Smoot BOOKS. — HeipS to Higher Arithmetic, by the Rev. G. F.
Allfree and T. F. P. Scudamore (Hamilton, Adams, and Co.), is intended for the faller exposition of problems relating to distance, time, and area, stocks, interest, profit and loss, &o. They are illustrated by numerous worked.oat examples, stated in easily understood formula), and there is a collection of twelve hundred misoellaneous examples which have been propounded at various University and public examinations, with answers. The book will be found useful in the higher forms, and to those preparing for examinations. In compound interest, the method of estimating the amount for £1 decimally, and using the result as a multiplier for any sum, should not have been omitted. —Notebook on Plane Geomerical Drawing, by Robert Mamie (Hamilton, Adams, and Co.), is an introduction to practical geometry. The figures are of good size, neatly worked, and incorporated in the text; and the letterpress clear and intelligible. It contains also geometrical pattern-drawing, numerous exercises, and a chapter on scales and graphic arithmetic —Questions on Physics. By Sydney Young, D.Sc., P.C.S. (Eivingtons.)—Though intended for students preparing for London University examinations, these questions will doubtless prove useful to others who may wish to test their know. ledge. The questions treat of mechanics, acoustics heat, magnetism, electricity, and optics, and are such as will draw out the student's power of applying principles to cases which are not obvious at first sight, being by no means mere book-work tests—An Etymological Manual, by K. T. Beet, MA. (Stanford), is not a mere list of Latin and Greek words, with the derivatives attached ; but the meanings of the less obvious ones are given, and the changes in moaning traced, and where necessary, passages are given from Shakespeare, Milton, &c., to illustrate some speciality.—Questiens on Psychology, Meta- physics, and Elhics. By F. Ryland, M.A. (Swan Sonnensohein, Lowrey, and Co.)—There is perhaps no subject in which the numerous books of questions now appearing will be more useful than that of mental philosophy. This will be found a helpful work, even for those who aspire to the higher attainments in this subject. The questions are classified in various sections, and have been taken from University and College tripes, honour, and prize examinations — Perspective, for the Use of Schools, by Major J. Whitacre Allen, BA. (Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.), an introduction to the subject for the use of schools. The rules are clearly and shortly stated, and the examples will be easily understood and worked ; there might have been a few more of them with ad vantage.—A Day in Ancient Rome, by Edgar S. Shumway (D. C. Heath and Co., Boehm, U.S.A.), is a translation and adaptation of Dr. Lohr's "Ass dem alten Rom." It is supplied with numerous wellexeouted en- gravings—Messrs. Bell and Sons send us The Story of Little Nell, by Charles Dickens, an abridgment of "The Old Cariosity Shop," and adapted as a reader for schools.—In the series
of Story-Book Readers for Six-yearold Scholars" (Griffith, Farman, and Co.), we have our old friend Mrs. Trimmer's Robins,
"edited" by G. H. Sergeant (was it necessary to abbreviate "Pecokey" and " Flapsy " into "Pecks" and " Flaps "1'); The Sand Cave, by Wilhelmina F. Reaper; The Birthday, by "E. and F." ; and So- Fat and Mew-Mew at Home, and So-Fat and Mew-Mew Away from Home, by Georgiana H. Creak,—all of them clearly printed and prettily illustrated, the Robins having the advantage of Mr. Harri- son Weir's pencil.—Cemposition Exercises a Series of Emercises for Standard n By T. Hudson. (Griffith, Ferrari, and Co.)— A Manual of Handwriting, by F. Betteridge (Griffith, Ferran, and Co.), is intended for the instruction of junior teachers who may be disposed to consider handwriting the least important part of the school curri- onlam. It lays great stress on the importance of black-board work, which is the true way of teaching writing. The system here set forth is the old one, and no mention is made of the new method, which finds most favour in Civil Service examinations, in which the o," "a," and " d " begin their loop at the top of the line, the most common-sense plan.—La Canne de Jose. Par Alfred de Vigny. Edited by Victor T. T. Spiers, M.A. (Riviegtons.)