LITERARY NOTICES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 21.

LITERARY NOTICES.

By Editor

[The Signs of the Times holds itself under no obligation to notice any publications sent it by publishers. Those considered worthy of notice, or which are deemed profitable to its subscribers, will receive such notice as time, space, and value will permit.]

We have received from the Coöperative Building Plan Association, 63 Broadway, New York, No. 41 of Shoppell's Modern Houses, price 50 cents. This is an illustrated architectural quarterly, containing 50 colonial designs and 26 designs of other styles, also steeples, store fronts, staircases, and much other material pertaining to building, that would be of great value, we should judge, to house builders and architects.

"REVISED ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA." Adapted from the ninth edition of that great work for the use of American readers, to which is added about 4,000 biographies of distinguished people of the present century, containing maps of every State in the Union, and of all foreign countries. It has been issued weekly by the Chicago Educational Publishing Co. Price, $25 per year. The first volume contains 326 pages, including the initial letters from A to Anc. It places this great work within the reach of many who cannot procure the larger edition.

"THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD." Published by Latin Historical Society, room 501 Owings Building, Chicago, Ill. Price, 25 cents. The object of this work is to set forth the world's great religions as defined by their greatest living exponents. It has an introduction by Dwight Baldwin. It deals with the religion of Zoroaster, or the Parsees, Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Mohammedanism. Of course this small pamphlet of 64 pages can only give fragments of the papers which were read. Some of these papers are much condensed. Those who wish to have a more complete knowledge must of course consult larger works.

"NEELY'S HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS AND RELIGIOUS CONGRESSES AT THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION." Two volumes in one; illustrated. F. T. Neely, publisher, Chicago, Ill. Edited by a corps of able writers, with Prof. Walter R. Houghton editor in chief. Price, $2.50. It is sold also by subscription.

We have already given notice of this work before it appeared. It consists of four parts, 23 chapters. Part First gives the mission of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition; Part Second, the proceedings of the Parliament of Religions; Part Third, denominational and other congresses; Part Fourth, biographies, arguments, and opinions. The important part of the work is Part Second, Proceedings of the Parliament of Religions. In this we have addresses from eminent scholars from all parts of the world, and exponents of all the great historic religions of the world; and we do not know of any work at the same price which will give a clearer idea of what is held by the various scholars in these religions than this work of Mr. Neely's. It gives a clear, concise report of the proceedings of the great Parliament. The weight of the arguments presented, the creditability to be attached to the statements made by the various speakers, the concise views presented of comparative religions, and the merits and demerits of each, the reader, of course, must judge for himself. The task of the publisher and editors of the work has been to set before the reader a definite and accurate stenographic report of the Parliament; and with the facilities possessed by them, the work has been well done. For a good work at a reasonable price we can recommend Mr. Neely's to our readers.

"GEOGRAPHICAL SPICE." A manual for the use of teachers, by Eliza H. Morton. March Brothers, publishers. Bound in boards, after common school style; 210 pages. Price, 75 cents.

Miss Morton is the author of Potter's Series of Geographies, and an old and experienced teacher. This book is designed to be of help to teachers in making the study of geography interesting. It is composed of bits of authentic information of an attractive nature concerning all countries and climes. It is easily seen that a child will take much more interest in a country if he learns something concrete about that country. The mere geographical abstract soon vanishes from the mind; but a little anecdote told about some country or place or nation is that which will be likely to fix the locality in the mind, and be the means of increasing interest in it in the future. The author has well said that children take pleasure in the marvelous, and the works of earth, sea, and air appeal to their curiosity, so as to open new worlds of thought and vary the monotony of school exercises. The aim has been to select spice which has not lost its flavor. For instance, on page 24 we have a brief account of the Largest Dam in the World and where it is situated; on page 31 an account is given of the Dismal Swamp, and the healthfulness of that locality; page 47 speaks of Electric Snowflakes; page 67, the Needle and Thread Tree; page 93, of the place where the beautiful poem, "Gray's Elegy," was written; page 140, the Smallest Country in the World; page 173, Straw Shoes for Horses. These stories and illustrations are divided among the various great divisions of the earth. These which we have mentioned have been taken at random, without any purpose of selecting the best. A good index accompanies the work. The book is one which we believe would prove of benefit to the teachers, and be of interest and worth to the class. Address all orders to the author, N. Deering, Maine.

A new periodical which lays claim to public favor is The American Medical Temperance Quarterly, organ of the American Medical Temperance Association. Published by the Modern Medicine Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Price, 50 cents a year. Its object is to bring more prominently to medical men the after influence of alcohol on the living human body, to show just what the true value of alcohol is in its various uses as a medicine, and to disprove the illogical and pernicious doctrine that alcohol, opium, etc., are stimulants and tonic in smaller doses, but sedative and paralyzing in larger doses, and other erroneous views held by the medical profession. The ability of the journal to fulfill its object is indicated by the men who conduct it. The editorial committee are: N. S. Davis, A.M., M.D., LL.D., T. D. Crothers, A.M., M.D., and J. H. Kellogg, M.D.

One of the finest seed catalogues which has come to our notice is that issued by Peter Henderson & Co., 35 and 37 Cortland Street, New York. It is a manual of everything for the garden. The price, 20 cents, to be deducted from the first order of those who purchase seeds. It contains a vast amount of information in regard to all the various flowers and plants, and remedies for insects, care of plants, etc. It has six colored plates, besides the cover, and contains instructions how to order, remit, etc.

Babyhood for March is an interesting number. John H. Wallace Rhein, M.D., contributes an article on the very common trouble of "sniffles" in children, and shows how this very trivial disease results in serious consequences if not checked. Dr. C. W. Smith has an article on some of the "Early Symptoms of Chronic Diseases in Children," especially in the matter of digestive organs, joint diseases, the diseases of a tuberculous and scrofulous nature, etc. Articles are given for interesting the little ones. The magazine contains other articles of interest also, some of which are valuable, and some of which, to our mind, would honor the magazine by their absence. Price, $1.00 a year. Babyhood Publishing Co., 5 Beacon Street, New York.

The Pacific Health Journal for March, 1894, is an excellent number. Among the contributed articles are "Cold and Cool Bathing," by Dr. A. J. Sanderson, "Croup," by Dr. Mary A. Sanderson, "Tonsilitis," by Dr. Heald. "Diseased Nerve Centers" is the topic of a reported lecture from Dr. Maxson. The Editorial department has an article on the "Blues," and the Mother's Helper gives excellent instruction on that dread disease, scarlet fever. Other useful and instructive articles are given for the various departments of home interest. Price, $1.00 a year. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal.

"CHRISTIAN EDUCATION" has been noticed so many times in the Signs that our readers are familiar with it. It is a book written by Mrs. E. G. White, published by the International Tract Society, Battle Creek, Mich. An excellent work on Christian education in all its departments. 255 pages, the price of which is 50 cents. We have lately received from the publishers a supplement to this work, of 32 pages, containing the following articles: "The Best Education," "Christ as Teacher," "The Students at Battle Creek College," "Students Required to Be Workers with God," and "Students Deciding Their Eternal Destiny." These subjects are of great importance, and nothing which we can say can add to the value of the book and its supplement. It ought to be in the hands of all our people, and of all people who have children to educate. The price is such that it is within the reach of every family.