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WATTS’S LITERARY GUIDE. B E I N G A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D O F L I B E R A L A N D A D V A N C E D P U B L IC A T IO N S . I No. 99.] F E B R U A R Y 15, 1894. [P rice One Penny. N E W P U B L IC A T IO N S . OUR L I B R A R Y S H E L V E S . M r . Andrew L ang will contribute an introductory paper to the volume of Miss Naden's poems about to be issued by Messrs. Bickers & Son. Miss K ay S huttleworth, sister of the Secretary to the Admiralty, is bringing out Miss Naden’s poem, “ Six Years Old,” illustrated by a German protegee of hers. We understand that the brochure will be a beautiful gem. The fourth volume of “ The Religion of Science Library ” consists of Professor Ribot’s masterly treatise on “ The Diseases of Personality ” (is. 6d.). A DISTINGUISHED litterateur, writing above the nom-deplume of Edgar Richton, has published, in pamphlet form, under the title of “ The Truthsecker ” (6d.), an exceedingly meritorious poem which lie contributed to the monthly magazine, the Agnostic The poem, at the time of its publication, attracted the favourable notice of the late Matthew Arnold, who indeed suggested that it should he issued in its present form. T he new volume of the collected edition of Professor Huxley’s works is entitled “ Science and Christian Tradition ” (5s.). T he Rev. J . H. Barrows has edited two bulky volumes giving a verbatim report of the proceedings at the Parliament of Religions recently held at Chicago. The price of the work is 20s. net. M e s s r s . C hapman & H a l l have issued the sixteenth edition of Mr. Samuel I-aing's “ Modern Science and Modern Thought.” T he little volume of dialogues, on “ Is the Bible a Revelation from God ?” which we announced in our last issue, will be ready almost immediately. The price will be 2s., not 2s. 6d., as previously stated. T he first of the four volumes of “ The Writings of Thomas Paine,” which Mr. Moncure 1). Conway has in hand, is issued, and covers the years 1774 -1779 . We understand that the second volume, which will probably appear in the spring, will comprise most of Paine's writings in England between the time of his arrival, September 3rd, 1787, and his departure for France five years later. “ The Rights of Man ” will be preceded by a document which has never appeared in English, but was translated from the manuscript by Condorcct for the Chronique du Mois (Paris) of May, June, and July, 1792. It was written a year before its translation in reply to questions addressed to Paine concerning some fundamental provisions of the constitution submitted by the National Assembly, and in it the writer states that he is engaged on Part II. of “ The Rights of Man.” Much information is supplied and many unexpected sidelights are thrown upon Biblical history and doctrine in a work published anonymously, ten years ago, under the title of “ BIBLE FOLK-LORE: A Study in Comparative Mythology” (Kegan Paul; 1884 ; 355 PP-; 1 os. 6d.). Perhaps now and then the writer’s imagination and power of conjecture lead him beyond safe limits; but his instincts are rational, and his general method sound. His plan is to search in Semitic literature for ex­ planations of the forms which Hebrew legend assumes in the Old and New Testaments. Plentiful references in foot­ notes fortify the writer’s statements. And, though much learning is displayed, the style is decidedly agreeable, and adapted for the general reader. Perhaps, in view of the large area covered by this book, consecutive notes on the chapters will give the best idea of its contents and purpose. I.— “ The Legend of the Year.” Chaldrean and other myths of Eden, Deluge, etc., are compared with the Biblical stories ; and even the genealogies of Genesis are made to yield evidences of early naturism. Thus Cain is interpreted as the sun-god, and Abel as the clouds of night which are slain by the rising day-star. I I .—“ Legends of the Three Patriarchs ”—i.e., Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham’s travels, from Ur in the East to Canaan in the West, are made to typify the course of the sun ; his burial-place of Machpelah is the cave of night. So, also, in the case of Jacob, whose twelve sons are the twelve months. I I I .— "T h e Twelve Tribes." The tribal names are shown to have astronomical associations ; Benjamin, for example, the youngest son of Jacob and the child of Rachel's sorrow, is appropriately the last month of the year. His hunger at Joseph’s table indicates the want and barrenness of the winter season. IV .— “ The Epic of the Exodus.” The Akkadian legend of Sargon in the ark, and other Eastern parallels with the myth of Moses, are briefly given ; and the journey in the Wilderness is shown to be a Hebrew version of the sun-god’s passage through the regions of night to the promised land of the sunrise, over which the solar leader casts his glance from the heights of l’ isgah. Interwoven with the night-myth is a year-myth, according to which the hero must die at the close of the twelve months’ journey. V.—“ Legends of the Judges.” Here the same system is followed, notably in the case of Samson, the sun-god who dies between the pillars of the west. V I .— “ Elohim and Jehovah.” Elohim is the old god of heaven, and connected also with the moon and the planet Saturn (the “ Chiun ” of Amos v. 26); and Jehovah is the milder deity of the daylight and sun. Analogies with the sun-gods of Assyria, Phoenicia, and Egypt are pointed out in a very interesting manner. V I I .—“ The Prophets ’’ arc rather scantily treated, and more attention is devoted to the mythical and heathenish characteristics of their careers and teachings than to the ethical influences exercised by such reformers as Isaiah. V I I I .— “ The Persian Period” brought the Jews into a new AffTSTP;

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WATTS’S LITERARY GUIDE. B E I N G A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D O F L I B E R A L A N D A D V A N C E D P U B L IC A T IO N S .

