LITERARY NOTICES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 56.

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 Palestine Model Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y., the "Teachers' Model of Palestine." This model represents a tract of country 200 miles long by 100 miles wide, and is 4x8 inches, made of plaster of Paris or of composition. It represents most vividly the physical features of Palestine, made from an original design by the Rev. Principal Austin, A.M., B.D., of Alma College, St. Thomas, Ont., and is based on the maps and survey reports of the Palestine Exploration Fund. The scale is given on each model, both horizontally and vertically, together with the exaggerations. A key also accompanies each model. The principal mountains, valleys, rivers, brooks, towns, and cities are given, together with the tribe divisions. A half hour's study of this model will give a clearer and more correct idea of the physical features of Palestine than the mere study of books, maps, and charts will for a month. One by such a map as this is able to trace with a vividness of impression which cannot be forgotten, the journeys of our Saviour, and to remember more clearly the historical events connected with this historical land. The price of this model which has been sent us is $1.50. Price of Gem Model, 17x9 inches, in white bronze, practically indestructible, framed and boxed for shipping, $4.00. The Gem Model in composition material, $3.00. The Sunday School Model, 34x18 inches, framed and boxed, is $10. Certainly we know of nothing which will be of more interest in the study of Bible history or geography, of more help to children on the Sabbath in the home, than these models of Palestine prepared by Professor Austin. Address Palestine Model Co., Niagara Falls, New York, or Toronto, Canada.

"FIVE-MINUTE OBJECT SERMONS TO CHILDREN." Preached before the Sunday morning sermon. By Sylvanus Stall, D.D. Cloth, 12mo, 256 pp., $1.00. New York, London, and Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

This little book is not only helpful in the matter it contains, but suggestive as well of many other good things. The forty-three brief talks or sermons which the book contains, were preached by Dr. Stall to the children of his flock just before the regular Sunday-morning sermon. Some natural and familiar object is used to illustrate each sermon and to fix its important moral truth upon the mind. The language is plain and simple, easily comprehended, but not childish nor silly. The book will prove helpful and suggestive to those who labor for youth,—for parents as well as teachers. It is worthy of a good circulation.

"A NEW LIFE IN EDUCATION." By Fletcher Durell, Ph.D. (Princeton), Professor in Dickinson College. (A prize book.) 12mo., linen cloth binding, 288 pp., 90 cents. American Sunday School Union, 1122 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

The American Sunday School Union offered $1,000 in two premiums, $600 for the best work and $400 for the next best, written for the society, on "Christian Nurture and Education of Youth for the Twentieth Century." The above book, "A New Life in Education," received the first prize among many manuscripts, the name of the writer not being known till the prize was awarded. While we may not agree with all which the author says, especially in the application of the principles he discusses to the modern system of public education, yet are we thankful for the book. It has struck a higher note in the cause of education, which will meet with responsive chords in many hearts. Professor Durell admits, as do other high authorities, which he quotes, that the new methods in education are disappointing in results, and finds that the fundamental defect "is that the proper idealism has not yet been developed out of the new fundamental ideas." He then proceeds to discuss Christian education, Jesus as a teacher, and upon this point he truly says: "An examination shows that modern teachers, in all that is best in the vaunted new education, have but just learned the beginnings of his method. All that is best in the modern educational methods is found in Christ's method." And Professor Durell thinks that the cure of their defects is found there too. And so we believe, "A New Life in Education" is a worthy book, and every instructor of every kind ought to read it. It will expand the mind and quicken thought.

"How JOHN AND I BROUGHT UP THE CHILD." By Elizabeth Grinnell (of Pasadena, Cal.). Prize book. 12mo., 233 pages, 80 cents. American Sunday School Union, 1122 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

In the home of a Christian physician in California children are in training, and the mother out of her own experience writes how Johannes was brought up. The book deals with a large number of problems which come to every mother. The baby is not tantalized and teased, as, alas! so many little ones are. He is not told that his "nose is out of joint" when baby No. 2 comes. The temptations to small gambling, playing marbles for "keeps," etc., are met. The boy has his little bank, and his own money to spend and give. He is allowed to work out the hobbies which every healthy boy has. Finally, the lad comes up into young manhood, correct in principles, vigorous in body, a comfort to his parents,—such a man in the main as you wish your son to become.

The book contains valuable instruction, in the way of suggestions chiefly, which can but benefit parents generally.

THE date of publication of Funk & Wagnalls' Standard Dictionary has been announced as November 28, at which time the delivery of volume 2 will begin; also the delivery of the single volume edition. By actual count the Standard Dictionary contains, exclusive of the appendix, 301,865 vocabulary words and phrases, and the Appendix of Proper Names, Foreign Phrases, etc., contains 47,468 entries, making the total vocabulary of the dictionary 349,333—this after great care has been exercised to exclude all useless words. The immense increase of the vocabulary of the English language appears from the fact that the vocabulary of Webster's International Dictionary is 125,000 and the Century Dictionary is 225,000.

The New Science Review, the second number of which has come to our table, is an ably edited quarterly magazine launched on the journalistic sea, and asking for the popular breeze. It is published by the Transatlantic Publishing Company, 147 North Tenth Street, Philadelphia; 63 Fifth Avenue, New York, and also in London. It is conducted by Mr. J. M. Stoddard, for many years editor of Lippincott's. Its price is $2.00 a year, single copies 50 cents. The number before us is well filled with varied articles from such writers as Prof. James Dender, William George Jordan, Felix L. Oswald, M.D., Charles Barnard, and others. It is confined to no school.