AMONG THE BOOKS.

The February number [No. 45] of the Riverside Literature Series (published quarterly during the school year 1889-'90 at 15 cents a single number, by HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO., Boston), contains The Lays of Ancient Rome, by Thomas Babington Macaulay, with the Author's Introductions and Historical Notes. These Lays of Ancient Rome" were written by Macaulay as an attempt to show how legends and stories about the early history of Rome would have been sung by the old ballad-mongers, as they wandered from village to village and repeated to an eager crowd of listeners these old songs which all knew so well and yet always loved to hear. The Lays have always been liked by children on account of their life, movement, and romantic incidents, and in this new form the publishers hope that they will gain a still greater and more widespread popularity.

D. C. HEATH & Co. have recently made the following important additions to their Modern Language Series:-"Practical Lessons in German Conversation," by Prof. A. L. Meissner of Queen's College, Belfast. This book furnishes a graduated and systematic series of lessons to give facility in speaking German. "Goethe's Sesenheim (from Dichtung und Wahrheit), edited by Prof. H. C. O. Huss of Princeton. "A Primer of French Literature," by Prof. F. M. Warren, based on lectures delivered by the author in his classes in Johns Hopkins University.

The April number [No. 46] of the Riverside Literature Series (published quarterly during each school year, at 15 cents a single number, by HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO., Boston), contains Old Testament Stories in Scripture Language, from the Dispersion at Babel to the Conquest of Canaan. These stories have been selected (without alteration except by the omission of irrelevant matter) from the King James version of the Old Testament. Their grandeur, their simplicity, their purity of diction and transcendent interest, and the hold which they have on the classic literature of the world, especially adapt them for reading in schools. And the fact that the stories are here told connectedly, while in the Bible they are scattered through many chapters, renders the form in which they are now offered particularly acceptable.

FRESHMAN AND SENIOR. By Elverton Wright. Boston: Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society. Cloth. Pp. 452. Price, $1.50.

A book which will appeal to the better nature of boys, and yet which avoids the usual moralizing of Sunday-school literature is a difficult thing to find, and yet this one does just that. From beginning to end it is full of noble sentiment and strong, manly advice to boys, yet nothing is strained. With consummate ability the hero of the story is made to express the best and purest purposes by which life should be governed, and yet on the high plain he occupies he does not declare for purity because he knows not of vice, but because his life even with such knowledge is above the vice. The story is laid in the University of Burlington, Vt., is full of interesting anecdote, and is an undoubted success. It has been long since our Sunday-school literature has had so worthy and valuable an addition to its lists.

SCHOOL ROOM GUIDE TO METHODS OF TEACHING AND SCHOOL MANAGEMENT. By E. V. De Graff, A. M. Syracuse, N. Y.: C. W. Bardeen. Cloth. Pp. 342. Price, $1.50.

This is the fourth edition of this "Guide" which has appeared. That alone attests its usefulness and merit. But its matter and arrangement are evidence that this popularity is deserved. All subjects of instruction are treated, methods are carefully analyzed and illustrations given. There is no indulgence in discussion of abstract psychological points as is too often the case in teachers' books, but a plain, reasonable, yet scientific and accurate presentation of the method which ought to be followed.

School Management is ably treated and suggestions given which if followed will materially lessen the friction so common in the school room. The publishers, and teachers as well are to be congratulated that so good a "Guide " is available.

BLACK BEAUTY, HIS GROOMS AND COMPANIONS. By A. Sewell. Boston: The American Humane Education Society. 16mo. Paper. Pp. 245.

Already ninety thousand of this volume have been sold in England, and America will certainly not be behind in the interest she will show in this "Uncle Tom's Cabin" of the horse.

This is an autobiography of a horse, written by a woman, and she has shown very great ability and practical knowledge of horses in the hints and suggestions she has been able to weave into its pages. It stands unsurpassed as a bright, attractive yet helpful book for all lovers of horses. It is cheap, and it will richly repay the reading. Get one.

TEMPERAMENT IN EDUCATION. By Jerome Allen. New York: E. L. Kellogg & Co. 16mo. Cloth. Pp. 88.

The high reputation of the author would naturally give to this little work a high position, if its merits did not quite deserve it; but the book has very many points of excellence to commend it. Mr. Allen disclaims originality, but certainly can be credited with careful, systematic notes and arrangement. Teachers and parents should study this little book carefully.

ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTION OF STUPIDITY IN SCHOOLS. By R. Brudenell Carter, F. R. S. New York: E. L. Kellogg & Co. 16mo. Paper. Pp. 50. Price, 15 cents.

