ENCHANTED INDIA. BOOK REVIEWS. New York By Prince Bojidar Karageorgevitch. an i London: Harper & Bros, publishers (1899); pp. 305. OPAINT CORNERS OF ANCIENT EMPIRES: SOUTHERN INDIA, BURMA AND MANILA. By Michael Meyers Shoemaker, author of The Southern Seas" and "Palaces and Prisons of Mary Queen of Scotts." Illustrated. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, the Knickerbocker Press (1899); pp. 212. These two books should be read together, for the first contains a general view of India, as seen by a native prince, and contains a description not only of the varied architecture of the country, but the more lively scenes of human activity which everywhere prevails, with an occasional reference to the terrible scenes of disease and death with which that country is celebrated. Some of these descriptions are absolutely pathetic and contrast very strangely with the columns, gateways, statues of the gods, bas-reliefs of the most bewildering perspective, which represent the art of the past. The 1,452 gods of the Jain Paradise are represented on a Sculptured pyramid under a pagoda. Around one pagoda, towering over a wretched village that lay huddled in the shade of its consecrated walls, a proud processional of stone bulls stood out against the sky, visible at a great distance, in clear outline, through the heated, quivering_air." "Ancient buildings, the remains of still majestic magnificence. Thorn breaks cover supporting walls as broad as crenellated terraces; fragments of light and fantastic architecture stand up from golden blossoms; tottering colonnades overhang tanks, all green at the bottom with pools of brackish water. Native lancers maneuvering, charged at top speed in a swirl of golden dust, which transfigured their movements, making them look as though they did not touch the earth, but were riding on the clouds; their lances quivered for an instant, a flash of steel sparks against the sky-a salute to the Maharajah. A long train of wailing women, loud in lamentations, came slowly out of a house where one lay dead. A dangerous madman behind a grating which shut him into a kind of hovel. A tame white antelope, wandering about the garden of the old Rajah's palace, under a shower of gardenia-like flowers. A temple, carved and pierced and overloaded with ornaments. Stations for prayer stood all along the road, where foot-prints, are worshipped. Elephants come along, stepping daintily, but filling the whole width of the street. Beggar women came up, to sing from door to door, asking alms." It is an enchanted land and is described in a charming manner. The book contains a series of word pictures which show a marvelous command of language. It contains no illustrations, and one needs to read it carefully to get the real scene fixed in the mind. The second book supplies the deficiency, for it is full of illustrations and gives an idea as to the art and architecture which prevail. The tank of the golden lilies at Madura; the stately procession of elephants at Tanjore, and the stone bull; the seven hundred and fifty pagodas at Mandalay, and the golden palace; the famous pagoda on the rocking stone at Moulmein; the City of Pazahn; pagodas and enshrined Gautamas at Rangoon; the cathedral of Manila; earthquake ruins in foreground, and the oldest church in Manila, are the titles of a few of the engravings. The style of the author is by no means as brilliant or magical as that of the Hindoo Prince, and yet it sets off the events which occurred, and furnishes many good descriptions of the scenes and objects of interest. THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS AND LOUISIANA UNDER THE FRENCH RULE; EMBRACING A GENERAL VIEW OF THE FRENCH DOMINION IN NORTH AMERICA, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH OCCUPATION OF ILLINOIS. By Joseph Wallace, M. A., author of the "Life of Colonel Edward D. Baker." Second Edition, with maps, etc. Cincinnati: The Robert Clarke Company (1899); pp. 433. THE OLD NORTHWEST; THE BEGINNINGS OF THE COLONIAL SYSTEM, By B. A. Hinsdale, Ph. D.. LL. D. Revised Edition. Boston, New York and Chicago: Silver, Burdette & Company (1899); pp. 430. These two volumes supplement one another. The first gives the history of the discovery and exploration of the interior. The second gives the history of the settlement and the conquest of the same region; conquest, first, from the Indians; second, from the French; third, from the English, as the colonies of the English were continued even after the colonies on the Atlantic coast had asserted and maintained their independence. The local history and ti e descriptions of particular localities are given in the book by Mr. Waliace, and are so graphic and complete that they form a good background for the picture which is drawn by Prof. Hinscale; the political history being given by the latter very fully. To the_archæologist and the antiquariin both books are exceedingly valuable. It seems to be positively criminal for any one, who may live in the Interior, to be ignorant of the region, so long as such interesting books as these are at hand. Of course it is expected that the residents of the Atlantic coast will be familiar with the localities where great events have taken place, for the very names of cities, lakes, rivers, and railroad stations are so suggestive, that one almost unconsciously looks out of the car window at their announcement, and, perhaps, the younger the traveler is, the ke ner the interest. The traveler in the West, however, hears such names as La Salle, Joliet, Hennepin, and Marquette and hardly thinks of the places as having been trodden by the early explorers. He may even enter into excellent hotels and cross over parks which bear these time honored names, and never think of history. When, however, such books as these are in our public libraries, and can be on our tables, there is no excuse for ignorance. It is to be hoped that with the antiquarian discoveries that have arisen in so many localities in the Eastern States, with the tracing out of genealogies, and with the large number of splendidly illustrated books which represent local scenes and events, that the historic spirit will be aroused throughout the entire country. HISTORIC TOWNS OF NEW ENGLAND. Edited by Lyman P. Powell. Illustrated. Second Edition. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, The Knickerbocker Press (1899). HISTORIC TOWNS OF THE MIDDLE STATES. Edited by Lyman P. Powell. Illustrated. