ald's new novel, "The Marquis of Lossie,"

-The holiday book of that very popular writer, Horatio Alger, Jr., will be entitled "Shifting for Himself." Upon his "Tattered Tom," Mr. Edwin A. Lewis, a Western playwright, has constructed a popular play of the same name. The heroine somewhat resembles Nan" in the "Good For Nothing."

THE ATLANTIC.- Mr. Hazard Stevens furis begun in this number. The writer of nishes an admirable article on The Ascent "Higher Education" discusses the definitions of Takhoma." The long inventory of his of that phrase, and sharply criticises an English companion's traps is delightfully sar"American Graduate" in the International castic, made more so by contrast with PackReview for his assault on American colleges, wood's simple provision for a tour across the and his failure to show how they can become mountains, -a jack-knife and a plug of tobacuniversities. He contends, justly, we think, co, at the cost of two and a half dollars. This "that the American people, as a community paper is delightfully fresh, throwing much light Among the forthcoming English books, of intelligent beings, working to a common on the scenery and characteristics of Washing- we note the following: Autobiography of national end, does not yet see clearly how ton Territory and its mountainous marvels. Harriet Martineau; W. H. Russell's Tour of education is best begun, advanced, or finished, Miss Kate Putnam Osgood's poem, "Miller the Prince of Wales in India; Bida's Four -how it may be adapted to all classes and Michel," is her best, we think. Its cadence is Gospels; English Painters of the Nineteenth stages, and made subservient to the welfare of lovely, and diction unimpeachable. The choice Century; The Two Americans, by Sir Rose all." There is much good sense in this arti- of metre is singularly felicitous. The plot is Lambert Price; Letters from Elizabeth Barcle, and the author's views are fresh and vigor- highly dramatic, and is worked out with great rett Browning to R. H. Horne; Mothers, ously expressed. An appreciative paper on skill. Henry James's story," The American," Wives, and Daughters, by Lady Herbert; The Wagner Festival" is furnished by an crescit eundo, grows as it goes. How fine is Charles Kingsley's Letters, edited by his wife; anonymous writer. “The Pendulum of For- this, and how American : "When he shook The History of the Evolution of Man, by tune," a capital German story, is well-trans- hands with her, he always asked, with a laugh, Professor Haeckel; A Visit to German Schools, lated, though it has a very sad end. "To a whether she could stand him another even- by Joseph Payne; A Ride to Khiva, by CapFirefly" is a charming little poem. In her ing;' and she replied, without a laugh, that tain Burnaby; a new edition of the Life of letter from South Africa, Lady Barker de- thank God, she had always been able to do Turner, by Walter Thornbury; The Hunting scribes Kaffir weddings in a very interesting her duty.' The conversation between the Grounds of the Great West, by Richard Irving manner, together with a Kaffir market. The lovers, after Newman's interview with Mrs. Dodge. A quar-centary celebration of printing operations of the Paris Post-Office are ad- Bread, is inimitable. We are not sure that is proposed in London for 1777,-the first mirably described by Lucy H. Hooper, who this will not prove the great American novel. book, "The Dictes and Sayings of the tells many charming anecdotes in her paper. The publishers of the Atlantic deem it so good Philosophers," having been published in 1477. HARPER'S. — Mrs. Mulock Craik contrib- that they duplicate five pages of it in this utes a poem, Magnus and Morna," and very pretty it is, too. A gay young fisherman, sitting by his boat, sees seven sea-maids, who, emerging from the water, dance and sing. Morna comes forward in tears; Magnus seizes

66

and bears her away while her six sisters flee away. He woos and marries her. But his mother quarrels with her, and their home is not a happy one. Magnus, the fisherman, offers some wise counsel:

"When a man comes home,
Don't begin to wrangle;

Better far to sleep,

In the hungry deep,

'Neath white sheets of foam,

And of sea-weed tangle.

Peace, peace, peace;
Cease, cease, cease.

When a man comes home,

Don't begin to wrangle."

number. Junius Henri Browne writes a read

66

able paper on Giordano Bruno. Gen. Howard
continues his narrative of the battles about
Atlanta; Charles Wyllys Elliott writes of
Pottery at the Centennial; " Miss Preston
of "Early Provençal Poetry;" Mr. Warner of
"The Fair of Moses; " Mrs. Kemble's gossip
is as piquant as usual. Mr. Aldrich's verses,
Rencontre," are very deft and dainty.
SCRIBNER'S.

