The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-10-13
NE " PUBLICATIONS.

We think this history of the Middle Ages is,
in every twsy, suitable and most desirable
class book for our Catholic schools. History
has been for go many years such a weapon
against ruth and such falsfer of the Church,
that we can not but welcome any work which
will be candid, unprejudiced and just in its
dealings with what the world has been pleased
to call the dark ages. Tue style of the work
before Us is calm and impartial, there are no
bur.ts of enthusiasm over heroes and heroic
deeds, but the narrative of facts goes on with
all the simplicity of t;uth and all the dignity
| of knowledge. It is well divided into short
sections for class lessons, and the review aes'
tions furnish q satisfactory summary of all
that has been previously studied.
history of the United States Of america By Jot n
r u. Hassard New York: Catholic Publi-
cation Society.
The introduction to this excellent work is
written by Right Rev. J. L. spaldirg, the
learned Bishop of Peoria, and is in itself treat
to all Intelligent minds-and one of it's sen.
tences is so full of thought chat We quote it for
our readers. Speaking of the growth and in
huence of the Catholic Church in this country
and of its bearing upon the future destiny of
our republic, the eloquent writer says "For
my own part. I believe that he who Will 90
most to form the character of the Catholic
youth of America, will also have done most
to mould the future OF the American peo-
ple."
And then follows a conmendaton of this
fine work of Mr.. Hassard, during " hich Bishop
Spslding says: "I know of no other school
history OF the United States which is distin-
gnjshed by 80 many excellerces"
To such recommendation, there is no need
of adding single word
The 'get up" of the book is very tasteful,
the illustrations Numerous and beau ful, the
type clear and large, the maps interesting and
explicit and the binding steong.an attractive.
Indeed, the enblems the covers of the
book, are so suitable and suggestive that a
student learns timely lesson every time he
takes it in his hand.
"Iu the good tine coming" when our Pabiic
Schools shall be organized and administered 50
as tc be accept able to our Catholic youth, this
work will be found atisfactory TO all Impair
tial minds, and conducive to the DC st develop
ment of our American students. We have
however to add one word of fault finding and
this Go because this is no ordinary work
and should therefore be perfect even in its
least details.
On pages 334. 335, the &C thor gives an &C.
count of the battle between the Monitor and
Virginia which ia not correct, and the short
sentence referring t. the last vessel "She
nerer appeared again." is in direct opposition to
the truth. We have 80 often ventilated the facts
regarding this naval engagement that we are
vexed to see all our Northern writer's holding
on to the erroneous statement and calling that
history which is fiction of Northern minds.
The Merrimac or Virginis, as she should pro-
perly be called in history, was not disabled by
the Monitor. The ram or PROV of the Virginia
was elightly irjured the day before by being
run into the Cumberland; but in the fight with
the Monitor, it was her fire that disabled Lieu
tenant Worden and this accident to the COM
mander of the "cheese box. practically put an
end to the contest. (See Swinton.)
Bat the Virginia did appear again, and even
captured several schooners from under the
very guns of Fortress Monroe.
Again our author says on page 352: "The
two ships alabama and Kearssge) were fairly
matched, but Cspt. winslow had the better
gunpers and after an action of about an hour
the Alabama was sunk" Fairly notched
If one of two duellists should secretly slip on
coat of mail under his cit zsn's clothes, and
thus f ght and win the day, it would surely not
matched! The Kearsage did this, and we protest
against this polite way of covering up all
Northern slips of truth and honor because, for
sooth, one of the parties belongs to Lost
| Cause!
Elem ments Of Intellectual Philosophy. By Rev. ]
DeConclio. New York: D. & J. Sadlier.
This book is said to be the best work of the
kind written in English-i e. not in Latin. II
treats of Logic, ontology and Anthropology
and is written in style 80 lucid and in words
so clear that the author claims that it can be
studied and in great part understood without
o teacher by any young man of parts.
In regard to the matter Father DeConcilic
follows the teachings of St. Thomas, and clingt
throughout his work to "that grand philosophy
created by geniuses as great as Plato or Aris
totle and guided by the truth of God which
these heather geniuses had not"
We believe the writings of Father De Con
clio are generally we'll received by our Catho