The Story of Samson And Its Place in the Relig 



" ious Development of Mankind. 



By Paul Carus. 80 illustrations. Pp. 183. Comprehensive index. 



Boards, $1.00 net. (4s. 6d. net.) 



Dr. Carus contends that Samson's prototype is to be found in those traditions of all prim- 

 itive historical peoples which relate to a solar deity. He believes that genuine tradition, no 

 matter how mythological, is more conservative than is at first apparent. Though the bibli- 

 cal account of Samson's deeds, like the twelve labors of Heracles, is the echo of an ancient 

 solar epic which glorifies the deeds of Shamash in his migration through the twelve signs of 

 the zodiac, there may have been a Hebrew hero whose deeds reminded the Israelites of Sha- 

 mash, and so his adventures were told with modifications which naturally made the solar 

 legends cluster about his personality. 



References are fully given, authorities quoted and comparisons are carefully drawn be- 

 tween Samson on the one hand, and Heracles, Shamash, Melkarth and Siegfried on the 

 other. The appendix contains a controversy between Mr. Geo. W. Shaw and the author in 

 which is discussed at some length the relation between myth and history. 



An E *P sition j * Main Character- 

 istic reatures of the Chinese World- 

 Conception. By Paul Carus. Being a continuation of the author's essay, 

 Chinese Philosophy. Illustrated. Index. Pp.195. $1.00 net. (4s. 6d.) 



This book contains much that is of very great interest in the development of Chinese 

 culture. Beginning in the first chapter with a study of the earliest modes of thought-com- 

 munication among primitive people of different parts of the world, and tracing the growth of 

 the present system of Chinese caligraphy. In "Chinese Occultism" some interesting Oriental 

 mystical ideas are explained as well as the popular methods of divination by means of tri- 

 grams and the geomancer's compass. In a special chapter the zodiacs of different nations 

 are compared with reference to the Chinese zodiac and also to a possible common Babylon- 

 ian origin. This chapter contains many rare and valuable illustrations representing almost 

 all known zodiacs from those of Egypt to the natives of the Western hemisphere. The in- 

 fluence of Confucius is discussed, and a hurried recapitulation of the most important points 

 in Chinese history is given together with a review of the long novel which stands in the place 

 of a national epic. Chinese characteristics and social conditions have their place in this 

 volume as well as the part played in China by Christian missions, and the introduction of 

 Western commercialism. The author's object is to furnish the necessary material for a psy- 

 chological appreciation of the Chinese by sketching the main characteristic features of the 

 ideas which dominate Chinese thought and inspire Chinese morality, hoping thereby to con- 

 tribute a little toward the realization of peace and good will upon earth. 



Chinese Life and Customs 



by Chinese artists. Pp. 114. T5c. net. (3s: 6d. net.) 



This book is little more than a compilation of Chinese illustrations accompanied with only 

 as much text as will suffice to explain them, and what further material has been added is 

 merely in the way of quotations from Chinese literature. The intention is to make the 

 Chinese people characterize themselves by word and picture. Child rhymes, love lyrics and 

 songs of revelry are introduced in translation from Chinese poetry which is recognized as 

 classical. The illustrations which form the great body of the book are from the most authen- 

 tic Chinese source of information concerning modern life in China unaffected by the aggres- 

 sive Occidental foreigners. The book is divided into chapters on "Annual Festivals," 

 "Industries and Foreign Relations, " "Confucianism and Ancestor Worship," "Taoism and 

 Buddhism," "Childhood and Education," "Betrothal and Marriage," "Social Customs and 

 Travels," "Sickness and Death." 



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