21 APRIL 1900, Page 23

Horns of Honour. By F. T. Fiworthy. Illustrated. (John Murray.

10s. Cd.)—It has been the aim of Mr. Elworthy to define the significance of horns as emblems of power. The points of a crown, the buffalo horns of Indians, and the headdresses artificially producing the effect of a single horn all point to a universal adoption of such ornament for increasing the feeling of personal importance. The temptation to an enthusiast of an analytic mind is to read too much into a study of this kind. Men originally wore trophies of game as instances of prowess, and probably did come to consider them as an honour, and then perhaps as signifying power. The symbolic hand also provides material for some interesting chapters. Mr. Elworthy concludes by remarking that all ornament or decoration had originally some distinct signification. Surely this vitiates much of his argument ; it is far too comprehensive a premise to argue upon.