Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 46.djvu/287

Rh phrases are defined. Where there are several possible catch-words in a phrase, cross-references from the others to the one under which the phrase is defined are liberally inserted. The mechanical execution of the book is of a high grade.

work shows considerable research and careful collating of testimony, but is much stronger historically than scientifically. The title is a misnomer. Not even an attempt is made to show the evolution of woman, or of the special aptitudes with which the author endows her. When once she appears upon the scene her development is dropped and only her relationship with man is discussed. The book might be more aptly called The Rise and Fall of Woman, with a Prophecy of her Renaissance. Beginning with an account of the earliest forms of life and proceeding to sex differentiation, the author attempts to prove that the female organization is generally superior to the male throughout the organic world. Among bees, aphides, and tadpoles it has been noted that abundant nutrition, light, and moisture result in females, while unfavorable conditions give rise to males. Among plants staminate flowers of)en first, and "the larch bears female blossoms in its luxurious stage; but as soon as its vigor is lost, male flowers appear." In the human race, more boys are born after epidemics, wars, and famine. The masculine element is, however, not only conditioned upon starvation, but cases of reversion and abnormities are much more numerous with men, while their liability to defective sight and color-blindness indicates that the male power of vision is deteriorating. The author denies that the earlier races of men lived in promiscuity and lawlessness, and deems it more probable that, as among birds and mammals, the females were courted and held in honor. Subsequently kinship was reckoned through the mother and a system of matriarchy established. The prevalence of the gens and early supremacy of woman is attested by the feminine names given to tribes and countries as well as by customs and allusions in historic periods. The author has bestowed great care upon this part of her argument, and it furnishes a plausible explanation of wife-capture and divers obscure wedding rites.

The origin of marriage is described in no gentle terms, the existence of love being ignored. The early Grecian state is well depicted, and an excellent picture is given of Spartan and Athenian women. The change in the position of woman from her status under early Roman law to that under the Antonines, when the influence of Stoic philosophy was felt, is also well brought out. With the conclusion as well as with various assertions scattered throughout the book it is impossible to agree. Some are contrary to observed and verified facts, and one premise has neither scientific authority to support it nor any evidence furnished in its favor—i. e., that the higher faculties are transmitted through the female. It may safely be said that there is no embryologist or biologist so rash as to claim that one parent transmits certain qualities exclusively. Neither would any student of human nature affirm that passion or affection was monopolized by either sex. As to maternal love, we do not know whether or not it is "divine, uncreated," but we do know that paternal love is also a primary instinct, not only strong in mankind, but found among birds and fishes. All parental love, however, is a consequent, and it may be noticed that hyperexaltation of it often follows thwarting or lack of sexual love which is its natural antecedent.

the year covered by the geological report topographical work was carried on by the survey in twenty-seven States and Territories, and an area of 44,100 square miles was surveyed and mapped. Geological work went on on the two lines of the areal distribution of formations and of the study in field and office of various problems in rock structure and history. New work was instituted upon the mineral phosphates of Florida, and in co-operation of the State and national surveys in New Jersey.