Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-26
THE BOOK TABLE.
THE MIDGF-MaG ZINEs-BsR.
BARAS VAGARIES.
Infant Iraining-RaiIway Criticism
Victorious Defeat-Forgottea
Meanings--New Novels.

volumes, from the press Of Lee & Shepard
Boston. and Ckes. 7. Dillingham;, New
York. The Grst is exercises for young
children, by Horace Grant, the American
edition being edited by Willard Small. We
have gone through it with pleasure The
idea appears to have been to entertain and
developthe mental powers of children too
small tc read or write, It proceeds upon
the defensible doctrine that small children
can be cultivated in ether mental directions
than merely memorizlng. The exercises
are adapted TO infantile reasoning capacity,
and calculated to direct it in natural logical
methods. The subjects taken are all IA
nihar, and the method strengthens reason
ing power, and also develops memory in
all directions, not merely verbal, the COM
hitting of words and phrases, hut the
memorizing of reasons, and the fcrtifca-
ton of memory 5herewith. The Instructor
using this book is not to expect correct an
swers; imperfect ones viii be evolved,
but up to the 'child's knowledge of things
it will be perfect; the ezeitation to
thought is the chief purpose. and
this il dose by easy and rational
processes. GEOIl UltIE stlStTuCtlOll words
descriptiye-of objects pres ented, the work
proceeds t,p to methods of doing things as
paper modelling, netting, knet-tying,
measuring by eye and touch, Judging of
sounds, distances, weights colors, by taste,
feeling, sight, and 50 on 'ttB 10 exercises for
the bodily development. We are strongly
impressed with the value of the methods
and Che soundEsess OF the principle en-
which they are FOUNDED. The other vel
ume has for a Subtitle ~ An Hour with a
Dictionary" and rs By Alfree Waites. 1t
is brief presentation of words the origin
ofWhich is beng lost in the swift changes
ard varied uses Of the language of to-day.
II is really a dissection of some five nun-
dred very common words which axe not
analysed Historically in the ordinary die
Sionary SO fully as they deserve. Both
books are fer sale'oy Samuel Carson & Co.,
120 Suffer street, San Francisco.
James +. Huds on's The Railways and
the Republic is fat volume, contributing
much tothe railway literature ofthe coun-
try But Mr. Hudson takes radical and
to our uiew-iwrong petitions oaener than
not He has a-rayed himself as a rule in
opposition TO systems that have been born
naturally Of commercial deyelopment. For
instance, disposition relative &c "the pool"
is that it strengthens the arbitrary and I'M
restrained pswer of railroad OF .cials. We
apprehend that the experience of trade has
not justified this sw seping denuncation of
a svstems9ae is compelled to limit, if hon
estly conducted, would establish practical
equality in rates. He is doubtful even of
the ilaW Of competition, since it sometimes
produce inequalities. The power to dis
criminate be elagnifes Unto threat
to the stability of consTnerce. While
he certainly exposes some wrongs
70 ma ha htr iol,
greater ones might .. he accomplished,
theSspiVit of the whole text is antagonistic,
partial and biased. 1t lacks that judicial
calm and that dispassisnate method of
analysis that is forcefJl end respect com
BsaHding; indeed, Mr.. Hudson is oftener
vituperative than otherwise, and in that
there is no strength. It is a pessimistic
view from beginning to end. 1t is fair to
say, however, that the author holds that for
q large measure of the alleged wrong-doIngs
OF railway managers the environment of
these men is irresponsible, and absolves them
from individual wrong doing. The pres
sure of circumstances, the conditions of
society, force upon railway managers poll
.cies, he holds, that would not result from
their uutrammeled individual Judgment
TO the final and general conclusion of his
view of what should prevail there can be
found no objection, since he insists upon
a policy by Government toward railways
that will conserve their legitimate prosper
ity, the supFemacyof free institutions, the
stability Of representative government, and
the unrestricted Independence of trade and
manufactures. But She issues with Mr..
