, 1881-05-14
Tho Past lit tic presont-Dr.
Mitcllo1l's Contribution to
Archaeological Lituru.
furc.
Rome and Carthage-Ltie Of Sir David
Wilkte-Pioughed Under-But-
'ar The Philosopher.
Manuela Paredes-5cience for ALL
Eber's Egypt-Poriodicals he.
coivel-Literary and Art
Notes.
LITERATURE.

TIE PAST IN TIL: PRESENT..
Tho author Of this substantial volume, Ar
thur Mitchell, LII. D., is the Professor Of
Ancient History 10 tito Royal Scottish Acad-
etny. This book consists of two cotlrscs of
lcctures,--thc "Rhtnd Lectures OH. .Arclucol-
oKy,"-tllo former course OF six lectures hc-
Ing entitled ".rhc Past III the ircaent," aud
tho subsequent course, "Wl,nt Is Civillza-
tiail9" 'Tllc work IL abuntiantly IEslstrntctl
md las also an appendix Of considerable
length. explaining tho lectures, together with
full index. LII the iirst SIX lectures Dr..
Mitchell seeks In showing how often tho past
Ia seen III the present." how many iieo-
archNtc objects uiltl customs exist among ,,s q"
--toprove that the methods followed in nrel,tf-
illogical inquiries sltoutd bo ns strict as
thosv which are deemed necessary In other
departments OF sclence, and Il. a special
manner II shaw that "strict METH
otis should 6o followed In those arcl.tt.-
ologlcal Inquiries which are ut the
aalAe time allthr0p0logtcal, because III them
In seeing the whole Significance of the obscr-
r0tlons FROM which conclusions are drnwn
as to tho antiquity md condition OF the So
called prlmeyal Man." Tie last four iect.
tires are n sort Of corollary to the first SIX,
and give the authors views us to tic nuturo
and origin of civilization.
The professional archpologist will prob
ably enjoy tic first part OF this work better
than the second. With tho general reader
the oppostt result will probably DO rcNcletl.
But both the student MD the general reader
will find the ba0k interesting aud Instructive
reading and gifted With peculiar charni uf
style and language wi1ci, will nuke lin re-
grct ttiut Dr.. Mitchell dill not 20 little
tart]ler In his theories,, sn1 carry
out somewhat more dt:0nisIy the
rss icetSro S IT. tsentns liz tsas's
spindle, the "Knnckln' StAne" md n1nIlet
It tmny 6e summed IN III tllIs: DIR. A1itchalt
thinks It mistake to attribute the rise Of Ill
tion. even when superior metiiods are known
and employed ut the same time. Aud lto also
makes the polnt-applted particularly to tho
cnse Of splnninE-that. Inferior a1ld rider
tImo. Tic ssconj jeeturo !sajss to . Tic sa,ae
infercnces ii connection with larger variety
OF similar objects. The other lectures nre
examinations Of other objects, as tho BLACK"
GAYS dwellings, which are Inhabited today:
cnfrns al,t viollns: scythes 0nll "0tle-stilted :"
plowS; wllecllcss cnrts, tinuer-boxcs, steel
yards, ETC., and In the Inst lecture are conslt-
1he 70 point 81: Mitchell makes from lis eois
hns been nlTcady inlicated. 1lo sreks to I'M
press upon Ills readers the Idea that the cur
rent classification Of antiquities for iistAnce
loes not mark points Of time, nor !lecessnri~
y. indicate successive .stages OF. culture.
Whnt: seems abnormal when found existing
now may also have been abnormal Mt the pc.
rIod. from WHICH " tlates its origin. 80 that
no theory can rightfnlly be formulated o., n
snppositson thatttlsc0yories now made Of pre-
existing objects cuyer the constant md nor
NAL use. IT the things found. Tho Seotcl
tinkers living Ill caves ntld destitute OF any
nnnnturai Or "Rbnornial,n' as tho Doctor pnts
It. But why lAuy not tho "caye dwellers :"
who Inhabited tie "15ee" houses aud tic
satTnTn cFn;,nio0 no0 at bfsn ,bs to
IT. tho SECOND course Of lectures the author
defines "civiilzatIon as being "nothlng
moru than a complicated outcomo OF war
wnged with Nature by man III society to pre-
case her Inv Of Natural solcctfon. All men
-everywhere Rnu In NIL stages Of progress
from ssntes OF worry low. to states 1T very
high lvlltxntinn-nrn banded together, weak
measure Of saeecss which attends tho strug
glo Of eaci, band or association 80 engaged
Is, the measure Of civilization II Inns at-
t1!ned." And tr THIS connection Mr..
tse sYs fs s 9ass veil e se Of Sas te
"tiitest." Man Is not Influenced by tho
law of natural selection rs aro the bri!tcs,
but forms combinations to defeat tho law,
rs yet We know anything does
not seem to have been inferior, either pbysic-
nlty or intellectually, to the latest anu most
highly clyilizetl." Aud finally the writer
coIy!,lafs the effect Of religious beliefs upon
civilization, mid IL apparently Of tho opinion
that universal fnitll Is essential to the tfI.
velopnlent Of tho highest form of civilization.
Published In New York by Harper &
Bros.