66

46

-In M. Doudan's "Correspondence," we find these comments on Strauss, the German atheist: "I am reading the first volume of Dr. Strauss, translated by your friend, M. Littré. The book shows the singular condition of men's minds in Germany. It gives proof of the terrible mania for endless innovation in all its force. I have heard the book spoken of as a trifling one. I find it more alarming than "The Charter-Oak City" is many seem to fear. The man has by no means an excellent article, giving a graphic descrip- the characteristics of a seminarist. He has an tion of the place, its institutions and indus- audacious air even for the present day, when tries. The writer dwells with emphasis on its it is not easy to say bold things. I don't think wealth and attractions; but he fails to note its that the work would be dangerous for the want of culture, as indicated by its permitting minds, all this erudition, pervaded by a logic Archbishop of Paris; but, with poorly educated a fine library to decay. Its chief interests, insurance and manufactures, have full and in as cold as steel, may have some weight. For teresting treatment. The attitude of the pupil my part, I think that in this region of criticism, Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spofford writes well of in the second drawing, on page 13, his back and amid the immense number of historical conmediæval furniture, of which she seems to have to his teacher, is disrespectful. "The Begin-jectures and explanations, you may say 'yes' an extensive knowledge. "The table of the nings of Life" is far too scientific for the and 'no' with equal force; but the negative has ninth century is pictured to us as a semi-circu- average reader to understand; but it describes. always the greater attraction, especially when lar arrangement, with a short drapery hanging the germination of life with profuse technical-it assumes the cold and formal manner of imaround it, just beneath an upright edge similarity; Mère Giraud's Little Daughter" is a partiality. Mephistopheles should counsel his to the guard which at sea prevents objects strong, crisp story, strikingly descriptive of protégés to read this examination of Christifrom sliding off the table, or the rim of the old French bourgeois life. "A Scottish Loaf- anity. I think that the translation of HippocRoman abaci. There was no cloth on the Factory" is curious and useful. rates will be more useful for that portion of board itself, and only the dishes containing from Rome" is remarkable for its fine illustra- the human race that does not know Greek, the viands, the knives, and the bones thrown tions. The fourth line of Mr. Aldrich's poem, do not read German." at random. If the guests would drink from England," is rhythmically bad, but the poem the enormous vessels provided, they turned itself is fine. The article on "College Exaway or left the table." In Mr. H. E. Scud-The superstition of the French peasantry " is rich in information to the intending der's paper on “A Puritan Gentleman in New collegian. It gives full particulars as to the is brought into prominence in Madeline," a England," we find nothing new. It is a bio- cost of his course. The average expense of Huguenot story. The Bréants of the Rockgraphical sketch of Gov. John Winthrop, the Harvard student is $2500; of the Farm are Protestants, while many of their made up from approved history. "An Eng-Amherst student about $350; What one neighbors are Roman Catholics, including lishwoman among the Himalayas " is a sprightly wealthy man would spend at Yale or Harvard the family of Marc, the miller. Madame narrative. Only a Study," a short story, by would educate either ten or twenty poor men Marc, the miller's wife, is a terrible bigot, alAnnie Thomas, is only so-so. One of the at Beloit, or Illinois, or from six to twelve though of the kindest disposition, and fully acmost interesting papers in the number is Mrs. poor men at Dartmouth." Lamb's Mave-knowledging the goodness and superiority of Tombs in Old Trinity," in which rick" is a fair story. the Bréants. If grapes are sent to her from she briefly sketches the lives of the distinthe Rock-Farm, she will not touch them, feelguished dead. Her estimate of Albert Gallatin ing assured that some judgment will sooner or is far too high: Morse's "Life of Hamilton later visit her if she permits herself any dealdepicts him in another character. Miss Woolings with the Huguenots. Her husband and son's story," Mission Endeavor," is by far her best-in fact, it is a model story. her son, being of a different opinion, the good lady is sometimes reduced to most absurd perstrong, fresh, and picturesque. In "A Grand Business Man of the New School," we find a plexities, involving private interviews with the curé, who is far too liberal for his penitent; type of that speculative rage that animated and also frequent pilgrimages to the far-famed James Fisk, and has brought such general chapel of Notre Dame de Bon Secours, which, ruin among the habitués of Wall street. It is however, is assuredly not the Notre Dame de a faithful picture of modern money-madness. Bon Secours in the neighborhood of Rouen,

66

66

penses

• Pictures

"Rodney

LITERARY NEWS.

poor

- Mrs. Piatt has prepared a new volume of
Osgood
poems, called "That New World."
& Co. will publish it in November.