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, The Knickerbocker Press (1899). These two beautiful volumes originated In a novel way. The author in 1893 escorted a body of students to historic spots in Philadelphia, Germantown, Battlefield of the Brandywine, and the site of the winter camp at Valley Forge; and in 1894, conducted excursions to Hartford, Boston, Cambridge, Lexington, Concord, and other piaces of historic interest. Among the parties were some of the most distinguished writers, such as Col. T. W. Higginson, Dr. Edward E. Hale, Talcot Williams, C. C. Cottin, Hezekiah Butterworth, and many others. The result was that Dr. Lyman P. Powell, the projector of these excursions, became the editor of a series of historie sketches, which were written for the most part, by residents of ese noted places, and who were familiar with all the historic events and scenes. They were so fami iar with them, that they perhaps would not have thought of writing about them, except for the impetus which was given through these excursions. There is an inspiration in the sketches, for they bring betore us the names and characters of those persons who have been the prominent actors in American history, but whose home life is almost unknown. It is like taking a series of portraits of prominent men and putting them into a framework which would represent the very scenes with which they were surrounded, and making one set off the other. The places are crowded with a throng which knows little of the past, and cares less; but there are those who look with different eyes, and who recall that life which once throbbed with such pulsations as to effect the remotest parts of our country, and have the abil ty to tell the story of the exploits which make the places memorable. It is not, then, merely a description of a few historic houses, or relics, or local surroundings, which makes the reading in these books so fascinating, but it is the fact that everything is filled with the memory of the great and good men, who once lived in them; they seem to have been brought to life again. It is not merely the cities and the show places, but many out-of-the-way and quiet rural towns are described, and events which are almost forgotten are told, with the scenes in which they were enacted brought clearly before the eye. Nothing can be more gratifying to the lovers of history than this. It is taking archæology and history and making them both speak with eloquent words. The artist may paint the scenes; the historian may write them; but here the two are united in one. Such places as Portland, Salem, Boston, Concord, Plymouth, Providence, Newport, and Cambridge, come in for the lion's share; but such little places as Rutland are mentioned. This was the dwelling place of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, who was a great man and who did more than any other man to secure all the Northwest territory against the extension of slavery, and for the settling free industrious people from New England. The place is called the cradle of Ohio, because from it went out the men which first settied at Marietta, which was the forerunner of all those bands of emigrants and colonies which so rapidly filled the Mississippi Valley with an intelligent population, and carried into the West New England in stitutions. The battles which occurred in the State of New York and made such places as Saratoga and Schenectady and Newburgh historic, because of the victories that were won, are as graphically described as though the writer was an eve witness of the events. The battlefields were visited, and every locality is described, as the scene where each particular struggle took place. Even the houses, the springs, and the hills are brought into the account, and the part which men and women took in each event is shown. If the Interior could be visited in the same way, by parties who are well informed, and every historic place could be described, it might take away the ignorance which now prevails, and bring citizens who dwell unconsciously near these places to realize the importance of local history and awaken more patriotism, which now is looking so far away for its inspiration, and make it closer and more practical. We commend the two volumes to the reading public, and hope that they may be found in all the libraries. ++ THE ROMAN HISTORY OF APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA. Translated from the Greek by Horace White, M. A., LL. D, with maps and illustrations. Vol. II. The Civil Wars. New York and London: The Macmillan Company, Limited (1899). It is very remarkable that a man who is as industrious as Mr. Horace White has been in other lines should find time to prepare a translation of a Greek book, which is out of print, but which will be very useful to scholars and literary men. The book was first published A. D. 150, during the reign of Antoninus Pius. The earliest account of Appian's works is given by Photius Encyclopædia in A. D. 891. Samuel Musgrave, the English scholar, in 1780, began to gather material for translation. Prof. Schweighauser published it in 1795, in three volumes There was an English translation in 1575, in old English black letter; another one was made by John Davies, and published in folio form. Mr. White has subjected his translation to Prof. Theodore Lyman Wright, Professor of Greek Literature in Beloit Co lege, for revision. The portraits used as illustrations were selected by himself at Rome, and are very excellent, especially that of Julius Cæsar, which forms a frontispiece to Vol. II.; and Scipio Africanus, which is found in the first volume. There are also several facsimiles of Vatican manuscripts, which were secured at Ko ne. The authorities on Roman history are, as follows: the works of Cicero, those of Polyb us, who was an eye witness of the third Punic war; Ca sar's Commentaries; the works of Sallust, and the works of Livv. Appian s history has never been read as much as that of other Latin writers, probably because it was written in Greek. The history of Rome, naturally comes under the Latin department, and is taught by Latin professors; consequently a Greek book is not used as a text book, and the style of Appian is not so attractive as that of Livy and other writers; but judging from the translation, it has the same general characteristics, and, in