Contemporary Literature. THE DESCENT of Man, and SELECTION IN Rela- This is not a caricature, but an honest statement of the author's doctrine; with the question of a Creator lying back of all the immeasurable series through which man has been evolved, he has nothing to do, nor with the immortality of man's future destiny; he is simply a scientist, unconcerned about God or religion, but about facts. Mr. Darwin is proud of his origin. He says, "For my own part, I would as soon be descended from that heroic little monkey, who braved his dreaded enemy in order to save the life of his keeper; or from that old baboon, who, descending from the mountains, carried away in triumph his young comrade from a crowd of astonished dogs, as from a savage who delights to torture his enemies, offers up bloody sacrifices, practices infanticide without remorse, treats his wives like slaves, knows no decency, and is haunted by the grossest superstition." We do not see, however, what Mr. Darwin gains by this, as certainly that heroic little monkey, or that brave old baboon, did not spring up into such a man as Mr. Darwin, without passing through the lower stages of "the savage who delights to torture his enemies." First the four then the tailless, leaping ape; then the sometimes erect and shambling gorilla; then the cave man, still sharing his life with wild animals; then the naked, and bedaubed, and long-haired savage; then the stone-aged barbarian; then the bronze-tooled wanderer; then, perhaps, the Indian; then something like a man. You must take it all, Mr. Darwin. Your facts, if they prove any thing, prove the series. With the fame and general theories of Mr. Darwin our readers are acquainted, and we have on hand from an esteemed contributor an able critique of his doctrines, so that we need give but little more than a passing notice here. The present volumes are devoted to an application of the author's doctrines with regard to the "Origin of Species" to the origin and descent of man. According to Mr. Darwin, species of animals are not separate creations by the Creator, but evolutions and developments out of other forms of animal life. With him, man is only a species of animal, and, therefore, can not be a separate creation, but is the final, or rather the present, result and form from variations, slow modifications, gradual losses and acquisitions, from an inferior order of animal life. Nearest to man in this series of variations are the monkey and ape tribes, and, of course, these are the more immediate progenitors of the human race. Man is an improved species of anthro-handed, hairy, long-tailed monkey, on all fours; pomorphous ape; by natural selection, by accidental and incidental advantages of form gained, maintained, and improved, he has become what he is; he has lost the hair, except a meager pilosity scattered over the body, and certain tufts on the head and other parts of the body, all plainly indicating that he was once a hairy animal; he has lost the tail-the rudiment still existing, however; he has ceased to be four-handed, two of his hands having been transformed into feet; his long ears have become folded and shortened, a little pimple, or projection, still occasionally found on the outer rim, being the remains of the point; he has gained by long exercise and practice, and the gradual conformity of the bones to the necessity, the erect attitude; the jaws have receded and become less prominent, through less use, as he gained more wisdom; from throwing a stone, and cracking a nut, he has acquired the art of war, and the skill for manufacturing various tools and instruments; his new wants and habits made him a thinker; thinking developed his brain, and thereby enlarged and changed his skull; his enlarged life made it necessary that his chattering should be developed into artificial language; he always has been a gregarious animal, and his social instincts and his sense of certain things being necessary for the common good of the community, developed a system of morality; his fears and his enlarged imagination originated worship; all these things matured and developed through countless ages, and under an infinite variety of circumstances, give us the perfect man of the highest civilization of the nineteenth century. But what are these facts? Nothing very new, nor many more than have been known for centuries; the same kind of facts as we find in the theories of Lord Monboddo a hundred years ago, or in the “Zoononiia" of Mr. Darwin's grandfather; the facts are of the same class, though of course more of them. They all cluster around the central fact, always known and always admitted, that man has an animal body, created after the type of other animal bodies, and that he lives an animal life, under the general modes and laws of other animal life. That there should be many points of agreement between him and other animals in anatomical structure and physiological action, is not strange; he has organs like them, he lives, breathes, eats, digests, absorbs, secrets, grows, sleeps, dies like them. In addition to these great facts that every body knows, Mr. Darwin points out minor facts, that, to him, are very significant; much stress is laid on “analogues,” being organs or parts present in the human body, having no very obvious use in man, but being perfect and useful organs in certain inferior animals; monstrosities, as we used to call them, are recognized as re-appearances in man of organs which he formerly possessed in the lower life; rudiments are parts of organs still not entirely