AMONG THE BOOKS.

DEAR OLD STORYTELLERS. By Oscar Fay Adams. Boston: D. Lothrop Co. Blue cloth. 209 pp. Price $1.00.

Children of different ages will read this book with great pleasure and not a little instruction. They will learn much of these twelve authors, which, unless they have been much deeper students of ancient, medieval and semi-modern writers than has been the good fortune of most people, they will never have guessed before.

The book, though but a small one, and giving but a very few pages to each of the authors discussed, will have the effect of aiding in forming a liking for standard literature; an end which is much to be sought for in the training of our youth.

THE NEW ARITHMETIC. Edited by Seymour Eaton. Fifteenth edition. With preface by Trueman Henry Safford, Professor of Astronomy in Williams College. Boston: D. C. Heath & Co. Cloth. Pp. 232. Price, 75 cents. That this book is popular is evidenced by the fact that it has entered its fifteenth edition. There is no doubt of the value of the book to those who know how to make the best use of its contents.

Recognizing the difficulty of coming to the right conclusion as to the best method of using the book, the publishers have secured from Professor Safford, of Williams College, a very valuable addition in a preface, in which are given careful instructions and suggestions as to the best methods of using the yoluine. Professor Safford says of the book, it is one "of which I think highly as a book of exercises."

PHYSICAL TRAINING. A full report of the papers and discussions of the conference held in Boston, in November, 1889. Reported and edited by Isabel C. Barrows. Boston: Press of George H. Ellis, 141 Franklin Street. Cloth. Pp. 135.

The general interest in physical training has been greatly strengthened and given an incentive in the right direction by the conference held in Boston in Huntington Hall, November 29 and 30 of last year. The papers read there and the discussions of them have been published in very convenient form and will no doubt be received with much favor by educators generally.

One of the most notable papers was by Prof. Edward M. Hartwell, Ph. D., of Johns Hopkins University, who is doubtless more familiar with the literature of this subject than any other man in America. His paper is a masterly discussion of the fundamental principles underlying the subject, and will prove of great use to all teachers and students of physical training.

"The Place of Physical Training in a Rational Education," was another most excellent paper. Dr. Claes J. Enebuske, who read this paper, was very happy in his remarks. He was a master of his subject, and kept the large audience interested during his whole paper.

The other papers and discussions are of equal interest, and were by such eminent educators as Dr. William T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education,

who presided at the conference, Superintendent Edwin P. Seaver, H. Metzner of New York, Dr. E. Hitchcock, Dr. Larkin Dunton, Baron Nils Posse, M. G., The Earl of Meath, Dr. W. G. Anderson, Dr. Alice T. Hall, Dr. Helen Putnam, Dr. D. A. Sargent, Gen. F. A. Walker, Dr. Walter Channing, and others equally · well known. Professor Posse's paper deserves special mention.

We believe this book will be of value as a treatise on this subject, and that it will, as it should, attract much attention and be widely read.

SYNTAX OF THE MOODS AND TENSES OF THE GREEK VERB. By William Watson Goodwin, LL. D., Eliot Professor of Greek Literature in Harvard University. Rewritten and enlarged. Boston: Ginn & Co. Cloth. Pp. 464. Price, $2.15.

The first edition of this book was written by Professor Goodwin thirty years ago, and has been revised and enlarged once previous to this.

In the work of revising the book this time the author has not been unmindful of the great change which has taken place in the teaching of Greek and in the "grammatical doctrines," as Professor Goodwin calls them, since his book was first written, and he has in revising that work been obliged to add very much to it to make it what he designed this to be, viz., the best book on the subject now published. It is not a textbook for school or college, but a full treatise for the private study of college professors and teachers of Greek. It is a monument of industry and erudition, and an honor to American scholarship.

EXERCISES IN WOOD-WORKING. With a short treatise on wood. Written for Manual Training Classes in Schools and Colleges. By Ivin Sickles, M. S., M. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cloth. Illustrated. Pp. 158. While especially prepared for use in manual training classes, this book is of much value to any person who ever has occasion to use wood-working tools or to have any one work upon wood for him.

Part First. Wood is the title under which is given instruction and information on the structure of wood, the properties of wood, the care of wood, its characteristics, the plants and insects which tend to destroy or injure it, how to best preserve wood, and many other things in regard to wood which every man should know and which very few do know.

Part Second is filled with exercises in the use of tools, which, if thoroughly mastered, will give a fine start to those wishing to take up the trade of carpentry.