This paper, No. 14 of Teacher's Manuals, one of the most trenchant essays upon the question of education that has ever appeared, was first printed in England in 1859. The author believes that stupidity is developed under certain conditions, and that being the case a thorough study of those conditions will prevent its further development. He treats his subject in a masterly way, and all readers will most certainly exonerate him from the least stupidity.

THE BOYS OF NORTH PARISH. By Helen Pearson Barnard. Boston: Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society. Cloth. Pp. 320. Price, $1.50.

The author of this boys' book has evidently studied boy nature very thoroughly and has hit upon a happy and interesting story for them. She has ingeniously woven into her story a suggestion of the necessity of tact in prosecuting Christian work as well as downright earnestness and still she plainly admits the worth of downright earnest endeavor, even though it be bungling. The boys she presents are live boys with strong individualities, such

as are usually met in any community, and because of this, catch and hold the reader's attention.

This story cannot fail to do the work for which it was intended, and will win many kind thoughts for its author from the boys for whom she wrote.

HOW TO CONDUCT THE RECITATION. By Charles McMurry, Ph. D., State Normal School, Winona, Minn. New York: E. L. Kellogg & Co. 16mo. Paper. Pp. 34. Price, 15 cents.

There is perhaps no other profession in which its literature multiplies to such an extent as in that of teaching, and yet teachers are ever ready to welcome a new help if it is good. This new number of the Teachers' Manuals certainly treats a subject of very great interest to all teachers, and there can be no doubt of the need there is of a scientific and yet sensible plan for conducting the recitation. This little work is in the main an exposition of some of the leading ideas, theoretically and practically developed by the Herbart School of Pedagogy in Germany.

The development of the different stages are scientific; aim, preparation, presentation, comparison, generalization, and application being the order followed. This is the analytical method of stating and is unconsciously followed by good teachers, but the present work makes it plain and simple for all.

TRANSPLANTED. By Fannie E. Newberry. Boston: Congregational SundaySchool and Publishing Society. Cloth. Pp. 391. Price, $1.50.

The power of the book lies not in its preaching, but in its action-its picture of healthy growth—such as is possible to all young men and women. A young girl without parents is by force of circumstantial evidence arrested for theft and sent to a reformatory institution. A wise matron seeking good in all, finds it in her, and by judicious usage and careful encouragement awakens her aspiration to be good and true, and after some time she assumes a position in society she is amply able to fill and honor. The story is well told and interesting.

ESSAYS ON EDUCATIONAL REFORMERS. By Robert Herbert Quick, M. A. New York: E. L. Kellogg & Co. 16mo. Cloth. Pp. 336. Price, $1.00. This new edition of a good book comes to us in a new dress, with topical headings, chronological table, and other aids to its more careful study. It is certainly worth careful reading by all educators. The author rightly claims that a teacher should acquaint himself with the lives and thought of those who have been prominent in previous educational reforms, that he should increase his own usefulness and effectiveness by correcting and modifying his own methods in the light of their experience.

The present work introduces the reader in a manner at once attractive and scientific to Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Spencer, Froebel, Ascham, Montague, Ratich, Milton, and many other leaders of reform, to whom the world owes so much.

Mr. Quick's own comments and suggestions show a thorough acquaintance with his subject and profound thought upon his own part of the pedagogical principle of education. The book is an undoubted success, both as an interesting production and a valuable help to teachers.

THE MORMON DELUSION. By Rev. M. W. Montgomery. Boston: Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society. Cloth. Pp. 354.

A neatly bound book, evidently written by one who feels strongly upon the subject, and one who has carefully studied its various phases,

If this book accomplishes the purpose for which it is evidently written, that of arousing the American people to the shame and degradation of this foul blot upon her fair history, a great good will be done. The book is well written and doubtless reliable.

NOTES ON AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND TRAINING COLLEGES. By J. G. Fitch, M. A., LL. D. New York and London: Macmillan & Co. Cloth. Pp. 133. Price, 60 cents.

Mr. Fitch has with a fair, impartial, yet keenly analytical mind, studied our school system. He has been offered every facility and these notes are therefore doubly valuable, in being the result of his own observation. They are fair criticisms, as well as good comparisons with the English schools. It is true that he has allowed himself to justify English methods by comparison with American systems in a few instances to the manifest disadvantage of our schools, because he could not live here long enough to imbibe the principles on which they were founded. On the whole, however, his points are justly, and as would be expected, wisely made. The little volume is neatly bound and is a valuable book.

OPEN SESAME. Vol. I. By Blanche Wilder Bellamy and Maud Wilder Goodwin. Boston: Ginn & Co. Cloth. Pp. 316. Price, 90 cents.

