The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-17
LITnRATuRa.
REVIEW OF NEW BooKS.

FIR, s., etc, published by ID. Appleton &
Go is q continuation of the subject which
the author broached some years ago In his
UOriein of Species" and which has served to
excite controversies of the most violent de-
scription in both scientific and theological
circles. The theory somewhat hesitatingly
advanced in Mr.. Darwin's first work, that
man is descended from lower type by means
of natural selection, is, in the volume before
us, insisted upon and supported by an
elaborate array of facts Mr.. Darwin con-
tends not only that man is descended from
lower type, but that all animal nature has had
its origin in a very limited number
of forms. Indeed, if we accept Mr. Darwin's
theory as correct, and go back far enough
with our investigations, it is not improbable
we may find our original ancestor to have
been an oyster, and that some of us are daily
in the habit of swallowing dozen or so of
our cousins, some degrees removed, from the
half f-shell, with pepper-sauce accompaniment.
Facts are facts, however and if we are really
descended from a primitive oyster, or, to
bring the matter down to a later, although
still remote date, from the gorilla, it will be
necessary to reconcile ourselves to the rela-
tionship, however uncomplimentary it may
be 70 our pride. Indeed, a respectable, WE'LL
behaved gorilla, if any such there be, might
be converted into a more promising member
of society than some of the humans
with whom we are acquainted, and might put
to shame some of his presumably more intel
lectual relatives. Mr.. Darwin's theories with
regard to natural selection have been adopted
by many of the scientific men of the present
day, and the arguments and facts contained
in the volume before us will tend to confirm
the believers in Darwinism, even if they do
not convert its opponents. Whatever opin-
ions may be held with regard to Mr.. Darwin's
theory, it is certainly one of great interest;
and his new work is worthy of the attention
of students of natural history and others, if
only for the sake of the remarkable array of
facts which the author brings forward to sup
port his position. The second part of the
volume before us is devoted to the considera-
tion of the curious subject of sexual selec-
tion, which will be further discussed in
second volume now in preparation. Received
from Porter & Coates.
Porter & Coates also send us of the
recent publications of d. Appleton & Co. a
well-written and entertaining narrative of a
the Pacific Railroad, by w. F. Rae. The book
is entitled ''Westward by Rail- or, The New
Route to the East" and is made up of q
series of letters to the London Daily Ne,oS,
largely rewritten and augmented by the addi-
tion of new matter. Mr.. Rae evidently made
rapid trip through the United States, and
his observations could not be otherwise than
superficial; but this book proves him to have
been wide awake, intelligent, and anxious to
obtain reliable information. 1t is written in
more unprejudiAed vein than is usual with
the productions Of bold Britons who attempt
30 describe Americanisms; and if it contains
nothing very new or startling, it at least has
the merit of being readable and entertaining.
The following reference to the feeling in this
country towards England seems to indicate
that Mr. Rae's experience was different from
that of Mr.. Thomas Hughes, who declared
that while he was Individually received with
the greatest cordiality, he nevertheless found
a universal sentiment of dislike, if not of hos
tility, to England as nation:-
s'Nothing gratihed me more than the feeling of
kindness towards the Old Country which l found
pervading the American people. The bitter and
undyng animoslty about which much has been
written exists paper only, or in the distempered
minds of irreconcable Fenians. In this particular
sentiment. disposition to construe in the worst
sense all the actions Of the United Kingdom, and to
discredit her on every occasion and in every imagt
nable way, is certainly the characteristic Of the
press OF New York. believe this to be mere sound
and fury, wholly devoid OF significance. 1t is the
relic OF traditionary policy, rather than the token
OF living and active hostility. To ind parallel to
1t, have not far TO seek. Long after the English
people were on footing OF amiIy with the French,
the tone OF the press towards France was little more
friendly and complimentary than in the days when
it was the bad fashion TO style Frenchmen our
hereditary foes. The change in public opinion has
now been responded to by the press OF England,
les TO subside into oblivion, still harps on the imagi
nary plots and intrigues OF perhdlous Albion"
Englishmen commit fatal error when they
try to convince themselves that the press on
this subject does not express the prevailing
sentiments of the people of the United States.
-''Fun Better than Physic; or, Everybody's
Life Preserver," by W. w. Hall, NJ. D., pub
hshed by H. N. Mckinney & Co., No. 16
North Seventh street, is a series of brief
maxims with regard to the best method of
preserving health, many of which contain
sense. DIR. Hall is we'll known as the editor
of Halls journal Of Health, and as an inde-
fatigable rider of certain hobbies, and his
readers will do well to exercise little of their
own native common sense before accepting
his maxims as gospel truth. The work be-
fore us contains many things that are to the
point, and that will be found of practical use
to all classes OF present or prospective suffer-
ers; and if there is not much wisdom in some
of his suggestions, they at least have the merit
Of being harmless.