The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-31

England and Germany. Technical informa-
tion about the human brain and its work.
lngs Is, perhaps, OF no practical value TO the
nonprofeSs1onal reader, but as given by An
drew Wilson, NJ. D.. in the first of a series
or papers, ii has a curious interest Bicycle
riders who contemplate making tours in
europe on the wheel will find much useful
information in paper on the subject by
Joseph Pennell.
The first number of the Newspaper Mag
azine fulfills all the promises made by its
protector and editor, Mr. Deschler WEIGH.
Mr.. WEIGH, himself newspaper man, has
noted the fact that much of the best con-
temporary literature appears in the daily
and weekly papers of the country and has
but the ephemeral life of such papers. 1t
Is the purpose of his magazine to collect
and present in more permanent form the
pest work of newspaper writer's on misce-
laneous subjects not treated in the monthly
periodicals-at least until much later. TT
VIII, he says, 'be a precious scra pbook
for unusual circulation" The first issue
contains 164 pages of the best things seen
during the month in the newspapers-bright
stories, thoughtful essays good descriptive
artlcies-something of interest for all classes
or readers. 1t Is a magazine for the busy
man who yet likes to keep in touch with
the literature of the day, for people remote
from daily newspapers or who read but one,
Tor all who enjoy the thoughts of clever
writers. The magazine is well printed and
attractive in appearance. Published at los
West Thirty-ninth streer, New York.
The Atlantic Monthly has for some years
been giving to the public the best and most
advanced thought on educational topics. In
the current issue is a paper by Mark Fl.
Liddell on the teaching of English, which
all teachers of the language would do well
TO read. He complains of the prevailing
ignorance of the history and structure of
English, a knowledge Of which he declares
to be necessary to the full understanding
of English literature, but to which less at
tenticn is paid in schools than to the his
tory and structure of Greek and Latin.
What wonder" he says that the ignor-
ance is so widespread, when so little inter-
est is taken in the scientific study of the
subject? We have now associations for the
furtherance of almost every doctrine or en-
deavor conceivable; the collection of post
age stamps has its society, the propagation
Of esOteric Buddhism has its band of en-
thuslasts, the study of Brownings poetry
mas its cultus, and hundreds of other OBJ
thrust upon the notice of the public through
the organized effort of unselfsh propa again.
dists. But there is no American society or
association in existence whose sole object
is the dissemination of scientific knowledge
of the history and structure of the language
by which all such CONCERTED ACTION is rem
dered possible and effective Nor are we
better off in respect to special Journals:
Germany has two excellent ones devoted
solely TO the scientific study of English;
America and England have none" .
Dr. Theodore Barth, member of the Ger
man Reichstag has written for the April
Review of Reviews an article on Political
Germany" which will be read with interest
by all who wish for an intelligent under
standing of the main features of German
politics. Dr.. Barth outlines the party pol
icies and national problems clearly and dis
passionately, and throws light upon con-
ditions there which will help readers of the
daily press to better understanding of the
cabled reports of public proceedings in that
country. The writer, though not member
of the Social Democratic party, takes par
ticular pains to remove the impression
which he believes to prevail here that that
party is Social1Stic or disposed TO a violent
change in the existing order of things. On
the contrary ne declares it to be reVolu-
tionary only in aims, not in methods. he
also defends Emperor William against the
Judgment that has been formed OF him out
side of Germany mainly as a result of his
own speeches. His oratory is impulsive, pr
Barth AYERS, is greatly modified by the
events of the moment, and is less significant
of his real character and purpose than APP
pears to those who do not know all the
circumstances. The paper is illustrated by
portraits of German statesmen. Other spe-
cial features of the number are a discus
sion of cosmopolitanism and international
friendliness by the young French writer
Baron De COubertn: a sketch of M De
Coubertin, by DR.. Albert Shaw; an account
of the new gold discoveries in Mexico, by
H. d. Slater; an article on The Refer
endum and the Swiss Railroads." by j. r.
Macdonald. and q study of "BacchylideS,
the Risen Bard" by Prof. j. Irving Manatt
A very realistic. and consequently har-
rowing description of the sunering from
thirst endured by one lost in the desert is
a contribution to the Atlantic by w. j. Nc
Gee. It may have some value as a scientific
study, but is hardly in place in a strictly
literary periodical John Muir the enthu-
Siastic scientist, or scientific enthusiast, as
one may prefer to put it, writes in eloquent
phrase of the wonders and beauties of the
Yellowstone National Park. Henry c. Adj
ans reviews the decade of federal railway
regulation covered by the interstate-com
merce law. He concludes that the value of
such regulation has not been properly tested
in that time because the commission has not
had adequate provision in the way of ad-
ministrative machinery and Congress has
not shown disposition to uphold the dig
nifty of the body which it created r. Whit
mere gives an account of his experience on
a Florida farm which goes to show that
the uncertainty of the weather in that So
called summerland makes farming more of
a lottery than is the case in northern re-
gions. Other contributions to the number
are: 1.-THE Evolution of Satellites by G.
H. Darwin. "A Nook in the Alleghenies,
by Bradford Torrey; Shall We Still Read
1.-The Romance of a Famous Library" by
Herbert Putnam, and Personal impress
sions of Bjornson and Ibsen," by w. II.
Schofield. Regular readers of the Atlantic
teresting department known as the Con
tributors' Club" The topics discussed by
the contributors in this issue are Detective
Stories" why Virgil Did Not Write the
Fellow"