Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-26
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

Sacramento Business college. sacramento,
c. s. Houghton. Unless we are greatly de-
ceived, Professor Atkinson has in this little
book presented the simplest, most rapid
and practical method of computing interest
extant, and one that will certainly supplant
the more laborious and intricate methods
in our school system and business. The
system explained in detail in this volume
enables an arrival at results To be made
with less labor and greater clearness than
those usually employed. 1t appears to be
a systematic arrangement of methods en-
ployed by q teacher desiring to lead
the pupil to a correct understand
ing of underlying principles. Certainly the
process appears the essence of concise
ness and rapidity. There are given in
rules, as generally understood, but the
principles involved are laid bare, and the
processes employed made clear. The base
of the whole system is the treatment of six
per centum per annum as the unit of de
parture, and the constant revolution of
time into decimal expression, by which
fractions are wholly eliminated i'll the work
ing process, no matter what the sum, the
per cent or the time. Thus: as Sc is
earned by 800 in year, it will produce
one-siXth of that sum in one-sixth of the
time, or 81 III sixty days, or 500, the sum
Of the principal, in 200 months The next
step is to make clear the ease Of dividing
by 10, 100 or 1000 by removal of the deci-
NAL point, and the learA is thus enabled
10 compute at glance the interest of any
sum for 90 months, months or 6 days
The number representing months is
divided into factors, or multiples Of
200, 20 and 2 as required, the days
into multiples or factors of 6, and the
results are placed vertically below, and to
the right of the principal The interest is
then easily computed mentally according
to the formula, that 200 months equals
the principal, 20 months, ITO of it, 2
months, i-100 of it, and SO on. The results
obtained are written opposite each subdi-
vision of time, and the sum of them must
be the answer. Everything depends. then,
upon readiness III dividing the given time,
and this is, he hollis, to be acquired just as
IS the spelling of words, so that on hearing
4 word its letter composition is known at
once. Thus 81 months is instantly subdi-
vidcd into 90, 5 and 2, % days into "a, 8
and ,. The largest factor OF 200 is always
10 be taken out first, and out of the re-
mainder the largest factor of 20, and out of
the next remainder the multiple of g.
When the interest is computed al per
cent. the pupil is TO add or substract such
fractional part as is necessary. Thus: for
per cent. he adds 1-6, for substracts 1-6,
for A. substracts /, for z! adds I, etc. Sufi-
cient has thus been stated to give the
reader q general idea of The method en-
plOyed. 1t has attracted our attention
strongly, and on comparing processes with
established methods, and Experimenting
some hours, we are driven TO the conclu-
sion that the Atkinson method iustifes the
claims made for il The author applies his
processes also to partial payments, bank
discount, equation of payments, account
sales and settlement of accounts. The book
is worthy the attention of educators and is
fair challenge for their criticism.
Mothers in Council" New York, Har-
per & Bros. San Francisco, A L. Bancroft
" Co. A very suggestive title for very
meaty book. Some six or seven years ago
a number Of mothers began to meet to
counsel in household affairs and social and
domestic topics. at first they met merely
to stimulate each other by readings con
tanning useful suggestions, and then they
would criticise. But they soon passed to
more original tastes, and each one in order
contributed essays on her experience in life
on given topics. The result of these in
part is given i'll this little volume. The
discussions cover topics ranging from ODE |
dlence, duties of old maids, bachelors, |
bathing, children and their government, to |
choice and use of books for children edu- |
ton, the tenant question, cookery, accu-
racy, thOrOughness as Il habit, self-cOntrol |
of child's character. nurses, in
herited traits and the right places for |
things. Obviously we cannot give these |
essays detailed examination, nor enter |
upon any analysis Of them. They are in
Hyldual views and given for what they are |
worth, and entitled TO be allowed to go forth |
upon their own feet since the authors |
wrote them not as authors, nor for public |
criticism. In short they were not intended |
to form part Of treatise and as they are
parts of debates and differ widely IN view
often from each other, it would not be
profitable to criticise their sOundness. In
many OF them are patent errors Of theory,
N some fiat contradictions of widest expe- !
renee, but in the main they are sensible,
and are all full of valuable sug-
gestions.
From the Century Company, New York,
Se have the " Century Midsummer Holt
lay number, being the August issue of
he Century illustrated Magazine" 1t is
IN especially brilliant number. The en-
cravings are very superior and numerous
Among the leading articles are a deeply in
eresting sketch Of the romantic events in
he life Of Gen. Sam Houston" by Alex
nder Hynds Mrs. SchuylerVan Rensse-
aer's continuation OF " Recent Architect
ire in America" sketch of the Queen of
iOumania, by HELEN Zimmern very
and original story Of odd adver-
ising and the trials of love comnlngled en-
tiled An Effect in Yellow" a sketch of
Chinese Gordon" by w. r. Stead; "On
he Track of Ulysses" by w. J. Stillman
4 New-England Winter" by Henry
ames; A Problematic Character" by
/. II. Bovesen an article entitled Three
Dangers by Washington GLADDEN.. relat-
ng to three important social topics, intern
,erance, polygamy and gambling. Besides
here are stories, poetry, essays and the
sual departments, which are very full
From d. Appleton & Co., New York. we
ave the " Popular Science Monthly for
augusta number replete with interest
nd of high value. Among the leading pa
ers are The Ghost of Religion" bv
frederic Harrison, and the reply by Her
ert Spencer entitled Retrogressive Re
gion the two constituting u most inter
sting and brilliant debate " RambIes by
Naturalist" by DR.. c. c. Abbott; Scien-
iic Philanthropy, by Lee J. Vance, b. s.:
The Worlds Geyser- Regions by DIR. A.
. Peale Preparation to Innocent Con
lets, by d. Heinrich Jacques; The
henistry Of Cookery by w. NJ. Will
ans; The Morality of Happiness" by
homas Foster; The Mystic Properties
+ Numbers, by EHenne de la Roche, and
ther papers Of interest 10 the reader of
did matter, besides the usual varied crisp
nd always incisive editorial departments.
The " Overland Monthly" Samuel Car
Oh d Co, san Francisco is on our table
)r August, and proves a readable number
] all respects. We note especially a vaiu- ..
bic article on the Yukon country by Geo
Nardman, author of A Trip to Alaska.
.lso The Crazy Professor, character
Judy from the mining period, by Henry s.
rooks; Un-koi-to, the Savior" a legend
the Con-Cow Indians of Northern Cali ,
,mia, by Colonel A. G. Fassin The Law
Muru, a curious and entertaining ac-
punt ola strange Moari custom; an anec-
ote paper upon Henry Durant; brief {
udy of the significance to constitutional
istory of the organization and government !
" California Mining Camps, by c. II. !
Hmm Peru, Bolivia and Chili-Alaska, {
l. ~ |