New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-22

from the division OF tho Jewish kingdom Till the
rise of the Persians, I'll gap In universal history
which WINS always sensibly felt The full ana carc'ul
abstract of this newly dccipherod page in the annals
of the world IL one of the notable portions oil mo
present volume
Babylon. Media and Persia III the periods through
which we pass TO ancient llcllas; and here tho
author enters upon the most elaborate, although
probably not the most novel part OF his book. Tho
political history which is told with considerable
fulncss and yet with due rapidity, dwcs particu'
larry upon the development of principles of govern
mcnt and of liberty which have thad worldwide
influence and traces the growth Of the Greek power
with admirable clearncss and grasp. The authors
usual STYLE which, if II rarely becomes dull aud
ahorcd is almost rs rarely pictorial. here takes on
az time, a becoming animation the sketches Oh per
Soual character. the descriptions of national man.
ncls and pctularitcs. the surveys of Greek art.
literature and religion the consideration of the in
nucnec OF Greek religion upon the life OF the people
and the dcstincs oi the Statc', are tine examples
alike of literary distinction and OF historical acu
mcn The chapter on the AntaGonism and HIoWth
OF Rel gious Ilca, in Greek Literature includes q
critical review OF the principal philosopher" poets
aYl historians. and shows how the grca; minds OF
Greece were oprnily ways for the future lie OF
mauhnd. vhiic the Grccian States by the.r selfish
ind .v,dual.. police. were fostering the material
force, which threatened their destruction. The
careers of Philip and Alexander are treated in con-
ncction with the broad topic OF the diffusion OF
Grcciau ciyi23t.on Of hich they were thc more or
less unconscious instruments AlcNandcrs most
important achievement, apart from tho purely mill
tlly aspect OF his conquc,ts. was extending 10 the
east the Greek ideals Of life lie established over an
immense area the supremacy of Grecian uolytheiSm
Int sometime lie brought with him from Greece
greater than ITS cOd. Tie Greeks had arrived 90 an
idcal>t;c Couceu'iOn of Oh" world. SO far such
conception is dttanahle by the human llnd. IncI
had created II literature which embraced all
tendencies of thcuglt-thc earliest ana 81" incsi
brilliant OF the litcratiTts of the world. To the
idea5 which animated this literature Alexander
threw omen the East. and even subjected II 20 Their
domination. 70 the influence OF Thought ne sdd'd
the Influence OF force. a., victories are not merely
event. in military history. hut also steps IN the on
ward course OF human civilization, especially IN 10
latCu 10 ?rt and commerce. FOR the,c l' 'NrN-
where founded new ECMcs. which lie oci!,hicl 10
mark hy his own maine. The mlxt1ie OF pol%thc.su
with t. greatest efforts a culture rs the dSlu'No
mar, of tue epoch. 1Ge religion o. hun'ntN,
adh,.cl firmly tt its connection with Tire IDEAS oi
scicuc. 9nl civilization.
The authors view OF " thc mixture of polythcisu
with the greatest efforts of culture might have
been made r.orc distinct than it is in this passage"
but o1scurity is lar from being common hem.sh
in a worl. coually remarkable for exact expression
and for clear thought