SEMITIC ORIGINS.
A Sketch of Semitic Origins. By G. A. Barton. (Macmillan and Co. 12s. 6d.)—Professor Barton, in what with customary humility is called u. sketch, has grouped together a vast quantity of re- search and study of the religious and social beginnings of the Semites. Their primitive social life contains much that is un- savoury, and of this nothing is spared. Perhaps, in order that we may appreciate the final development of Semitic ideals, such an exhaustive study of a low human stage may have its advantages. Professor Barton emphasises strongly the contrast which the remarkable development of Jewish ideals presented to those of surrounding Semitic races : " we find in none of them except this little Hebrew branch any potency or promise of spiritual flower or ethical fruit so fair." That a race of naturally coarse fibre—we use a politer term than the author—should have grafted on to them a spiritual conception of such purity and strength Professor Barton explains by the high regard which the race came to possess for the dignity of fatherhood and motherhood. The volume is really a laborious study of the early ancestors of the Hebrews, and if the discussion as to religious niceties of the origin of Jehovah and social origins seems a little prolix, considering how much is conjectural and a little obscure, especially when totally opposite conditions of sexual relations are described as existing side by side, we do not forget that the final ideal of the race is described and held up for our reverence in impressive language worthy of the subject. Professor Barton handles a host of authorities with commendable care, he is always interesting, and if he does pack his facts and hypotheses closely together, he rarely fails to give us definite ideas.
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