New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-09

was the evening lecture in Colston Han on Polar
lied Light by Mr.. William Spottiswocde. the very
eminent ex-Treastrer Of tho Association man dis
tinguished by his energetic pursuit of different
branches of science amid the pressure Of business
and the demands of society. His lecture was very
lucid statement on q very difficult subject, Illus
trated by brilliant and delicate experiments.
The general proceedings on Friday can hardly DO
pronounced exciting. On the other hand, good
deal of what may be called practicH work was dohe
and in at least two of the sectons the prevailing
dullness was enlivcned by addresses of an unusual
character. The Department Of Anthropoogy has
ALWAYS a surprise in store, but who would have ex-
pected IL TO take the shape Of criticism by its Pres
ident ON Greyillcs Mernoirss Prof RollestOns open
inc address WAS the most ambitious perform
ance VIC have yet had. Much OF it reads
like the fourth leader in The Daily Telegraph MI
Saia himself might be proud of finding an sxplana-
tion of the decay Of Polynesian races out OF tho
Book of Job. or proof Of the nfeorty OF the pres
emf generation in Helens' speech about the tender
feeling and gentle words of Hector. 1t is novel
task for scientific society to hold coroners III
quest or past centuries of human life. The siege OF
Troy is very real thing to our Anthropologicai
President the Had is historical narrative, and
Priam's daughter can uniHpeachable Wit
nessn 1t is very painful to have poor
ample of the decay OF civilization. When we
take stock says Prof Roleston in his mercantile
WAY "of the aydity with which we have, all Of U.S.
within the last twelve months read the memoirs OF
q man whom ono of his reviewers has called hign-
toned aristocrat, bnt whom l should call by quite
another sort of epthets, we may think that We are
not after ALL so much the better for the 5000 years
which separate us from the time wien 1t was con-
sidorcd foul play for man to enact the part OF Il
familiar friend to eat Of another mans bread, ana
then to lay wait for him." Wei, Mr.. Greville had
his faults but he could write English, and he was
not hysterical. "Can We" cries Prof. Rolleston
Gin these days bear the contrast to this miserable
spectacle of mean treachery and paltry disloyaly
which is forced upon in the same history, by the
conduct of the chivalrous son If Zeruiah who when
he had fought against Rabbah and taken the city OF
waters sent for his king who had tarried in Jerusa
lem, lest that city should thenceiorward bear the
name, not Of David, bat of Joab "
This is very sad but might all have been left ont,
for we are soon told that Helen and the son OF
Zerniah prove nothing; that bad men lived before
Greville Just as bold men did before Agamennon;
that the Spartans maSsacrcd lcl0ts and the
Athenians butchered Mytilcnans; that Homer him.
self takes only FIVE words to express his regret Tor
the slaughter of twelve Trojan youths mot hall
word apcce) that CrassS cruciiied 5000 prisoners;
and that not far from the scene Of this colossal
atrocity" there exist tie remains of Hercuaneum
and Ponpeii. to show us what foul exuberance
could be allowed by the public conscience OF the
DAYS of Titus and Agricola to that other form "nlc
sits hard by Hate" have not The least idea what
this old tumble of tho Bible ard Lcmpriere, with
Lindey Murray left ont, means, ard perhaps 1t does
not much matter. But should really like to Know
whathe letters NJ A. J. signify when appended tothe
~ puc n nd
the President with a paper on Rhaodomancy anu
Belomancy.
Bristol certainly cannot complain that her inter
ess are not considered by the Association she III
vtcd TO be her guest. In the Economic Section
Yesterday four papers read relating solely TO the
affairs of the city; ore on its Trade and Commerce;
a second on the Dcath-rate of Clifton; thru Oh
the Tanning of Sole Leather ia Bristol fourth on
the Bristol sugar Trade But by the miscellaneous
audience which crowded the room the end OF all
these was impatiently awaited. G. w. s.