Reviews and Notes.
The Biogen Series (Estes & Lauriat, Boston, Mass.). This series of publications is under the editorial management of Prof. Coues, the well known Scientist and Theosophist. The series has just reached its fifth number “Kuthumi, or the Economy of Human Life.” This is a reprint of a little volume, originally issued in 1770, but under the classical pen of Prof. Coues who has added an introduction, and the faultless typography of Estes & Lauriat, the little book is a very different affair from the earlier edition. Number four of the series which is also only just out of press, bears the significant title, “Can Matter Think,” and is reprint of an article which was written in India and published some years ago in The Theosophist. By no means the least important part of these publications are the notes and editorial comments of Prof Coues. Number four of the series has both an introduction and an appendix from the Professor’s pen. To give these publications such extended notice as they deserve would occupy more space and time than is at our command, while the exceedingly readable form and low price at which they are issued, renders such review unnecessary, as they are within reach of all.
These little books are in short, classics, and as such, substantial additions to the literature of the age, while their bearing on the great problems of Theosophy, can hardly be over estimated. Prof. Coues’ familiarity with the whole field of modern research, his exactness, which comes from scientific training, his remarkable command of first-class English, and his insight into the complex problems of psychology, place these books in the forefront of Theosophic literature, and we cordially commend them to our readers.
J.D. Buck.
THE SANSCRIT LANGUAGE.
Several letters have been written and inquiries propounded to the Editor regarding Sanscrit, and in one or two instances the assertion has been made that we were incorrect in saying that Sanscrit is not really a dead language. In reply to those asking about the language, we refer them to Perry’s Sanscrit Primer (Ginn & Co., Boston), Lanman’s Sanscrit Reader and Whitney’s Sanscrit Grammar.
To the others, we quote from Perry’s Primer, § 21, p. 7: “The Sanscrit is used in India to this day very much as Latin was used in Europe in the previous century; it is a common medium of communication between the learned, be their native tongues what they may, and it is not the vernacular of any district whatever.” And in India, the Editor was told by many Brahmins that it is in constant use in all religious convocations and assemblies convened among people of learning who come from widely separated parts of Hindustan.
Thoughts.—By Ivan Panin, (Cupples, Upham & Co., Boston.) The author says that he does not know why he writes, but the thoughts jotted down are put forth as his own. Many of them are good and worth remembering. The book is of size convenient for the pocket, and well bound; the thoughts are topically arranged and numbered consecutively from 1 to 435; the first is, that to be never unhappy is the greatest misfortune; and the last, that next to the pleasure of seeing beautiful things, is to describe them. The best one is No. 205, that nature preaches many a fine sermon on silence, as: the loud thunder hurts not, but the silent lightning; silent gravity binds all worlds together; silent snow covers the ground, but noisy rain makes puddles and then runs away. Another good one is No. 188: “Always indeed, tell the truth, but do not always speak it;” also No. 80: “Abhor his vice, but not the man; for he is like thee a son of God.”