BOOK NOTICES.

CRITICAL AND SOCIAL ESSAYS. Reprinted from the NEW YORK NATION. New York: Leypoldt & Holt. 1867. 230 pp. 12mo, $1.50.

This is a very neat volume containing twenty-five of the best essays that have appeared in The Nation, a jourual which takes rank in literary excellence with the Saturday Review and other similar papers in England. This is a sufficient commendation.

A COMPLETE ETYMOLOGY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Containing the Anglo-Saxon, French, Dutch, German, Welsh, Danish, Gothic, Swedish, Gælic, Italian Latin, and Greek Roots, and the English Words derived therefrom accurately Spelled, Accented, and Defined. By WILLIAM W. SMITH. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co. 1867. The above title conveys a very correct idea of this treatise. It is a complete handbook of Etymology, and, unlike most works of the kind, embraces words derived from all the languages whi h have made important contributions to the English. In addition to full tables of words having the same prefix or suffix, or root, it contains numerous rules for spelling, with full lists of words differently spelled but similarly pronounced, words similarly spelled but differently pronounced, etc. While we do not accept all the author's derivations as correct, we give him credit for great painstaking and accuracy. This work will add to his well-deserved reputation as an author.

A GRAMMAR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. For the Use of Schools and Academies. With Copious Parsing Exercises. By WILLIAM BINGHAM, A.M., Supt. of the Bingham School. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler & Co. 1867.

He who ventures to write a new grammar, assumes a task of more than ordinary difficulty. There have probably been more failures in this branch of school authorship than in any other. The author of this treatise was evidently conscious of this fact, and so applied himself to his undertaking with great earnestness and fidelity. The result is a grammar characterized by a few departures from the beaten track, and bearing traces of the progress of philological research. The most noticeable innovation is the discarding of the Potential Mood. May love, can love, must love, etc., are held to be "simply indicative tenses of the defective verbs may, can, and must, with the imperfect infinitive." The indirect object is parsed as in the dative case; the verbal noun is called a gerund, and the name of the person addressed is parsed as in the vocative case. Generally the definitions and rules are identical with those in the Latin. We are pleased to say that a cursory examination of the work has impressed us very favorably. We feel confident that it will take a place among the best grammars now published. The publishers have done their part toward making it a success. It is beautifully printed.

Illustrated with NumerBy CHARLES CARROLL 1867.

OUTLINES OE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. By GEORGE W. FITCH. ous Maps and Engravings. Changed to Quarto Form. MORGAN. New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman & Co. This treatise has been changed to a quarto form, and is now similar in size, scope, and arrangement to Warren's Physical Geography. It contains eighteen fine maps, several of them new and large, many new pictorial illustrations, and other important improvements. The work is divided into four parts and an appendix. The first part treats of the land under the heads of continents, islands, mountains, volcanoes, plains, etc.; the second treats of the waters including springs, rivers, lakes, and the ocean; the third treats of the atmosphere, including winds, clouds, rain, snow and hail, climate, etc.; and the fourth treats of organic life, including plants, animals, races of men, etc. Our examination of the text justifies us in saying that these several

topics are treated in a scientific manner, and the facts presented have been wisely selected and well arranged. The appendix contains a new chapter on the physical geography of the United States, embodying the results of the latest researches and concisely presenting the natural features and resources of the country. All of the chapters, except the appendix, are printed in large and open type, and present a fine typographical appearance. The book is well adapted to classes that are somewhat advanced in geographical knowledge.

MENTAL AND SOCIAL CULTURE. A Text-Book for Schools and Academies. By LAFAYETTE C. LOOMIS, A.M., M.D., President of Wheeling Female College. New York: J. W. Schermerhorn & Co. 1867.

The object of this work is to present the leading principles of mental and social culture. It treats of the rules for the government of the mind in the attainment of knowledge; the modes of obtaining knowledge, both individual and social; and the general principles of self-government and social intercourse, with practical hints and suggestions. The greater part of the work is an abridgement of Watts's treatise on "The Improvement of the Mind," while many of the maxims and rules are taken from Chesterfield's "Letters to his Son." The several topics are presented in brief and lucid paragraphs, abounding in wise counsel and instruction. We commend this book to the youth of the land, believing that a careful study of its pages will add much to their happiness and usefulness in life.

