Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-06
new BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
History Of the Native Races Of America and
Their Culture.
TRAVELS IN The IsTHMUs OF PANAMA
College Professor writes of the Eyo-
IutIon of the CbiId-Work of Fic-
tion, with the scene Laid
In Nucntan.

For years students OF ethnology have
been striving to solve the many interest
ing problems connected with the native
races OF America. Major ]. w. Powell,
founder OF the bureau OF ethnology at
Washington, has taken an active part in
these Investigations and has gathered about
him a group Of thorough and enthusiastic
students. whose reports have been en-
bodied in the publications Of the Smith.
sonian institution. other students have
published the results of their researches
Independently and we have the valuable
works OF Parkman, Brinton, Winsor Ban
deler, Putnam Morgan, Schoolcraft, Pres
colt, Mandsley, Goodman. wilson Keanc,
Bancroft and others. new and preten-
ticus work has now been brought out by
Frederick s. Dcllonbaugh, entitled The
North Americans Of Yesterday Being tho
latest work having to do with the native
races OF America, their language and ad
vancement in the various arts, it Is natur-
ally the most complete. embodying as 1t
docs the results Of The very latest dscov-
cries. The work is most comprehensiyely
written, the author having been most fortu.
nate in the general arrangement OF the
various subdivisions OF his subject. At the
beginning he tells us something about the
from that the reader Is given a general idea
OF the extent to which picture writing and
sign language was employed, either to con-
Ney ideas or preserve them. Following up
the course Of development along this line
the reader is introduced to the more highly
developed system OF writing in use among
the natives OF Mexico and Central America
The author then takes up In their natural
order the varied arts known to the abort
glnes. such the making OF pottery. weav-
ing, carving, sculpture, construction Of
dwellings. the manufacture OF weapons
armor and other implements. In the last
five or six chapters of the volume the au-
thor tells a great deal Of interest bearing
on the customs, myths, organization and
government and all that is known OF the
origins, migrations and history of the ma
tive American races. Altogether 1t makes
volume of 4S5 pages. The text is helped
out in a great degree by the large number
reader taking the slightest interest in eth
biological or archaeological subjects ought to
read G.. p. Putnam's Sons New York.
Alexander Francis Chamberlain. lecturer
on authropology in Clark university, Wor
Cester, Mass. has written a volume of great
scientific value entitled, THE Child a
Study in the Evolution OF Man" The au-
thor has apparently made an exhaustive
study of his subject and has embraced
within the 500 pages OF his book practically
everything bearing upon it, In his preface
he disclaims having written "A treatise on
enbryology or an essay on anatomy, but
rather a study OF the child in the light OF
the literature OF evolution. He explains
his aim as an attempt to record and, II
possible. interpret some Of the most in
teresting and important phenomena OF hu-
man beginnings in the individual and in
the race. While possibly a little too sci
entiac for popular reading, the volume Is,
nevertheless, filed with most interesting
matter that will be readily understood
even by the non-scentifc reader A great
many matters pertaining to child character
and development, which are frequently
brought to the attention of teachers and
parents. will be readily understood after
a perusal OF this volume. In fact, II IL
a question II every one having charge o.
children, especially teachers in public
sci ools. ought not, as matter OF duty tC
read this book. which would give them
better insight into the underlying causes
of certain mental characteristics OF those
in their charge. 1t might be added tina
the present volume forms one of the con
temporary science series which contains
large number of volumes of the very
greatest value to all such as have any
desire to keep themselves informed regard
ing progress in the various branches o
science. Charles Scribner's Sons, New
York. Price, $3.50.
Panama and the Slerras: Doctors Wan
der Days" Is a tale of travel in the Isthmu'
OF Panama and California by DR.. G. Franl
Lydston OF Chicago. The author crossed tn,
isthmus when a boy, in company with hii
parents. who were journeyng to the Cali
fornia gold fields, and the memory of things
seen induced him to take the trip agai!
and describe it's chief incidents In bool
form. The writer has quite fund o
humor upon which he draws copiously
Although quite sprightly in style the mar
ration does not reach the most entertain
ing point until the traveller arrives at tn
scenes OF the early gold excitement II
California, and there amid the scenes tha
he knew as boy he is at his best as
descriptive writer. 1t is hardly correc
though to speak OF scenes" as only tn
landscape was left. The thriving gold camp
have been deserted and the surging, rest
less crowds of the old days have been scat
tered far and wide. People fond OF book