New-York tribune., 1882-04-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ATLANTIS: The Antediluvian World: ny nGM1I's
DoNNFLtY 12mo. up. 4So New-lofk' H"Poi "
Brothers 1892 .
In these iconoclastic days. when our iavorite
traditions are ruthessly DESTROYED there is 10 soe
extent a justice of compensation Ill having what
have been hitherto regarded as myths suostahtateo
as facts. Schliemann has done much ior us III 'n's
way. and now another daring adventurer enters the
field.
The purpose of the book as stated is somewhat
startling being an attempt to demonstrate the truth
of Platos story of Atlantis TO trace all ancient
civilization, mythology and tradition back to TINS
source; TO prove that civilization was an inherit
ance from Allan It's and that from the birth Oh TINS
civilization up to century or two ago mahklHu u'u
not invent but simply perpetuated.
Solon. the great lawgiver of the Athenians ana
Plato's ancestor when he visited Egypt obtained
from an Egyptian priest the history oil MS country
before the great food and an account OF the won
derful people of Atlantis. Scion began 10 "Ii.c
this history in verse but left il unfinished. In inns
form it descended to Plato, who tells the story III
the dialogue Tim@us."
Z, In the Atlantic Ocean, in front of the straits
called the Columns of Heraces, was an island
larger than Libya aud Asia put together lhis
island was on the way 10 other islands, ana thehce
Won might pass through The whole of the opposite
continent In this island of Atlantis was power
full empire which ruled over the other ISLANDS ana
parts of the continent as well as portions OF Lioya
and Europe. Plato describes magnificent buildings
covered with silver and gold, aqueducts' bathS ana
bridges of wonderful beauty. The people were rich
in agriculture arts and sciences, and their govern
ment was regulated by law and Justice. For many
generations they were not intoxicated by luxury
and despsed everything but virtue. But the divine
portion became diluted with mortal admiXture.
Human nature got the upper hand, ana they were
filled with unrghteous avarice and love OF power
Then it is supposed. the terrible convnlson OF
nature which sunk the island fathoms deep IN the
sea
TSe story bears no evidence of Imagination or IN
yention contains no marvels nor mlracleS' put Is Il
nIajn reasonable description Of rich powerful and
educated people who lived by agriculture ana COM
merce Herodous's history OF the grandeur OF Egypt
or Prescotts description of Peru is more lncred-
ible There was no object in the tale, political or
moral and the ncreduty with which II was re-
ceiyed was probably due 10 the inability OF the
Greeks and Romans TO CONCEIVE tho hnal cataS-
trophe Pompeii and Herculaneum were Tor CEN
1ures regarded as myths. That the sudden destruc-
tion and submersion of large and populOus coun-
try is possible is amply proved by geological facts
and soundings taken in the vicinity OF the Azores
show Platos geography to have been singularly
correct Investigations of the United States snip
Dolphin. the German frigate Gazclle and British
ships HYDRA PorcuplDe and Challenger have estab-
1sbed the fact that the conformation and extent OF
the elevation of the sea bottom in this region CORE
spond with the descriptions ggen by Plato and must
once have been dry land. as the elevations coulu
have been produced only by agencies acting above
the water level Mr. Donnelly is rather verbose in
the comparison of legends, and brings forward TO
support his theory mass of corroboratlnS clrcnm-
stances. some OF which are unimportant and may be
merely concidences-such as sun-worshlp and The
volcanic structure of the Azores.
There are some curious points of identity between
the old and new world in architecture. construction
Of tombs sculpture manufactures pottery, and
especially in customs. "The dead bodies of the
eacques of Bogota were protected from desecratlon
by diverting the course of river, naking the
graves in ITS bed and then letting the stream return
10 its natural course Aarc, the leader OF the
Coths. was secretly buried in the same way" The
Mexican pyramids are almost precisely the same as
those of Egypt in material, construction and pnr-
nose. The Mound-Builders of the Mississippi valley
made their tombs upon the same principle the sides
corresponding to the four points of the compass.
The fact of ancient America possessing phonlc
alphabet is certainly matter worthy of research.
Our alphabet has never been traced further than
the Egyptians, who did not claim its invention, but
smoke of 1t as " the language of the gods" The
early civilization of America not that of the
Indians Legends and inscriptions point to an
Eastern origin, the ancient inhabitants claiming
that their knowledge came to them across the sea
in ships from the eastthat is from the direction OF
Atlantis The acceptation of the theory OF {" con-
meeting ridges" between the old and neT continent
might throw new light upon many perplexlng prob
lens and explain the identity of plants and ami
mails indigenous TO both To dOmesticate wild
plants requires an intelligence found in primeval
times only III the people of Atlantis, and 1T Is from
the region of the Azores that useful plants and
cereals come. The bronze age from its nature must
have been preceded by tin or copper age and in
ancient America alone are found evidences Of a
purely copper age-hence the conclusion that
bronze mixture of tin and copper, proceeded from
America.
Mr.. Donnelly has brought to bear upon this inter
estng subject great research viviHed by fresh ideas
THE CHORAL SERVICE Being the Preccs t Responses
Ijtanies etc, according to the use OF the various
('atbedrals of England; together with a Suggestive
Use for the Church in America. Compiled and Com
posed bv the Rev. W. II. COOK, A. NJ. and GEORGE
+ LIE JEUEE. Large octave. PIP. ZIG New-IoTk {:
Charles i. Roper. 1881
The clerical editor of this book is an assistant
minister of Trinity Parish and president of the
Oratorio Society of New-York, and the book IS in