South America. The original home of the Caucasic peoples was Africa, north of Soudan; the present range is from Japan to India, and also Armenia to Arabia.

As to the American Aborigines, he says: "The abundant traces of primitive man strewn over the continent, from Alaska to Fuegia, show that America forms no exception to the general statement that all the habitable parts of the globe were occupied by man in Pleistocene times, that is, during the early Stone Age." The American Aborigines are not indigenous in the absolute sense, but reached the Western from the Eastern Hemisphere in the primitive state, prior to all strictly cultural developments. A study of their physical constitution, substantially but not wholly uniform, with, indeed, two marked sub-varieties, respectively represented in the north by the Eskimo long-heads and the Mexican round-heads; in the south by the Botocudo long-heads and the Andean 1ound-heads-points at two streams of immigrants from the Old World. The Eskimo-Botocudo section has been traced to the long-headed Palæolithic man of Europe, which continent geology has shown to have been connected with North America through the Faros Islands, Iceland and Greenland, down to post-glacial times. The other section, which probably greatly out-numbered the first, came apparently later (during the New Stone Age) from Eastern Asia, by the Behring waters, and are now represented, allowing for great inter-mixture, by the still prevalent round-headed element. The author holds that the evidence of a Palæolithic Age is conclusive, but gives no apparent heed to the discussions which have been carried on, but takes Major J. W. Powell and the members of the Ethnological Bureau as his authority on all points. He denies that there were any further arrivals from Europe or from Asia, and argues the point from the complete absence in America of any sailing vessels, from the absence of dogs, sheep, horses, oxen, poultry, and wheat; also the absence of Chinese, Egyptian, Phænician, or Babylonian hieroglyphs. This argument, however, must apply as well to Europe. as to America, and would prove that there was no contact whatever between Asia and the north of Europe until very late in history, for there are no hieroglyphs either in the Mounds, Lake Dwellings, or even in the Towers.

The book is, however, very instructive, and covers the whole field, and is the best work on ethnology that has been put lished.

SOLOMON AND SOLOMONIC LITERATURE. By Moncure Daniel Conway. Chicago: The Open Court Publishing Co. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench & Co., 1899; pp. 248.

The author of this book undertakes to show the analogies between the stories contained in the Bible about Solomon, and those which are common in the Oriental lands. He thinks he finds the judgment of Solomon in the case of a Brahman wise woman named Visakna, who commanded that a boy should be placed in the hands of two women, with the idea that the mother would naturally pull the harder. This mht be a mere coincidence, and does not furnish as strong a resemblance as the order story of Moses in the bulrushes, which has its counterpart in an eraer story in babylonia.

The author compares the finding of the book of the law, in the t me of Josiah, to the finding of the book of Mormon by Joseph Smith But his unfairness and lack of son d learning is shown in the fact that he con

siders the Queen of Sheba was one of the queens of the seven of Persia; whereas, it is well known that she was from Arabia. He compares Solomon's anthorship of the Book of Proverbs to Boccacio, whose tales are contained in Shakespeare's "Cymbeline," Dryden's "Cymon and Iphigenia," and Tennyson's "Falcon." The Spirit of God "brooding over the waters" is identified with Wisdom, who "builds her house" and has hewn out her seven pillars.

The author quotes Dr. Inman's "Ancient Faith," and suitably, for his views are similar. The "Song of Songs" he regards as a collection of unconnected hymns, and suggests the idea that it was virtually an opera, containing a chorus. The love of the Church to Christ has been read into the songs of Solomon by many clever persons, but that a love song was sung out of it, as out of an opera, is a new idea. The last chapter on Solomon and Jesus is the straugest of all, as it is directly contrary to the teachings of history, as well as the opinions of scholars. That the descent of Christ was through an illegitimate line, and was by illegitimate birth, is a most blasphemous charge, which only Tom Payne or Robert Ingersoll would be guilty of, and is unbecoming such an author as Moncure Conway. Ruth the Moabitess and Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, are regarded by the enlightened people of the world too highly, for such a charge to stand unchallenged. It is similar to the charge that King Solomon and Jesus Christ were alike the objects of idolatry each in his own age. The book is full of blasphemous assertions and reflects no credit upon the author.

Myths of Greece and RomE-NARRATED WITH SPECIAL Reference TO LITERATURE AND ART. By H. A. Guerber, Lecturer on Mythology. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: Americrn Book Company; pp. 428.

HISTORY PRIMERS. Edited by J. R. Green.
Greek Life. Pp. 101. By J. P. Mahaffy.
Chicago: American Book Company.

