The sun., 1889-02-10


that the native Mexicans and North American
red men came OF q common stock tthe only
dinerences being traceable to climate. condi-
tions OF life. and inherited adaptiveness TO such
conditions) Miss Hale asserts that " this is db-
soluteiv not The case" We might easily show.
by collating several passages. that the author
is not ignorant OF the tendency OF American
Psychologists 10 dispute tho Toltec claim to
civilization. and to minimize the difference boz
tween the rcd men and tho Nahuas we do not
therefore. understand how she can permit her
sof to dismiss their theory so summarily. On
page 233 wo meet with an assertion that puz-
zles us: Charles ". tof Spain) In no sense a
relative OF Charles V. tEmperor OF Germany,
being Bourbon &c. Can the author intend
to hint that Charles ". was not really the son
! OF his reputed father. Charles III.2 In that
case he would not have been by blood n Bour-
bon either. Or does sho mean to say that
Philip ". tho first OF the dynasty to which
Charles Nv. belonged, was in no sense a rela-
tive OF Charles N"2 She must then decline to
recognize relationship through females AS
matter OF fact Philip V. had great deal OF the
blood Of Charles V. In his veins. his grand
mother having been the daughter OF Philip w..
and his Rreat-grandmother the daughter OF
Philip Ill. 1t was. of course. upon the ground
that hc was the nearest living relative OF
Charles V. that the claim OF Philip V. to
the crown was recognized by most
Spaninrds Passing on to page 24S we infer
that the author must have forgotten that Texas
was notyet part Of tho United States In 1911.
for alluding to the capture OF certain Mexican
fuGittves at Las Norias dc Bajan. In the State
OF Coahuila, she says that tho place was not far
from the American frontier. AS matter OF
TACT 1t was many hundred miles away. On page
26O 1t Is stated that until 1908" Yturblde,
afterward Emperor OF Mexico. showed him
self vigorous opponent OF the liberal party"
This date conveys wrong impression as to
tho time OF the royalist leaders conversion to
liberal opinions. The author has herself de.
scribed page 253) tho energy with which Ytur.
bide opposed Morelos in 1913. and there is no
evidence Of any change in his feelings before
1920.
1t ought to be borne In mind by those who
hereafter contribute to tho STORY of tho Ma
tions series, which includes much sound and
admirable work, that though historians are at
liberty to difer In their deductions from nc.
cepted facts. they cannot misstate the facts
themselves without stripping their books of
historical pretensions. They should also rec
oGnze that to blunder in dates is like break
ing the bones Of human body.
nc SeIcbrAtlOn at Phflndcl.
phia.
Two huge volumes. The History of the
Celebration Of The Hu,sd,eGM A,iniuesarv Of Me
Consolation THE j. B. Lippincott Company, at
test the industry II not the judgment OF Mr.
HAMPTON L. CARSON. the secretary OF the COM
mitee having in charge the arrangements for
that memorable anniversary-the industry for
tho volumes contain nearly 1000 pages per-
haps tho want Of judgment for whereas Mr..
John a. hasson treats tho history of the Con-
stitution In l35 pages, Col. Z. Lowten Snowtien
dovotes l95 pages to tho details of tho ciyic
and industrial parade. and while Mr. Carson
gives l03 pages to Biographical sketches of the
makers OF tho Constitution. he devotes 70
pages to the makeup Of the committee of
which he was secretary. However, as the vol
umes are obviously intended chiefly for circu-
lation in and about Philadelphia. perhaps we
should rather commend Mr.. Carson for his
worldly wisdom than censure him for what
seems at first TO be an error of judgment
There are only half a dozen points of real
value in tho two volumes: Mr.. Kasson's his
tory OF the formation Of tho Constitution, Mr..
Carson's bioEraphies Mr.. Stones History Of
tho Plans for the Union Of the British Colonies
in North America" which is tucked away 10 an
appendix mt tho end Of tho second volume. the
portraits Of the makers OF the Constitution, the
reproduction Of the original Of that document
and the Typography OF the books. II the books
could be remade, and these half dozen valuable
points be retained. the result would be a
volume more worthy OF the occasion than even
DR.. Clebornes report on his am balances. or the
letter from tho pastor of the Bethlehem
Church of Philadelphia, or the speeches made
at the complimentary dinner to Mr.. Kasson.
Mr.. kasson's history OF the formation of the
Constitution is in general brief: it contains no
references and is therefore intended for the
general reader rather than for the student OF
exact history Buried alive, as it is, il cannot
dsplacc our other histories OF tho Constitution,
though it affords excellent parallel reading to
them. Mr.. Carsons biographies are illustrated
by portraits. eXcellcntly printed. and taken
from the least known originals OF the makers of
the Constitution.
Mr.. stones history OF tho plans for the union |
OF tho British colonies travels over ground
comparatively unknown. and is worthy of
greater attention than it is likely to get now. |
1t gives in full most of tho plans proposed,
with history OF the causes leading up to each |
of thou, from tho Articles Of Confederation |
between tho New England colonies against |
tho Dutch in 1913 down to Frankln's sketch |
OF Articles OF Confederation, l775 including |
tho plans OF such men rs William Penn, Charles |
d'Avenant. Robert Livingston, and the Earl Of |
stair. For its inarshalling Of little known his
torical documents, Mr.. Stones is probably the |
most valuable paper in the book.
Among the Illustrations appear Stuart's un-
finished portrait of Washington. and IN anus
ing instantaneous photograph of the cero-
monies in Independence square. The account
of tho actual ceremonies on Sept II, 1887. oc-
cupies only 50 pages; tho remainder of the
volumes, except for tho comparatively brief
historical sketches, consists of nced!eSsly de-
tailed accounts OF tie formation and acts of
tho Celebration Committee OF little value to
any person except a member OF that committee
and its assistant committees.
BOOK NOTES.