OHIO IN THE WAR: Her Statesmen, Generals, and Soldiers. By WHITELAW REID. In Two Volumes. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin, Publishers. 1867. The first volume presents a history of the State during the war, and the lives of her Generals; the second is devoted to a history of each of the regiments and other military organizations. The two volumes contain about 120 fine portraits executed by such artists as Ritchie, Rogers, and Jackman, and several splendid illustrations of battle scenes, with maps of localities, etc. The work is not only characterized by high literary excellence and artistic skill, but also by fullness of details and fidelity to truth. It should meet with a hearty welcome at every fireside in the State.

CAMBRIDGE COURSE OF ELEMENTARY PHYSICS. Part I. Cohesion, Adhesion, Chemical Affinity, Electricity. By ROLFE & GILLETT. Boston: Crosby & Ainsworth. The very praise-worthy aim of this course is to supply High Schools and Academies with text-books, the thorough study of which shall not require more time than can be allotted to the subject, thus avoiding the evil of either slurring over or altogether omitting portions of a complete treatise. The first three sections are discussed briefly but lucidly. Each contains questions in the shape of problems to exercise the ingenuity of the learner, and is followed by a summary. The questions for review are very judiciously placed at the end of the book, where they can be used profitably by the learner for his own self-examination, and can not be unprofitably abused by any superficial or rickety teacher (if any such there be) to carry on his class-examination by looking alternately from each question at the foot of the page to its answer in the text.

From the immense field of chemistry the authors have wisely selected Chemical Affinity, by their masterly handling of which they have succeeded in giving very clear notions of the modifications of the Atomic Theory, and the new principle of classification of simple substances founded on their relations to hydrogen, of the fundamental laws of chemical combination, and of some of the most important practical applications of the science; so that at any future time the learner, with a maturer mind and ampler opportunities for individual research, may be able to study advantageously a complete treatise. The experiments are mostly such as can be per

formed without a great variety of expensive apparatus. Where difficulty or danger may attend the efforts of an inexperienced experimenter, directions and cautions are given in an appendix.

With regard to electricity, we greatly like the order which the authors have followed, giving greater prominence to Electro-Magnetism and Galvanism than to frictional electricity on account of their greater practical importance. They have very clearly exhibited the fundamental law which underlies the whole science; but we think that they have been tempted by the fascination of the subject to depart somewhat from their plan of giving only the essentials of each subject. Except in those as yet rare cases (at least, in our parts), when the teacher is fortunate enough to possess the apparatus needed for illustration and has acquired expertness in the use of it, we fear that much of this portion of the book will be very imperfectly, if at all, understood. Thus we have a very full and certainly a very interesting description of that wonder of the 19th century, the electric telegraph, all the varieties of which are explained in language that would be very clear if the pupils could see the machinery itself at work before them; but the plates can only serve to assist them in their preparation for recitation as reminders of what they have seen in the class-room: they can not supply the place of real, tangible models. The whole course, when completed, will form a very valuable addition to our school library.

THE HISTORY OF A MOUTHFUL OF and Animals. By JEAN MACE'. ican News Company.

BREAD: and its effect on the Organization of Men
Translated from the French. New York: Amer-

The French work has reached a 17th edition, a tolerable test of its popularity in its own country. The translation by Mrs. Gatty seems to be a very felicitous reflex of the sparkling brilliancy of the original. It consists of two parts-the first, the leading facts and laws of physiology as connected with digestion in all its stages, assimilation, respiration, secretion, etc. The lessons are supposed to be given to a little girl, and one can not help wondering at the rare skill of the author in presenting these complicated anatomical and physiological details (without shirking the necessary technical terms) in such clear language, enlivened throughout by an inexhaustible spirit of vivacious and playful fancy, seasoned with beautiful touches of gentle philosophy and feeling, which altogether form a peculiarly French mixture. Still as we read on, amused and delighted almost in spite of ourselves, the query will arise: Are not such topics premature in the case of one so young as to require to be addressed in such infantine language? Or, if she be old enough to understand and appreciate them, will she not tire of such frequent allusions to her "rosy lips," "pretty little hands," etc.? Would not a sensible child like it better, if that nursery style relaxed somewhat of its intensity? The fact is, that now and then the writer is betrayed into the use of words and certain historical or mythological references which seem above the supposed age of the reader. However, before he has proceeded one-third of his way, he drops, in a great measure, all babyish phraseology, and when he reaches the second part-the view of the animal kingdom-he has unwittingly fallen into the anachronism of supposing his little nursery pupil to have suddenly shot forth into a regular "young lady." Hence this second part in its soberer and still charmingly playful style, seems to us much superior to the first. If we had stood at the elbow of the spirited translator, we would have ventured to advise her to adapt the work still more than she has done to an American child's notions and associations, to omit a questionable instance of domestic government (see p. 109), to correct a point of doubtful chemistry (p. 169), to modify the comparison of the union of oxygen and carbon to a marriage, which is rather too French and too much spun out to suit the Anglo-Saxon taste.

