The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-28

A School History of the United States.
By John Bach MoMaster, Professor of
American History in tho University of
Pennsylvania, author of "a History of
the People of the United States" New
York, Cincinnati and Chicago: American
Book Company. Price $1.00) Prof Nc
Master has won q high reputation as a
historian by his we'll known books with
the Fathers" and History of the Peo-
pie of the United States,'' and book
from him adapted to the use of schools
will be valuable addition to that GLASS
of literature. His skill in the selection of
material suitable for his purpose appears
on every page of this volume. He has
made prominent those great events which
have had an important bearing on Ameri.
can history, and has omitted unimportant
incidents and details. From the beginn-
ing the attention of the student is direct
ed to causes and results rather than to
Isolated events. In treating the period of
discovery, attention Is concentrated on
the discoveries and first settlements made
within the limits of the present United
States. Having accounted for the origin
of the United States, the author deyotes
the greater portion Of the book to its
subsequent history under the Constitu-
ton. Here a marked difference between
this and other school histories is the
elaborate presentation of the social. in
dustrial, and economic DEVELOPMENT of
the country. Some facts of this nature
are mentioned incidentally in other
school histories, but in this book they are
made of the first Importance, and the
effect they had on political history is
shown. Thus, the causes which led to the
westward movements of population, to
the rise OF manufactures, to the demand
for Internal improvements, are fully stat
ed. In addition, the book describes the
home life and surroundings of the people,
their domestic and industrial implements,
their social and intellectual progress, as
well as their civil and political history.
1t Includes chapters on such important
topics as the mechanical and industrial
progress OF the nation, the highways of
trade and commerce at different periods,
the growth Of inventions, the rise of par
ties, the financial development OF the
country, and the progress of the people in
the arts and sciences.
The same publishers issue "Gems of
School Song by Carl BetZ, which Is O.
choice collection of songs for children of
all ages and for schools OF different
grades. The following outline will give
good idea of the subjects, number, and
character of the songs included in this
book. Morning 90 pieces), Evening and
Night (l7), Llllabies (3), Spring (27),
Summer (15), Autumn and Winter Q1),
Forest and Stream (15,) Flowers (10),
Birds and other Creatures (19), Home (30l
the Hunter (6), the Soldier (5), Pleasure
Q9).
The Natural Music Reader. By Frederick
H. Ripley, principal of the Chas. Sum
ner School, Boston, and Thomas Tapper,
instructor in musical composition and
theory, in the American College of Must
clans, published by the American Book
Company, is the seventh book of the
Natural Course in Music, but it may be
used independently. 1t is intended to
meet the wants of classes in which bass
voices have begun to develop, and yet
much OF the music Is arranged so as to be
complete If the bass is omitted. The
selected music is largely new, and espeo-
tally composed for choruses similar to
those formed by school CLASSES.