The herald., 1894-11-04

fRLLEAS AND MELlsANDE-A prose drama
IN I've acts, by MAunIcE MAETxRLINcK.
Translated by IRVING winsow, l VOL, 1856
PIP Cloth gilt top, 81. 4. W. Orowell Il
Co., Boston.
the interest in this young Flemish
author--for he is precisely 80 years old
has been very great. Extravagant
claims have been made for him, which
have hurt rather than helped his fame
but Mr.. Winsow's introduction to this
dainty little volume sets that matter
right by a just estimate OF Maeterlinck's
genius. The volume may we'll have a
place in our list of new and excellent
books for the year. II is good gift to
any porson, young or old, who loves to
study literary styles and does not Ike
to miss anything that can minister to q
refined taste.
THE VICTORY OF OUR FAITH, by ANNA
RoBEETSoH BRwS, Pm. d. Thomas Y.
Clowell d Co, Boslol.
This 10 pretty monograph and in
style of makeup is fully as taking as
Mics Tootsey'G Mission and the other
uniform booklet OF the series. The
tells ne that recent talk che had with
q brilliantly educated and talented man
had so haunted and troubled her that
she resolved to speak this passing word
to other college men and women about
the worth OF faith and love. And this
passing word 10 vigorous snd whole
some discourse upon faith. 1.-The truest
manhood and womGnhood can be at
tanned by faith alone. Faith builds up
life upon eternal aims. Faith gives
fidelity. patience, tenderness. wisdom
and forbearing love. 1t exalts aud
blesses all human relations"
We can truly say that this is O little
volume which should have a large sale.
~
CONSTITUTION OF CALIFORNIA. BY W. F.
EESSISG esq, OF the Los Angeles bar. g.
W. Palm K Co.
This is q much needed work. 1t con-
tnips, besides the annotated constitu-
tions OF 1Ss9 and 1879, several very i'm
portnnt papers, like the list of members
OF the constitutional conventions, act OF
admission OF California into the union.
treaty Of Gusdsloupe Hidalgo. 1t ia q
faithfully edited work, and leaves out no
important phase OF any subject that
could reasonably be expected to be found
to date. containing the very latest notes
of decisions, and even the amendments
to be voted on at the coming election.
No more worthy or timely book has been
offered to the bar and business men Of
California. Not the least important
feature of the book ie its size and style,
being uniform with this favorite Pony"
seriee.
WALKS ABROAD, by WILLIAM HALLY SMITH.
educational Press association, Peona, III
The fate OF the race hangs upon the
training OF Ita children. The influence
for good or i'll OF a single teacher is in
caiculable. The only way to insure q
good body OF teachers is for ell the peo-
pie to think and read on things educa-
tonal and take personal interest in the
schoule.
There are few books 30 calculated to
interest one in these things as Mr.. Will
liam Hswey Smiths volume, Walks
Abroad. recently issued by the Educa-
tional Press association OF Peoria, lii.
These papers are crammed with good,
sound horse senee. Mr.. Smith is q
teacher OF the coming era; he looks at
things with eyes undimmed by pedantry
or self-concet. He has been trained by
lite-time OF experience and observa-
ton. For years he has served as a
tescher, as o conductor of institutes. as
superintendent of instruction; at pres.
ent he is devotng his time to public
reading, lecturing and literary work, but
his love of children and his interest in
their training will never die.
Many things has he seen in his Walks
Abroad which ought to be seen by all,
Ntyk b pla f.,- Ono nj. h. he
ken Of the average teacher. For one
thing, no two children are mental twins,
no two have exactly the came tastes, ca
pabilitiee, and aims. Why, then, should
a whole classful of children be taught
exactly the came thing. in exactly the
Same way, in exactly the same time?
Again, he thinks that children are
often forced to wear out their brains on
things utterly without value, on long
columns Of useless names, dates and
statistics, while no effort, absolutely no
effort is made to quicken the dead past
into life to bring the distant city before
the child's eyes, seeming with life. full
OF strange people and strange sights.
And yet, how much better would this
be than to think of Cairo as black dot
In the right hand corner of map
lettered Africa If child is once in
terested he will learn. 1.-The teacher
must teach" says Mr.. Smith. mot
merely hear recitations."
One of these papers paints the teacher
who talks in pclysyllables to a class of
10.year-old children, another the bad
boy. the non.existent being, unless
called into lite by lact OF tact, and want
OF comprehension of his nature. Mr..
Smith has treated elsewhere and at
length the effect that teachers have on
their pupils, in his well-known book,
The Evolution of Dood, the narrative OF
the moulding of a child's character by
his echoolmasters and mistresses.
Walks Abroad is not book to be
cast aside and forgotten it is full of
things that stick in ones mind and
force one to think OF them. One cannot
say how well that suits my neighbour"
and paes on, for the whole book seems
direct and personal, show does this
strike you?'' Are you making this
mistake" The style is delightful !;
everything is easy and flowing, and the
meaning is always 40 clear as crvstal.
The book is full of humor, full OF witty
phrases which serve better than whole
chapter Of ponderous gravity to bring
home truth. to point moral.
one thing more, let all citizens who
are Careless of their duty towards the
schools. who pay them thought only
when the time comes round to buy
schoolbooks, who know nothing ut
teachers or methods OF work, let them
u read that iearful warning, Jones's