For want of space we must deny ourselves the pleasure of giving specimens of the author's power to paint with the hues of glowing fancy matter-of-fact details. But the reader who looks into the book with a view to test its suitableness to some "dear child" of his own, can not fail to find them out for himself, as almost every page is sparkling with some graphic description, happy comparison, or some forcible appeal to the child's inner life and conscience. Yet, heedless of our dear editor's frown as he shakes his head at the length of our notice, we must refer to page 131, containing an exquisite comparison of harmonious action of the bodily organs to a concert, in which the instruments may be seen, but the musicians are invisible; to page 197, in which the insatiable hunger of the blood for oxygen even at the expense of the bodily tissues, is compared to the celebrated experimental potter Palisy, burning his furniture and the very floor of his house in order to feed his baking furnace; and, in gen eral, to the beautiful digressions on the benefit of out of doors work as contrasted with the dreary drudgery of poor sewing girls stitching on and on in the pent up air of over-crowded rooms and robbed of needful rest, on the respect due to the worker, on the duty, the beauty of industry and independence, on the love due to the mother, and reverent gratitude to the Author of those wonders of the animal economy, etc.,

etc.

T. E. S.

SHEET MUSIC.-We have received from W. W. Whitney, Music Publisher, Toledo, Ohio, several excellent pieces of sheet music, among which are "The Frolic of the Frogs —a capital piece that can be played in several different keys; "Dream of the Absent "-very pretty; "Sweetly they Sleep"'-one of Ogden's best; "In the South the Clouds are Breaking," by J. W. Suffern; and "Oh! Millie is my Darling," by T. M. Towne. Price 30 cents each.

THE ADVANCE. This is the title of a new national religious newspaper, published weekly at Chicago, Ill. It represents Congregational principles and polity, and, judging from the first number, is to be ably conducted. Subscription price $2.50 in advance. Address: "The Advance," Chicago, Ill.

NEW BOOKS RECEIVED.

A PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY. By James Cruikshank, LL.D. New York: William Wood & Co. 1867.

HARPER'S WRITING BOOKS. In Ten Numbers. New York: Harper & Bros. 1867. THE MINOR PROPHETS. By Rev. Henry Cowles. New York: D. Appleton & Company. 1867.

CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH READER. By E. M. Ladreyt.

Boston: C. Ladreyt.

RUDIMENTS OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE. By Dr. F. Ahn. New York: E. Steiger. 1867.

PRIMARY PHYSIOLOGY, ANATOMY AND HYGIENE. By T. S. Lambert, M.D. New York: William Wood & Co. 1867.

A GRAMMAR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. By Samuel 8. Greene, A.M. Philadelphia: Cowperthwait & Co. 1867.

A LATIN READER. By William B. Silber, A.M. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co. 1867.

GRAMMATICAL DIAGRAMS. By Frederick S. Jewell, Ph.D. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co. 1867.

OHIO IN THE WAR. By Whitelaw Reid, Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin. 1867.

ANALYTICAL SERIES OF READERS. In Six Numbers. By Richard Edwards, LL.D., and J. Russell Webb. Chicago: Geo. & C. W. Sherwood. 1867.

THE ANALYTICAL SPELLER. By Richard Edwards, LL.D., and Mortimer A. Warren. Chicago: Geo. & C. W. Sherwood. 1867.

There is probably no man who will be held to a stricter account for the use of his talents and opportunities than the teacher. This is because few men have less temptation to do wrong, and none have their duties more accurately defined. The teacher is not a child. His duties lie in one special province. His influence is most powerful, and his example is before the eyes of all his pupils. To them he is a wonderful man. Although we are a very democratic people, and our boys are men, in their own opinion, when they put pantaloons on, yet it is true to-day as in the days of Goldsmith,

And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew.

This power of teaching and example is one of surpassing influence, and in ways which are sometimes not imagined by the teacher himself. It is not by mere teaching-it is not by example only-it is not only personal conduct; but oftentimes the manners, and oftener what may be called the genius of the man, not of the intellect or learning, but of the spirit which dwells in his form. Hence it is that some persons are particularly adapted to be teachers, and others ought not to be teachers at all. The

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