being superficial; it is compact yet comprehensive, and though designed for an early grade of school-life, can be profitably used with more advanced classes. The opinion of those who have seen the book is that it ought to be in every common school in the land. GINN & COMPANY, Publishers.

66

THE GATE TO CESAR. By Wm. C. Collar, Principal Roxbury Latin School, Boston, and author of "Beginner's Latin Book," Practical Latin Composition," etc.Cæsar's Conimentaries is the first continuous Latin read in a great many schools, but it is confessedly too hard for beginners. The result is waste of time and waste of labor. The object of this little took is to save both by distributing difliculties. Beside the simplified text of each chapter is placed the full text, which may be studied in immediate succession, or be deferred till the learner's wings are grown. Synonymous Latin words are given at the foot of the page to enlarge the learner's vocabulary, full explanatory notes follow the text, and on each chapter of the simplified text a brief exercise is given for translation into Latin. GINN & COMPANY, Publishers.

THE STORY OF OUR CONTINENT. A Reading Book in the Geography of North America. By Professor N. S. Shaler of Harvard University. Illustrated.— The object of this book is to set before the student a simple explanation of the way in which the continent of North America has come to its present physical state, and at the same time to show how this physical state affects the life of the people. It is adapted to the needs of grammar schools and may advantageously be used as a reader in connection with a regular text-book in geography. As an introduction, by the way of our own continent, to the study of geology and physical geography, it will be found to possess a peculiar value. GINN & COMPANY, Publishers.

BOOK REVIEWS.

THE MANUAL OF LAND SURVEYING. By F. Hodgman, M. S., C. E.-Published at Kalamazoo, Mich., is a convenient pocket manual on the subject. 1st-It gives a full discussion of the system of United States Land Surveys, including the laws and instructions to surveyors, and rules for finding or restoring lost corners and subdividing sections. 2d-It gives the rules and principles governing re-surveys. These are radically different from original surveys. Surveyors, land locators and wide awake men generally in the Western States need this book.

JOHN Goss, Attorney at Law of Santa Rosa, Cal., sends in a neat little volume on "Forensic Eloquence." Dedicated by Prof. Martin Kellog, acting President of the State University, of which institution Mr. Goss, the author, is an alumnus. The development of the subject is logical, the references, by way of illustration, numerous, running from Demosthenes to Webster, and the candidate for forensic honor can profitably read it.

D. C. HEATH & Co., Boston, will issue very soon "Studies in United States History," for use in grammar schools, by Mary Shelden-Barnes, author of the "Studies in General History," and Earl Barnes, Professor of History in Stanford University, California. The aims of this book are: to teach the pupil to deal with historical material at first hand; to train him to see the fact and catch the spirit of what he reads; to judge of the character and influence of men and acts, and to see the relations of cause and effect in historic events, to give him a sympathetic appreciation of the development of our American life and character; to give him a clear idea of the facts of our history in their relations of time and place.

D. C. HEATH & Co., Boston, have just published a "Manual of Plane Geometry," on the Heuristic plan, with numerous extra exercises, both Theorems and Problems, for advanced work, by G. Irving Hopkins, Instructor of Mathematics and Physics, Manchester High School, N. H., with an introduction by Prof. Safford of Williams College. The book is designed primarily for the author's pupils, and secondarily for the constantly increasing number of teachers who

are getting more and more dissatisfied with the old methods of teaching geometry. D. C. HEATH & Co., Boston, have just issued "Anderson's Marchen," selected, arranged and edited, with notes and vocabulary, by Prof. O. B. Super of Dickinson College, Pa. The selections have been, as far as possible, graded and the phraseology of the earlier selections somewhat simplified, thus adapting the book for first reading. It is also adapted for sight reading by those more advanced. As the selections all deal with matters of every-day life, they are well suited in interest and vocabulary to conversations in class.

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY will have ready shortly THE ONLY COMPLETE CHEAP EDITION of Prescott's works, in five volumes, printed on fine paper, at the low price of $1 per volume. Each volume will be sold separately. This edition is intended to meet the increasing demand for such standard authors as are now required by recent courses in English in our leading colleges and schools. The notes, by J. Foster Kirk, were prepared with great care by one who not only is an eminent historical scholar himself, but who was also a c laborer with Mr. Prescott in the preparation of his histories. The edition will be illustrated with copies of maps and illustrations that have appeared in other editions. J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, Publishers, 715 and 717 Market street, Philadelphia.

