The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-22
SOME VIEW BOOKs.


maindpr OF the work VIII hpp'ut Npluth" ny
volume. a second one being promised for 1879.
Like other books by the same author. this is
marked by extensive research a copious array
OF ,ncts and much ingenious reasoning. and
however We may dislike 10, drift aud purpose.
We cannot but admire the industry and ability
IL displays. nor. II we desire To- keep up with the
progress OF modern thought can We afford to
neglect II.
1t is almost unnecessary to say that. in lis
Sociology. as In the r,st " his philosophy. MIR.
Spencer IL an cvoutonist. lie il convinced
that our present civilized society IL the outcome
OF a gradual advance from the rudcst and low
est primitive forms. Hence. he dc,otcs mu
space to illustrating. first from the habits of
animals and then from tho customs and beliefs
ofstvuge tribes. the forces which mud accord
Ing to his theory moro complete operation.
but no change. as mankind rises in the scale OF
Development
Obviously. bees wasps. ants. rocks. beavers.
wild horses. elephants. the bison OF our West
ern plains AMI the monkeys of tropical forests.
exhibit an imperfect type OF human society.
They live in communities and obey the laws
which their common noccss ties Impose ON
them. They have. To a certain extent. "a division
OF labor and combine. like men. for defence and
attack. Men. Ike animals. are also Influenced
In thcir mode OF life 10y physical conditions. A
, r..
contends. ID more favorable to progress than II
hot and moist climate. and he cites in support
oil the proposition Egypt Babylon Assyria. the
ph.nician countries md central Asia The in
habtants of three hot but compargtivcly min
less regions have been the master races Of the
world. while the lllndoos and Africans. living
whcrc moisture s abundant and even cxcos-
sive. have been feeble and servile. Extreme
cold is also uniavornble to adyan 'cmcnt. ~ H.
shown by the Fsnuinlnux md the Fu..inns
Where all the cner.iss of tho mind nre o..unied
with keepins hf, in the bod, mo- opportuuity
OK ats for sttnut.on to hi,,h.r n.,,ls In tr,ut
ing OF this pout. Mr.. Sp,n,.r mentions
the singular fnt the I'm ,.,ion w,ii
let the fllin, snow mot ON his naked
body. and the Yakut will sheen with saarcel,
my clothin, ON. cou,plciely cXpos,.d to the omen
air md his holy coxrr.I with thick ,.nnt uf
rhine. Soil and vegetation hayc also their infn.
encc. prevalence. Of swamps md AN nbs.nee
OF trees being a hinlrancc. while we-drained
wcll-woodc- aud hiliy land il a help TO civil ~
ton. The presence Of noXious insects and
predatory beasts also rctarGs Improvement
The mosquitoes OF South America. the H..
Gusts Of Asia. the ts tse ~ which posons eat
tie in South Africa aud the tigers an serpents
which slay human beings in India. all tend To-
diminish population and prevent an in ,rcns.
OF material wealth In the sam. way. the want
of iron and other metals. or their supply. is a
factor Of tho ir.ior,af,c of which history affords
frequent eAamrlrs. MANY other su n fa.tors
are enumerated ly Mr. Sp.nr rr ana the tnilu.
enco he attributes to them seems in "A certain
measure To- be. lustilrd
In consid,rin., "a ncrsonnl horactoris,los ,f
primitive man ns ur,sutuuliv ,,h.ht..l los th.
inferior rnees of the prcs.ut Jnv Mr. Sn.ne.r
draws largely upon the reports Of travellers IN