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bra, geometry, optics, and physics the distances, diameters, densities, etc., of the heavenly bodies are readily computed. The subject of equations of time is concisely and carefully disposed of. The method of ascertaining the distance of the sun by means of the transits of Venus, is very prettily given. We like the treatment of eclipses, and also the simple and short discussion of the tides. In the articles on the sun, on the zodiacal light, on meteorites, and in the department of stellar astronomy, use is made of the latest researches upon these subjects. While thus we find many things to praise, we also find some to condemn. The presence here and there of errors, gives evidence of some careless writing or careless thinking. We mention a few of these, presuming, of course, that they will be corrected in future editions. In his description of the Foucault experiment, which the author claims to have introduced for the first time in a work of this grade, he states that the plane of vibration and the meridian will coincide after 24 hours, which is not true. In his account of Prof. Airy's experiment to ascertain the density of the earth, he says that the pendulum was made to beat slower at the bottom of the mine than at its mouth "by the counter attraction of the mass of earth above it." On the contrary, the pendulum actually did beat faster, as it ought to have done. This is a blunder into which the author has not fallen alone; many writers of text-books on physics have kept him company. The eccentricity of an ellipse is not correctly defined. The law of gravity is given loosely. For one who knows his subject, it is easy to be accurate; yet acccuracy is becoming a rare virtue in school text-books.

T. C. M.

INDEPENDENT THIRD READER; Containing a Simple Illustrated Treatise on Elocution; Choice and Classified Readings; with Full Notes and a Complete Index. By J. MADISON WATSON, Author of the National Readers and Spellers, etc. New York and Chicago: A. S. Barnes & Co. 1869.

This treatise has the four essential features of a good school reader: 1. The selections not only contain valuable information, but they appeal to what is good, beautiful, and true in human character. 2. They are admirably adapted to the grade of pupils for which the reader is designed. 3. Their moral and religious tone is positive and yet unsectarian. 4. It is printed in large, clear type, and is illustrated with beautiful engravings executed in a superior style. We regard a didactic enunciation of elocutionary principles quite valueless in a reader of this grade, and are glad to see illustrative and practical exercises in place of them. But we must object to the free use of orthoepic marks in the text. They mar the appearance of the page, and are not needed except in case of difficult or commonly mispronounced words, and these may be pronounced in foot notes. A pronouncing type may be useful in a primer or first reader, but third-reader classes should be taught to read the common Roman type in its purity.

SERMONS: Preached at Trinity Chapel, Brighton, Eng., by Rev. FREDERICK W. ROBERTSON, M.A. Vols. I, II. Popular Edition. Boston: Fields, Osgood & Co. These two volumes consist of four series of sermons and one course of lectures, covering I and II Corinthians. In typography, binding, and whatever pertains to the bookmaker's art, the publishers have left nothing to be desired; and the sermons themselves are worthy of a wide and hearty welcome. Mr. Robertson was a man of rare powers, both mental and spiritual. One can hardly sit down to a candid perusal of many of these sermons, without at once feeling himself in full sympathy with the preacher and his subject. It is not strange that they have produced a marked impression on the minds of sermon readers on both sides of the ocean. Sermons IV and VII of the first series are truly masterpieces of homiletical eloquence when taken as a whole, though perhaps equaled by others of the same volumes, at least in part.

Webster defines homiletics as "the science which teaches the principles of adapting he discourse of the pulpit to the spiritual benefit of the hearers", and in this Mr. Robertson was a master. In early life he was designed for and even entered upon the duties of the military profession. This early influence has left its mark on many of the discourses. There is a soldierly impression in them. He is the courageous Christian soldier, and he fearlessly fights the good fight;-he is a leader, powerful, strong to command, to exhort, to entreat, and to encourage. His words are a trumpe call to duty, and life devotion to all that is holy, lovely, and of good report.

THE AMERICAN SPELLER; A Guide to the Orthography of the English Language. By HENRY N. DAY, Author of "Logic", "Art of Composition ", etc. Pp. 168. New York: Charles Scribner & Co.

This is a work of a much higher order than the ordinary spelling books. Instead of the words being piled up promiscuously in columns (rudis indigesta que moles), they are arranged in systematic groups, according to some common principle which determines the pronunciation of the alphabetic elements, whether vowel or consonantal, etc. Each group contains no more words than suffice to exemplify the characteristic principle of the whole. The rules of syllabification are fuller and more explicit than are found in most grammars.

