The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25
Y

A I the close of the Saxon period. we find en-
forced throughout tho country the so-called
immortal system. Tho question OF the origin of
this system may appear. at first sight, abstract
and academic, but it is. in reality, one OF the
most important OF social problems. Toward the
end OF a chapter devoted TO the subject, Mr..
Gibbins undertakes TO set forth a comprehensive
though brief survey OF the origin OF the village
community. with its seigneurial and communal
elements, which We encounter in historic times.
To begin with. our author sees. on looking back
into the mists OF antiquity. that a large non.
Aryan population existed in the British islands in
the nco!ithic age OF culture. They had already
made some small advances in agriculture. and
had passed over, or were rapidly passing. from
the tribal TO the village community. a transition
which is natural, as the development of agricul-
ture necessitates a closer connection with tho
soil than the more or less unsettled tribal stage
allows. Upon the state OF society thus formed.
or forming. descended successive waves OF
Aryan invaders in the shape OF the Celtic immi-
grants to Britain. At first, no doubt, the Aryan
tribes, with the pride characteristic OF the
earlier Aryan races. took but little part in tho
cultivation OF the land. but preferred to leave 1t
10 the conquered and subject Iberians, exercis.
ing only a loose over.lordship over the more re-
mote village communities. As timo went
on. the Celtic invaders, especially the most
recent OF them, themselves made very
considerable progress in agriculture. and
thus tho agrarian bond between the sub
ject and the conqucrins races was drawn
closer and closer. Then came the Roman occu-
patton, hut there seems TO be no doubt that.
Rftel making due allowance for the extent or
Roman influence in other directions, its effect
upon the village community and the methods OF
agriculture can only have been upon n level
with the influence now exercised by EnGlishmen
upon the villages OF India. Mr.. Gibhins believes
that. when the Romans took away their mill
tary and administrative forces. the Celtic and
pon-Aryan communities remained much as they
had been before the Romans came. The Roman
did not enter into the life OF the village COM
munity as did the Celt or Saxon. He WAS above
II, and not OF 1t. When the Saxons came, how.
ever. their influence was felt at once. Terrible
as they were in their destruction OF the upper
classes, especially the inhabitants OF the towns,
they did not, in our authors opinion. seek to
destroy the pcasantry of the rural districts,
any moro than tho successive conquerors OF
India, who could be to the full as cruel as the
Saxons ever were, have obliterated the villagers
OF The Punjab. On the contrary, the aGrarian
development OF the Saxons at the epoch OF
their migration from Germany had bcen very
much the Same as that OF the land they invaded.
II seems certain, therefore, tina. the village
communities received no check from tho
newcomers. What happened was that the
Celt and Iberian were debased in status
in some cases where tho conquerors made
their first settlements, but. in tho remotcr
parts OF the country. were left pretty much as
before. though there was a continual tendency
to debase them as time went on and the conquest
proceeded. They helped TO form the large and
mixed class OF seryile dependHnts whom we ind
later. Tho Saxons must themselves have
brought slaves and dependAnts with them, for