The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-04-11
MISSISSIPPI HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

MISSISSIPPI HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Publications of the Mississippi Histo-
rical Society. Vol VI. Edited by Frank
lin L. Rley Secretary fy: Pr sd SIS; Ok
lions of the Mississippi Historical So
ciety' is one of the most interesting
public. Besides giving much interest,"
ing data with reference to the early
history and settlement of the state, it
follows in succinct and careful man IN
state.
The wars which were fought in the
early times with the aborigines therein II
War of the Rebellion are described, and
much information which has hitherto
remained obscure, is brought to light.
the Southern States is deliberately set
and an + in the light Of the present agitation
over the suffrage question, it will be in
in the chapter on Reconstruction.
1T is deeply interesting at this time,
when the passions aroused by the Great
Civil War; have passed away, and when
in the tranquility and repOse of a patri
otto and reunited people, past events can
be reviewed with calmness and fairness,
connected with this amendment (the
18th amendment) and to draw just
conclusion in respect to the purpose and
motives of it's advocates; and to under
stand the reasons why the Southern
States declined to accept the terms of
reconstruction thus proposed by Con-
gress.'
The criticism made by Mr. Blaine. and
the Republican leaders Of that time was
that the South's action was character
lied by lack of craftsmanship and sa-
gacity, and that the attitude taken by
| them forced Congress to make negro
suffrage the final basis of reconstruction
AS an evidence of the change of view
in which the South now holds Lincoln,
contemplated reconstruction of the
Southern States largely under the au-
spices OF the executive Of the govern
me son Mheh gan would <" have
the Union on liberal and magnanimous
IF Mr.. Lincoln had lived, his large
with his tact and wisdom, might have
smoothed the way to a qualification OF
the South. Mr. johnson was lacking in
az az those qualities, and with him the
Congress which Mr. Lincoln would have ave
reconciled and adjusted assumed the pro-
portions OF an open rupture.
Mr.. Lincoln was patriot as well as
a great statesman, and under his au-
spices it is improbable that. the South
would have been crushed between the
between the Congressional and Execu-
tive departments Of the government"
Inc volume is beautifully illustrated,
and is very, valuable contribution to
the historical literature of the country.
from the viewpoint Of the South
BIRD GODS IN ANCIENT EUROPE.
~, Bird Gods in Ancient Europe" Rv
Charles De Kay. With Decorations BY
Wharton: 12mo. 273 PIP. Cloth. 81. o.
Ne e.y1 York: A. S: Barnes G. Co. ~"
10 Blrd Gods,, by Charles De Kay, is the
rarest class of information relative to the
teathered deities of the Northern Euro
pe a and the older races of, the earth.
Inere is the evidence of much research
IN this book-research which is exposed
in narrative style at once attractive and
entertaining.
The author not only tells us what birds
the ancients worshipped but goes into
the philosophy of such worship, and tells
US its reason, in. ia b1es and anecdotes
WHICH 1d make very delightful myths
Take the woOdpecker as an instance
When we picture to ourselves the Eu
ropean savage, noble ancestor of our
puffed-up race, finding it a matter of
his head, loving murder bloody tyrant
to the weak, cringing before. power, sub
ject. to periodical famines because of his
of his laziness and filthy habits. we can
understand his envy and admiration of
a bird which in addition to various mar
VSiOQS. SuptiiLIHd tidlCS, mas the prdC--
teal side so developed that it can chisel
for itself in few hours a neat, dry cave
in the bole of a tree-a bird ever gay of
heart that seems to find nourishment
where no green thing grows, right under
it's busy beak. ~ &r~ Ne. ,
,''Mr. Woodpecker was thought to know
the whereabouts of hidden treasures;
wherefore he is special creation of the
high god Ukkoa of the Firms and has a
mysterious affinity to fire, also a rain and
thunder god. 5!1.:' r. =. &c.
The author then proceeds to tell us
of the power the. woedpecker exerte.d
over the Romans at the time of Hanni-
balls entry into the peninsula. Says he
..The Importance Of the woodpecker in
the eyes of the Roman soothsayers can
hardly be overestimated. Il have a. seal.
scarab like in form; showing man seat
ed with a bird before him, which he APP
pears to be teaching q trick. That the
man is an auspex or soothsayer is rea-
sonably certain from the fact that he
wears the conical cap seen on the little
statuette with Etruscan Inscription in the