Messrs. Lippincott & Co. announce a
revised trade edition of Chambers' Encyclo-
pædia, which will comprise eight thousand
pages and four thousand engravings.

than the translation of Strauss for those who

66

1

the frequent resort of English tourists and excursionists.

66

Gaspard Bréant once dines at her house. Madame Marc would fain have marked the plates, forks, and spoons, &c., which Gaspard -Speaking of "Helen's Babies," we may was to touch, in order that he should always say that there is a book of the same class, and have the same; but her husband, who had dis- very much its superior. We refer to "Mice covered her once attempting to do so, had at Play," by Neil Forest" (Mrs. Floyd, of really got so angry that poor Madame Marc Staten Island). In point of naturalness, had cried for two days, and since that she had healthfulness, and consistency, for the courtbeen obliged to submit; but she would always ship has no just place in "Helen's Babies," after the Bréants' visits go and shut herself up Mice at Play" is far in advance of its sucin her room, kneel down and pray in order cessor. It is said that the facts on which Mr. that God's wrath might not fall upon them for Habberton based his story were furnished mixing and having dealings with Reformés. to him by his married sister, out of the richAs it was, she believed that her son's ill-healthness of her own experience, and who gathwas in a great measure caused by the connec-ered for him from her acquaintance divers tion with Gaspard. queer and naïf sayings of youngsters.

— We have had the pleasure of examining specimen pages of Mr. Joseph Sabin's "Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time." No American, we are sure, is so well qualified for this difficult task as Mr. Sabin; and, if his whole work bears out the promise of these specimens, the country may congratulate itself on the possession of a new historical treasure. The pages in our hands contain lists of the Works of Louis Hennepin; and A. Herr. Hennepin's books number twenty-eight, and treat exclusively of America. He was the discoverer of the Upper Mississippi. Mr. Bancroft distrusts him, saying that, "Had he loved truth, he would have gained a noble reputation, who is now remembered, not merely as a light-hearted and daring discoverer, but also as a boastful liar.

The journal of a voyage down the Mississippi is a lie by the author." Mr. Sabin quotes, in support of Hennepin's reputation for veracity, Mr. Parkman's "Discovery of the Great West."

66

of Mr. Habberton, author "Helen's de Lourdes. For we believe that it, which Babies," has written a story called "Barton's from all countries draws to itself by the mirExperiment." acles of its power and its beneficence multitudes of pilgrims, will also employ this book to propagate afar and arouse toward it the piety and trust of mankind, in order that they may share in the fulness of its benefactions.' And these words of the successor of Saint Peter have been at once realized with such On brilliancy as gives sight to the blind. reading this miraculous story, the people have risen in vast pilgrimages; and in a movement comparable only to the Crusades, have hurled themselves suddenly, in mid-nineteenth century, against the solid doubt of the age. Circulated in France, in several forms, in the unprece dented number of one hundred and thirty-five editions, in the brief space of seven years; translated into all languages, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Breton, Polish, Hungarian, even in the tongues of the East; as popular in America as in the older world, this book has lured millions of visitors and pilgrims to this fount of miracles; and daily the records of Lourdes and of the whole world register the cure of the incurable, led by this book to this sacred spring, and the conversion of unbelievers and free-thinkers, brought by the same book to true Catholicism." The story of Lourdes, which is referred to in a notice of Miracles of the Middle Ages," noticed elsewhere in this issue, is as follows:

Messrs. Macmillan & Co. have in preparation a Contribution to the History of Progress, and of Efforts toward Freedom of Opinion, between 1660 and 1820. The basis of the work will be the struggle of the Americans and the French for freedom.

