New-York tribune., 1911-12-23

STAR LORE OF ALL AGES; \ Collection
of Myths Legends and Facts concern,
ing the Consultations of the Norulct!'
Hemisphere By Wilbour Tyler Orcott;
with % illustrations in the text anu ~
fun page illustrations. Svo' pp NNH'
l53. 6. T.. Putnam's sons.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE CEL3T- Ell,
IC RACE BY T. W. Rolleston. WIN
81 full page illustrations Syo' pP' Nv
81. Thomas Y. Crowell d Co
Mr.. Orcott is a prolific writer for the
guidance of amateur astronomers ana
II is for them that his latest work is chlef
" written. Lovers Of myth lore will find
in il much to interest them, no DOUBT
but also much to puzzle them, unless
they have some knowledge of the
heavens as well. 1t should be added
however. that the author rarely falls
In come TO their assistance with illustra-
tive diagrams.
II is with the imaginative side oi
astronomy IN all ages and among "h
peoples. with the myths and lesehus
that have grown up around the stars
that he deals in these pages, ana WIN
the manner in which the considerations
came to acquire the names they pear
The origin of these stellar conlsura-
tions. all but uncomprehensible TO the
lavman i'm the large demands their
vagueness Of outline makes upon the
fancy. remains matter of conjecture:
II seems almost folly 10 endeavor TO SET
the date OF the invention OF the conS'el-
latiOns for that period must appfONilH ~,
the age Of the habitable world, ana IN an
probability the stellar figures known 10 u''' Us
were not designed at any one tlIle' d!u -, -
their originality by the varying conuI Iu,,n ,,I,,
that time has wrought in the past ior ,Nen
in comparatively recent Years lIe'e nav
heen many attempts 10 alter them.
The chapter on the origin of the an
Gent star groups is, indeed, far from
being the least interesting I'm a general
yyay. in the conclusions, for Instance
drawn from the fact that certain AMI
mals-the elephant. camel and hippopot-
amus-are not represented This proves
so we are told that the formation OF
the consultations cannot b" ascribed to
India. Arabia Or Egypt but must De
sought in Asia Minor. the positive iact
that we find q ship among the stars
leading us further to the shores OF the
BLACK. Mediterranean. Caspian and
.Esean seas
1t is a large subject that Mr.. Rolleston
auprgaches in Myths and Legends OF
the Celtic Race" and one, moyeover'
that is beginning TO claim popular at
tention. The obscuration Of the part
plaved by the Celtic race as formative
influence In the history, thc literature
and the art Of the people of the British
Isles and this country, the author holds,
is due chiefly 10 the use, and still more
10 the abuse, Of the word Anglo
Saxon" The correct term, he asserts,
is Anglo Celt," and ii is for an Anglo
Celt' world that he has written this
account OF the early history. the religion
and the mythical and religious litera-
ture of the Celtic race. lie begins duly
at the beginning. with the Hyperboreans
or "KeItoi," who, according to Herodo-
tus dwelt beyond the Pillars Of Her
cules, and whose empire in Europe did
not begin to weaken until the year 900
3. c., when the Germans scattered
them before their onslaughts-to be sub
dued in their turn by the Roman
legions
Ireland alone was never even visited,
much less subjugat, d, by the Roman legion
aries. and maintained its independence"
against all cOmers nomlnally until the close
q the twelfth century, but for all prac-
teal purposes good three hundred years
longer. Ireland has therefore this unique
feature of interest. that il carried an indlS-
enOus Celtic civilization. Celtic institutions,
are and Literature and the oldest surviving
forms OF the Celtic language right across
the chasm which separates the antique
from the modern world, the pagan from the
Christian world, and on into the full light
Of modern history and observation
The author then successfully discusses
tn. religion Of the Celts, the Irish in
vasion myths, the early Milesian kings.
the tales Of the Ultonian and Messianic
cycles. the voyage of Maeidun and the
r,vtbg and IN les Of the CVmrv.