs Allmash_. How quite delightful! I do so long for something more substantial than the theologies of the past! It is becoming quite puzzling to know what to teach one's children: mine are getting old enough now to understand about things, and one ought to teach them something. I was talking about it to that charming Professor Germsell last night.
_Lady Fritterly_. Well, I hope he is coming presently, so you will be able to continue your conversation. Then there is Mr Coldwaite, the celebrated Comtist; and Mr Fussle, who writes those delightful articles on prehistoric aesthetic evolution; and Mr Drygull, the eminent theosophist, whose stories about esoteric Buddhism are quite too extraordinary, and who has promised to bring a Khoja--a most interesting moral specimen, my dear--who has just arrived from Bombay; and Lord Fondleton.
_Mrs Allmash_. Lord Fondleton! I did not know that he was interested in such subjects.
_Lady Fritterly_. He says he is, dear; between ourselves--but this, of course, is strictly _entre nous_--I rather think that it is I who interest him: but I encourage him, poor fellow; it may wean him from the unprofitable life he is leading, and turn his mind to higher things. Oh! I almost forgot,---then there is my new beauty!