passed contains also a description of the races of Alaska and away. We do not feel ourself in the least convinced by all that we find in these volumes, or our faith in the old doctrine of the special creation of man by God in his own likeness, in the least shaken. Of course, Mr. Darwin can make out a plausible case from the simple fact that, in his physical life, man is an animal, and, of course, has many things in common with the animals. He starts out with a theory, and accumulates facts to sustain it; he is able to gather many plausi ble facts from the resemblance of man's life to that of the inferior beings. The facts are, however, just as consistent with the theory of man's special creation with an animal body subject to the laws and influences of other animal bodies. The serious part of the book is that it saps the foundation of all morality and religion. If this book contains the true theory of human life, we do not see how we could help being an atheist. Intelligence, language, morality, religion, are all mere animal evolutions; intelligence itself is bereft of certainty, morality is a mere selfish calculation of the best good and safety of the community, and religion is organized fear and superstition; there may or may not be an impersonal, pantheistic deity lying somewhere away off at the beginning of these infinite series of evolutions; and as for any future of immortality, we can see no possible ground for the idea that this process of mere evolution, or development, could evolve an immortal man out of a mortal and perishing monkey. The redeeming feature of the volumes is the vast collection of curious and useful facts about men and animals. Mr. Darwin is a scholar of vast information in all departments of knowledge bearing on his theories; he has spared no labor or pains in collecting his facts; and facts they are too, of a most interesting and valuable character; by the value of these the volumes will abundantly repay the reader; of the conclusions to be drawn from them, the reader can judge for himself; scientific facts are one thingtheories to be deduced from them are quite another. THE UNCIVILIZED RACES, OR NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN. Two Volumes, Royal Octavo. Pp. 774, 875. By Rev. J. G. Wood, M. A., F. L. S. Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company. Cin cinnati: Nettleton & Co. We noticed an edition of this great work some months ago, issued by J. B. Burr & Co., of Hartford, and then expressed an opinion of its merits as one of the most valuable contributions to the literature of the age; it is, indeed, a perfect library of knowledge with regard to the uncivilized races of men; it deals only in facts and supports no theories; the compiler possesses peculiar talents for this kind of work, has been laborious and discriminating in collecting his facts, and combines them in very systematic order, and relates them in attractive style. volumes contain a complete account of the manners and customs, and the physical, social, and religious condition and characteristics of the barbarous tribes throughout the entire world. The American edition The Siberia. The volumes contain over seven hundred illustrations, and numerous maps. The edition before us claims the advantages over the one previously noticed of being a complete, unabridged edition, containing all the matter, both of text and illustrations, to be found in the original London edition. A COMPLETE CONCORDANCE TO THE HOLY SCRIPT- & Co. Pp. 856. New York: Cincinnati: George E. Stevens The public is thoroughly acquainted with "Cruden's Concordance." It is only necessary to say that this is a complete and well-executed edition, that the Concordance itself has not yet been superseded by a better one, that no preacher's library can do without it, and every family ought to have it. BARNES'S NOTES, EXPLANATORY AND PRACTICAL, By Albert The Gospels, Vol. I, pp. 456; Vol. II, pp. 432. The Acts of the Apos tles, pp. 418. The Epistle to the Romans, pp. 367. 12mo. $1.50 per volume. New York: Harper & Bros. Cincinnati: Robt. Clarke & Co. The Harpers are issuing a new and revised edition of these well-known Notes. They originally began to appear in 1832. In 1840 the plates were recast, and various changes were then made. Since then great advances have been made in all the departments of knowledge necessary to a proper illustration of the Scriptures; Palestine has been explored more accurately than before; a better knowledge of Oriental manners and customs has been attained; more accurate maps and illustrations have been published; and the best minds in Europe and America have been employed in illustrating the language employed and the manners and customs referred to in the New Testament. In the last years of his life Mr. Barnes desired to avail himself of these accumulated advantages to revise his whole work. This has been done, and the Notes will now appear with no essential changes in the general plan, which was not desirable, but with such additions and abridgments as will adapt them to the present state of Biblical knowledge and to the present wants of the people. They will still hold their place as convenient, accurate, and sufficiently full notes on the New Testament for all ordinary purposes. The volumes are copiously illustrated, and contain a full supply of to say about them." As we glance over his volume we agree with him that he has much to say to the girls, much of exceeding great importance, and that he says it in a way that can not fail to interest and instruct them. It is just such a book as every girl ought to have and ought to read. We do not believe every thing that is in the book, but in nearly all particulars it is true, pungent, and just to the point. He is not at home so much in the matter of education as in hygiene, and some things which he says about the study of French, of Greek and Latin, and music, may be disputed; but in rules for maintaining and regaining health he is thoroughly sound. Girls molded after the doctrines of this book would be far wiser, healthier, and happier, than those who come up after the fashion of our ordinary social conventionalisms, and they would be far prettier too, as well as far more useful. THE TWO BROTHERS, AND OTHER POEMS. By Edward Henry Bickersteth, M. A. Author of "Yesterday, To-day, and Forever." 