PRACTICAL HINTS FOR TEACHERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. By George Howland, Superintendent of the Chicago Schools. International Education Series. Vol. XIII. Edited by William T. Harris, A. M., LL. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cloth. Pp. 189.

We need say little to satisfy our readers that this book is one which they should possess. Doctor Harris does not edit a series which has any poor books in it, and Superintendent Howland does not write books of indifferent quality. On the contrary, they both can be relied upon to attach their names to nothing except what is thoroughly first class.

This book contains nine valuable papers on vital subjects, which no educator should fail to read. Among the subjects are "Moral Training in City Schools," "Elements of Growth in School-Life," "The Scholarship Aimed at in the School," "The Teacher in the Schoolroom," ," "The School Principal," and othAll the papers are good ones.

ers.

BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION OF THE STATE OF IOWA. By Henry Sabin, Superintendent of Public Instruction. Cloth. Pp. 378.

Superintendent Sabin has sent to the General Assembly of his state an excellent report of the condition of the schools of the state, and from this report we find much in the way of suggestion and recommendation which very many of the cities and towns of the country will find useful. If the school system of Iowa is improved as much as it may be from this report, it will be in advance of most other states in the matter of public education. The report is alike creditable to the author and the state.

THE SHOP. By Albert E. Winship. Boston: D. Lothrop Co. Cloth. Pp. 80. Price, 60 cents.

This modest little book is in a new line for the able editor of the "Journal of Education," but if new, it is certainly well conceived and carried out.

Mr. Winship has shown in these pages some of the trials and temptations, possibilities and probabilities of "The Shop," or of those individuals who make the shop what it is. He has, from personal observation, portrayed the working hours, the hours of play, those spent in the home, in school, and in church, which make up the week of the individuals of whom he has written. He also points out some of the ways in which these brothers and sisters may be helped to make the most of their lives.

THE SWEDISH SYSTEM OF EDUCATIONAL GYMNASTICS. By Baron Nils Posse. 241 illustrations. 275 pp. Boston: Lee & Shepard.

This capital book will be much sought for. It was very much needed. There are but few good books upon school gymnastics. The subject is receiving wide-spread attention. Ever since Dr. Dio Lewis started his "bean bags" and other movements in light gymnastics in Tremont Temple, over thirty years ago down to the present time, there has been a growing interest in physical training for the schools. The city school board of Boston have just appointed as one of their standing committees a committee on physical training.

This book is a capital exposition of the Swedish or Ling system, which is rapidly coming into use in our best schools in different sections of the country. The order of treatment in this book is as follows:

The whole system is elaborately described and illustrated, making the book very complete, attractive, and useful. It is the most valuable book upon the subject we have seen.

The typography and entire make-up of the book is in the best style of the art, and is a credit in this respect to the publishers.

ELEMENTS OF PLAIN AND SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY. By Edwin S. Crawley, Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co. Cloth. Pp. 159. Price, $1.00.

This book is adapted to the use of classes in college, and will be found to be as brief and concise as is possible and give a thorough understanding of the subject. The appendix contains a list of formulæ of use to students who continue their higher mathematics in post-graduate work.

THE ELEMENTS OF ASTRONOMY; A Textbook for Use in High Schools and Academies, with a Uranography. By Charles A. Young, Ph. D., LL. D., Professor of Astronomy in the College of New Jersey (Princeton), author of "The Sun,” and of a “General Astronomy for Colleges and Scientific Schools." Boston: Ginn & Co. Pp. 430 and 42. Price, $1.55.

This is not an abridgement of the larger work on Astronomy which has come from the pen of Professor Young, but an entirely new book prepared expressly for schools of academic grade. While the author has been careful to make the work suitable for youth in high schools, he has not fallen into the error of doing all the work himself and leaving nothing for the student. As far as he has gone in this book he has been exact, and all statements are absolutely The book is well adapted for the grade for which it has been so care

correct.

fully prepared.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ROMAN PEOPLE. By William F. Allen. Late Professor of History in the University of Wisconsin. Boston: Ginn & Co. Cloth. Pp. 349.

This book was the last work of the late Professor Allen. It was completed only the day before his death. In order to briefly give the essential facts of Roman history the author has treated the subject by presenting the society of that time as a whole, and the student will obtain not only the political, economic, literary, and religious elements singly, but in their relations to each other and their effects upon the life of the people individually and upon the nation as a whole.

The book is admirably adapted to school use, its style is simple, clear and brief, it is singularly accurate, and will be found in practice one of the most acceptable, thoroughly accurate, and well-balanced textbooks lately published on any subject.