The work is not wholly free from the usual fault of introducing words incomprehensible and even unexplainable to young scholars, such as Buddism, carcanet, carburet, etc. (Is not "balderdash "almost vulgar?) The author gives us a very complete list of affixes and suffixes, Anglo-Saxon, Latin or French, and Greek, with the meaning of each, and the changes which euphony may require. Thus, from the Latin cum (with), we have words beginning with con, co, cog, col, com, cor. Next follows a list of words occasionally borrowed from Latin, Greek, or French, (the latter with the right pronunciation, not always quite right, however,) Italian words, chiefly musical terms, (one of which "adajio" should be adagio). The meaning of these foreign words not being given, the usefulness of the list is rather problematical. Next comes a list of proper names, all of which can be found in Webster or Worcester; a very useful list of words which may be spelled in different ways, as ax and axe pretense and pretence, etc.; and, lastly, a very full and convenient list of abbreviations. Hence, apart from the professed object of the book, viz., to teach spelling, it will be found very useful for reference. The work concludes with dictation exercises, also systematically arranged, to correspond to the several groups of words.

To those who believe in teaching orthography by making the scholars learn sets of words, we can recommend this boook as more scientific than the common run of spelling books. But we still think that we can secure equal accuracy by a shorter and pleasanter way, through reading and dictation exercises, with regular drill in vocal culture, to impress a knowledge of the laws of orthoepy.

T. E. S.

APPLETON'S JOURNAL of Literature, Science, and Art. An Illustrated Weekly. New York: D. Appleton & Co.; Geo. H. Twiss, Agent, Columbus, O. $4 a year. We are glad to see that the success of this periodical attests the wisdom of its plan, and that it will continue to occupy its own well-chosen field of usefulness. It contains popular fiction by the best writers, papers of travel, adventure, and biography, with discussions of scientific, social, and literary topics-all so combined as to present a happy medium between the sensational papers and the learned and critical scientific and literary journals. The "Art Accompaniment" is an attractive feature. The publishers announce new attractions for 1870. We will send the MONTHLY and Appleton's Journal at $4.75 a year.

EVERY SATURDAY. Fields, Osgood & Co., Boston. $5 a year.

The publishers of this popular journal announce that the new series beginning with 1870, will be published in the form of an imperial folio of sixteen pages, beautifully printed on paper of superior quality and illustrated in the highest style of modern art. It will continue to present a varied and valuable resume of foreign periodical literature, and, by a special arrangement with foreign authors, many papers will appear simultaneously with their publication abroad.The North American Review ($6) and the Atlantic Monthly ($4), published by the same house, represent the highest American culture, and, in literary merit and ability, they have no superiors in magazine literature.

THE GALAXY, since it came into the hands of its present publishers, has steadily moved toward the head of American literary magazines. Among its writers of fiction are Charles Reade and Anthony Trollope; Richard Grant White contributes critical and social essays; and Drs. J. C. Dalton and J. C. Draper represent scienceand these are supported by several of the most popular of American and European writers. Sheldon & Co., New York. $4 a year.

HARPER'S MAGAZINE, WEEKLY, and BAZAR are each edited with rare skill, and richly deserve their triumphant and increasing success. They are a fresh and comprehensive reflex of all departments of American life and opinion. See advertisement for terms.

LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE has steadily grown in merit and public favor, and is now recognized as one of the leading literary journals in the country. Published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, at $4 a year. They also publish The Sunday Magazine ($6.50), Good Words ($5.75), and Good Words for the Young ($5.50).

THE PHONIC ADVOCATE is a monthly magazine, devoted to the spelling and writing reform. It contains sixteen double-column pages, part phonetic and part common type. S. L. Marrow, publisher, Indianapolis, Ind. 75 cts. a year; specimen copy, 10 cts.

JUVENILE PERIODICALS.

OUR YOUNG FOLKS stands at the head of the magazines of its class. Fields, Osgood & Co., Boston. $2 a year.

OLIVER OPTICS MAGAZINE is a great favorite with the young folks. Published weekly by Lee & Shepard, Boston, at $2.50 a year.

OUR SCHOOLDAY VISITOR is fresher, brighter, and better than ever. Daughaday & Becker, Philadelphia. $1.25 a year.

THE LITTLE CORPORAL leads all juvenile papers in pluck, popularity, and circulation. Alfred L. Sewell & Co., Chicago, Ill. $1 a year.

THE LITTLE CORPORAL'S SCHOOL FESTIVAL is full of original matter for school exhibitions, festivals, etc. Alfred L. Sewell & Co., Chicago. 50 cts. a year.

