REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.

1PROF. DIMAN'S THE THEISTIC ARGUMENT.-Whoever wishes to see the battle-ground of the century fairly and ably surveyed; whoever wishes to see the truth of religion and the supernatural defended on scientific and rational grounds; whoever would delight his intellectual powers by studying a candid and masterly exposition of the deepest problems of thought, or fortify his spiritual faith by reading an argument which thoroughly grasps and forcibly states every attack of modern scientific philosophy, and yet shows that all these discoveries and theories can no more affect the foundation truths of religion than they can blot out the sun in heaven-whoever, in a word, wishes to read a convincing presentation of natural religion, as against the assaults of rationalists and positivists, should forth with procure these lectures delivered last year by Prof. Diman at the Lowell Institute. His opponents themselves could scarcely state their arguments more forcibly than he does it for them, and if he turns their guns against themselves and makes Herbert Spencer his ally, one sees it is only because he looks at the whole truth, and the scientists have shut their eyes to the higher half of it. It is seldom, indeed, that a man has the profound learning, the intellectual power, the capacity for nice discrimination and the judicial fairness necessary for such an argument as this, and combines with them the gift of expressing himself in transparent, eloquent, vigorous English, unobscured by technical terms. No man who is capable of thinking need fail to grasp his arguments, and no such man, whatever his own opinions may be, should fail to read this masterly presentation of the great problems over which the battles of modern thought are fought.

2SCHOOL CLASSICS, WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES.-These are dainty little 10-cent books, with the handsomest of paper and print, and delicately pretty paper covers. The list comprises Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel and Marmion, Byron's Prisoner of Chillon and Prophecy of Dante, Goldsmith's Traveller and Deserted Village, Macaulay's Essay on Pilgrim's Progress and Armada and Other Poems; Campbell's Pleasures of Hope, Milton's L'Allegro and Il Penseroso, Moore's Fire Worshippers, Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, Crabbe's Village, Burns's Cotter's Saturday Night, Hogg's Queen's Wake and Bacon's Essays. As there are only 32 pages in each little pamphlet, and two pages are given to highly suggestive and skillful questions, and at least half the remaining space to a brief sketch of the author, and the admirable explanatory foot-notes, it is manifest that only the shorter poems can be complete; we have only portions of the larger ones. This appears to be the only fault of the series; the great poets could not well be presented in a more inviting dress, and the explanatory notes were written by some one who knew just what assistance boys and girls need. Every historical, mythological or scientific allusion is fully explained, as are all the difficult words. Of the same series, but a book of 100 pages, with flexible cloth covers, is the first book of Paradise Lost, edited by E. F. Willoughby, M. D. The editorial work in the other books is well done and well adapted to its purpose-but this is something of a higher grade. We have not only a biographical sketch of the poet, but an essay on his genius, and an epitome of the views of his best known critics. All these and the very full critical and explanatory notes are written with fine discrimination, with thorough scholarship, and with that generous and sympathetic enthusiasm without which an editor's work either exasperates or falls dead and cold. The whole series, and each volume thereof, we most heartily recommend to all grammar and high schools. 'Houghton, Mifflin & Co.: Boston. Clark & Maynard: New York.

3W. H. WELLS'S SHORTER COURSE IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION. This is the author's account of the method he has pursued: "The principles of grammar are in most cases applied as follows: 1. When a principle or rule is presented, it is first illustrated by one or more examples. The pupils are then called upon,-2. To give oral examples of their own construction. 3. To select illustrative examples from their readers, or from other printed matter. 4. To write sentences that embody and illustrate the principle or rule presented. In addition to the spoken and written exercises which accompany all the important principles and rules, and which render it impossible that they should be passed over without being thoroughly understood and applied, there is also a complete parallel course of lessons in speaking and writing interspersed throughout the work. The Shorter Course may properly be defined A Book of Progressive Exercises in Speaking and Writing English, accompanied by a constant Application of the Principles and Rules by which the Language is governed." However, these various exercises are rather indicated and suggested than given. The little book affords a very good outline of the main points, with useful hints as to teaching them, provided the teacher understands his business. A teacher who didn't know any better, could easily teach grammar in the dryest of old-fashioned styles from this book; but, after all, is there any salvation for a teacher who knows no more than that ?