—This is a dainty little edition of one of the stories contained in "Servitude et Grandeur Militaires." It is printed in clear type which is a pleasure to read, and accompanied by notes and two appendices. The notes are exactly of the character which boys need ; every real difficulty seems to have been explained, and where necessary, commented on ; the grammatical peculiarities, idioms, and matters likely to be over- looked axe pointed out, and the translations of difficult passages are neat, correct, and idiomatic. The editor is evidently a practical teacher who knows what will be useful and what useless to his pupils. —We have also received another edition of the same story, edited by Rev. A. C. Clapin, M.A. (Hachette and Co.), forming one of the well-known series of French educational works. There is a brief introduction, notes, and a vocabulary. The notes are good but meagre ; the vocabulary wouli be a valuable feature if it were fall and could be relied upon ; many words, however, are not to be found either here or in the notes, and the meanings attached to some words do not seem to have been selected for their adaptability to the text. Both these editions have expurgated the passage which refers to Clarissa Harlowe ; the Pitt Press edition has left it, to the distress of those teachers who are reading this book with boys and girls for the coming Local Examination.—Scribe et Leg °nye Bataille de Dames. Edited by the Rev. Herbert A. Ball, M.A.. (Cambridge University Press.)—The more such plays as these are read in schools, the better will our young people be able to take part in French con- versation without displaying some of those unpardonable mietakes and unidiomatic expressions which produce wonder in foreigners and are the despair of teachers. The play is amusing, and by no means difficult —two points which recommend it for educational purposes. An introduction gives all that is needed for understanding the allusions in the play, and each act is prefaced by an argument in English. There is, however, no list of dramatis persona, and the notes are in some cases fewer, in others fuller, than necessary.— Corneille's Cintia. Edited by H. E. Hantington. (Rivingtons.)— This edition has an introduction which treats briefly of the history of the French drama to the period of Corneille, and contains, farther, some short criticisms on the author by La Brayer°, Sainte-Heave, and others. The notes are mainly illustrative and etymological ; we should have preferred a few more explanatory of the text.— Ifoliere's L'Avare, edited by A. H. (onset, MA. (Rivingtons), is an excellent edition of the play. It is furnished with an argument to each scene, and fully ammtated.—Thiophile Gautier, Scenes of Travel. Selected and Edited by G. Saintabary. (Clarendon Press.)—Perhaps no writer has had more influence on the style of modern French litera- ture than Gautier. It is, therefore, matter for wonder that no school edition of any part of his works has appeared before. The present selection has been made with care, and due regard paid to its place as a school book, and at the same time to the intention that it should be one of a series of introductions to French literature. The notes are concise, and to the point; the many architectural and other technical terms made use of demand especial skill in annotation, and this seems to have been duly reoognised.—G. Sand, Les Metres Mosaistes. Edited by C. H. Parry, M.A. (Rivingtons.)— This will be found an interesting school reader, and not un- acceptable to older students, who may wish for an annotated specimen of one of George Sand's writings. The notes will be found really helpfal. We cannot understand why, in the preface to this and one or two other French school books recently under notice, it is stated that familiarity with the grammar is supposed, and then a long and elaborate note is given on the con- atruction of the participle. Surely this is a grammatical point which is carefully taught in English schools, so as not to require a laboured note in one out of every three text-books.—Le (entire de M. Poirier. Per E. Angier et I. Bandeau. Edited by G. Petilleart, B.A. (Hachette and 00)—The editor adopted a very sensible method in preparing this work. He put the play into the bands of his pupils, and duly observed all the difficulties it presented to them. By this means he has avoided the Scylla of useless notes, and the Charybdis of really difficult passages left unexplained. There is a little too much fine-writing in the biographical sketches, and that is the rely fault we have to find with this admirable edition of a good comedy.— French Papers, compiled by I. W. J. Vecqnary (Rivingtone), are a pro. gressive series of examination-papers on French grammar and idiomatic expressions, and there is a small bat well-arranged index of the various points treated of. They will be found useful as revision exercises, and tend to produce exactness and readiness.—Junior Graduated French Course. By Professor Herrero. (Whittaker and Co.)