New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
IxCIENT BELIEFS OF THE PUEBLOs.


TIE SONG OF THE ANCIENT PEOPLE. Gy Edna
Dean Proctor. With preface and notes by John
Fiske and commentary by F. If. Gushing. II
Illustrated with eleven aqIatnts by Julian scott.
PIP Avi, 60 Houghton, Miniin Co.
This is a handsome book. with its handmade paper.
quaint typography, attractive Illustrations and almost
unique binding "The song OF The Ancient People,
which won earnest praise from Whittier IS worthy OF
It's setting and Of the with which II las been on
plained BY Professor Fishe and Lieutenant Cushing.
Tho poem, which occupies the centre of the volume Is
printed only one side q tie paper bat no such
honor IS awarded to the plain though decidedly Inter
csting prose Of the distinguished editors The
dainty pages and broad margins should satisfy them
Zuni customs and Zun lore among tn" most inter
esting subjects OF study. whether at first or second
hand, that the New World affords. 1t + 10 be doubted
whether the last word has been said long disputed
question, when Professor Iishc remarks There Is
little room for doubt that the state OF society found
on this Continent by the spaniards was. In all its
phases and In every particular. American growth
Wherever It presented points OF resemblance, either
Gscp-seaed or superficial, 10 social phenomena In
Europe Asia, the true explanation IS to be found
In the limited range Of culture and the similarity in
the workings Of the human mind at different times and
places" This is too easy be true. one might Just
rs we'll areue-hough Professor rishp carefully places
himself in the oppoton-that the Indian was himself
q spontaneous product OF the American soil wholly
related 10 other human beings. Until We know much
more than know OF the actual achievements OF
mankind In those remote times when the walking
good between America and Europe, IT will be rash to
speak decsvely in favor Of hypothesis respecting
the origin OF civilization. Slowly tive work goes on OF
widening the frontier OF historic knowledge. II 1t
shall be possible to review in inverse order. period bv
rrriod the movement OF humanity on the Eastern
Continent among the few that have shown
capacity for advancement. may find that the
sttituds OF the Indian toward what fondy call
civilization has bern. from the first moment OF his
separate existence of motOnlessnesS and not OF
inventive spOntaneiy. At heart neither he any
sbcaed savage cares for what civilized man Is so
ambitious 10 attain. From his point of view the
evolution OF mankind takes aspect wholly differ
from that by cultured peoples Then II one
turns 10 THE Old World and how much Of cviliza
ton has been borrowed how few have shown
spark Of originality until tutorcd by others will
learn that few theories 60 far. as yet toward solv
Ing the problem which humanity offers TO its |
philosophers.
As Lieutenant Gushing puts IT, the creed Of the |
2uns Is worthy Of the historic nlsOns 81 the
old World. 1T WAS said by their ancient |
Before aught was before even Time began TO
t the holder OF the Trails OF Life whose person is
the sun. whose bright shield each shining day
before aught was. void space and darkness. lie
And BY thinking he wrought light, and with |
light he dsp,led the darkness, whence descended |
clouds and water from the night fall miSts |
Of the morning laden with moisture. Into these life
sustaining waters he dropped the seed of his being
whence sprang tho Sky Father and the Earth Mother
Born Of these twain all creatures here below