- Mr. Aldrich's new volume of poems, "Flower and Thorn," will be issued next month, by Messrs. Osgood & Co. It is the first collection of his verse since that of 1865.

ment.

66

"The proof of the pudding is in the eat-
ing." All editors are not infallible in judg-
Churchman read and rejected the story of
The literary editor of the Hartford
Life's Aftermath," which we heartily praised
form by Messrs. Dutton & Co., and won a great
in a recent issue. It was published in book
success; whereupon the Churchman
for" it, and is printing it as a serial.

66

umns.

"went

"The Virgin, appearing to Bernadette, said, I am the Immaculate Conception,' - thus fulfour years earlier by the infallible Head of the filling the definition of the dogma pronounced Church.

Dame de Lourdes has described in his narrative, "This apparition, which the author of Notrethrilled all minds; there was between the proclamations of the dogma and the apparitions at Lourdes a secret bond and most subtle rela- There comes to us a copy of the “Course - Rev. Petroleum V. Nasby (D. R. Locke) tions." Referring to the illustrations of the of Study in the Aurora (Ill.) Public Schools," is a good authority as to Cross-Roads Whis- volume, the publisher says, proudly, "Avoidof which Mr. Thomas II. Clark is Principal. It key; but as a critic of poetry he fails. In a ing all mediocrity, we designed, as did the is a portly pamphlet of 303 pages, and seems recent number of the Independent, he says that manuscript copies of the Middle Ages, that to possess high value. This course has grown the songs of the late David Barker, of Maine, the Pleiades of the arts should surround, like up in the schools of Aurora, and has thoroughly ought to have been known as far as English an aureole, the word of truth." proved its own merits. Much of the work in is spoken, and to have gone down to posterity the schools is done without the prescribed with those of Burns, the Ettrick Shepherd, Gen. Lew. Wallace has amended his text-books, which is, we think, an admirable and their kin, whom men love so because they drama of "Commodus," which we noticed feature of the system. One of the greatest touch their hearts to feeling, or speak what lately, greatly improving it. He recently subevils in our public schools is the superfluity they cannot express." If the editors of the mitted it to Lawrence Barrett, who said to him, and incongruity of text-books, and any plan Independent had read these utterances of the You have written the best play since Richthat shall rid us of it will effect great good. Down-East muse, we doubt if they would have elieu;'" and adding that, as a poem and an The Report on the Aurora Schools, by Mr. admitted Mr. Locke's criticism into their col-acting play, "Commodus is the best modern Wm. B. Powell, says that our pupils use For of all the gross and indecent English drama." The play is now in the hands books more and more intelligently now than rhymes that have come under our view, these of Messrs. Jarrett & Palmer, with a view to when lessons were assigned them from the are not far from being the worst. We read its production. assigned text-book." The course is arranged them in MS. some time ago, and turned to in grades, and is subdivided into terms', Rabelais to get a breath of fresh air. months', and, in some instances, into weeks' work. The volume begins with chart-work, - We have received a circular descriptive and takes the pupil through five readers. of a famous French book, "Notre-Dame de The process in the first of these is to print, Lourdes," by Henry Lasserre. The pubfor instance, the word " "boy many times, lisher says, In religious and literary hiswith other words, on the blackboard. A real tory there is not, in our knowledge, a book boy then stands out and is described by his which has produced in a few years an effect so classmates. A picture of a boy is then prodigious on the world as the work of M. shown whose parts the pupils are required Lasserre. The publication of this extraordito name. At least twelve nouns are given nary book has been, without exaggeration, a to the class, as above, before a verb is brought social event. Scarcely had the Pope, Pius IX. to their attention. In this way the course read this work, so irresistible and so palpably runs through Language, Number, Geography, inspired by a holy spirit, that, despite the Biography, Plants, Animals, Human Body, habitual reserve of the Roman Court, he hesiForm, imparting, it seems to us, in the tated not to recognize publicly the unquestionsimplest possible manner, a thorough knowl-able authenticity of the events at La Grotte, edge of each subject. We confidently com- and proclaiming in advance, in a solemn Brief of the day. mend the study of this course to the friends addressed to M. Lasserre, the providential of Education. It is not only full of useful information, but is richly suggestive of great improvement in the present system of teaching.

