The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-28
New Books.


who treated the subject prior to Grote are written
from such an English and purely aristocratic point
OF view, that they present in distorted and false
light the leading characteristics of Greek polity and
civilization. The last named writer, however,
brought to his task not only mind Of sound phlo-
sophical stamp and vast eudtion, but sincere re-
publican convictions and he has consequently given
TO the world work uneqnalled for the breadth and
business Of its views its patient and accurate re-
search, and its logical deductions. As, however,
Grotes work is from its extent and volumnousness,
adapted rather to the use Of the advanced student
than to that of the beginner, Mr. Greene has proper
ly stepped in to supply the want generally felt of
q more condensed history, which, whilst it preserved
the leading features of Grotes enlightened and phi.
losophical mode of treatment, would present the
subject in somewhat more of an American light.
The author, who has earned well merited reputa-
fion by his previous publications, has discharged
his task in pleasing, graceful and scholastic man
ner. His work will, we have no doubt, take
high rank amongst the classical compendiums of
our colleges and schools
Appleton & Co. have republished Parkyn's i" Life
IN Abyssinia" one of the most amusing and graphic
works of travel that have of late years issued from
the English Press. The frankness and nairae of
manner in which the author makes confession
% the most fastdous of publics of the relish with
which he entered into, and enjoyed Of the dis.
gusting and revolving habits of the barbarous people
amongst whom he voluntarily settled down for so
ong period, will excite smile at the strange in
congruities of taste and Elasticity of mind which
ransfo, med an aristocratic lounger of the London
clubs into contented denZen amongst tribes OF
dirty savages, but little removed in their tastes
from the condition of cannbals. Although he ne.
H. r,nk tuxn L.,n
" about their eating stakes cut from the live one,"
he expresses his conviction that such habit pre-
walls amongst the Calais, and he wonders that any
surprise should be manifested on the subject in
country where salmon crimped and cells
skinned alive. The retort has some justice in
it, and we have no doubt that those who
carry their epicurean tastes to this inhuman ex-
IRENE would appreciate with the same relish as Mr..
Psrkyns, the jniciness and tenderness of raw beef
steaks, smoking hot from the saughter.honse. 1t
will be seen from the suboined extract that in
this remote part Of the world "the fashions exer-
else as despotc sway as IN more civilized coun-
tries, and that author curiousy enough succeed
ed in setting himself up as leader of ton.
For Dress the male Abyssinians a pair of tight
cotton inexpressbles large belt and quarry"
mantle Of the same material As have before remarked
the dress Of the soldiers and peasantry Is nearly alike
cut Much in the same way as in England, and every
where in Europe the ciadni" are disnguishabe from
the .'contadni' by the of their cloth. Now this
neriory OF the counyman in the style Of his Clothes
whether in Abyssnia elsewhere depends not much
his taste the ignorance of his tailor shall in
my description aude to the of those who lead
the ashion-not of those who make Intellectual attempts
At following it, # stranger were to attempt TO de-
scribe the dress of Englishman he ought surely to
choose his model at good tailor's.
The trousers Of softt extured but rather
cotton stuff in the country and of two sorts
caRed caliss, /" the other coumta." The
reaches half down the calf of the leg the latter
wearer be dandy are made skin tight. might enter
into long account of the peculiar fashions to which
these trousers are subject parts being doubled parts
Mt the side Of the caiss - below the hnee of about
inches long only, before it branches off the thigh
while another year it will be heightened TO six eight
inches The last was the at which left it.
This however considered very ultra fashionable,
others dared TO attempt it, 1t was and my friend
Shetou who first introduced the habit of aox wing the
sword to swing perpendcuarly from the side instead of
sticking out horizontally like q dogs tail as well as OF
wearing the belt the hips instead OF round the waist
and up to the armpits as it was worn when first ar
rived. These with the increased length Of trousers,
reaching them to nearly the ancle ani SO
tight below that 1t took an hour to draw them the
heel gave very fast look and were oh patronked By
"Young AhyssRia, !" though invariably decred by
spectacle elderly gentlemen have before mentioned
how Shetou got turned out of his fathers tent Tor
little too much OF this exaggeration in costume.
The belts vary in length from fifteen to sixty yards
and about yar1 in width In quantity OF
they nearly all OF the weight the very long
in proper tion finer than the hortes An ord
nary soldiers belt Will measure from thirty TO forty Gu
bits (ffteen to twenty yards) The one usually e
seventy cubits long (hrty Ave yards; while few
great chef- among them Deatch welda Yessous Oubis
uncle who like giving themselves the trouble of turning
round for few minutes every time they put their
belts or tale them of-have them long hun
dred and twenty cubits sixy YARDS The belt is worn
sort of defensive armor have heard assert
that it ill protect its not only from club blow
word cut but from the lance Of enemy while
others who deny that it would resist fair stroke Of
lance, approve Of protection against blows which
may glance Oh the shield or which, having pierced ne
shield las they often do If from carelessness clums
the lance point be allowed to fall perpendic
IT'D would otherwise wound, perhaps kill, its owner
The quarry Is the principal article of Abyssnian
dress Ii is of cotton and very fine aud soft-thoss of
the richer being finer but probably not servceable
those of the poorer class 1t made in three pieces
each piece about three feet broad by fifteen feet long
Near both ends Of each piece is red stripe, i've six
inches broad To sew the three pieces toge err one is
doubled carefully that the red stripes
Of each end exactly together. second piece Is
then taken and also folded but inside out and one half
oft laid under and the other half the first piece
that the four red borders come together One edge
of this quadrupe cloth is then sewed from top to bottom
and the last mentioned piece Ia turned back that the
two together form double cloth Of two breadhs The
third piece Ia added in similar manner aud, the
have got confused in the above description, q white
double CLOTH with red border the bottom only; the
breadth of the quarry nine feet by and half
long inferior quality of this cloth made of much
material and without stripe This passes
m a. AL, ,be coin anu and aron
are here counted as articles OF commerce. The lover
class Of servants and working people wear these
inferior cloths stitched together on common occa.
sions and perhaps have for Sunday best 'welda
Gaber" or cheap QUARRY" with a blue stripe. But
above all Is the smergefn sort of cloth made after
the fashion Of the 6rst mentioned one such
that 1t requires to be Of six pieces instead OF three
to give sufficient body and is quadruple instead
of double. Its stripe border is of red yellow and
blue silk neatly worked together instead Of plain red
cotton. Such article of hnery Is Of course worn
only by ladies and few great II might cost
about 3os, while the price Of good quarry wouli
be about 49, less, according to its quality and the
value Of cotton in the market The methods Of putting
the cloth various as the modes of wearing
Highland plaid One of the most ordinary ways is drst
place like cloak the shoulders the right end
which purposey left longest is then thrown the
seft shoulder; and the bottom border, which would r.
wise from its length, trail the ground Is gatl ed
the right shoulder Thus the right arm is at H.
berty,s but the left covered. This however, may be
easily emeded by lifting up the left side Of the cloth and
placing IL the left shoulder in moment when both
hands are required for any exercise.
The sleeping arrangements of IAN Abyssinian fl.
mily also somewhat peculiar and suggest rather
uncomfortable ideas, according to our notions of
such thinQa.