2 MARCH 1872, Page 22

Parttng Words to Boys Leaving School. Edited by Maurice C.

Elms, M.A. (Dublin : Ponsonby. Longman.)—This little volume contains fifteen essays, written by various authors, and dealing with the questions and difficulties that encounter a lad as he begins to walk in his own way. Most of them are full of sound sense, and show that real understanding of the conditions of the case which advice of this kind often seems so unaccountably to lack. We do not always find ourselves in agreement with the writers. We think, for instance, that Dr. Anthony Trail over-rates, even dangerously, the moral value of athletics ; bet there is much in the volume that is undoubtedly valuable and true. Perhaps Mr. Arm- strong's essay "On Narrow Aims and Narrow Views" is as good as anything in it. He deserves especial praise for his courage in denounc- ing what he calls "provincial nationalism." "Aim," he says, "at being worthy of the great Empire to which it is your high privilege to belong, and you will best profit the petty province in which you have been born."