New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MoRGANS ANCIENT SOCIETY.

In the discussions of this volume, the author taxes
his starting-polnt from the antquity.of mankind
upon the earth, which he regards as conclnslVey
established by the researches and discoveries of the
last thirty years. The human he atfirms, Is now
known TO have existed in Europe IN the glacla
period and even prior 10 lis commencement VITA
every probability of its having originated in former
geological age Ii has survived many races Oh
cotemporaueOus animals, and passed through
process OF development IN tho several branches Oh
which il is composed rs remarkable IN ITS courses rs
in its nrorress. The duration Of this process
is of course, incapable of exact measure
ment A period Of one hundred or TWO nun
dred thousand years would not be an excessive
estimate Of the interval between the disappearance
of the glaciers in the northern hemisphere ana INC
presept time. At all events whatever limits may DO
assigned to this period. tho existence OF mankind
reaches back to an immcasurable extent, and Is Lost
in a vast and profound antiquity. The fact of this
protracted history throws a new light on the reIa-
tions of savagcs to barbarans and of barearans TO
civilized races Ii can now be safely asserted that
sayagprv preceded barbariSm in all the tribes OF
mankind. as barbarjsm is known TO have precedeu
the present form of civilization. The history OF the
human race IS one in origin, in experience ana III
proCress Inventions and discoveries stand IN serlai
relations along the lines Of human development,
and register its successive stages Social ana cl'll
institutions exhibit similar register OF progress
Connected with perpetual human wants, they nave
grown mp from few PRIMARY germs OF Thought inc
PRINCIPAL governmental institutions Of mankind orig
mated in savagery developed in baTbailsh ana
arematurlnc in civilization. In ike manner it Is con-
tended by the author the family has passed through
successive FORMS and created systems OF relation
ships which have renamed TO the present tme
The idea of property has undergone similar growth
and DEVELOPMENT. Commencing at zero N Sayagery,
The love Of accumulation has now become the dom-
nant impulse of the human mind IN civilized races
In the opinion of the author, the American continent
affords remarkable facilities for the illustration OF
the progressive development Of society," especially IN
the great period of barbarism. As mankind were
one in origin, their career has been marked 10y an
essential unity in all the tribes and nations down TO
the same stage of advancement. The history ana
experience of the American Indian tribes accord
ingly represent to a certain degree the history and
experience Of our own remote ancestors when IN
similar conditions. This idea furnishes the keynote
to the present volume. which has been elaborated
with a thorouChncss Of research, wealth OF anti
0uarian learning, and sOundneSs of historical
Judgment which make it one OF the most valuable
studies i'm comparative etImOogy of which modern
literature can boast.
Without attempting to follow the author in his
moro profound analyses and calculations OF the com
pcatcd questions az issue in the of his work.
WE take an example from the highly suggestive
chapter on the art OF subsistence m the successive
periods Of social development. The whole question
Of human supremacy, he AYERS depended on the
skill of different races in the acquist lion of food
Mankind are the only beings who have gained an
absolute control Of the means Of subsistence, which
at the outset they did not possess above other AM
mails Without this. they could not have spread
into other not possessing the same KINDS OF
food, and ultimately over the whole surface OF the
earth; nor without absolute control over both
the variety and amount of food could they have
multiplied into populous nations. The great cpochs
of human progress may thus be Supposed to have
been identified more or less directly, with the en-
larCemcut Of the sources of human subsistence.
We cau distinguish no less than five of these sources
of human food, created 10y many successive arts.
and brought cut at long separated intervals of time.
The first belonging to the period Of savagery, was
natural subsistence upon fruits and roots in a re-
stricted habitat
This carries us back the strictly primitive period Of
mankind, when, few Ia numbers, simple ia subsistence
Heir There j, neither an AIT nor an uslu
ton that can nC referred ,9 VIZ p,l'V, "nu o ~
9nep0ch SO remote The kind OF Subsistence indicated
;s,i5Ies "A tg1Ii,il or suh,r0piCi cmate. In such
climate. by common consent. the habitat ot prmitN"
Iln Aas been placed. IN hut and nut bearing forests
lidc1 tropical san, are accustomed aud vita Tea
t4e. to REGARD our prOgenitors as having commenced
If, rice, o ouiuals preceded the race Of MANKIND, in
ui.irr of time We arc warranted ~ SURPRISING mat
- vcro ia t1r picrdc Of their strength 3ud Numbers
.tu tie human first appeared Tho classical
l,,s i.tlgtd the tribes 0 mankind dwelling in groves
ra,, aud i'm iOrcstfor the possession OF which they
Us. uo with Wild beasIs-Whie thcy sustained tcin-
i,t Ath tAe Spontaneous fruits OF the car'h ii mdu-
ltfI commenced their without experience, with
e, s.pous AID surrounded wltl fe,ocou5 animals, il
i ryh,c mat they WERE az least partially, tree
l,c.s. cas- lnc''rs Of protection ana s-c"tty. .,,
I, uiJuteIance of life, through the constant aeqWl-
To- fuod the burden imposed upon existence
.ftHv tif T. al
ir,D,.r.l organization, subsistence becomes and
.r. SIMPLE a. cacb stage, until the mystery inSly
.a.ir.y difficult unit The glost structural form that
q. .a, reached when il attins ihc maximum Intel
..1r. Animal food, in an probability, entered FROM
Very early period into human consumption but whether
j. WAS actively sought whom mankind were ,sSenla5
;ruriyorous i'll practcc though omuiv0rous iu structural
.rsiuizltiou, must remain q matter Of conjecture
Tie next source of food in tho progress of devcl-
Cpmcnt was fish This must be regarded as the first
LiEd OF artificial food because 1t not fully avail
able without cooking. Fire was FIRST utilized, most
probably, for this purpose. Upon this food mankind
became Independent Of climate and of locality. BY
following the shores Of the aud lakes, and the
courses Of the rivers, they eould. while still IN the
savage state. spread themselves over the greater
part Of the cartlIs surface
Ietwcru the introduction Of fish, followed by the wide
IGicretions named, aud the cultivation OF IrinaceJHs
food, the interval a. time Was iuI.9ynsc. Ii covers
l.rs part The period OF styasey. Bat dTrinc This in
i-rval there an lni"r tGt increase h the far'y
aud Amount Of ioOd. such. Tor example as thc bread
IsIats cooked in ground oNtns and ld the permanent
addition of game Through improved weapons, ana
tsicCdt, through 'lU DO" f.i aii'"' LIDS IiEtt""lt
intcuto which caue in aic- ,hc Srer ana war eliza"
.ud CAV jlc first deadly weapon 10" The hunt appeared
late H saTa"cTy. DO has been used t' nnfrh te com
JleuCcue.t of 20. Upper status. T. must nave gwen
powerful uyUud influence to ancient society, Standing
in IL s'n .'.1n ~ ne ioi "a ~ a. ''. l,N
Fword io Tie period OF bNOai,m ana firearms 10 the
Fo Z Il .l,-.ou, nature o, ail these sources % food
outside 90 .c great nsh areas, cl4Hiash Detaue tA-