fact, is In some respects even better than theirs. The book is dedicated to Prof Joseph Emerson, D. D, LL. D., Professor of Greek in Beloit Co lege, as the late-coming fruits of his instruction, and is published by the Macmillan Company in their usual elegant form. ++ PLANTATION PAGEANTS. By Joel Chandler Harris, author of "Uncle Remus," etc. Illustrated by E. Boyd Smith. Boston and New York: Mifflin & Co., The Riverside Press. The writings of Joel Chandler Harris are valuable because they contain the folklore and myths of the Africans in their own dialect, without any interpolations from the white man. The present volume on "Plantation Pageants" does not contain as much dialect as the others, but is mainly given to the narrative of events which occurred after the war. "The Story of a Strange Wagoner" is one that gives a picture of the character and a turn out, which could only be found in the South. The talk about fox hunting brings up another scene peculiar to that region. There is, however, an undercurrent of negro superstition which makes the animals to be like human kind and enables the negroes to understand their language a quality which is possessed by them alone. It is interesting to take such books and compare them with the books on folklore and mythology of the Indians, for by this means we learn the peculiarities of each class of myths. Those of the negroes leading us mainly to such animals as frequent the inhabited places and are familiar to the negroes, like the fox and the rabbit and the coon. Those of the Indians were generally wild animals, such as the wolf, panther, raven, eagle, etc., who were regarded not as companions, but as totems, and perhaps as divinities. HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD CALLED AMERICA. By Edward John There are several respects in which this history of America will interest the archæologists and ethnologists of this country First, it is about the early history of America, which has taken advantage of the discoveries and investigations in their line of study, or has ever given the results which would help to solve the problem of the peop_ng of this continent. The work begins with the usual account of the discoveries which preceded those of Columbus, including the journey of Marco Polo to China; the voyage of the Norsemen to Iceland, and the fabulous and uncertain voyages and journeys which gave rise to various traditions which prevailed, and which led to the placing on the map certain names which were signifi cant. There was a tradition among the Romans about the Ogygian or Kronian Cont nent, and among the Greeks of the Island of Atlanus. There were certain names, such as "St. Brandon," "Antilles." "Isle of the Seven Cities," and "Ultima Thule." which kept up the expectation that a continent would yet be discovered beyond the great western sea. When the continent was discovered, it was found apparently to be as well occupied as many parts of the Old World, and rivalling them in the abundance of its gold and the grandeur of its cities. So the descriptions of Marco Polo of India were almost realized in America. The name "New World" (Nova Terra) soon began to be wonderfully expressive, but the impression continued for a long time, that it was a part of the Old-World-India-Land of Cathay, and the effort was continued for many years to pass through it and reach the regions which were familiar. It seems strange on this account that, after it was once ascertained that the "New World, called America," was a separate continent, and that the separation should be regarded as so great and distinct and long continued as many historians and archæologists have been inclined to make it. The great merit of this book, is that after the account of the discovery and a description of the character and resources of the continent, that nearly the whole of the second volume should be given to the discussion of subjects which relate to the geological, geographical, ethnographical studies. These subjects are treated in a scholarly way, and give results which are unfamiliar to even American scholars, but which, nevertheless, are worthy of consideration. The English scientists, as a general thing, take the ground that America was separated from Europe, but united with Asia, in geological times, and it was peopled by Asiatics. The animals and the people of the two continents corresponded very closely with one another. Mr. Payne, the author, thinks that there was a pre-glacial race-a race of pigmies-of which the Eskimos are, perhaps, the survivors, and that they were followed by post-glacial tribes, who entered by Behring Straits and made their way down as far as Central America and Peru. He does not hold to contact during the late historic times. The discussion of these topics is very candid and ought to secure the confidence of American readers. It may be that after reading the volume, the archeologists, who have become so heated over certain mooted points, will become more charitable to those who differ with them, and see that there is another side to the shield-"that there are people who live beyond the mountains." THE DIVINE PEDIGREE OF MAN; OR, THE TESTIMONY OF EVOLUTION AND PSYCHOLOGY TO THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD. By Thompson Jay Hudson. LL. D. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co. (1899.) This book treats, as its title would indicate, about the character of the human mind as independent of the body, and so traces "the divine pedigree of man." The author holds that there is a subjective and an objective mind. "Materialistic scientists have succeeded in demonstrating, that the objec tive mind is a function of the brain, and that it is inherent in the brain.' But it does not necessarily follow that the subjective mind is inherent in any one or more organs of the body; on the contrary, all the facts tend to prove that it exists independently of any specialized organ whatever. The objective mind cannot, of its own volition, move one purely involuntary muscle. On the other hand, the subjective mind can and often does take entire control of the whole body and wields it at its will. This is universal law in the supreme hour. Therefore after the brain has forever ceased to perform its functions, and the objective mind is totally extinct, there is an interval before the soul takes its final departure, in which it shines forth |