The New York herald., 1879-02-24
TRAV ELS IN A ASIA.
The Bedouins Of Mesopotamia, the
Land of Midian.
AN ENGLISH SPORTING PARSoN.
Shakespeariana, Heredity, Nov
els and Book Chat.
A NEW HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY.

NEW HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY.
The Library of Contemporary Science" is an i'm
portant enterprise undertaken In Paris two years
ago with the object of furnishing a series of text
books on all the chief sciences. which should accu
raely reflect the conclusions of the younger school
of advanced thinkers +" The first three volumes,
Biology" by Dr. Charles Letourneau; "Anthropol-
ogy," by DR.. Paul Topinard ana "rhe Science of
Language" by Abel Hovelacque. have been some
time before the public and have met with great sue
cess. They have been translated into English and
published by Chapman Hail. in London, and by
Messrs. J. b. ippinsott & Co.. of Philadelphia. To
this series is added fourth volume, "Philos-
ophy, Historical and Critical" by Andre Lefevre,
translated by A. II. Keane, B. A.. who prefaces the
work with introduction OF his own. in which he
takes issue with nearly all the distinctive features of
his authors teachings Whether this method
of presenting within the sane covers "the poison
well be questioned. but in the present instance 1t
can do no harm. AS Mr.. Keane shows. the doc
trines Of NJ. Lefevre, though Of the advanced ma
terialistic type, not whit more dangerous or
subverstve of established opinions than scores OF
works by prominent British scientists. and 1t is too
late now to attempt to suppress any novel doctrine
by ignoring it. For purposes Of refutation it is
rather to be desired that every such doctrine should
be put in its strongest form before the public.
Andre Lefevre. the author of this remarkable
book Is man Of forty-fve years of aae, who has
made considerable mark in French literature.
He is leading contributor to learned periodicals.
has published several volumes of poems. including
Transitions Of Lucreus and Of Indian philosophical
works. and issued in 1877 a remarkable book on Re-
lgions and Mythologes Compared" The present vol
ume will undoubtedly take rank the sblest presen-
taton of the history Of philosophy from the materi
alistic standpoint. NJ. Lefevre has been diligent
student Of the ancient medieval and modern phloso
phies. and has here depicted them all in view of
striking originality. far removed from the conven-
tionalties Of ordinary text books. His summary of
the Greek PHILOSOPHERS is eminently readable, and
contains views that will prove novel to the best in
formed student. His fierce attack upon Augustine
and the Augustinian scheme Of religious philosophy.
which he Identifies with Catholicism, has at least the
merit Of frankness and lucidity. The Middle Ages
receive but scant admiration from this thorough
going opponent of Holy Church. In modern times
he grows appreciative and eloquent over spnoza.
Bacon and Locke whom he nevertheless vigorously
crticses and displays unwonted severity In dealing
with the great names Of Descartes Malebrancho and
Leibnitz. Berkeley is unsparingly ridiculcd while
Voltare. Diderot, Hume and Condillac treated
with great respect His special aversion is
the German school Of Kant Fichte. Scheli-
ing and Hegel which he demolishes without
mercy, denying 1t tho faintest semblance Of
reason. Nor is his admiration of Victor Cousin.
RogerCollard and the other founders of French "o-
cia philosophy" much greater. The modern Pessim-
istic school of schopenhauer and Hartmann is re-
gardcd Of slight Importance. OF the philosophers
of the present century Auguste Comte. to en-
Joy the highest place in his esteem. and the pages
devoted to the Positive Philosophy" among the
most apprecative in the book. Yet M. Le:evre be-
comes satirical In treating Of the pathological
period" in the later life of Come, when he abandoned
his earlier and better teachings and descended to
the vulgar role of founder of a new and impossible
religion. $50 far is postivism." says he. 'from
being the final philosophy that all it has invented
has already pcrshed. Its sound and durable ee-
ments whatever gives it vivifyipg power. all that
the present age has retained Of it, be credited
to the experimental method. In a word.
materialsm is the soul of positvism as the CON-
mon enemy of both has not failed to perceive"
In brief Second PART" M. Lcfevre has given his
own reconstruction of modern philosophy, from the
extreme physical and materialistic standpoint This
portion of the book is extremely valuable as a
synopsis of the views in question, and is written
with abundant learning.
THE BEDoUINs OF THE EUPHRATEs-THE PLAGUE
AT BAaDAD.
A fresh book of travel is always delight to the
general reader. and when the region. is one
historically interesting; but long undescribed the
interest is increased We have had some interesting
books upon Mesopotama within the last thirty years.
but of the historic river Euphrstcs. about whose
valley much is heard at present a future rail-
road route to India, nothing Of any note has been
written from Information gained on the spot for
many years. Lady Annie Blunts journal. to which
her husband has added some interesting chapters,
and which the Harpers publish. has for title the
"Bedouins of the Epphratcs" 1t is the result of a
Journey begun at Scanderoon in December. 1877 and
describes march to Aeppo. thence to the Euphratcs
along whose banks they descended far as segla-
wiych. whence they departed for Bagdad on tho
Tgre. On their way down the famous river they
passed through I'll Uz the city of Job, and Hitt the
city of the Hittites. where Lady Blunt amusngly
conjectures Noah built his Ark. on account
of the pitch springs flowing in the neigh.
borhood. Arriving at Bagdad they found
everything in decadence in the city OF
cauphs and its prospects no whit bettercd by the
then recent vigorous attempts OF Mdhat Pacha to
introduce modern improvements. It is recorded,
however. to his credit. that he made money while
in Office there. They found the plague in Bagdad.
too, aud although IL not then unusually virulent,
whxt Lady Blunt writes of IL will he Of interest just
pow. when tho fell disease threatens Europe from
knssa, whittier It has been carried from Armenia
besides her loss of trade Bagdad has been desper-
stcy treated by the plague. Dr. Colville. the rosi
dent phy sican here, has given many particulars
on this subject which think will be- new to the
people OF England. The FIRST great visitation of the
usease wes In l774. when. II believe the
ords preserved at the Residency nearly tho whole
population OF the city perished. Two millions are
said to have died here and at bussora but that figure
must. ono would think include the province as well
ns the towns. Anyhow the population of Bagdad has
never numbered more than 1000 souls since Thirty
years later. In 1904. aud again nearly thirty years
nitcr that the plague resurned. In 1881, 100000
persisted IN the town. and the population is now
stated at from $1,000 to 100000 in all. OF
these 1900 are Jews. 1900 Armenian Christiaps
1900 Turks. Persians and Indians lindoos and the
rost Museum Arabs. The plague mas existed more
or less continually since 1867, much smallpox OK
ists In London IL IL felt most severely by the Jews
whose houses are overcrowded and dirtily kent. Dr.
Colvillc docs not consider IL truo cpdcinic-that ia
20 say. disease communicated by the air; nor yot is
II Infectious in the ordinary sense. Io consi,lers
that 1t cannot be caught by passing or brushing
against infected people In tho streets as is com,
unnlx aunnnsed but that IL attachea itself