The editors of this most pleasing collection of Prose and Poetry have shown discriminating taste and a thorough knowledge of child nature in their selection and arrangement of material. They have aimed to put before the children from four to twelve years of age such well chosen selections as shall give them something worth remembering, and lead them to chose the best literature in their reading.

The whole book is full to overflowing of the best things to be found in the English language, and is a thoroughly happy production which children, parents and teachers will welcome eagerly.

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY for June will contain an article by Charles Dudley Warner, entitled "The Novel and the Common School" (a pedagogical essay on reading and reading-books). In this article Mr. Warner displays, in addition to his well-known literary power, the discrimination and insight of a model educator. No superintendent of schools, or teacher, or member of a school committee who desires improvement in our public schools, can fail to derive practical aid and inspiration from this thoughtful, well-balanced, and keen analysis of the duty of the public schools in the supply of reading matter to our young citizens.

ÆSCHINES AGAINST CTESIPHON, On the Crown. Edited on the basis of Weidner's edition, by Rufus B. Richardson. Professor of Greek in Dartmouth College. Boston: Ginn & Co. Cloth. Pp. 279. Price, $1.50. Paper, $1.25.

This is one of the College Series of Greek, edited under the supervision of John Williams White and Thomas D. Seymour. It is furnished with copious notes, a full Appendix, a Greek Index, and an Index of subjects. It is bound in the substantial style of the other volumes, and has the plain Greek type which has added so materially to the success of this series of classics.

NUMBERS UNIVERSALIZED; an advanced Algebra. Part Second. By David M. Sensenig, M. S., Professor of Mathematics, State Normal School, West Chester, Pa. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cloth. Pp. 176.

This, together with Part I., is believed to embrace all algebraic subjects

usually taught in the schools and colleges of the country. Part II. is treated in but five chapters, the author having sought not so much to give completeness to the subject treated, as to give enough to lead pupuls to comprehend the fundamentals of a wide range of subjects, and to cultivate a taste for mathematical study. It is admirably arranged, finely printed, and an undoubted addition to college textbooks.

THE directors of the Old South Studies in History have added to their general series of Old South Leaflets, published by D. C. Heath & Co., a translation of the CONSTITUTION OF SWITZERLAND, by Prof. Albert B. Hart of Harvard University, with careful historical and bibliographical notes. It will be of use to those both inside and outside of our colleges, who are engaged in the comparative study of politics. Equally interesting to many, at a time when several new states in the Union are just adopting constitutions, will be the Constitution of Ohio, published in this series.

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT PEDAGOGICAL PRIMER. No. 1. Syracuse, N. Y.; C. W. Bardeen. Paper. Pp. 45.

This enterprising publisher, especially of teachers' books, has again come to the front, and offers a small manual for aiding school management. Its aim is good, its object excellent, its execution, what might be expected from the publisher, and yet we doubt somewhat the feasibility of giving to the teacher a book, which necessarily must be made by every reader to fit their particular school. There are many excellent hints, however, on general principles, and altogether the book ought to find a ready sale.

WHITTIER LEAFLET. Compiled by Miss J. E. Hodgdon. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Paper. Pp. 112. Price, 30 cents.

These selections are admirably adapted to the purpose intended, for homes and schools especially. Much care and discrimination has been used, and the result is a collection of Whittier's best thought in prose and poetry. The illustrations too, add to the value and interest of the little pamphlet. The Riverside Literature series has another, and by no means an inferior addition to its excellent number.

THE TEACHER'S HANDBOOK OF THE TONIC SOL-FA SYSTEM. A Guide to the Teaching of Singing in Schools by the Tonic Sol-Fa system. By Alexander T. Cringan, Superintendent of Music in the Toronto Public Schools. Toronto, Canada, Publishing Co. (Limited.) Cloth. Pp. 192. "Improved teaching of any subject can only be found where there is an improved knowledge of the subject taught and greater skill in the methods of instruction." This is as true of music as of any other subject. While the "Tonic Sol-Fa System" of music is not as widely used in America as in some other countries, it yet has many adherents here who will welcome this work from so capable an instructor as Professor Cringan, who is a graduate of the Tonic SolFa College, London, England.

BEES. A Study from Virgil. Revised and Adapted from Davidson's Translation for Seventh Grade. By Mary E. Burt, Principal Normal Practice School, C. C. N. S. Chicago: S. R. Winchell & Co. Paper. Pp. 15. Price, 10 cents.

This is a translation from the fourth Georgic of Virgil. The translator has used this in connection with the study of "An Idyl of the Honey-Bee," and has made particular use of it to point out the differences between, and the simi. larities of the two writers, and the times in which they lived and wrote.