New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-17
NEwYoRK DAILY TRIBUNE TUESDAY H. rwEIvE PAGES

tho southern portion were unsettled until Professor
Hcilpulr made these explorations 1t may interest
intending settlers to know that these explorers found
very few poisonous snakes In the swamps Of Florida,
and consequently believe that the accounts of the abun
dance OF those ophidlans exaggerations In all
their wanderings they only killed moccasin, ap-
parently and even he RETAINED from attacking his
human enemies after one Of them had struck him. A
rattlcsnake would not have behaved so mcckly.
Tho seventh volume Of Dr. Brinton's Library of
Aboriginal American Literature in "Ancien' Tahuatfo
Poetry PHILADELPHIA, containing the Nahuatt text
Of twenty seven ancient Mexican POEMS with trans
lation, introduction, notes and vocabulary The
text followed is that given by Brasseur de Bourbourg
The evidence to the antiquity Of these poems Is
nearly altogether internal In the Of some Of them
alterations interpretations by later hands Inferred
In instance what amounts to proof that the poem
was not composed later than tho middle OF the
sixteenth century is given. That many Of the Others
antedate the conquest is Just conclusion The poems
or songs interesting in themselves They exhibit
culture OF the Imagination such as belongs 10 an
advanced stage of barbarian rather than to the antece
dent condition Of savagery. DR.. Brnton Is not de-
TERED by the opinion of recent writer's to the
effect that ancient Mexican poetry is In existence
and no suggests that considerable literature
been preserved in Nahua and this is one OF the
most highly developed tongues the continent the
opportunity is excellent for students who feel
inclined to acquant themselves with an American
language He thinks It easier to acquire than Ger
man, which is not perhaps the most encouraging
estimate imaginable.
Tho volume entitled Historic Waterways Chicago
A. c.. McClurg Col presents account Of 600 miles
of canoeing down the Rock Fox and Wisconsin Rivers
by Reuben Gold Thwaes, secretary of the State His
torical Society OF Wisconsin. Mr. Thwaitcs tells q
plain story Of wandenngs which in some respects
~ Ia thauy
hygiencsly profitable, since otherwise they appear
to have been monotonous and at times fatguing. To
the rcsoluts canoest however, and the enthusiastic
of nature, such trips upon rivers which until
comparatively recent period were unexplorcd, save
by the trapper, voyageur and red man, must DO
faught with abundant interest while the amateur may
gather many valuable hints to tho handling OF
canoes from so experienced guide. Mr.. Thwates
has increased tho interest Of his little book consider
ably by citing the old explorers whenever tho occasion
and locality justified this recourse.
aMonarchs Have Metz by W. Beatty-Kingston,
Harper brothers, IS chatty series of papers giving
tho authors experiences newspaper correspondent
at many Of the Courts Of Europe festival occasions
For those who like elaborate accounts of splendid
functions, the volume will BIO found full OF interest
Mr. Kingston appears to have enjoyed special OPP
portnItes Of cultIvating tho acquaintance OF modern
kings and princes.
A.
the RoslcruciansD q. W. Bouton) and 1t Is certainly
a decided advance upon the queer book on the same
subject by Hargrave Jennings The latter pretended
10 know all about the Roscrucians and told absolutely
nothing Mr. Waite docs not pretend to know any
thing about them, but gives the contents Oh some
curious old documents ho has unearhed in the British
Museum Library OF course thsre IS no proof that
these publcatio really cmanaed from Brethren OF
the Rosy Cross, but II they did the only conclusion
possible would be that the mysterious association
possessed no knowledge Of occult character worth
having The apologsts for the Roslcrncians, quoted
by Mr. Waite refer however to what seems an entirely
different line Of study and he himself IS disposed 10
believe that tho true Society Of the Rosy Cross did
possess occult science though it has been hitherto so
effectually concealed that nothing can be gathered
from any OF the publications alleged to relate to IT,
He announces his intention to pursue tho Inquest FUR
ther and IS not without bopo that he may BIO able In
later work to disclose the real secrets of the Brother
hood. Much Incidental information s given In the
present volume concerning the achemlcal mysticism
of tho Middle Ages and tho school Of the spiritual
alchemiss, who rejected the material interpretations
which hndered scientific research greatly at one
lima