Hudson arise from his construction of
these terms OF legitimacy, independence
sSad supremacy. Ne oRe will disagree with
him that railroad corporations should not
dominate the Government, but all will not
agree with him that there is danger of this,
or that such remedies for abuses shall be
applied as will strip from railroad owner
ship all the elements of control. Harper &
Bros, New York San Francisco, A. l..
Banoroft& Co.; g.
The Magazine of American History"
for June (edited by Mrs. Martha J. Lamb,
New York; is at hand and is rich in val
nable papers, Among thesewe note: Ban
icroft on SeifGovernment;" Canada's
Actual Condition" by Dr. Bender; The
Retreat of the Confederate Government"
by w H. Swallow; Triumph of the
American Principle, by C. *. Tuckerman /;
." Sketch of San Antonio = The Virginia
Convention of .17SS,p. by A. w. Classon !;
The Reconstruction of History" by Rev.
DrsEAis 1.-The Last of the Confederates,"
by &c. Waller. In addition are copies
of historical papers historical notes and
views, etc. The frontispiece is a steel
plate portrait of Jefferson, 1avis. There
are alse handsome wood slgravings of
views in San A1tonio. The magazine is
one of the most valuable Of the era 1t
deserves long life, liberal support and wide
circulation. This number closes the
fifteenth volume, and an exhaustive index
and handsome title page for 4he volume
supplements the number.
- Down the West Branch or, Camps and
I1amps .Arcux d KGtah lin, by Capt Chas
Al. Farrar, is a Il mo. volume from the
press of Lee & Shepard, Boston. and for
sale by Samuel Carson & Co.. 80 Suffer
street, San francisco. This entertaining
book is an account of E trip through some
Of tie widest regions Of Maine by several
members of the Lake and Forest Club
in search of sport and reca.aation.
Captain Fesrar is e widely known
sportsman, a.g-aphic narrator, and 6 keen
observer. The story in ,this boOlIal well
told, and dramatic in Character. The reality
of forest adventure is made TO take GA ro-
mantle gsrb, and the whole narrative is in
vested With the interest, tia. attaches &c The
drama 81 life in The wild woods. The book
is more especially intended for boys, " no
viii haddt deeply entertaining.
The Nudge is the latest.of H. G. Bsr-
ner's novels ItisGron the press of Chac.
Seribne< is-s5ns, NeE York, asd sells at S..
1t is a story Involving really but three per
sons-a bachelor Doctor, a waif he reseaes
from the cold charities of the world, and d
bright, nianiy young fellow in the nayy'
who falls inle<e with and marries the wall,
otherwise The Nudge, { ust as the old doc
tor began to ee2iize hoE all-imp0rtant his
ward was to him. ThefDlot is simple, but
full of quaiIr Interest, and the characters
are drawn by master hsnd- one who has
nse,S his powers.0f observation TO advant-
age in life. Tkesimplesi OF all B1nner's
efforts it is by NO means the least of his
efforts. But why was Mr.sBunner 50 IN
happy in the title az his story
Bari Nasas VagaFses " is q novel b. May
4sSngdon 1sdball. T. only the novel was
rs eharmi Dg as the handsome book the
publishers have given ,sls-sn. ocean of zine
Large print wsthin the compass of a pend
of literary tSrt. The xagariss of Barbara
weteag. will fail to interest q yerv LARGE
clientGge of n oyel readarS tits one of tha
. easy writ " and efiortless stories that IL
neither good no. bad. btt. decidedly with
ont stirring qua utg- HaSnar. q Bros, New
YORK.
"a Victorious laefeat," fsszn the Eress Of
HarDer & Bros, New York. Is a romance
by Wolcoit Raleslier. and worth the read
ing. 1t is stronger in the characters dzawn
fh9., IN fhe ,,iaf in pykirh thay move IL