12mo. Pp. 324. New York: Robert Carter & Bros. Cincinnati: The name of Mr. Bickersteth has rapidly become a household word in a great number of American families. By his "Yesterday, To-day, and Forever" he touched the deeper chords of many hearts, of those too that are most in sympathy with what is good and true, and he is reaping the sure reward. The present volume will be welcomed for the author's sake, and in it will be found many sweet and interesting poems, though others will not much interest the reader, nor add to the author's fame. They are of unequal strength, having been written at various times during the past twenty-seven years; some of them are the prize pieces written in his university days; others are occasional bubblings from the full fountain within; still others are hymns suited to the purposes of public or private worship, and glowing with Christian feeling. They are interesting as the first trials of pinions that afterward soared so well. OPPORTUNITIES. A Sequel to "What she Could." By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World." 16mo. Pp. 382. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. Cincinnati: Geo. E. Stevens & Co. We have noticed the present uniform edition of the works of this chaste and interesting American author now issuing from the press of the Carters. This one is marked the fifth of the series. They are all interesting, instructive, and pure books. become a thousand. The lives of our early Methodist preachers abound in thrilling incidents, and the directness, plainness, and pungency of their first preaching were the means of bringing scores of immortal souls to Christ at a single meeting. Everywhere it was the same-in England, in the United Colonies of America, in the first Western States, and in Canada. This history, which we have here named, is not, therefore, peculiar. It relates the origin, and details the progress of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada. It names its pioneer heroes; shows how they "toiled and sweat to cultivate Immanuel's land," and also how they conquered. This entire volume is a delightful episode in ecclesiastical history, and makes us better acquainted with our spiritual kinsmen, the brethren of one great family. It is well worth a perusal by all who love the Church and its institutions. SUZANNE DE L'ORME. A Story of Huguenot Times after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Cincinnati: Hitchcock & Walden. 16то. How the Protestant Christians of France suffered for their faith; how they were fined and imprisoned, were tortured and killed, or were driven from their country and their homes, is partially told in this thrilling story of Huguenot times. "Do you know,” said Ranke to Guizot, "against whom the Prussians are fighting?" "Louis Napoleon, of course," replied Guizot. "No," answered the other; "against Louis the Fourteenth." France has indeed suffered for her crimes, and the atonement is not yet complete. Years of agony and oppressive taxation, of revolution and bloodshed, can never wipe out the crime of Bartholomew's night or the revocation of Henry's Edict. France needs the Bible and the Protestant faith; and until she as heartily embraces both as she once rejected them, there will be no stability for her people, her government, or her country. THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE. By Miss Yonge, Author of "The Two Guardians," etc. Two Volumes. 12mo. Pp. 314, 312. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. HEART'S-EASE. By the Same. Same Publishers. 12mo. Pp. 303, 315. These belong to the new and beautiful edition of Miss Yonge's works now issuing from the press of the Appletons. The authoress has been long known, and quite popular among readers of fiction. Her works have been extensively circulated in this country, and this very neat edition of them will be welcomed by her American admirers. THE MILLER OF ANGIBAULT. By George Sand. Translated by Miss Mary E. Dewey. 16mo. Pp. Cincin320. $1.50. Boston: Roberts Brothers. nati: Robert Clarke & Co. HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CANADA. By Thomas Webster. Hamilton, Canada. Published by the author. 12mo. Pp. 424. No more romantic history has ever been written than that which relates to the heroic age of Methodism. The Church in the wilderness had labors to undergo, and difficulties to encounter, and dangers to meet which we can scarcely credit; yet its earliest apostles were men of simple faith and sublime courage, and successfully they planted, watered, and tilled the Lord's heritage, until now the little one has has few equals. Another volume of the complete writings of the great French novelist, being the fifth of the series. With many faults, and much objectionable matter, the stories of George Sand are all of thrilling interAs a dissector and delineator of character she est. Editor's Cable. OUR ENGRAVINGS.