66

George McDonald has begun a new novel, called " The Marquis of Lossie." It is said to be a sequel to Malcolm."

- The vicar of West Bromwich writes a vigorous letter to the Free Library Committee of that town. The vicar complains that “light literature " is read to excess by a great number of the elder boys and girls of the parish, who avail themselves of the use of the Free Library; and he points out the pernicious tendency of the works of the elder Dumas, and of Miss Braddon, Ouida, Miss Thomas, Miss Broughton, Miss Marryat, and Miss Edwards. He says nothing against these writers which has not been said again and again, and in our opinion with justice, in the best reviews

mission of such a book, he wrote these pro- -During his visit to England, Mendelssohn, phetic words: We have welcomed with the composer, was received by Queen Victoria. profoundest joy the work entitled Notre-Dame Her Majesty who, as well as her husband,

--

The Uncommercial Traveller; Hard Times; and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. By Charles Dickens. HouseThe Ancient Mariner. By Samuel Taylor Coleridge. $4.00.

A common colloquial form of expression hold Edition. Paper, $1.00; Cloth, $1.50. is, "What did you go there for?" and the like; instead of "Why did you go there?" This form is not only very long, but is also awkward, and should be disused.

-Sherwood Bonner, in the Sunday Times, refers to Mrs. Sigourney's "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands." Mrs. Stowe's name would better fit the connection.

Euripides; the Medea of. With Notes and Introduc-
tion by Frederic D. Allen, Ph. D., Professor in the Uni- Various Occasions.
versity of Cincinnati.

JANSEN, MCCLURG, & CO., CHICAGO.
Life: What do we Know About It? An Essay read

before the Chicago Literary Club. 8vo. Paper. 40c.
The Silver Question. An Essay on the proposed Re-
monetization of Silver in the United States. Read in
the General Meeting of the American Social Science
Association. 8vo. Paper. 30c.

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
Notes on Building Construction. Part II. Com-

Current Literature.

STUDIES IN ANCIENT HISTORY.*

THIS
HIS work discusses a subject which is de-
cidedly "caviare to the general," not one
person probably in one hundred having a glim-
mer of it. Only a few savants have pierced the
mysteries which surround it, and brought forth
its fundamental facts. Of these, the author
is, we believe, the latest, and the most acute,
expositor. He is the writer of a paper on
Totemism, published in 1867, in Chambers'
Encyclopedia. Totemism, as some of our
readers may know, is the study of pictures of
birds, beasts, &c., used by the North American
Indians as a symbolic designation of family
names. Totemism is thus referred to by
Longfellow :-

"And they painted on the grave-posts
Of the graves yet unforgotten,
Each his own ancestral totem;
Each the symbol of his household;
Figures of the bear and reindeer;

Oft the turtle, crane, and beaver."

His subject may be described as the original structure of human groups.

In passing, the author doubles up Sir John Lubbock for appropriation of his own discoveries. That writer says that he (the author) seems to doubt the occurrence of such a fact (the capture of wives in an endogamous tribe), and cites against the author's opinion the case of the Bedouins, which case is found in the author's own "Primitive Marriage," first

edition.

surrender her freedom and virgin purity, un-
less compelled by the violence of the sterner

sex."

The symbol of capture occurs whenever, after a contract of marriage, it is necessary for the constitution of the relation of husband and wife that the bridegroom and his friends should go through the form of feigning to steal the bride, or to carry her off from her relations by superior force. The marriage is agreed upon by bargain, and the theft or abduction follows as a concerted matter of form to make valid the marriage. The test, then, of the presence of the symbol in any case is that the capture is concerted, and is preceded by a contract of marriage. If there is no preceding contract, the case is one of actual abduction. At Rome, the capture of the bride was effected in the following manmer: The bridegroom and his friends, having fixed upon a time, invade her house and carry her off with a show of force from her mother. In the case of "The Captive Damsel," as told by Apuleius, the lady says, that, having been dressed by her mother, the latter was overwhelming her with kisses, when a band of robbers, dressed like gladiators, rushed in with glittering swords, made straight for her chamber in a compact column, and, without any struggle or resistance on the part of the servants, tore her away, half dead with fear, from the bosom of her trembling mother. The custom still prevails among the Hindoos, the Khonds in Orissa. Gen. Campbell makes a report, in his "Personal Narrative of Service in Khondistan," of one of these rapes:

Capture of women was a fundamental fea- "On one occasion, I heard loud cries proture of human association at its earliest ceeding from some village close at hand. stage. "Wherever we find symbolical forms," Fearing some quarrel, I rode to the spot, and says the author, "we are justified in inferring back something enveloped in an ample coverthere I saw a man bearing away upon his that, in the past life of the people employ- ing of scarlet cloth; he was surrounded by ing them, there were corresponding realities; and if, among primitive races which we examine, we find such realities as might ally pass into such forms on an advance taking place in civility, then we may safely conclude (keeping within the conditions of a sound inference) that what these now are, those employing the symbols once were."

twenty or thirty young fellows, protected from the desperate attacks made upon him by a party of young women. On seeking an exnatur-planation of this novel scene, I was told that the man had just been married, and his precious burden was his blooming bride, whom youthful friends, as it appears is the custom, he was conveying to his own village. Her were seeking to regain possession of her, and hurled stones and bamboo at the head of the devoted bridegroom until he reached the confines of his own village."

practised capture were organized on the principle of exogamy. These tribes, carrying out this principle, sought their wives in other tribes. These postulates, endogamy and mutual hostility between tribes, being granted, it appears that the same conditions have existed in every case where the system of capture has been observed as a ceremony of marriage. The author proceeds to discuss with fine acumen these three questions: The prevalence of capturing wives; whether, where that practice prevails, marriage between members of the same family-group, clan, or tribe is forbidden, and the prevalence of that limitation of the right of marriage; how far the state of war prevails among primitive groups.

In Australia a captured wife bewails the wrong of her husband, who has been lured away by a fairer captive:

:

"Wherefore came you, Weerang,
In my beauty's pride,
Stealing cautiously.
Like the tawny boreang,
On an unwilling bride.
'Twas thus you stole me

From one who loved me tenderly.
A better man he was than thee,
Who having forced me thus to wed,
Now, so oft, deserts my bed,

Yang, yang, yang, yoh.

"Oh, where is he who won

My youthful heart;
Who often used to bless
And call me loved one?
You, Weerang, tore apart,
From his fond caress,
Her whom you desert and shun;
Out upon the faithless one!
Oh, may Boxt-yas bite and tear
Her whom you take your bed to share.
Yang, yang, yang, yoh."

The author thinks that the Roman tradition

The

as to the rape of the Sabine woman must be accepted as a fabrication. The story is reproduced in the annals of many tribes. Irish Nennius mentions the rape of Gaelic women by the Picts; and in the very old poem, "The Cruithnians, who propagated in the land of noble Alba," the Irish are reported to have given three hundred wives to the Picts, on condition that the latter's royal crown should always descend in the female line. The same facts, in substance, are narrated in Judges, chapters xx., xxi. Among the Khonds, already mentioned, intermarriage between persons of the same tribe, however large or scattered, is deemed incestuous. Among the Australian blacks men are relatives of their mother's relatives, and of none other. The author is not too familiar with North American nomenclature, for he speaks of the "Cheerookees." Among these Indians, the Creeks and the Natchez, - it is deemed criminal for a man to marry a woman whose family name (totem) is the same as his own; and they relate instances where young men, for a violation of this rule, have been put to death by their own relatives. The Celts were anciently lax in morals, and recognized relationship through mothers only. The author The writer's discussion of endogamy and concludes, and justly, we think, that he has exogamy is full of interest. The former established by irresistible evidence the fact means marriage within the tribe vdov (within); that exogamy was a widely prevailing princiand w means without. The tribes which ple of marriage law among primitive races.

The hurling of stones, &c., may be the spring of the old custom of throwing old shoes after a newly-married pair.