Classics for Children.

THE ALHAMBRA. By Washington Irving.-Edited for the use of schools, by Alice H. White. MARMION: A TALE OF FLODDEN FIELD. By Sir Walter Scott, with notes by D. H. M. Published by Ginn & Company, Boston.-These two volumes form valuable additions to the well-known series of cla sics for children, as published by the above-named company. They are useful for home reading or for supplementary reading in schools.

TALKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE WONDERS OF THE HEAVENS. By Sir Robert S. Ball, F. R. S., Royal Astronomer of Ireland. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. 388 pages. To be published this summer.-This book, based upon two courses of Christmas lectures delivered to children at the Royal Institution, Great Britain, presents in the clearest and most interesting manner the fundamental facts and ideas of astronomy. The author's eminence as a scientist is an assurance of the accuracy of the work. To read a half dozen pages would satisfy any one of its fascination for young readers. As a supplementary reading book for upper grammar grades, preparatory to the study in the high school of Young's Lessons in Astronomy or Elements in Astronomy, it could hardly be recommended too highly. To follow this: Young's Lessons in Astronomy, $1.20; Young's Elements in Astronomy, $1.40; Young's General Astronomy, $2.25.

ON SELF-CULTURE. By John Stuart Blackie, Professor of Greek in the University of Edinburgh. New York and Chicago: E. L. Kellogg & Co. Cloth. 20 cents net; by mail, 23 cents.-This little 64-page volume treats of intellectual, physical and moral culture, and contains in small space a vast amount of excellent advice. It will help hundreds of young teachers to make a right start or set them right if they are on the wrong track. Although the book is published especially for teachers, it will make profitable reading for all, no matter what their calling, who wish to improve.

PRIMARY MANUAL TRAINING: METHODS IN FORM STUDY, CLAY, PAPFR AND COLOR WORK. By Caroline F. Cutler, Special Instructor in Manual Training to the Primary Teachers of Boston. Cloth. Fully illustrated. Price, 75 cents. Educational Publishing Co., 50 Bromfield street, Boston.-This book is one that teachers in the class-room will welcome right gladly. Every step in the development of a lesson in form is carefully marked out, fully explained and profusely illustrated and diagrammed. It is an earnest, painstaking, clear and concise presentation of the rudimentary steps in art education, and as such will find favor not only with those engaged in the actual work of teaching, but with those who have the best interests of our schools at heart.

THE

PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL.

Official Organ of the Department of Public Instruction.

VOL. VII.

OCTOBER, 1891.

No. 9.

CURRENT EDUCATIONAL THOUGHT.

KINGS may rule over an ignorant people and by their iron control hold them in subjection and in the quietness of tyranny; but a free land rests upon the intelligence of its people, and has no other safety than in well-rounded education and thorough moral training.-BENJAMIN HARRISON.

A LOT of force is wasted in education by fancying that the cardinal virtues can be delivered in recipes. We acquire virtues by doing virtuous acts. The formation of good habits in school-neatness, concentration, thoroughness, punctuality, and so on-all of which have an ethical value, should be urged in every school-room. habits are the mechanics of virtue.-PREST. HYDE of Bowdoin.

Good

LIFE means growth and change; and with no possibility of either we are dead mentally, and might as well be so physically. Let us then rejoice that, owing to the common weakness of humanity, we are able to strive for higher levels than we can attain unto, and that the future teacher will, not less than we, form ideals to be striven for, but not equaled.-PROF. IRA MORE, Los Angeles State Normal School.

THE chief reason why whipping in schcol and everywhere else is productive of so much mischief is because when the teacher or parent takes up the rod he lays down common-sense, self-control, judgment and his moral powers. There are at least three classes of appeals that may be made use of for correcting the irregularities of our nature and reforming offenders: First, the purely moral; second, the intellectual and the moral; third, these two combined and aided by physical force. The efficiency of these appeals is in direct ratio to the number of facul