New-York tribune., 1890-05-29
NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

Mythology and Monuments OF Ancient hthehs
(siacmillan S Co.. is translation of part Vi ',,o
Attica Of Pausanias by Mrs Margaret dc IT, Nerr"n
with an Introductory essay and archaeoiosicai com
mcntary by Mrs. Jane f. Harrison. Inc "oih i olI0
more illustration of the way in which women arc 'o'N
ing 10 the front in matters of scholarship anu cp
cialy In archaeology. Mrs. Harrison has careiuA'
studied the latest German works on her sup'oo'' ""
her familiarity with the topography Vi H'n'"' va
stitutes her safe guide. 80 far as her i'io ~,
regarding monuments is concerned, size MAY o' 4
lowed without msgiving. 1t is only when she comes
10 develop her theory Of myths that some s'uuo"Vo
may fee. impeed 10 Join issue with her In reierrihs
the origin of Greek myths largely to mslhterProo"
rituasn She no doubt, has the sanction Oh scVe'"i
well.known names, and among these tha' oi '' ,''
drew Lang. But IL is quesuohaole "hc"'o
Iangs theory OF myths has any future before It, ana
urS Harrison here unconscously shows how easily IT.
may be overworked. Even NJ. Remains moo'ecnnon' ,''
~ such An hypothesis can scarcely establish H. hu''
spart from this point, which does not detact from "0
value Of the researches and discoveries SET ior'i "
this volume the latter should be welcomed ps SUI
aents "a marking the extent and significance OF re-
cent archaeological work III the locality coh'crho''
while the profusc and generally careful liusfaVo's
add much to the value of the book The necessity oI
reducing all the original drawings has mevtaoT oe-
trcted somewhat from their ccarness here ana ther|
but on the whole the work is done very well huceu'
and the book represents immense amount OF paist
and intelligent preparation.
"Midnight Talks at the Club" by Amos H. Fiske
Fords Howard d Hulbert, is series OF papers cast
in the form of club conversations in which many
problems of life and civilization are discussed he
licious criticism enters largely into the midnight
talks and the advanced thinker represented Dy
the Judge, outlines the more radical theoFee oo"-
cerning theological dogmaS, while Tom VINO Is OF
tbodox makes the usual solemn and feeble replies 10
his opponent. The talks are not unintercstng' bu'
IN, thair n
ism and they exhibit only the most superficial iae's
upon the subjects introduced. In fact, tmdity r"hor
than freedom of research, indicated by inc pro
vailng tone and the author has seldom sncceeoeo IN
getting abreast of the more progressive movements oI
the time while the conservatism shown IN some oi
the theories laid down is positively atavstlc'
The welch Frachcr Company publish " In Western
Levantn by Francis c. Sessions, Illustrated pE Hchiy
W. Hail. TO whom and TO the publishers, the daintily
printed and bound volume is indebted fo: whatever
merit II possesses The mcubi1tlons OF Mr. sessions
are mildly surprising at times, but neither his deNcrp
ton nor his sentiment be regarded as graphic or
entertaining. He is much addicted to uope> ana
figures OF exasperang fossinesS ana IN hs travels
IT is hard to say how much he has really secn 80 little
evidence Of true observation is to be found I'm these
pages The Illustrations. however, are excellent in
their way, and TO extent, aided by the thick.
glossy paper and good type. redeem volume which
without such help would be hardly readable.
second edition of Mr. John AddnNon symond''s
"Introduction TO the study ct Dantc7 is published by
Macmillan & Co. The first edition appeared more than
nineteen years ago, and has long been out OF print
The vanc Of the book Is such fully u justify new
edition, though the author has made few changes IN
his work No modern writer upon Dante has been
better equipped than Mr. Symonds. whose knowledge
of Italian history literature and character has been
amply tested by his monumental work upon the italian
Renaissance The present volume : one of the best
introductors 20 study of Dante cXiant. ami the
new edition should obtain a vide circulation