4FYKE'S AMERICAN JUVENILE SPEAKER AND SONGSTER.-This is a book about the size of a volume of "Gospel Hymns," and contains between its distressing magenta covers the following variety: first, some forty pages of school songs, some of them standard old pieces, and some of them otherwise; second, thirty pages of selections for speaking; third, twelve of choice thoughts for memorizing-both pretty good collections; and fourth, forty pages of short dialogues-some pretty or bright, and some rather pointless. It was an ingenious idea to bring all these four classes of school desiderata together in one book, and if that book hadn't a magenta cover we should probably like it pretty well.

5SAALFIELD'S 10C. LIBRARIES each consist of 16 pages of sheet music, full size, handsomely printed on heavy paper. The May number contains "Olivette Lancers," "Amatori Waltzes," and two songs, "When First I Saw my Darling's Face," and Longfellow's words, "A mist came up out of the sea," set to music by Malmene.

6SADLER'S COUNTING HOUSE ARITHMETIC.-Our first impression on taking this volume from its wrapper, was that some one had sent us another large book of standard poetry. After various conjectures as to what particular collection of poems it probably was, and feeling sure, owing to the elegance of the binding, that it must certainly be an illustrated edition,—as a last resort, we looked at the title.-Shades of Washington, AN ARITHMETIC! Think of it, an arithmetic big enough for a family Bible, and a pretty good sized family at that,-a book of more than 500 pages, and with pages nearly the size of a sheet of foolscap. We looked far enough to convince ourselves that for a reference book on all manner of specialties the book has no rival. Its tables for the use of bankers, merchants, and all kinds of business men must be most convenient. It is designed also as a text-book in the better class of commercial colleges, &c., and for this class of schools we should think it well adapted.

7DUFFET'S NEW FRENCH METHOD.-This work is written by Prof. Duffet, member of the Academy and of the "Association Polytechnique," 3Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co.: New York and Chicago. 4F W. Helmick: Cincinnati. Ohio. R. A. Saalfield, 839 Broadway, New York. 6 W. H. Sadler, 6 and 8 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Paris: it has been revised and has received additional diagrams, tables, etc., at the hands of Prof Alfred Hennequin of Michigan University, and it is published by Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.all which prepares one to expect something good. We requested the opinion of a gentleman who has had much experience in teaching French, his native language; and for whose judgment and scholarship we have the greatest respect. He admired, as every one must, the extreme beauty and elegance of the mechanical execution of the book; he considered the exercises, in their variety, interest and copiousness, a very great improvement on those usually given in similar works; and he approved many things in the author's method of imparting the language. On the whole, he considered that the book, in the hands of a thoroughly competent teacher, could be used with excellent effect; but he was inclined to criticise the grammar. He found some rules incomplete, and observed a few grammatical errors in the exercises, especially in the agreement of participles. We understand that the book has been received with very great favor, both in this country and Europe, and its intrinsic merits must certainly be enhanced by the elegance of its present form.

THE AUGUST MAGAZINES.

