The Portland daily press., 1882-03-04
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH A.
scopic picture, and his clear and animated
style readily gives the reader his part of the

scopic picture, and his clear and animated
style readily gives the reader his part of the
pleasure.
Educational Theories. By Oscar Browning,
NJ. A. (New York: Harpers; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony. This compact little volume
of which the binding might be excused for
bursting with pride at its fullness of learning,
is consideration and comparison of theories
and systems of education, Greek, Roman, and
30 down to our own day. Mr.. Oscar Browning
has right to theorize upon the education OF
youth, after his practical work of fifteen years
as a master at Eton and Cambridge. He lays
down few laws, preferring rather to present
means of comparison between the systems that
have prevailed, but deplores whatever may
tend to lessen and make less alive the natural
love of learning; and of school discipline he
has this fine thing to say: SIT rests on hope
and shows itself in patience" Mr. Oscar
Browning writes from an Englishman's expe-
rience; but what would he have to say of the
system of deadly columns of averages, high
pressure, multiplicity of studies, work out of
school, for teachers and scholars. upon matters
which should be finished in school hours or let
alone wholly, martinez drill and endless coils
of red tape, School System set up for Moloch
to murder the children by means against which
as yet no law is stringent-bad air, close-con-
finement, over-study. The percentage OF school
children who leave study on account OF i'll
healthis frightful among statistics.
The First Book of knowledge By Freder-
lex Guthrie, L. R. S. (New York: G. p Put
nam's Sons; Portland: Loring, Short & Har-
mon). This is a useful manual of obiect-teach-
ing for children, leading them to see and con-
slider for themselves what things are made of
and what they are for. The best help that
can be given to a child is to help him to think
and do for himself, and Prof. Guthrie's little
volume will prove pleasant and efficient aid
in this way.
Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor is
the most recent volume of Prof. VIM. J. Rolfe's
edition of the Plays, an edition which cannot
be too highly or too often recommended as pos
sessing all tho traits that go to make scholarly
editing and luminous comment.
Messrs. Houghton & Osgood of Boston pub.
lish a timely and attractive volume of Sc
lections from Mr.. Longfellow's Poems, chosen
with view to the understanding and pleasure
of children This is the true way to interest
children in literature, to give them of the best
such as is fitted to their comprehension This
volume should be Immediately made one of
the textbooks in every school, at once task and
reward The tasteful binding, too, should
have word of praise for its attractiveness.
Winter and its Dangers. By Hamilton Os-
good NJ. D. philadelphia: Presley Blakiston
Portland Loring, Short & Harmony. This
practical and beneficial little treatise should be
widely read, and its suggestions followed. 1t
treats of the multform dangers and results of
catching cold, not the least of the causes Of
which are close and hot rooms, want of care in
ventilation &c., as well as the obvions dangers
of draughts, dampness and low temperature
1t is scientific in thought, but plain and read
able in manner. Every house-mother should
have it at hand.
French History for English Children. By
Sarah Brook. Revised and edited by George
Cary Eggleston. New York: Harpers; Port
land: Loring Short & Harmony. Apleasantly
and well arranged history of France, in which
the dry narrative of battles and lists of success
sive rulers is lightened by anecdotes and pic
lures. At the same time Mrs. Brook does not
lose anything Of directness or elearness in the
narrative; and the volume is recommended to
young people with a taste for history.
Malaria What it Means and How Avoided.
By Joseph F. Edwards, M. D. philadelphia
Presley Blakiston: Portland: Loring Short &
Harmonl This is treatise upon the harm,
mortal and incalculable, done by bad air; and
although in writing upon the subject, one may
be led somewhat 70 exaggerate the manner of
speaking, too much can hardly be said upon
the importance of clean air, that we may
breathe in life and not disease.
Aspasia. Translated from the German OF
Robert Hame, ling. By Mary j. Stafford (New
York: VIM. S Gottsberger; Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony. A novel which occupies
ground so nearly bordering upon that of Pro-
fessor Ebers's romances, cannot hope to escape
comparison with them. Aspasia contains
many fine and poetic passages, but is not so
harmonious with present task or true to the
antique spirit as Professor Ehers's novels 1t is
rather wordy, affected in a pronounced retak-
ing of pagan thought and cold and premedi-
tated in design. It lacks the splendid vitality,
the historic ease and the mastery of material of
the work of Professor Ebers, whose Uarda and
Egyptian Princess are models of their kind.
Some exquisite pictures occur here and there.
clear and charming in color and outline, for
which Prof Hamerling should have full credit