CONTENTS: I. General Department-H, H. HARRIS, Editor. Page. On the Evil Effects of Overtasking the 887 407 391 408 Dr. Cabell's Communications... 405 Vacation .......... ..... 405 II. Official Department-W. H. RUFFNER, Editor. FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. The following Books being a part of the "University Series of Text-Books," have been Officially Adopted by the State Board of Education, and are already in use in a large number of the Virginia Public Schools, viz., MAURY'S GEOGRAPHIES, HOLMES' READERS, · VENABLE'S ARITHMETICS, HOLMES' U. S. HISTORY, The Authors of these Works are all eminent Southern Scholars, who possess in the highest degree the respect and confidence of the citizens of Virginia, and are favor. ably known to the leading men and educators of the entire South. In degree of merit and quality of manufacture, these Text-Books have no superior. They are the Cheapest and Best works of the kind before the public, and the people of Virginia may well entertain a just pride in their great popularity and success which have extended to every Southern State, at the same time that their superior excellencies have challenged the admiration of the best Northern Teachers, and secured an introduction into many of the best Northern Schools. These Booksmay be obtained for use in Virginia Public Schools at very low prices, by applying to any of the following Depositories or Booksellers: WOODHOUSE & PARHAM, and STARKE & RYLAND, Richmond; VICKERY & CO., Norfolk; J. COWAN, Staunton; J. V. H. NASH, Petersburg; J. & W. J. ENTWISLE, and GEO. E. FRENCH, Alexandria; HITE & WALL, Winchester; A. S. HALLER, Wytheville; VICTOR & AMBLER, Lynchburg; THOMAS & MEAD, Charlottesville; R. G. HUME & BRO., Portsmouth; H. W. BROWN, Leesburg; and J. W. ADAMS, Fredericksburg. For farther information concerning the entire Series, address, University Publishing Co., 155 & 157 Crosby Street, New York. TURE. Uniform with the class-room abridgment of Taine's English Literature, large 12mo, $2.50. JUST PUBLISHED. From the London Athenæum. * * Any one who is desirous of forming an easy and pleasant acquaintance with the best works of German authors may be safely recommended to study it. The book gives a very complete view of general literature from the earliest times, passing with judicious brevity over some of those works which have rather earned the respect of scholars than the esteem of general readers. * At the same time the authors have not shrunk from grappling with German philosophy, although the staple of their work is of a more popular character. There is decided merit in many of the translations in * and the reader will find much to enliven his passage through the wide field of German literature. From the Pall Mall Gazette. verse, * The modest title given to this volume scarcely conveys an adequate notion of its contents. The writers have not been satisfied with making use of the opinions and knowledge of their predecessors, but have throughout the book exercised an independent judgment, and on some subjects-as, for example, German theology and philosophy-much thought appears to have been usefully expended. The authors have endeavored, and we think successfully, to explain the position occupied by the most original minds of the country. The book, though mainly serviceable for reference, is written in a style likely to attract the reader. * THE CLASS ROOM TAINE. TAINE'S ENGLISH LITERATURE ABRIDGED FOR CLASS USE. By JOHN FISKE, Lecturer and Assistant Librarian in Harvard University. Large 12mo, $2.50. Pronounced superior to any other work of its class by the instructors at Yale, University of Michigan, Washington and Lee University, Middlebury College, University of Pennsylvania, Beloit College, Randolph-Macon College, Wesleyan University, University of Chicago, etc., etc. FREEMAN'S HISTORICAL COURSE. It is hoped in time to take in short histories of all the chief countries of Europe and America. Those of England and Scotland will shortly appear, and authors are at work on other parts of the plan. All the works will be edited by Mr. Freeman. 1. OUTLINES OF HISTORY. BY EDWARD A. FREEMAN, D. C. L. 16mo, $1.25. 