—This is an elementary reading-book, with examination ques- tions on various words in the passage, easy passages for retrans- Wm], and questions in French upon it for conversation. The plan in a good one, and the book will answer well for a first reader. — The Stonemason of Saintpoint of Lamartine. Translated by G. E. Barbier. (Browne and Nolan, Dublin).—Except as a "crib," we cannot determine what purpose this book will serve. We have been unable to discover any literary merit in it, either as a translation or an essay in English composition.—Freneh Poetry for Schools. Edited by James Bolelle, B.A.. (Itivingtona)— A double parpose may be served by this eelection,—it may be used for repetition, and for practice in unseen translation. It contains 123 extracts from representative modern French poetry, and many of the gems of the language are to be found in it. Mr. Bolelle bas prefaced the extracts by a short and clearly expressed essay on the structure and principal rules of French poetry, and has added two appendices. The first contains specimens of French authors from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century; and in the second are some high-class English renderings of some of the poems in the text. It is the best work of its kind that we have ex- amined.—French Readings from Roman History, selected by C. Colbeck, M.A. (Macmillan and Co.), is really a history of Home in French, which has been compiled by putting together extracts from the works of Montesquieu, Mommsen (the translation by Alexandre), Rollin, Crevier, and Dabois-Guchan ; with translations of Livy, Plutarch, do. The result in a mosaic, perhaps, rather than a picture ; but the idea of killing two birds with one stone, and teaching French reading and Roman history together, is one worth trying. On the modern side, it will probably give a boy the only chance he can have of learning anything of this important subject. Mr. Colbeok has done his work well ; and if the plan be not a success, it will be through no fault of his in execution of the idea, but because the two things are incompatible.—We have aleo received ,—An Elementary French Grammar, by Dr. De Fives (Crosby Lockwood and Co.), which may teach French gramraar, but will not teach French. —Le Verve d'Eau, par E. 'Scribe, edited by A. Herrera (Whittaker and Co.), a handy copy, with a few explanatory footnotes.— L'Enfance de George Sand, with Notes, by Eugene Joel (Rising. tons), a series of extracts from her " L'Histoire els ma Vie," selected with discrimination, and amply annotated.—Elements French Grammar, by Professor Herrero (Whittaker and Co.), both a grammar and an easy exeroise-book, with French idioms introduced from the first lesson. The relegation of the vocabularies to the end of the book, and their alphabetical arrangement is, an objectionable feature.—The Wellington College Reader, by A. L. Calais (D. Nutt), a series of interesting extracts, with explanatory notes to difficult idioms and unusual words, forming a good reading- book.—Second French Course, by A. Esclangon (W. Collins and Sons), is the work of an experienced teacher, and comprises exercises lathe irregular verbs and in syntax, with passages for translation.— Doctor Trauma : a Comedy. By Roderick Benedix. Edited by H. E. Beresfca-d-Webb. (Rivingtone.)—This is, we believe, the first effort that has been made to utilise as a school book any one of Benedix's comedies. The editing has been well done; but it may be doubted whether the choice wan a good one. A better and more interesting play might have been selected—Das Lfsgen, for instance, or Dos bemooste Haupt.—There can be no question about the judicious choice of Schille?s Wilhelm Tell. This has been edited, with a Historical Introduction and Notes, by Eugene Fasuacht. (Macmillan.)—The summary of Swiss history is excellent ; the commentary exactly what is wanted to enable students thoroughly to understand the play. Altogether, it makes a class-book of great worth.—In the way of selections, nothing could be better than Select Poems of Goethe. Edited by E. A. Sonnensohein and Alois Pogateeher. (Swan Sonnenschein and Co.)—The notes are very good, and the poems exactly such as one would wirh the great judge to be judged by.— Another book of Schiller's is Die Janefrau von Orleans, edited, with Notes, &c., by F. L. Bever, M.A., useful in its way, but not, we think, equal to its compradons.—Eine Frage, by Georg Ebers, edited, by F. Short-, M.A., is a worthy presentation of what is a characteristic work of its author. Of modern writers, no one better deserves study. —Leasing and Gellert's Fables and Tales. Edited by E. L. NefteL (Haehette.)—Latended in the first place for candidates for the Cambridge Local Examination, but useful for all students on about the same level. The very complete vocabularies will give material help.
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