The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-05-01
The OttaWa Gres Uraaer'
OTTAWA, Ill, May !, 1850.
LITERATURE.
Books

By Henry l.. BOltWOOu, "A. W., iIi. iP"
Evanston Township High school, lineage
George Sherwood u Co., Publishers
Henry L. Boltwood, A. NJ, at presen
principal Of the high school at Evanston
and formerly principal of the Ottawa higl
school, has recently published little worI
Of % pages, entitled "A Topical Outline o
General History" which is designed as
guide to the general reader of history ant
for review work in school. For many years
the author has devoted great deal of hare
work to the study and teaching of genera
history and has thus fitted himself for the
preparation Of Just such an outline as he
has given to the educational world. There
is no study so difficult in many points OF
view IN high school course as that OF gen
eral history, for there is no study that is OF
SO wide range and embraces so much that
requires the exercise of the faculty of mem
DRY. 1t is this difficulty that Professor Bolt.
wood has constantly kept in mind IN the
preparation of his work, and as a result he
has successfully accomplished his purpose
AS set forth in his preface Of 'present.
ing in compact form the most important
facts IN the history Of the great nations OF
the earth and of giving "a minimum of what
ought to be retained by high school pupil
or by general reader, arranged in form
convenient for memorizing" 1t has always
been theory with Professor Boltwood that
"all memory is more or less associative, and
the skillful teacher will seek to multiply as
sociations and to train his pupils to use one
fact to suggest another" This theory he
has always carried out to its legitimate end
In his method Of teaching history, and upon
il he has based his present work. As a
teacher, and especially as teacher Of his
tory, Professor Boltwood has no superior in
illinois, and but few equals. He has always
ranked high among educators as intensely
practical in his methods, and in this instance
he has rendered the school interests Of the
state a substantial service by this publica-
ton. 1t ought at once to become of general
use in our high schools and colleges
Tie May Century has the usual number OF
interesting articles, poems and sketches.
The philcsophc and metaphysical writings
q, Nathaniel hawthorne are treated IN dis
eliminating manner, giving the reader
clearer insight into the mental workings OF
the most distinctive literary genius this
country has ever produced, The war pa
Bers which for a year past have been the
notable feature Of this magazine are contin-
ued by the publication Of an unpublished &C
count of "1Le Peninsula Campaign writ
EN- by Gen. Mcclellan n short time prior to
ais death The other war papers are MIR.
joss' seventh chapter on 1.-The Recollec-
ions of a Private" and Gen. d. b Hills
account Of The Battle OF the South Noun
lain" The illustrated articles Of the mum
Der are american Country Dwellings by
Mrs. Schuyler van Rensselaer,; "The Flour
Mills of Minneapolis by T.. v Smalley,
md "The Dick Observatory By Toliesin
Evans. The fourth part Of Mr. IIowell's
story "The Minister'S Charge and short
story by Bradncr Matthews called per
Iurbed Spirits together with other short
stories make up the fiction Of the month,
The usual variety Of interesting topics of
the time are discussed and several very
bright poems are to be found in the Brca.
Brac column.
Rose Kingsley daughter of the distin-
ruished Canon Kingsley, contributes the
opening article to ST. Nicholas for May upon
the topic "When Shakespeare was n Boy =
the illustrations are by Alfred Parsons and
Leon Moran. The spring poets have con
iribued their share to the number, and in
the matter of fiction "Thc Girls Tricycle.
Club" by L. Vinton Blake, will be enjoyed
.y boys and girls who delight in outdoor
life and sports. The dogs are now having
heir day in 81. Nicholas, and this months
batch of dog stories contains anccdote by H.
?. Roe and others. These articles, taken
with the talks about flowers and the quaint
ly illustrated poem of THE Brownies on
Roller Skates make the May number n
highly creditable one to the editor and a
.ource of pleasure to the reader. New
! ork: The Century Pub Co,
The second Of series Of papers prepared
by Americas most distinguished political
economist on "An Economic Study of Mex.
leo appears in the May issue of the Ropular
Science MontLiy. and is repcte with informo.
lion about country that is little known and
thoroughly misunderstood by our citizens,
Prof. Arthur T. lIadley, of Yale, has time
~ article upon "The Difficulties of Railway
and DR.. Hermann y. Kleinn an
illustrated paper on "Photographing the
Heavens" Among the other contents of
the maya zine are articles by Herbert Spcn-
Ger on "The Factors of Organic Evolution
by Joseph Dawson on Glow Alcoholic
Liquors are Made and by Philip Gilbert
llamerton on "TLe Care of Pictures and
Prints" New York: D. Appleton & Co.