Classical Antiquities I. Old
New York, Cincinnati, and

HISTORY PRIMERS, Edited by J. R. Green. Classical Antiquities II. Roman Antiquities. By A. S. Wilkins, M. A., Owens College, Manchester. With Illustrations. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company.

These three books cover about the same department, but are written from different standpoints. The first treats of Mythology; the second of Social Life, and the third of Antiquities. In the book on Antiquities the Roman dwellings are described at considerable length. Some interesting facts are brought out: That the men reclined on couches at their meals, the women never did; the beds in the sleeping chambers were often in alcoves; the equivalent for "Grandfather's Chair" was common. The walls, even in the poorer houses, were drawn with fresco paintings. The floor in all the better dwellings were of mosaic work. The inside of the house contrasted with the outside. It was Greece which gave direction to Rome in its later house-life. The Greek inns offered very bad accommodations, but the Greek household was a model. No household could exist without the master, if he died his widow became the ward of her father.

Slaves were numerous in every household. There were domestic animals. such as the horse, dog and cat, and birds. The girls of the house were brought up to see and hear as little as possible, but the young men passed out from the control of their parents early in life. The oldest banks in Greece were temples, but treasures were deposited in tombs; and was considered the most important kind of wealth.

The book on the Greek and Roman Myths is splendidly illustrated, and contains a good summary, with occasional snatches of poetry. The old Roman names, instead of the Greek, are used- Jupiter and Juno, Venus and Hercules. Perhaps this is as well, for they are familiar. Of the plates: The Abduction of Europa, Appollo Belvidere, Venus de Milo, Aurora Fourth Hour of the Night, Perseus and Andromeda, Aeneas at the Court of Dido, Parting of Hector and Andromeda, are very interesting.

MEMOIRS OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. Vol. II. Anthropology I.; The Jesup North Pacific Expedition III.; Archaeology of Lytton, British Columbia. By Harlan I. Smith. May 25, 1899. Mr. H I. Smith, who is a Western man and has the Western pluck and energy, has done some thorough work in connection with the Jesup Expedition. He was assisted by Mr. J Hill Tout, the author of "Later Prehistoric Man in British Columbia.' Several village sites were explored. These were situated on the Thompson river. Quarries of red paint and large quantities of green stone abound in the neighborhood, but the resources are varied. Implements of teeth and bones are common, also many wooden and copper implements, besides stone and shell; but no pottery. Quartz crystals were used for charms. Argillite was made into knives and arrows. Glassy basalt, opals, and chalcedony were used for chipped arrows. Copper was made into bracelets and anklets; bones, into awls and needles; the skins of animals into garments; deer antlers, into harpoons. Handles of digging sticks perforated in the middle were made from bone; pestles from fine ground boulders or pebbles, and anvils from flat boulders. These have a depression in the center, but large, flat stones were used for hand mills. SpooLS were made from clam shells; fish knives, from slate; wedges, and spatule, and celts from nephrite; arrow straighteners. from grooved stones. Perforated disks and s rapers, with wooden handles, awis and needles are common. Copper war clubs. resembling the slubbets of New Zealand; copper ornaments; pendants or bangles made from mica; dice made from teeth; pipes or tubes made from steatite, and a few carved specimens in the shape of animals were found. The culture of this region was quite similar to that of the tribes around Balsam Lake in Ontario, but the resources more varied and the people more prosperous, Several village sites were explored and some houses discovered.

MYTHS OF NORTHERN LANDS NARRATED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LITERATURE AND ART By H A. Guerber. New York Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, 1895; pp. 319. The Northern mythology is connected with that of Greece and Rome as it sprung from the same source; but is very different in its character and imagery. Odin is the chief god, and answers to Jupiter, but is a sturdy warrior. The triumphant sire of hosts the famed in arms, all the chosen guests of Odin, daily ply the trade of war. Frigga, goddess of the cloud❤ and of conjugal and motherly love, the Oucen of Hearts, is superior in character to juno; not so jealous, or so dictatorial. Thor is the "great thunderer," and the chief divinity He resembles Hercules in many respects. Loki is the 'great mischief maker," and has no Greek equivalent, Balder, the “beautiful," Frey, the "Sun God," good and pure and bright,

was loved of all, as all love light. Brumhill and Sigurd are prominent characters in the Twilight of the Gods." The illustrations represent these divinites in all their characteristics, and convey the same impression as do the descriptions in poetry and prose, which are so numerous in the book, and are so graphic. All of these volumes published by the American Book Company are very attractive.

MYTHS AND Legends of Our New POSSESSIONS AND PRotectorates. By Charles M. Skinner. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1800; pp. 154.

