Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-05-14
PATHOLOGICAL FACTS.
A Series of Parallels Collected by Wei
Known Sch Olar.

A Series of Parallels Collected by Well
Known Scholar.
There are two methods of studying
ethnology-oneb by studying the growth
of single culture, the other by com
pairing isolated phenomena among a
great number OF tribes. While the
former yields results of historical in
terest, the second is of prime import
ance to the student of psychology, who
investigates the laws of the growth OF
human thought r. Andree, who has
for long time continued the latter
course of studies, has collected series
OF essays on chronological parallels,
most of which have previously been
published in various journals. One OF
the most important results OF such
comparisons is the exclusive evidence
that many similar customs must have
originated independently in regions far
apart. Among many other phenomena,
the author traces the occurrence OF
masks among various peoples, and
shows that they occur all over the
world. in America as well rs in Aus
tralia and all parts of the Old World.
1t seems that the games in which our
children delight are well-nigh univer-
sal The children OF the ancient Egypt
ians played tag;they bad balls and dolls.
Bodies of dolls were made OF wood.
and might be mistaken for modern
fabrics. Undoubtedly they were
dressed by the Egyptian girls, as our
girls nowadays enjoy dressing their
dolls. There were even movable ones,
the hands and feet OF which could be
moved by means Of strings. Others.
made of painted wood, were very i'm
perfect In form. aud had strings of
beads instead of hair. In the museum
OF Leyden there Ia an ancient toy that
looks rs though 1t had been bought at
"a Christmas fair There were figures
OF animals with movable mouths, and
balls OF leather. Among Greek and
Roman antiquities, dolls made OF wood
or clay, and others OF wax aud ivory,
are found. Dolls houses with lead
furniture; the saving-box with slit
ON top; toy cows, horses and hogs
were known to the children Of ancient
hOiHts tAH tii5} bIt ~ hbI OWHs IioIi
this evidence II might be supposed
that our dolls are 'deseendantsn of the
ancient dolls; but IL must be remem-
bercd that there is hardly any people
that does not have them. Their use Is
so general. and SO natural To the
child, TINT even the laws ol
Mohammedanism IL disregarded by
the childish desire The Koran
forbids representations of human be-
ings. and still tho Mohnmmedan child
plays with its doll The women o
Bagdad believe that doll may event
ually come to life. and harm their chill
drcn, and therefore prevent their use
The girls however, play with cushions
and pieces Of wood instead, which the.
nurse and dress. In Siberia and Arcti
America ivory dolls, clothed in furs, o
beautiful workmanship, are found; Ii
Peruvian graves, dressed dolls of ella.
are found and in Africa the girls pla
with wooden or clay figures. In thi
why Andree traces numerous ethnolog
ical phenomena In their dlstributio
among various peoples, aud shows tina
the human mind everywhere develop
on the same lines, and that II migra
tion of inventions must be suppose
only in such cases whore Its eXistenc
can be proved by historical facts
Science.