I

No. 99.]

F E B R U A R Y 15, 1894.

[P rice One Penny.

N E W P U B L IC A T IO N S .

OUR L I B R A R Y S H E L V E S .

M r . Andrew L ang will contribute an introductory paper to the volume of Miss Naden's poems about to be issued by Messrs. Bickers & Son.

Miss K ay S huttleworth, sister of the Secretary to the Admiralty, is bringing out Miss Naden’s poem, “ Six Years Old,” illustrated by a German protegee of hers. We understand that the brochure will be a beautiful gem.

The fourth volume of “ The Religion of Science Library ” consists of Professor Ribot’s masterly treatise on “ The Diseases of Personality ” (is. 6d.).

A DISTINGUISHED litterateur, writing above the nom-deplume of Edgar Richton, has published, in pamphlet form, under the title of “ The Truthsecker ” (6d.), an exceedingly meritorious poem which lie contributed to the monthly magazine, the Agnostic The poem, at the time of its publication, attracted the favourable notice of the late Matthew Arnold, who indeed suggested that it should he issued in its present form.

T he new volume of the collected edition of Professor Huxley’s works is entitled “ Science and Christian Tradition ” (5s.).

T he Rev. J . H. Barrows has edited two bulky volumes giving a verbatim report of the proceedings at the Parliament of Religions recently held at Chicago. The price of the work is 20s. net.

M e s s r s . C hapman & H a l l have issued the sixteenth edition of Mr. Samuel I-aing's “ Modern Science and Modern Thought.”

T he little volume of dialogues, on “ Is the Bible a Revelation from God ?” which we announced in our last issue, will be ready almost immediately. The price will be 2s., not 2s. 6d., as previously stated.

T he first of the four volumes of “ The Writings of Thomas Paine,” which Mr. Moncure 1). Conway has in hand, is issued, and covers the years 1774 -1779 . We understand that the second volume, which will probably appear in the spring, will comprise most of Paine's writings in England between the time of his arrival, September 3rd, 1787, and his departure for France five years later. “ The Rights of Man ” will be preceded by a document which has never appeared in English, but was translated from the manuscript by Condorcct for the Chronique du Mois (Paris) of May, June, and July, 1792. It was written a year before its translation in reply to questions addressed to Paine concerning some fundamental provisions of the constitution submitted by the National Assembly, and in it the writer states that he is engaged on Part II. of “ The Rights of Man.”

Much information is supplied and many unexpected sidelights are thrown upon Biblical history and doctrine in a work published anonymously, ten years ago, under the title of

“ BIBLE FOLK-LORE:

A Study in Comparative Mythology” (Kegan Paul; 1884 ; 355 PP-; 1 os. 6d.). Perhaps now and then the writer’s imagination and power of conjecture lead him beyond safe limits; but his instincts are rational, and his general method sound. His plan is to search in Semitic literature for ex­ planations of the forms which Hebrew legend assumes in the Old and New Testaments. Plentiful references in foot­ notes fortify the writer’s statements. And, though much learning is displayed, the style is decidedly agreeable, and adapted for the general reader. Perhaps, in view of the large area covered by this book, consecutive notes on the chapters will give the best idea of its contents and purpose.

I.— “ The Legend of the Year.” Chaldrean and other myths of Eden, Deluge, etc., are compared with the Biblical stories ; and even the genealogies of Genesis are made to yield evidences of early naturism. Thus Cain is interpreted as the sun-god, and Abel as the clouds of night which are slain by the rising day-star. I I .—“ Legends of the Three Patriarchs ”—i.e., Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham’s travels, from Ur in the East to Canaan in the West, are made to typify the course of the sun ; his burial-place of Machpelah is the cave of night. So, also, in the case of Jacob, whose twelve sons are the twelve months. I I I .— "T h e Twelve Tribes." The tribal names are shown to have astronomical associations ; Benjamin, for example, the youngest son of Jacob and the child of Rachel's sorrow, is appropriately the last month of the year. His hunger at Joseph’s table indicates the want and barrenness of the winter season. IV .— “ The Epic of the Exodus.” The Akkadian legend of Sargon in the ark, and other Eastern parallels with the myth of Moses, are briefly given ; and the journey in the Wilderness is shown to be a Hebrew version of the sun-god’s passage through the regions of night to the promised land of the sunrise, over which the solar leader casts his glance from the heights of l’ isgah. Interwoven with the night-myth is a year-myth, according to which the hero must die at the close of the twelve months’ journey. V.—“ Legends of the Judges.” Here the same system is followed, notably in the case of Samson, the sun-god who dies between the pillars of the west. V I .— “ Elohim and Jehovah.” Elohim is the old god of heaven, and connected also with the moon and the planet Saturn (the “ Chiun ” of Amos v. 26); and Jehovah is the milder deity of the daylight and sun. Analogies with the sun-gods of Assyria, Phoenicia, and Egypt are pointed out in a very interesting manner. V I I .—“ The Prophets ’’ arc rather scantily treated, and more attention is devoted to the mythical and heathenish characteristics of their careers and teachings than to the ethical influences exercised by such reformers as Isaiah. V I I I .— “ The Persian Period” brought the Jews into a new

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