This work abounds in acute and profound observation. One of these is that, apart from the tests of truth afforded by the minute knowledge of primitive modes of life and their classification as more or less archaic, nothA rule prevails among the Kalmucks, that ing could be more delusive than written history itself. In Chapter II. the author explains a bride shall not enter the yurt of her parents the different forms of capture in marriage for a year or more after her marriage. The ceremonies. This usage seems to have origin of the custom of capture is traced by vailed over the whole world, in early times. It is said that in Sparta it indicated the prevalent feeling that "a young woman could not

pre

Studies in Ancient History, comprising a reprint of "Primitive Marriage." An Inquiry into the Origin of the Form of Capture in Marriage Ceremonies. By John Ferguson McLennan, M.A., LL.D., Advocate. 8vo. London: Bernard Quaritch.

Müller and Festus to the principle that a
woman is property, and that he should take
who had the power, and he should keep who

can.

But we have already transcended our limits, and must bid farewell to this most original and noble work. Nothing at all resembling it has ever fallen under our eyes; but we hope later to pursue a recondite subject which the author has so vigorously opened. He is entitled to the hearty thanks of mankind for solving so clearly the problem of primitive marriage; his learning and perspicuity are beyond all praise.

TURKESTAN.*

BY
Y virtue of this noble work, Mr. Schuyler
has, per saltum, taken his place in the
leading rank of American writers. We know
not with whom to compare him; he is unique;
as a graphic narrator, as a student of society,
of commerce, of agriculture, and of domestic
life, he has no rival. To the treasury of
American literature he has made the most gen-
erous contribution of zeal, energy, perspicu-
ousness, and thoroughness. No review within
reasonable limits could do justice to his work,
and we can hope to be able only to outline
the symmetrical course of his narrative.

with the trappings of horses and household
utensils. The Kibitka forms a most comforta-
ble abode, being cool in summer and warm in

winter."

We defy any of our readers to produce a more perspicuous, thorough, and impressive view of the habitations of man than the foregoing.

This subject is so admirably treated that we feel ourselves bound to prolong our extracts, even to the exclusion of kindred subjects:

66

with their life, is that, as a mark of respect to their husbands and male relatives they are not allowed to mention their real names in the presence of others, but must either call them by some term adopted for the purpose, or use a circumlocution. An incident is related of a Kirghiz woman, who wanted to say that a wolf had stolen a sheep and taken it to the reedy shore of the lake. Unfortunately the men of the family bore names corresponding to most of these words, and she was obliged to gasp out that in the rustling beyond the wet a growler gnaws one of our woolies.'" "The Kirghiz, owing to the simplicity of The book is full of funny incident and apt their life, are far more children of Nature than comment; e.g. At one station we found the most other Asiatics, and have all the faults room occupied, much to our regret, as we were and virtues of children. Probably the first acquaintance with them will be found disa- desirous of stretching ourselves; but when we greeable, and certainly the side the traveller heard the cause, we could not help laughing, sees is the worst, but on knowing them more and were willing to have a felt spread for us intimately, one cannot help liking, and even in the sun out-of-doors. It seems that the respecting them; and it is the verdict of every wife of the officer, who was accompanying him one who has lived in Central Asia that the The men devote themselves almost entirely to presented him with an heir, in spite of the unKirghiz are superior to all the other races. from Tashkent to St. Petersburg, had just the care of their horses, leaving all the work comfortableness and difficulties of the situato be done by the women, and leading in gen- tion. We endeavored to be as friendly as eral a lazy, shiftless life; although when it comes to riding they are indefatigable, and will travellers should be to another, and the officer go hundreds of miles without seeming to be was glad to accept a bottle of red wine for his in the least degree tired. They are hospita- wife, and some cans of condensed milk for her The author fails to state that at an unknown ble, often to a fault, to one of their own race, child." date before the dawn of tradition, the Aryans or to a Mussulman, nor do I believe that a occupied nearly the same territory now held Christian would fare worse among them. I certainly, whenever I happened to meet them by the Kirghiz, and that their modes of life on the steppe, was well received, and every were not unlike those of that nation. They thing which the family possessed was offered had marriage laws regulating the rights and me.... They are sociable, and always eager obligations of husbands and wives, of parents of it has a great charm for them; and as soon leave their town-houses, and remove to one of for fresh news; even the telling or repeating "During the summer, all who can afford it, and children; they recognized the ties of as a man arrives among them with a piece of the numerous gardens in the suburbs, where blood through both parents; they had great news, one of the family will immediately start they either have a small house of a similar flocks and herds, in defence of which they off on a fresh horse and convey the intelli- kind, or live in Kirghiz Kibukas. Nothing often did battle, and they lived under a patri-gence to some distant acquaintance. In this can be more delightful than this. The heat way news travels through the steppe, almost does not penetrate through the thick elms and archal government with monarchical features. as if by telegraph. They believe all that is poplars; a freshness constantly exhales from Leaving St. Petersburg, March 23, 1873, told them; they are, however, themselves far the square pond and from the canals which he went to Kazala. Here he sees the Kirghiz, from truthful, though rather from laziness than water the garden, mixed with the perfume of of whom he gives a clear and most satisfactory from wilful intent to deceive. Their promises roses and syringas. The Kibitka is spacious are little to be depended upon, and in making and comfortable; and if to this is added a a bargain with them, if they once obtain what Bukharan pavilion-tent, with its embroidered "The Kirghiz are in general short of stat- they want, it is difficult to secure the perform- and variegated walls, for a salon, the abode is ure, with round, sturdy faces, insignificant ance of their part of the contract. They are charming. When at night the paper-lanterns noses, and small, sharp black eyes, with the light-minded and fickle, and easily influenced stand out against the dark green of the pometightly-drawn eye-lid which is seen in all by the persons with whom they are for the mo- granates, while the nightingale sings as the Mongol tribes. In winter they sometimes livement associated. One of their best traits is light shimmers over the still surface of the in underground huts, entered by crooked pas- their respect for age and the authority of their water, it is a scene taken bodily from the sages, where children, calves, and colts, all superiors. In war they are in general cow-Arabian Nights.'

