The Portland daily press., 1881-09-16
Magazine Notices.

The Popular Science Monthly for Septem-
Der holds its position as the best magazine in
the country for the sound education Of the peo-
pie. There is not page of trash in it, all its
articles are able and instructive, with a large
amount of fresh and original thought. The
frst paper 10 by the man whom Henry Ward
Beecher styled "the king of the thinkers of
this age Herbert Spencer; and it is chap
ter of great interest," on the Evolution of
Representative Bodies' We have hero his
tory reduced to a science, with statement of
the principles and processes by which such
things as legislatures have been brought into
existence. Every student, with whom politics
is something more than mere game, will do
well to read and ponder these discussions Of
Spencer on "The Development Of Political
Institutions" The second article is by DR..
Oswald ION Remedial Education" 1t is
brilliantly written and full of neglected COM
mon-sense in the matter of health manage
ment His series on physical Education"
increases in interest with every advancing
sep. Professor N III. Wincbell has an origi-
nal and illustrated paper on the Ancient
Copper Mines of Isle Royale." The subject is
treated with special reference to chronological
questions, and has bearing upon the
problem as to who were the mound builders.
Professor Carl vogt has peculiar and strik-
ing paper on Writing Physiologicslly Con-
sidered" He takes it mp with reference to the
action of the nervous system and the brain,
and arrives at some striking conclusions in re
spect TO the habits of races and nationalities.
Mr.. Theodore Wehle writes on the "Modern
Basis OF Life Insurance." and discusses the
subject in thoroughly scientific spirit aid on
the basis of an intimate and extensive ac-
quaintance with the facts His paper is a con-
tinuation of the subject opened in the August
Monthly" Estate Education: Necessity"
is an interesting article by Charles s. Bryant,
of ST. Paul, in reply to the attack upon State
education from the pen of Sir Auberon
Herbert, that appeared in "The Pop
ular Science Monthly" last year. Pro
fessor Herman L. Fairchild continues his
physiological papers, and completes in this
number his exposition of The Blood and Its
Circulation. Romyn Hitchcock gives us an
admirable statement about Measures of Length,
which will be new to most readers NJ. G.. Rob
met propounds the question Are Cemeteries
dispel good deal of popular prejudice on that
subject. Charles Darwin has brief article ON
a subject he knows how to treat-Inheritance
Que of the most important papers in the num-
Der is by j. Stshl Patterson, of Ohio, on the
Increase and Movement of the Colored Popu-
lation In the United States The present arti-
Gle is devoted to the question of Increase"
and is very instructive from its new and care
full researches. Professor W. Ell. Stone treats
of The Progress OF Higher Science Teaching
In England, with some vigorous criticism and
an array Of interesting facts. There is an in
teresting paper on The Australian Aborgines,
by Gabriel Marcel, which presents many curt
Gus chronological details M. Venukoff calls
attention to certain UNEMPLOYED Parts of the
Old World, showing that even there geography
has yet great deal to do. What is Molecule?
is the title of short paper of admirable clear
ness in presenting the fundamental conception |
of modern theoretical physics. The body arti- |
cles of the number are closed by a sketch of |
James Craig Watson, the eminent American |
astronomer, by Professor Winchell. 1t is &C.
with an excellent likeness. The |
editor takes hand at drawing the moral of |
the Boston Ladies' Deposit; and he also con-
siders the subject Of State Education with ref |
erence TO the contributions of Herbert and
Bryant. The Literary Notices are full and |
timely, and the Popular Miscellany is unusual |
ly varied and instructive. New York: d. APP |
pleton & Co.