New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
Literary Neses and Criticism

land, France and Germany, take warn
ing. he says in substance. The United
States is planning to gobble up Mexico
and Central America, and the greater
part of South America as well. Look TO
your markets, for the Yankee will seek
to monopolize them, We are altogether
unspeakable-vulgar, pushful-and Latin
America hates us. If the Japanese feet
ever destroys ours, manned by many
colored mercenaries," our Union will
fall to pieces, and our influence to the
south of us will fade away. Our sue
cess at Panama, after the fiasco there Of
the French canal company. rankles in
M. de Waleffe's breast His chauvinism
is az comprehensive as it is entertaining.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle declares in his
but
AT the end of another hundred years,
Germany, France and England Will all be
represented In Central America more or
less; but in the case Of the United States
We must remember that they represent
forty-tiye forty eight now1 countries with
out natural centrum: and there is always
a possibility that some superior force may
come and dissolve the nation, either by
arousing the race hatred of the West for
the East. or by future labor troubles be-
tween millionares and workmen hope
this will not come about, for ] myself be-
lieve that the United States are force
for good in this world; but such an event
is always possible.
Nigeria, the latest addition to the
Kings dominions overseas. taken over
from a chartered company in 1900, has
been overshadowed in books at least,
by the interest taken since that time In
British East Africa. Both Mr.. Falconer
and Mr.. Tremearne are of the long and
honorable line of British colonial ad-
nninistrators. The country, whose extent
equals that of England and France COM
bined. has as yet been only partly ex-
plored. while it's economic possibilities
are still a question of the future. Mr..
Falconer, who describes with gusto the
adventures and hardships of his trip
northward from the mouth OF the Niger,
is doubtful of the possibilities of cotton
growing in the region, however fertile
the soil, because the cost Of labor Is too
high. The outlook for the tin industry is
better. especially since cheaper trans
portation is to be provided by narrow
gauge railroad But he foresees the ex-
haustion of the tin fields within a quar-"
ter of a century, when agriculture will
have to be seriously taken up. There Is
little probability of An increase of the
export and import trade of the region
until the natives attain higher state of
civilization. Mr.. Tremearne, while not
neglecting the recent and early history
of the country'of the Hausas and Filani,
the former hunting ground OF the slav-
ers devotes most Of his space to a study
of the different tribes that inhabit 1t,
their customs, manners, folklore. etc.
The tail" Of his title is an artificial
appendage, worn fastened around the
waist by the women of certain tribes as
a token of marriage. very much as a
ring Is Worn by the matrons OF the
white race. The bearing Of the custom
on the many old traditions OF human
beings with tails Is not overlooked by the
author. who elsewhere informs us that
cannibalism is still practsed in parts ot
Northern Nigeria, Both books have the
interest of the remote and unknown