New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-07
TIE LOST ATLANTIS.

THE LOST ATLANTIS. AND OTHER ETlINOGRAPHIC
STUDIES. By sir Daniel wilson. L.. D., F. r. s F.
svo pp. Al. Macmillan < Co.
These final results Of Sir Dancl Wilson's studies
mr., edited by his daughter, who in a mod preface
explains her connection with work for which she
pretends no aptitude Fortunately nc able In his
last days to read The proofs OF the work. though
strong enough 10 correct them. ard ii may BE- pre-
samed that serious errors escaped lin. The mono
graphs contained In this volume eight in
her and bear the following titles THE Lost Allan +;
"Thc vinland Of he Nortlmcn.o "Trade and Com.
merce IN the stone Age IRE Aryan American Man"
"Tbc Aesthetic Faculty In Aboriginal Races "Thc
Huron Iroauols" "A Typical Race lIy briefly and
IIereitv," Eelatve Racial Erlin eight and shc." All
these papers thorough and careful studies, ana
testify TO the patience and energy with winch ia"
late president OF the University OF Toronto hatualN
pursued his scientific researches. The initial dis
,ussion will because OF its subject, naturally attract
much attention from lay readers for there IS certain
fascination in the topic Which appeals strongly to
Imaginative minds.
Ent IL NAV as well be said ut that Sir Daniel
Wilson Is not among those who PIT faith In the story
OF Plao's "IfmooGs" ana "Cri;iaS." Since o c o.
Jowett in his critical edition o. Plato. unhc'atngN
pronounced The whole story OF Atlantis fab;ica'in
however there have been seveinl efforts made &C. re
insate the ancient legend. and several OF These nave
been marked by much ingenuity The tale % tLc
dreadful suhmc>lon Of the great Island OF Admits was
already white with age when IL came 10 ~ NUS
34OO wears ago. How far into the miSts Of r. mote
antiquity 1t might be traced cannot al present be dc
termned bu, II Is at least c.r:ain that legends Will
bear q family resemblance 10 1t have been Followed
further back. But sir Daniel Wils'n rests upon IN
conclusions o. modern science Willie admitting TINT
ait Is not TO be wondered at that the vague legend
so tenptingly set forth in the 'Iimocus should have
kindled the Imagination OF class OF theorists who.
like the enthusiastic Able BrasScur de Bombourg are
restrained by no doubts suggested by scientific con
sdcratons,n so far from geology Lending the
slightest confirmation the idea OF engulfed At
lantls, Professor Wyville Thomson has shown, In his
Depths of the saa,' that while Oscillati rs OF the
land considerably modified the boundaries OF the
Atlantic Ocean. the geological age OF the basin date
back as far at least as the late secondary period
Moreover "the study of It's animal life. rs revealed
IN dredging strongly conl ms this disclosing an nm
broken continuity Of life on the Atlantic sealed from
tho cretaccous period TO the present time; and as
Sir Charles Lye has pointed ont In his principles
of Geology the entire evidence Is adverse 10 the Idea
that the CanaIies, the Madciras and the Azores are
surviving fragments Of vast submerged island Oh
continuous area Of the adjoining continent. There
are indeed nndOubt indications Of volcanic act on
but they furnish evidence Of local npcaval, not OF
the Sbm&son OF extensive continental areas" Sir