1663 172 94.00 99.73 W. M. Friesner. 673 590 512 477 14 95.42199.94 D. W. Lewis. *November Report-received too late for publication in our last issue. REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES. 1HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD'S POEMS.--Some of these poems are old friends read years ago with delight in the Atlantic. There was always something in them that thrilled the imagination and touched the heart. Celia Thaxter does not describe nature with finer grace or móre delicate keenness of sight and insight. Mrs. Piatt has no deeper sense of human emotion and no greater power of expressing it. Mrs. Spofford seems in fact to combine the powers of these two singers, and adds to them her own unrivaled richness of color, and her own beauty of rhythm. The two strongest impressions which remain in the mind after reading the poems, is, on the sensuous side, that of splendor and magnificence of color; and, on the spiritual side, that of depth of emotion--sometimes sorrowful but never morbid, and in the major key rather than those wailing minors to which women are too prone. The passionate melancholy of "Agatha's Song" is perhaps an exception, and the writer seems to have feared this, for she has half-spoiled the poem by changing the last line so as to give it a less tragic cast. 2DR. GREGORY'S PRACTICAL LOGIC.--So far as our acquaintance with text books on logic renders us capable of judging, this new work by the President of Lake Forest University is the one to choose. It is the first completely satisfactory work for the purpose that we ever met. The author begins with a masterly exposition of the nature of logic, founded on psychology. He goes on in the same thorough, clear, careful way, never vague, confused or puzzling, to construct his science, one thing at a time, until we have "the whole building fitly joined and cemented together.' The work is in four parts: 1st, the logic of conception or the Term; 2d, that of judgment or the Proposition; 3d, that of reasoning or the Boston: Houghton Mifflin & Co. 2Eldridge & Bro., Philadelphia. Syllogism; 4th, that of construction or the System. The very arrangement shows how comprehensive and masterly is his grasp of the subject. His exposition of inductive logic is particularly fine, but the crowning glory of his work is the skill with which he leads the student to apply logic to its proper work as a test and discoverer of truth, instead of leav ing it to be, as it so often is, a mere ingenious and fascinating intellectual toy. 3BARNES' NEW MATHEMATICS-FICKLIN'S PRIMARY ARITHMETIC. In this little arithmetic, slate and blackboard work is combined with oral from the first, and is given in great profusion. The explanation and illustrations of the decimal system are good, and if properly emphasized by the teacher will do much toward securing a proper foundation for arithmetical progress. Ficklin's National Arithmetic-This book is also published in two volumes--the practical and advanced. It is intended to be easy enough for pupils who have been taught orally in the lower grades to take up without the previous use of other text-books. The principles are developed by the use of oral exercises, and the constant endeavor is to simplify operations as much as possible by the clear apprehension of principles. So far as possible, formal rules have been dispensed with, and formulas substituted for them. Great use is made of cancellation, which is applied to the calculation of interest. In partial payments the labor is much reduced by the use of a time-table and cancellation. In fractions the multiplicity of cases is reduced by strict attention to principles; in multiplication and division of fractions we have, at first, two cases each; these are afterward reduced to one each, and finally all these operations are brought under one general rule. In short, the arithmetic seems designed specially for that class of students who delight in mathematical reasoning, but dread the drudgery of long operations. 4MAURY'S NEW SERIES OF GEOGRAPHIES.-The primary geography begins like all the new primaries, with interesting lessons on local geography and suggestive hints to the teacher, showing how to extend and enforce the same. The lessons throughout the book, aside from the map studies, are arranged on one invariable plan. First, we have about a page of highly interesting description of the country under consideration, to be read by the pupil. Then we have the substance of the page-the dry bones of it-given in four or five questions and answers for recitation. This plan seems admirably adapted to secure, at the same time interest and exactness, to avoid overburdening the pupil's memory without cutting the subject down to a mere skeleton. The illustrations. printing and maps are fine, of course. The latter are very distinct, and give but very few items--which is much to be commended in a primary geography. The manual-for the series contains but two books--is in many respects an admirable work. Its literary style is excellent-it is one of the most interesting geographies to read that we ever saw. It contains much both in text and in the pictures that is novel as well as of interest and value. The handsome county maps of all the States are convenient for reference, but we are uncertain as to their adaptation to school work. It is a question if they do not contain too much. Still, we always in our own childhood liked the similar maps in Mitchell's Atlas. Any old subscribers not wishing their Journal continued should notify us, as it will in all cases be continued till ordered stopped, and until all arrearages are paid. In writing to us, be sure to give your postoffice address, that we may know where to find your name on our books. Address, IOWA NORMAL MONTHLY, DUBUQUE, IOWA. 3A. S. Barnes & Co., New York and Chicago. University Publishing Co., New York. Secure Miss BELLE ROUSE, of Dubuque, Iowa, if you wish to engage a ̈ first-class entertainment for your Institute. Ex-Supt. Thompson's opinion, given below, is endorsed by Supt. Boyes, W. J. Shoup, The McGregor News and the Press of the State generally. Terms reasonable. Business communications must be addressed to Miss ANNA. D. PLAISTER, Dubuque. Miss BELLE ROUSE and Miss ANNA D. PLAISTER of Dubuque have given a series of three of their Humorous and Dramatic Readings at