This book is attractive in its appearance and fascinating in its style, but lacks the accuracy which would be required if it had been designed as a scientific record. It is a contribution to mythology, although the author has not drawn a distinction between myths and legends, and has embraced almost everything under the head of Folk-Lore. He begins with the Buccaneers and Smugglers of the West Indies, and speaks of the Holy Hermit, who resided in the cave where the Caribs buried their dead, and devotes a few pages to the mermaids and the aborigines; and describes the sacred shrines and the tobacco and the witches, as if all were to be em. braced under the same head. He has culled from a great number of fields and has furnished a variety of stories, which are interesting. The last half of the book is devoted to the myths and legends of the Pacific, including the ancient faith of the Hawaiians. About fifty pages are devoted to the old beliefs of the Philippines, also to the animal myths; all written in a very interesting style.

HISTORIC MANSIONS AND HIGHWAYS AROUND BOSTON. Being a new and revised edition of "Old Landmarks and Historic Fields of Middlesex." By Samuel Adams Drake. Illustrated. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1899. Pp. 440.

The revised edition of "Old Landmarks" brings before us, in its illustrations as well as in its descriptions, a great many familiar scenes, and perpetuates the view of buildings which were conspicuous fifty years ago; but are now lost to sight amid the great number of modern buildings.

THE PURITAN REPUBLIC OF THE MASSACHUSSETS BAY IN NEW ENGLAND. By Daniel Watt Howe. Indianapolts: The Bowen-Merrill Co. P'p. 422.

The literature on the Puritans is voluminous. This contribution from the Interior treats of them from a different standpoint. The chapter that interests us the most, is the one on the Puritans and the Indians. The author justifies their treatment in the following language: "All efforts to induce thom to adopt the methods of civilized life, were unavailing at that time, as they have been since. Something in their nature made them prefor the freedom of the forest, to the restraints and burdens of civilized life. It was very soon manifest that the Indians looked with unkindly eyes on increase of their white neighbors and were planning their extermination. The situation of the Colonists was precarious. Only their possession and knowledge of the use of fire-arms enabled them to hold their own, against the vastly superior numbers of the Indians."

NANCY HANKS. By Caroline Hanks Hitchcock. New York: Doubleday & McClure. Price, 50 cents.

This litte Primer is designed to clear up the reputation, of the mother of Abraham Lincoln, and answer the unjust charges against her character. The auther has taken great pains to search out the family record, and has

shown that Lincoln came from a good family on his mother's side. It was backwards life, but there was the exercise of womanly traits, combined with fortitude, which impressed the mind of the great man, so that he was led to say that what he was he owed to his mother.

DON'T WORRY NUGGETS. EDUCATIONAL NUGGETS.

PHILOSOPHICAL

NUGGETS. PATRIOTIC NUGGETS. New York: Ford, Howard & Hulbert.

These books are attractive and practical, and so convenient in form that they may be carried in the pocket and referred to at one's leisure. The publishers deserve credit for getting them in such excellent style.

STANDARD ENGLISH POEMS SPENSER TO TENNYSON. Selected and edited by Henry S. Pancoast. New York: Henry Holt & Company; 1899.

Messrs. Henry Holt & Company have met a long felt want in issuing this attractive and well-selected collection of standard English poems. The poems are arranged in chronological order, and embrace nearly all the most familiar and valuable poems which the ordinary reader would desire.

BOOKS RECEIVED. “

The Old Northwest; The Beginnings of Our Colonial System. By B. A. Hinsdale, Ph. D., LL. D. Revised edition. New York, Boston, and Chicago: Silver, Burdett & Co; 1899.

The History of Illinois and Louisiana Under the French Rule. By Joseph Wallace, M. A. Second edition. Cincinnati: The Robert Clark Co.: 1899.

Young Puritan Series-The Young Puritans in Captivity. By Mary P. Wells Smith. Illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.; 1899.

A Year Book of Colonial Times. By Rev. Frederick S. Sill, D. D. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.

Plantation Pageants. By Joel Chandler Harris. Illustrated by E. Boyd Smith. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co.; 1890 Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. Bulletin No. IV: On the Building and Ornamental Stones of Wisconsin. By Ernest Robertson Buckley, Ph. D.

Report of the Commissioner of Education for the Year 1896-7. Vol. II. Washington; 1898.

The Legends of the Rhine.

By H. A. Guerber. Third edition. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co.; 1899.

Triumphs and Wonders of the Nineteenth Century. By James P. Boyd. Philadelphia: A. J. Halman.