The Midsummer Holiday numbers of Scribner's and St. Nicholas are sumptuous as is their wont. St. Nicholas we think the more beautiful of the two. Celia Thaxter's exquisite Slumber Song, with its delicious, swinging, cradle rhythm, and the picture of an elf mending a spider web, are the daintiest things in St. Nicholas. The kite adventure of "Phaeton Rogers," is about the most amusing episode yet of that delightful story. Albert Stickney, in Scribner's continues his consideration of the "People's Problem," giving this month his plan for radical political reform. The main ideas are that only the chief executive and the members of the legislatures should be elected, all other officials being appointed, and that all public servants should hold their offices for life or during good behavior. Boyesen begins a charming serial story in this number · The Atlantic opens with Howells's new serial, with a young lady physician as its heroine. Edmund Stedman's noble poem, "Corda Concordia," read at the opening session of the Concord School of Philosophy, is by far the finest production of his we have ever read. Grant White presents an original and highly interesting conception of the character of Iago, and E. P. Whipple writes most affectionately and entertainingly of his recollections of James T. Fields. In the North American Review the chief interest centers in the discussion of the Christian religion by Col. Ingersoll and Judge Black. Judge Black makes a smart lawyer's argument for Christianity, and gets off a good many cutting retorts at the doughty Bob's expense, but the whole tone of his article is painful to any reverent mind, and his defense of slavery as a divine institution, is, to say the least, decidedly a work of supererogation ...Among the most fascinating popular articles in the Popular Science Monthly are those on the "Intelligence of Ants," and Visions of Sane Persons." The first we especially recommend to teachers as a Friday afternoon treat for their pupils. There are numerous valuable articles of a more strictly scientific nature, one of the most important of which is the illustrated account of the Teachings of Modern Spectroscopy, by Dr. Schuster ·Appleton's gives us a second installment of Hillebrand's "French Family Life and Manners"; condensations, rather than criticisms, of Badeau's History of Gen. Grant and Jefferson Davis's of the Southern Confederacy, and a very fine "Talk About Odes"--at least, the quotations are grand... Our Little Ones is full of lovely, soft, dreamy pictures, so daintily fair, so bright and win

...

The

some that all the favored little ones who get it ought to be happy over it. Amanda Douglas's “Sleepy Land" is one of the 'cutest bits of children's poetry that we have seen.

Wayne........ ........Corydon .........................

Oct. 10... 2
Aug. 15........ 2...

.J. A. McLean

...J. Wernli ...J. Wernli

W. E. Andrews

.J. W. Akers

.Aug. 15........4... .......A. H. Sterrett

...

C. B. Stayt ...D. W. Lewis

.Aug. 1........4............A. B. Warner

*Woodbury .........Sioux City...........Aug. 15....................3................................N. E. Palmer

*Changed from former announcement.

DES MOINES, July 30, 1881.

C. W. VON COELLN,

Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Steel pens are the gage of civilization the world over. are found in the costliest mansion and lowliest log cabin.

THE ORIGINAL AND GENUINE

Meneeley Bell Foundery.

Established 1826. Bells for all purposes.
Warranted satisfactory and durable.

MENEELEY & CO., West Troy, N. Y.

Esterbrook's

BUCKEYE BELL FOUNDRY
Bells of Pure Copper and Tin for Churches,
Schools, Fire Alarms, Farms, etc. FULLY
WARRANTED. Catalogue sent Free.
VANDUZEN & TIFT, Cincinnati, 0.

Though the discipline of an army be ever so perfect, there may still be a horde of camp-followers eager to plunder without performing the duties of a soldier. And so it is in educational work. Though our institutes and educational literature may prepare a welldisciplined corps of teachers, there will still be those who care nothing for the good name of the profession, shirk all of its responsibilities, and watch with hungry eyes for the plunder of the

camp.

There are those who have never attended institutes, who take no educational journals, who read no books, who do nothing whatever to keep up with the times, and who still have the impudence to elbow their way into positions, crowding out those who have made honorable preparation. While this is true the good name of our honorable calling must suffer and the cause in which we labor must also suffer.

It is a burning shame that the fair fame of a high and honorable profession must be thus tarnished by this irresponsible rabble who have no reputation to lose and no regard for the good name of the calling they disgrace.

Let the county superintendents of Iowa gird themselves manfully and make a united effort to drive away these plunderers. Then there will be less reason for the complaint now so often heard, that the common schools are not accomplishing the ends for which they were established.