-We present our readers this month a beautiful engraving from a painting by Samuel Colman. He is a true artist, and is highly appreciated as such by his fellow-artists. His style is bold, and his taste lies rather in wild and mountainous scenes than in popular landscape views. It . is only fifteen years since the valley of the Yo Semite was discovered by a wandering hunter, but the character of its novel and magnificent scenery is already well known in the Eastern States and in Europe. Since the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad, tourists visit it in great numbers, and returning, speak of its scenery with enthusiasm, but no words can be too glowing, and no picture can give an adequate idea of its majestic beauty. The subject of the present view is the North Dome, taken from a canon on the north side of the main valley, through which the River Illillouette flows. Augusta, Queen of Prussia, and now Empress of Germany, whose portrait we have had engraved for this number of the Repository, is the daughter of the late Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Saxe-Weimar. She was born September 30, 1811, and at the age of eighteen was married to King William, recently nominated Emperor. She has two children, Frederick William, Crown Prince, and Louisa, Grand Duchess of Baden. She is highly educated, pious, noblehearted, patriotic, fond of poetry and art, an excellent wife, a judicious parent, and a genuine woman. The new honors which have been thrust upon her can add nothing to her excellent name. "THE CHRISTIAN PASTORATE."-We have seen the manuscript and proof-sheets of the new work bearing the above title, and from the pen of Rev. Dr. Kidder, which is now in the press of Hitchcock and Walden, and which will be given to the public in the month of June. We recommend to our preachers to secure a copy of it at once. It is the most able and complete exposition of the calling, relations, and duties of the Christian pastor yet issued from the American press. It will immediately become a text-book in our seminaries and for young preachers. BOSTON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.-The catalogue of this flourishing Institution is on our table, giving a very full account of its past history, present location and status, and containing besides a very complete, systematic, and correct exhibit of the theological institutions of the whole country. We rejoice in the present prosperity and hopeful promise for the future of this strong and earnest institution. In an ing the general repudiation that his poems deserve. The literary critic of the Golden Age in reviewing his new poem says, "In the whole range of parts that the most versatile intellect can play, ethereal, wallowing, soaring, impious, rhapsodic, worldly, sensual, and devilish, he has made his appearance; howling his red-hot anathemas at all authority, human and divine; blasting with poetic lightningstrokes kings, priests, and law itself, defying and denouncing the Christian religion, and launching defiance at God himself. In these books there is not the poetry that makes men and women healthy or wise. Here is nothing to guide or to cheer. Here is nothing to live on. The poetry of Swinburne is but the exhalations of disease." THE IMPOSSIBLE WOMAN.-The Chicago Tribune thinks it would be a curious problem for a woman to find out from mankind what is really expected of her. Man adores helplessness, and says it ruins him. He talks about economy, and raves over spendthrifts. He decries frivolity, and runs away from brains. He pines after his grandmother who could make pies, and falls in love with white hands that can't. He moans over weakness, and ridicules strength. He condemns fashion theoretically, and the lack of it and passes practically. He longs for sensible women, them by on the other side. He worships saints, and sends them to convents. He despises pink and white women, and marries them if he can. He abuses silks and laces, and takes them into his heart. He glorifies spirit and independence, and gives a cruel thrust at the little vines that want to be oaks. What would the critical lords desire? A COMING TRANSFORMATION.-There comes a rumor-whether true or untrue we do not pretend to say that the time is not far distant when ladies will return to the simplicity of the Grecian style in dressbehind, big or little, according to the actual amount ing the hair; that plain bands in front, and a coil of hair possessed, will be the "mode." Wonderful transformation! Gentlemen will need to be introduced to their nearest friends when this transpires; for even a husband would scarce recognize his own wife, if, leaving her at morning crimped, puffed, frizzled, and curled after the fashion of the day, he should return at night to find her arrayed in her own tresses, arranged a la Grecian. SPIRITUAL LIFE.-As a flame touches a flame and combines into splendor and glory, so is the spirit of man united to Christ by the Spirit of God. It is a other number we will give more attention to the good thing to obey the law of God, but it is better catalogue. SWINBURNE'S POETRY.-We felt called upon some months ago to denounce the unclean ravings of this late-born poet; we are glad to find that he is meet to love it. The former is to live a new life, the latter is to have a new heart. A slave may obey a master whom he fears and hates, but the child loves the laws of his father. |