2. ENGLAND. By Miss EDITH THOMPSON. In Press. Freeman's Outlines pronounced superior to any other work of its class by the instructors at Harvard, U. S. Naval Academy, Williams College, Bowdoin College, Western Reserve College, etc., etc. BAIN'S ENGLISH GRAMMAR Lately published. Used already at Washington and Lee University, Virginia; Hampden-Sidney College, Va.; Pavilion Institute, Pavilion, Kansas; Newburgh Institute, N. Y.; Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmettsburg, Md.; St. Agnes' Hall, Albany, N. Y.; Cortland (N. Y.) Normal School; St. John's Rectory, Thomaston, Maine, etc., etc. WHITNEY'S GERMAN COURSE. Used at Yale, Harvard, University of Virginia, etc. OTTO'S GERMAN COURSE. German Conversation Grammar, 12mo, roan, $1.75. Evans' German Reader to the foregoing, $1.50. Beginning German, 12mo, cloth, $1.00. German Conversations,18mo, cloth, 75 cents. Used at University of Michigan, University of Virginia, and leading High Schools and Normal Schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, etc. OTTO'S FRENCH COURSE. French Conversation Grammar, 12mo, half roan, $1.75. Bocher's French Reader to the foregoing, 12mo, half roan, $1.50. The text-book of Harvard, Yale, Washington and Lee University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Trinity College, The College of New York, Vassar Female College, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, and leading High and Normal Schools in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, California, Michigan, and many in other States. PYLODET'S FRENCH SERIES. Beginning French, 16mo, boards, 60 cents. Beginner's French Reader, a companion to "Beginning French, 60 cents. The elementary books used in the California and Louisiana public schools, and quite generally in the best elementary schools. The higher works used at Yale, Harvard, etc. KEETELS' ORAL METHOD WITH GERMAN. 12mo. Half roan, $1.75. Used by Dickinson College; Norwich Academy, N. Y.; Wells College (Fem.), N. Y.; Alexandria Fem. Sem., Va.; Young Ladies' Sem. and Coll. Inst., Monroe, Mich.; Knapp's Germ. Inst., Balt., Md.; Lawrence Acad., Falmouth, Mass.; Miss M. Louise Putnam, Boston; Ontario Fem. Sem., Canandaigua, N. Y.; Public Schools, Bryan, O.; Ohio Wesleyan Univ. Lockwood's New Acad., Brooklyn, N. Y.; H. Briggs, Buffalo, N. Y.; High School, Oshkosh, Wis.; Brooke Hall Fem. Sem., Media, Penn., &c., &c. SEND FOR A CATALOGUE, Containing descriptions of a large number of works of same standing as those advertised above. HOLT & WILLIAMS, 25 Bond Street, New York. The Library of every School where English is taught ought Where it is thought that the book may be used as a text-book, a single copy will be sent, carriage prepaid, on receipt of HALF THE RETAIL PRICE. THIS OFFER IS OPEN UNTIL the beginning of the Fall School Season of 1873, say OCTOBER 1st. PROF. MOSES COIT TYLER, OF THE UNIVER SITY OF MICHIGAN, says: "It forms an intellectual era in a man's life to make the acquaintance of Taine-especially of his masterful and inspiring work on English Literature. Of that marvellous book, it must be said that it is henceforth simply indispensable to the students of our Literature." REV. DR. PRIME, in the N. Y. OBSERVER, says: "It is a wonderful work. It shows a power of analysis, and a vivid delineation of scenes in past ages, which are almost unequalled in the range of historical literature." Dr. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES says: "I am satisfied that every English and American student will learn a great deal of wisdom, and per haps a little modesty, by reading what this acute and audacious Frenchman has to say about the tenants of our literary Valhalla." HOLT & WILLIAMS, 25 Bond Street, New York. An investigation of the influences in operation in schools which may be more or less detrimental to health would be manifestly incomplete, if it did not include a statement of facts relating to the danger of overtasking the immature minds of youthful scholars. The subject is obviously one of great interest and importance, but it is attended with peculiar difficulties in respect to the dogmatic exposition of practical measures of prevention. I may remark in limine, however, that according to the concurrent testimony of numerous competent observers, some of whose statements have been cited in my former papers, very grave disturbances of the cerebral circulation, unfitting the brain for full and efficient work, are among the best attested effects of the breathing of foul air resulting from insufficient ventilation. If proper ventilation according to the liberal standard of De Chaumont and Parkes were assured, the limits of safety as to the amount of mental exertion that might be required of the scholars would be far less restricted than they are now found to be. The emphatic testimony of Dr. Ray, an authority on questions of Mental Hygiene, has been heretofore cited, and may be repeated in this connection. "The listlessness and stupidity of students, and especially children confined in the school room, are often due," he says, "to the bad state of the air they breathe. Using the brain in a vitiated |