THE LITTLE CHIEF has a bright face and a true heart, and it fights nobly for what is pure, just, lovely, and of good report. A. C. Shortridge, Indianapolis,

Ind. 75 cts. a year.

THE BRIGHT SIDE sparkles with good cheer for the little ones. Alden & True, Chicago. 25 cts. a year.

THE NURSERY is the prince of magazines for the wee folks. John L. Shorey, Boston. $1.50 a year.

A

NEW BOOKS RECEIVED.

EMERSON'S PROSE WORKS. 2 vols. New Edition.

Thackeray's Miscellanies-Book of Snobs, Dunis Duval, etc.

Hale's Sybaris and Other Poems.

Elam's Physician's Problems.

Aldrich's Story of a Bad Boy. Illustrated.

Longfellow's Building of the Ship. With Illustrations.

Whittier's Ballads of New England. With Illustrations.

-Fields, Osgood & Co., Boston.

DE LANOYE'S EGYPT 3300 YEARS AGO. Illustrated Library of Wonders. Charles Scribner & Co., New York.

AUSTED'S EARTH'S HISTORY. J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.

N. B.-All of the above books are sold by Geo. W. Gleason, Columbus, O. HANSON'S CESAR DE BELLO GALLICO.

Magill's French Prose and Poetry.

Bartholomew's Primary Drawing Cards; with Stickney's Guide.

-Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co., Boston. HOWISON'S ANALYTIC GEOMETRY. Ray's Series. Wilson, Hinkle & Co., Cincinnati. BRUNNER'S GENDERS OF FRENCH NOUNS. Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. Price 25 cts.

LORD'S ANCIENT STATES AND EMPIRES. Charles Scribner & Co., New York. Price $3 WELCH'S MORAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND PHYSICAL CULTURE,

Bill's Winter in Florida.

-Wood & Holbrook, New York. GOULD'S SONGS OF GLADNESS. J. C. Garrigues & Co., Philadelphia.

PARSON'S CALISTHENIC SONGS. Illustrated. Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman & Co., New York.

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JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Teachers' Association. 167 pp.

PROCEEDINGS of the Eighteenth Annual Session of the Teachers' Institute at Lancaster County, Pa. 56 pp.

MEASURES AND WEIGHTS. A Lecture by Prof. Sidney A. Norton, M.D. Published by the Class in Miami Medical College. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.

OBLIGATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY TO LEARNING. An Address by Richard S. Field, LL.D., at the Centennial Celebration of the American Whig Society of the College of New Jersey. Princeton: Steele & Smith.

THE ATLANTIC ALMANAC. Beautifully Illustrated. Boston: Fields, Osgood & Co. Price 50 cts.

NEW EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS.-We welcome to our table the Educational Journal of Virginia, published by the State Educational Association, Richmond, and the Western Educational Review, published by O. H. Fethers, Jefferson City, Mo. We wish them both a large circulation and a long and useful life.

WHITE'S GRADED-SCHOOL REGISTER.-We have a few copies of this Register ruled with three horizontal spaces to each name-a form much liked by some teachers. We will send this edition by mail at $1 a copy; by express at 75 cts. a copy. It is also adapted to country schools.

CHASE & STUART'S CLASSICAL SERIES, published by Eldredge & Bro., Philadelphia, now consists of Cæsar's Commentaries, Virgil's Eneid, Cicero's Orations, and Horace's Odes, Satires, and Epistles, uniform in size and binding. Price of 4 vols., $5.50.

THE city of Brooklyn, N.Y., the third city in the Union, has adopted Guyot's Geographies for exclusive use in the public schools; also, Willson's and McGuffey's Readers, and Davies' Arithmetics.

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BY REV. A. D. MAYO, CINCINNATI, O.

A few weeks ago I visited a school of six hundred pupils in one of the large county towns of Ohio, in which the principal and all subordinate teachers were women-the venerable janitor being the only man on the premises; and I have rarely seen a more admirably managed institution. The difficulty of controlling a considerable class of city boys will probably prevent such an experiment in large cities; but the profession of public instruction is irresistibly passing into the hands of women. I once heard Richard Cobden declare that one of the best evidences of the superior civilization of the free United States was their extensive employment of women in the instruction of boys; and there can be no doubt that, with equal advantages of mental discipline and professional training, women are the most successful instructors of youth.

The school reports of all the northern States show how rapidly this change is coming over the school-room. It will go on until woman virtually rules in the school as she does now actually in the home. In the more cultivated parts of our country, women are chosen for school trustees, and nothing can be more useful than such a reform in educational affairs. With woman at the helm in the family and the common school, it is not very proba

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