account:

sleep and play together; but usually their ardly, though they are found to make excel-
habitation, both in winter and summer, is a lent scouts, partly from their untiringness,"
Kibitka, a circular tent made of felt spread and partly from their acquaintance with nature
over a light wooden frame. This frame is and capacity for observation. They can see
easily taken apart and put together, and is so
or somehow divine a way in the darkest night,
light as to form a load for a single camel only. and it seems hardly possible for them to get
The broad pieces of felt are easily stretched lost on the desert or the steppe. They meas-
over it, so that the whole can be put up in ure space by the distance which the voice will
about ten minutes. On one side is a door, reach or the eye can observe. They are not
covered by a flap of felt, and the fire is built cruel by nature, and their wars or expeditions,
in the middle, the smoke escaping through an when they undertake them, are rather for the
opening in the roof. The interior of the tent purposes of plunder than revenge. . . . In
is decorated with pieces of ribbon of various disposition they are merry and good-natured,
kinds, used to fasten down the felt, and around and devoted to music, constantly singing to
the sides the Kirghiz place and hang all their themselves. Being Mahometans, they use
valuable goods, consisting of carpets, silk
mattresses, and clothes, and sometimes, in the
case of richer men, of even silver articles,

Mr. Schuyler is not a mere historian and narrator, -a mere practical writer; sometimes he drops into sweet little passages like

this:

Of Jura Bek the author gives an admirable portrait, which we are strongly tempted to reproduce. The Kirghiz have their Jim Fiskes, it seems. The author met a type of this class, one Azim Bai, whom he thus sketches: "Though a man of no great property, he lives in very fine style; is always dressed well, and rides a magnificent horse. He has also engaged in the business of army contracts, and fulfilled them with great accuracy; though to do so he has been obliged to borrow much money of Hindoos and others, to whom he is still largely indebted. If rumor speaks correctly, he uses his influence among the natives very badly, and takes bribes right and left. . . . He meddles in every matter, and is said, in carrying on his numerous lawOne curious thing, however, in connection suits, to hire witnesses and buy up the Kaz:s.

to the full extent the license of having many wives, though the first wife is always the mistress of the Kibitka, and takes rank over the others. The seclusion of the harem is imposNotes of a Journey in Russian Turkestan, Khokand, sible in a tent on the steppe, and the women Bukhara, and Kuldja. By Eugene Schuyler, Ph. D. With are therefore unveiled, nor is any effort made three maps and numerous illustrations. In two volumes. to keep them from the observation of the men. $7.50. New York: Scribner, Armstrong, & Co.