THE PURITAN SPIRIT.

An Address. By Rev. R. S. Storrs, D. D. Boston and Chicago: Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society. Pp. 72. Price, 75 cents.

This address, or, more properly, oration, was delivered before the Congregational Club of Boston, at its Forefathers' meeting in December last. The oration is already famous. The occasion, the theme, and the orator, awakened great expectations, and these expectations were not disappointed. The handling of the subject by Dr. Storrs was simply masterly. There has been no such an all-round setting forth of the Puritan character. Dr. Storrs' analysis of it is discriminating as well as eloquent; it is just - not merely laudatory. His portrayal henceforth will dominate our conception of the Puritan. It was well that such a treatment of such a topic should be put into permanent form. The publishers have given us the oration in beautiful type and binding, preceded by an excellent portrait of Dr. Storrs, and including a picture of the famous St. Gauden's statue of the Puritan and other artistic embellishments. The book is one to be coveted by those who like to see an unusually excellent thing gotten out in an unusually fine way.

THE MONTHLIES AND QUARTERLIES.

In the North American Review, the two principal topics are "The Gladstone-Blaine Controversy," by Hon. Roger Q. Mills, and a continuation of the articles on "Divorce," these by Margaret Lee and Rev. Dr. Philip S. Moxom. The New England Magazine holds the high standard of its former issues, and is especially valuable for no particular article, for they are all of such excellent quality that it is difficult to name any article as of special value. In Harper's Magazine, Lord Wolseley holds the post of honor with an admirable historical sketch of the development of "The Standing Army of Great Britain." The list of writers represented in this issue is of very high character. — With this number of The Century Magazine is ended the most complete and discriminating life of" Abraham Lincoln" yet written, and the " Autobiography of Joseph Jefferson is continued. The article by General Wilson and W. P. Stedman on the " Pursuit and Capture of Jefferson Davis," is of historical value. -With the January number, Shakespeariana becomes a large sized quarterly, and is much improved in being printed on extra fine paper and in the character and quality of its letter-press. The illustra tions, also a new feature, are very fine. A new story under the title of "His Uncle and Her Grandmother" is begun in the January issue of Blackwood's Edinburgh Maga. zine. The other articles are interesting and valuable. "The Sign of the Four," by A. Conan Doyle, is the complete novel in the February Lippincott's. "Nathaniel Hawthorn's Elixir of Life,'" is continued in this number. ' In Belford's is also a complete novel this month, by Irene Farrar, entitled " By Might of Right." Jefferson Davis' "Andersonville and Other War Prisons" is continued, and an interesting article on "The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor," will find many readers. ——— The English Illustrated Magazine is particularly interesting from two articles, the one entitled "A Whitechapel Street," and the other under the caption, "To 'Frisco." The New Ideal comes from its office, 196 Summer Street, Boston, with fifty pages of well printed matter having a general bearing upon the object of the magazine, which is "A magazine of Constructive Liberal Thought and Applied Ethics." From Carlton College Observatory we receive The Sidereal Messenger. The leading article is a short account of the life of "Maria Mitchell." Other articles are of value to all interested in the study of the heav. ens.The Revue Pedagogique comes from Paris with much which our American edu. cators will find valuable. Librarians will be interested in the January number of the Library Journal. — The Educational Record of the Province of Quebec is well edited by J. M. Harper and Rev. E. I. Rexford. It begins a new volume with the January issue. School Education is well filled with "usable matter" for teachers. The American Kindergarten Magazine finds many enthusiastic readers among those whom it especially aids. The January issue of the Publications of the American Economic Association contains an able and instructive paper entitled "The Industrial Transition in Japan.”In the Andover Review, Rev. F. H. Johnson continues his articles upon the general subject, "What is Reality? "this chapter having the title, "Mechanism Transformed." Morrison 1. Swift writes on "Unfair Burdens on Real Production."— The last issue of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register for the 43d volume and the first of the 44th volume, have come to hand, and are well filled with interesting matter.

PAMPHLETS RECEIVED.

Random Catalogue of Americana and Coloniana, from Henry Gray, 47 Leicester Square, London, England. - The Study of Politics and Business at the University of Pennsyl vania, reprinted from the "Red and Blue," gives one a happy idea of the "Wharton School." Supt. I. F. Hall, of Leominster, has published in an extra number of the Riverside Literature Series, "The Riverside Manual for Teachers." It contains sug gestions and illustrative lessons leading up to primary reading. The last regular issue of this series is "Waste Not, Want Not," and "The Barring Out," by Maria Edgeworth.