BITS FROM BOOKS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 29, 14 April 1911, Page 8

BITS FROM BOOKS.

The BtrrtTEs in amekica.— -The America* continent was originally peopled from two different directions, the one being theNorthsastern coast of Asia, the other, the Malay and Polynesian archipelagos. The American tribes of insular derivation have everywhere been displaced, for they are found in the eastern parts of the continent as Algonquin*, &c. Who displaced them ? The more warlike tribes of continental origin that, through many ages, poured southward from the Arctic limits of Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. There is no reason for supposing the Algonquins to have been very ancient colonists of America, for remnants of the same oceanic migration still occupy the western coasts. It is possible, however, that they arrived before the beginning of the Christian era. The Mayas and Quiches of Yucatan and Guatemala are of their snack, arid their strange system of hieroglyphics is believed to be related to characters found on Easter Island, and to the, most ancient Chinese symbols. These tribes brought with them traditions of the Hittite supremacy in Egypt, Palestine, and Chaldea. The first historical American people of contiriental origin is the great race of the Toltecs, whose rule was established in Mexico in the beginning of the ,Bth century, a. d. The arrival of successive : Khitan (Hittite) waves drove the Americar tribes of oceanic origin into the East. The Mound Builders, whose works are fount' from British Columbia to Michigan, and abound in the valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi, according to Iroquois and Algonquin tradition, were the Allighwei, descendants of those Alazones whose mounds Herodotus saw in European Scythia. They belonged to the Amalekite or Yemenite tribe, and the proud name of Amalek still finds its living representatives among the Esquimaux.— TheHittites: Their Inscription* and their History. By John Campbell, M.A., M.D. (London: J. C. Nimmo.)

Chinese Healing Arts. Chinese doctors profess to be able to diagnose disease by the state of the pulse only. Their knowledge of .<«»< tomy and physiology is almost nil; yei is place of exact knowledge they subslitutr the most absurd theories. The nature of disease being unknown, they attribute to the influence of the ' five leements' the onset of disease. To a large extent the physilogical action of drugs is unknown, and most wonderful healing properties are attributed to such substances as dragons’ teeth, fossils, tiger bones, pearls, etc. A Chinese doctor examines the pulse of each wrist of his patient with much solemnity, the sick person’s hand resting meantime upon a cushion, while the friends stand round watching the operation with much awe. The , tongue is then examined and a prescription written out; the doctor then -departs after giving his diagnosis and going into long explanations of what is taking place in his. patient’s interior. Many of the Chinese wonder much that foreign physicians should make so many inquiries, of their patients; they think that they should be able to find out all about such matters from the condition of the pulse. In most cases of sickness: idols, astrologers, and fortune-tellers are consulted. Disease is. generally attributed to the anger of the gods, or to a visitation of evil spirits; thepriests, indeed, teach this for their- own ends. Charms are in general use to expel evil spirits and pacify the offended gods, and i many idolatrous rites are employed. The noise of gongs and fire-cr’ackers used in these observances is constantly heard, and of necessity proves very injurious to a patient whose nervous system is weakened by disease. The charms are written out and pasted about the sick room ; sometimes these marvellous pieces of - paper arie burhed, and the ashes used to make a decoction, which the patient is ordered to drink. It is not wonderful therefore that medical science being in so unsatisfactory a state in China, the cures wrought by the foreign doctors seem to the people little short' of miraculous; and in many cases the difficulty is not to get the people to believe in the foreign medical man, but rather for them to understand there is a ! limit to his healing power.— John Kenneth Mackenzie, Medical Missionary to China. By Mrs. Bryson. (London: Hodder and Stoughton.)

How Meissonier got his Effects.— A writer in the Contributors’ Club in the Atlantic gives a characteristic anecdote of Meissonier, which shows how that painter of the soldier secured accuracy of effect: — At Saint-Germain, which stands on a bend of the river above Poissy, separated by a strip of forest land, the eccentric, almost dwarfish figure of old Meissonier was also well known. Not a raw recruit in the cavalry regiment quartered there but could tell you his name, coupling it with the fam’iliarly affectionate appellation of •' father.'' Among the officers his popularity was associated with that of the great Napoleon, whose memory he had done so much to serve. I remember, two or three summers ago, hearing a young sous-lieutenant oi chasseurs, then stationed at the town, describe an encounter he had had with le pert Meissonier. Early in the morning, it appeared, he had been abroad exercising his squad, and was returning with it at a footpace along one of those straight, intermidable avenues, which traverse the forest, when midway a tall yellow dogcart swooped down upon him. Aloft sat a little old bonhomme, whose patriarchal beard floated to the wind like the famed white plume of Navarre. " Hola! M. I’Officiorl" the little 'man shouted, when within earshot. Hardly waiting to draw rein, he scrambled precipitately over the wheels of the charrette, and presented his card. It was our lieutenant's turn to spring to earth. "Of what service can I be to Meissonier?" "The loan of your men, man officier,” cried the fiery artist, "an affair of ten minutes! Y(iu consent? Tree Men! Follow me.” Away rattled the yellow charrette at racing speed (Meissonier would brook no laggard in his stables), our blue-coated chasseurs clattering fast bn its tracks. Presently they passed the borders of the forest, arid entered a wheat-field which skirted the road, unpro tected by fence or hedge, as is the custom In most parts of France. The grain was ripe for harvest, and already a peasant proSrietor, assisted by two or thraVfarm lads, ad begun operations at an upper corner. Calling halt to the company, Meissonier sped across the field to a parley with the farmers. An animated pantomime took place, in which coin of the country seemed to flow uncounted from capacious shogtingjacket pockets to some secret receptacle undei the voluminous blue blouse. Then back again, aglow with generous enthusiasm. " Now, my dear sir.” the old painter cried, " all I have to ask you is to station your men yonder, under shadow of those trees. At a signal from me— tiens! I'll flutter this handkerchief—make a bee-line through the grain. Gallop straight for me." The officer did as desired, and was met by Meissonier in a high state of excitement. •' Faster! faster!" he shouted, gesticulating wildly, notebook in : one hand and crayon in the other. " Try it again !" Half a dozen times, at least the soldiers charged, and devastated indeed lay that golden grainfield before word was given to desist. Thej were then courteously thanked and dismissed with a forty-franc pmirboire, that “ ces brave enfants might wet their throats after such dry work." When last in sight, the old painter (verging at the time, be it remembered, on his eightyth year), occupied a grotesque attitude in the middle of the beaten field, taking an upside down view of bis surroundings.