994 Recent Literature. [ December, 
guage, which may be used by peoples of different spoken lan- 
guages. As to the origin of language, it was not, in the author's 
view, “an event which took place long ago once for all, and then 
ceased entirely.” ‘‘So far as language can be traced to its actual 
source, that source does not lie in some lost gifts or powers of 
man, but in a state of mind still acting, and not above the level of 
children and savages.’* 
The act of writing is traced from the pictures of savage hunters 
to Egyptian hieroglyphics or pictures used to represent the sound 
of their name, then to tie breaking down of the picture into a mere 
sound-sign, till the Phoenician alphabet arose from the Egyptian 
Fic. 3.—Andaman Isianders.! 
hieratic and the Greek alphabet from the Phoenician, which ag 
down to us through the Romans. Then the origin of the arts © 
life, of pleasure, of the sciences, is discussed in a most suggest 
way, and finally the notions of mankind concerning the spirl 
world, the origin of history and mythology, and lastly the ones 
of society. The author concludes “that the study of man an© 
civilization is not only a matter of scientific interest, but at once 
passes into the practical business of life. We have in it the 
i e world, 
clearly 
rse of 
: : e 
The three wood-cuts kindly loaned by the publishers will give an idea of the © 
excellence of the illustrations. 