this place to highly appreciative audiences during the present week. It is no exaggeration to say that both ladies possess rare talents, which have been improved by careful study, skillful training and practice, until it must be a dull audience indeed that would not be charmed by one of their evening entertainments. To say that the people of Elkader were pleased with the recitations of Miss ROUSE but feebly expresses the truth. To all lovers of humor and art, I commend the entertainments given by Misses ROUSE and PLAISTER. J. F. THOMPSON, Clerk of Clayton County. ELKADER, Iowa, Dec. 22, 1881. Cornell College. The Classical, Philosophical, Scientific and Civil Engineering Courses compare favorably with the best colleges in the country. Special advantages are given in the Preparatory and Normal Departments, and in the Conservatory of Music. Twenty Professors and Teachers. Superior buildings, Museum, Laboratory and Apparatus. Expenses low. Fall term opens September 15. For catalogues or other information, address Pres. WM. F. KING. D.D... Mt. Vernon, Iowa. GOLD Great chance to make money. CHAPEL. A Book of Rare Originality, entitled PRACTICAL LIFE making money that are offered, The great problem solvea. The individual e urefully con generally become wealthy, while sidered from the age of responsibility up to maturity in rethose who do not improve such chances remain gard to Education, Home Society, Etiquette, in poverty. We want many men, women, boys ness, &C., How Bread-Eaters are to be Breud-Winners Amusements, Dress, Love. Marriage. Busi and girls to work for us right in their own local-The volume abounds in striking thoughts, rare information ities. Any one can do the work properly from and intense commou-sense. Full-page colored plates--each the first start. The business will pay more than ONE A GEM. Agents Wanted Everywhere. ten times ordinary wages. Expensive outfit furnished free. No one who engages fails to make money rapidly. You can devote your whole time to the work, or only your spare moments. Full information and all that is needed sent free. Address STINSON & Co.. Portland, Me. Send for circulan full description, terms &c.. address. There are the usual number of proposed amendments to the school laws before the General Assembly the present session, and among them, of course, are several for State uniformity of textbooks, with the accompanying provision that the State shall furnish books to pupils at cost. There are several excellent points in all these bills which we wish to emphasize: First-Such a law will relieve local school boards of the exhausting mental exercise of deciding upon the relative merits of competing systems of books. They will have a State committee of some sort to do their thinking and make the decision for them, and as mental labor is of all labor the most exhausting, it will undoubtedly add several years to the average longevity of directors. Second-It will effectually break up the nefarious business of keeping book-stores. There are at least several hundred men within the borders of our fair State who actually make their living by this unholy traffic. Think of it! And that, too, where they might easily make an honest living by raising corn and hogs. Then, too, these fellows sell other books than school books to our sons and daughters, thus cultivating in them habits of reading and of course of laziness to say nothing of the amount of money wasted in paying for these books. Why, we know a boy who spent enough last winter for histories alone to have bought a good-sized shote, and the light and fuel he wasted sitting up nights to read them was probably as much more. This habit, his father is certain, is due wholly to the demoralizing influence of a local book-store, which he is sure should be suppressed as a public nuisance. Now, by taking from these corrupters of youth the right to sell school-books, it is believed the traffic in books of all kinds can be entirely broken as it is hoped the profits on books of a miscellaneous nature will not be sufficient to enable the book store keepers to live. up, Third-It is a well-known fact that no one else can equal many of our school treasurers in the science of accounts. The year before last their reports showed a deficit of nearly $27,000, but last year they had improved so much that their reports showed they had paid out more money than they had received, and still had a large amount on hand. At this rate of improvement in the art of book-keeping they will, by the time they are entrusted with the sale of schoolbooks, be able to make reports something like the following: Received from the State, 50 fourth readers at 50c, each.......... 50 third readers at 40c. each 75 second readers at 30c. each 100 first readers at 20c. each Sold 100 fourth readers at 50c. each.. 75 third readers at 40c. each..... 50 second readers at 30c. each........... On hand 50 fourth readers 25 third readers Dr. Here would be a clear gain to the State of $54.50 from this one small district, and it is certain from reports that may now be seen on file in the office of any county superintendent that many of the treasurers could easily figure out a much more astonishing gain than this. Anybody can see that at this rate the State would soon have money enough on hand to run the whole machinery of the State government without levying a cent of tax. Fourth-But why stop with any such half-way reform as this? There are other things quite as necessary as school-books to enable boys and girls to attend school. At a school officers' convention we attended in one of our most wealthy and populous counties, it was affirmed by a sub-director that they must have a reasonable part of the school in the summer season since many of the children had no boots or shoes.. By all means then let the State furnish boots and shoes at cost as well as school books. The amount of money paid for these commodities is doubtless as great as that paid for books, and the dealers' profits are fully as large; so by having the State furnish the scholars, all needed boots and shoes through the school boards, we will save money to the people and compel all shoe dealers to close up shop and make their living by work as other people are obliged to do. True, there may be some slight difficulty in procuring a uniform system of shoes adapted to the wants of the |