New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SUPERSTITION AND FORCE. ByHENRI c. LEA Third
EDITION, Revised $40, PIP 652. H. G. Lea


Mr. H. G.. Leafs curious historical mono
graphs which Of the most important Is here re-
produced enlarged form, have given him unique
position among English and American scholars He Is
distinguished for his recondte and auen learning his
power exhaustive historical analysis the breadth ana
accuracy OF his researches among tine sources OF
knowledge the gravity aud temperance OF his state
anents combined with singular earnesness OF conviction
mud his warm attachment TO the cause Of human Tree
dom aud intellectual progress In this volume MI Lea
treats Of the Wager Of Law" the Wager OF Battle
the Ordeal aud Torture" In the discussion Of the
respective subjects he never confines himself
20 the meagre detail Of facts but In the hght
OF philosophical reasoning, seeks to arrive OF
first principles His suggestions from this point OF we"
are always profound OppOrtune and highly signncant
The conceptions which the appeal 70 the Judgment OF
God In such institutions the "ordeal and the "Wager
of Bsttle founded, regarded by Mr.. Lea as nee
essry step 10 the evolution Ofhuman thought by whlcn
men we're persuaded that the Defy would Intervene
and conduct ia TO issue In accordance Win the
principles eternal Justice II is found IN the religious
history OF almost all that the belief IN DIVINE
Being Is accompanied by the presumption OF special
manifestations OF his power 1t is invoked on
The mart OF the suppllant Thus miracles came to be
expected as matters Of every day occurrence ana
the laws Of nature we're 70 be suspended IN
behalf of the performance of right and the
preyeution Of injustice With the advancement OF
thought the institutions referred to have grad
ualy been eliminated from the customs OF society. The
ordeal and the wager Of battle have virtually dsap-
peared although traces OF their influence still nger In
certain forms of popular belief The mysterious attrac
ton Of unknown the yearning to connect our NOR
tai nature with some supetna power still leads to the
belief in special interventons Of divine agency for the
most trivial occasions OF Eich age has its own
superstitions and perpetuates in a new form what
seems been eradcated The history OF torture
IN judicial trials, related in this volume presents
teri BILE exhibition Of oial cruelty and injustice under
NJ law IS a
repuve which the author refers TO-, that the admins
traOn Of torture in Christian communities, where the
truths Of the gospel venerated, surpassed
in coldbooded ferOcy the legislation OF the heather
nations which it derived. The safeguards with
which the Roman Jurisprudence sought TO protect the
interests in strange contrast with the
reckless sreg gard justice in the criminal procedure OF
Europe from the thirteenth TO the nineteenth century,
From this or religion has been exempt What
the CaIvlnist suffered I'm flanders he inflicted in
Holland what the Catholic enforced in Italy he
endured in England; nor did either Of them deem
that ne was forfeiting his share in the Divine
Evangel OF peace earth and good will to men"
The first commandment TO love God WITH all our heart
when perverted by superstition, strange direc-
tOn 70 the teachings OF Chris For ages, infahle
church led believe that the interpreter the
superior OF scripture Every cxpounGer OF the holy text
believed that every ritual his insult to
the divine nature, and that out Of his own communion
there escape from eternal perdon. The fervor
of religious conviction thus made persecution duty to
God and man. The system became part and parcel Of
secular law The Reformers had as little scruple as
Rome itself in carrying the system with all its grim
ferocity Yet in the light which accompanied the RefOr
nation the passions which had created the rigid insti
tutiOns OF the Middle Ages gradually sOftened down.
For the first time in the Of man, the universal
love and charity which lie mt foundation of Christi
aniy, recognized the elements on which human
society should be based. Weak and erring we are.
and still far distant from the ideal OF the Saviour, yet
are we approaching If steps painful and
hestatng In the slow evolution OF the centuries, 1t
only by comparing distant periods that we can mark
our progress but progress nevertheless exists and
future generations perhaps may be able emancpate
themselves wholly from the cruel ana arbitrary domino
ton OF superstition and force" In illustrating his
theme Mr. Lea occasionally introduces snatch OF the
troubadour poetry in graceful and vigorous English
version, aGorIng agreeable relief to the severity Of
his eruditiOn.
BAIIIIE GRoHllAN. i2mo pp S97 iHenry Holt & Co.
The present volume contains the substance
Of two different works Of the author relating his
perenees as Tyrolese ira weller One OF the works Is
Just from the press In London, the other entitled
Tyrol and the TyrOese" is Of longer date, and the
iudciOus combination OF the essential points in both
volumes forms continuous and singularly interesting
narrative The author, who has passed many years IN
Tyrol is partly Of Austrian pareutage, and with his
familiar knowledge Of German, possessed peculiar ad-
vantagcs for gaining an accurate insight into
the character and manners Of the primitive peo-
Pie whom no undertakes to describe. His opinions on
that subject not in entire accordance with those OK
pressed by several previous writers. He found the
TyrOlese in matters Of daily life highly Intelligent
bold. and industrious people, distinguished even from
the inhabitants OF other mountainous countries, by
devoted patriotism and ehivarOus attachment to their
native soil A genuine TyrOese rarely leaves his coun-
try for good When the emigFant has accomplished his
great purpose OF accommodating little fortune mu
sician, pedler, or a maker OF small wares, be never
fails 10 his native valley and enjoy the fruits
OF his enterprise and industry. You often meet with
in remote corner Of TyrOl who In the course
OF their travels have acquired certain polish
OF manners as well degree Ointeigence and apt e1
preston that truly remarkable Some OF the me have
visited the quarters Of the globe The author
Quanted with many persons who had exhibited their
musical talents all the courts Of Europe and few
even IN New-YOrk. Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
one Of them, a wetC-do peasant related to him In
cellcnt English, well splced, however. with Yankee
slang how lie bad once been blown up in Mississippi
steamer and another who carried fghtful on his
face gave an account Of his adventure with bear In
one OF the Northern States which having attacked him
before he had time draw his knife, he succeeded In
thrOttinR In of the mountain gens, the annual
emigration OF the eOmpels the women to do their
work For at least four of the Spring and Summer
months not man from eighteen TO seventy years OF
age is le IN the valley. The women fell trees, drive
tner loaded carts chop WOOD l the ground and gether
fodder. II you enter Of the village inns, you will
see rows Of women With short pipes in their mouths,
their elbows leaning the tables, drinking
their pint Of sharp Tyrolese wine after their
hard work The men collect the necessary funds
70 purchase their stock In trade these excursions by
formng Joint stock companies H who contributes the
largest Of money Is entitled to proporti0nate
amount Of the net gains They keep books give no
securty for the money invested and trust alone 10 the
de Of he In