The Bay State Monthly. Volume 2, No. 6, March, 1885

GOOD READING.

A glance at the way reading is generally taught in our schools will convince any impartial observer that this subject is made the driest and dreariest of all studies. In our graded schools, children generally read, on an average, an hour a day during the eight or nine years' course, at the rate of less than one book a year. The average child easily learns by heart in a few weeks all there is in the first three books, after that the constant repetitions are in the highest degree monotonous. There is nothing to attract his attention or stimulate his love for reading. The selections filling fourth, fifth and sixth readers are too often far above the mental grasp of the pupil, and are also of so fragmentary a nature as to be almost unintelligible to the average student. Word pronouncing, and that alone, is the only refuge of the teacher.

There can be no excuse on account of the cost, for the money now thrown away, and worse than thrown away, upon useless spelling books and mind-stupefying grammars, would purchase a rich supply of the best reading matter the English language affords for every school in the land.

I have tried this experiment, and to my mind it is no longer an experiment. I have seen the children of the poorest and most ignorant parents taking from the library works upon history, travels, biography, and the very best fiction, exhibiting in their selection excellent taste, and showing from their manner how much they love such books. They would no more choose bad reading than they would choose bad food when wholesome is provided for them. Shameful neglect, I repeat, and not innate depravity, drives our children into by-ways and forbidden paths. Let no one preach long sermons on the depraved tendencies of the young until he has tried this simple, cheap, and practical way of avoiding an unnecessary evil.—F.W. Parker.

The Golden Text Calendar, arranged by A.C. Morrow, editor of The Illustrator of the International Sunday-school lessons, with designs by Mary A. Lathbury, is specially adapted as a holiday gift. Beautifully lithographed and printed in nine colors. It contains the Golden Text for every Sunday, and more than fifteen hundred quotations from the best authors. The background of the calendar is of sprays of apple blossoms. To the right of the pad the passing of time is represented by the flight of birds and an angel bearing an hour-glass. To the left, a young girl, with light flowing hair, stands beneath the branches of a tree, gathering pink and yellow hollyhocks. The design is worthy of the artist, and the literary selections reflect credit upon the editor. Price, $1.00.

BABYLAND. The Boston Daily Globe says: "One need not concern herself about the 'Chatterbox,' or any of the annuals made up in England for American youth, when there are better books, in adaptability of matter to age, in engravings, paper and press-work, close by her at home. The mother may find a number of annuals published in this country which will suit her taste and purpose much better, and she ought always to give them the preference. BABYLAND for 1884 is in all respects a desirable publication for the youngest readers. Its songs and stories, its speaking pictures and its general attractiveness always win the smiles of little folks."

An interesting and suggestive little treatise on the "Care and Feeding of Infants," has been published by Doliber, Goodale & Co., Boston, who will send a specimen copy free to any address.

"AN ADMIRABLE BOOK."

The Literary World, in a critical review of one of D. Lothrop & Co.'s recent publications, The Travelling Law School, says:—"Mr. B.V. Abbott's object, in the second volume of the Business Boys' Library, is to give a series of first lessons on forms of government and principles of law. This is done by means of a very slight framework of imagination, a large amount of anecdote and illustration, a singularly lucid explanatory style, and a fullness of knowledge that 'backs' the narrative with manifest strength. The Travelling Law School is a fictitious body, taken about from place to place; all the objects and experiences encountered on the journey being examined in their legal aspects and relations, and their functions as such pointed out. Things that one can own are discriminated from things that are common property; Boston, New York, and Washington are differentiated in their civil and political bearings; the laws of the streets and the railroads, of money and the banks, of wills, evidence, fraud, and so forth and so on, are expounded by means of 'famous trials' and otherwise in an ingenious, always entertaining, and thoroughly instructive manner. We do not see why a course of instruction along the line of such topics as these would not be a wise feature in many schools of the higher grade, for which Mr. Abbott's book would be an admirable text-book. The study of such a book would be in the nature of a recreation, so full is it of matters of living interest, while of its practical value there could be only one opinion. Structurally it is in two parts, the second of which, entitled 'Famous Trials,' is separately paged." 12mo, $1.00.

A STANDARD GIFT BOOK.

A new edition of Arthur Oilman's The Kingdom of Home is announced by the publishers, and will form a strong attraction for holiday book-buyers. No poetical anthology has been received by the general public with such favor as this, and the reason is not far to seek. It contains the choicest poems on home subjects ever brought together, and the merits of its selections and pictures will keep it perennially in demand as one of the best gift books in the long catalogue of household treasures. The illustrations are abundant and exquisite. There are full page pictures, tiny ones, panel ones, head pieces, end pieces; some woven into the text, some the key-note of the stanzas, some of broad suggestions, some of quaint conceit. All subjects that bring up home associations are pictorially told in what, as to the rule, is the best of engraving. The old water-wheel is there, making music in the village glen; the limpid stream winding near the farmhouse; the spinning-wheel, "merrily, noisily, cheerily whirring;" the baby of the home saying her evening prayer, and John asleep beneath the summer boughs. Everything that clusters about the fireside, breathes in farewells, sings in marriage and throbs in love, finds embodiment. The idea of home comprises everything we hold dear—wife, children, friends; the roof that covers us, and the things we have learned to love about us. It lies at the very foundation of religion, and our ideal of heaven is simply a home. It is the love of home which strengthens us to endure toil, privation and suffering, and thousands in all ages have met death willingly to sustain the sanctity of their hearthstones. There is not a poet who has lived since the dawn of historic times who has not sung its praises, and from the vast amount of literature which has thus grown up, the contents of the present work have been selected. The compiler has shown rare judgment in the performance of his task, he justly says that the treatment of this subject has not been confined to the great poets. "It is not the poetry of the intellect, but of the heart; and many who have been eloquent on no other theme, have sung the praises of home in a way that has touched the hearts of thousands." The collection, therefore, includes not only the productions of the masters, but those of many a minor poet as well. The paper is beautifully white and clear, the margin liberal, and the binding at once chaste and elegant. It will make a book for the household; "one not for a day, but for all time." 8mo, Russia leather, seal grain, $6.00.

A SPECIAL LETTER.

As an indication of the great interest aroused by the matter of one of the recent publications of D. Lothrop & Co., while it was passing through the WIDE AWAKE magazine in serial form, we print the following letter written from BROOKLINE, Mass., and dated Oct. 6, 1884, and signed "A well wisher."

DEAR WIDE AWAKE:

We have read with great interest the "Anna Maria Housekeeping Talks," and think you could not do a better work than to publish them in a cheap form, so as to be within the reach of almost any one, and so ladies could buy them for their servants to read, It cannot fail of success, it seems to me. The "talks" are too good to have their light "hid under a bushel," and ought to be in the hands of every one who has a house in charge, whether servant or mistress.

In accordance with the general desire expressed in this and similar letters, the publishers have presented the papers in an attractive 16mo volume, published at $1.00. The subjects treated of embrace directions for the table and kitchen departments, the general arrangement and adornment of rooms, matters of dress and domestic economy, and numberless small details which every young girl will desire to be posted upon, and which even trained housekeepers are often grateful for being reminded of.

LOTHROP'S ILLUSTRATED POEMS.

Among selections of the choicest works of best authors, in this department, are George Eliot's story of HOW LISA LOVED THE KING, and her splendid hymn, O MAY I JOIN THE CHOIR INVISIBLE; Tennyson's MAUD, AND OTHER POEMS, also THE BROOK, AND OTHER POEMS; Adelaide Procter's beautiful poem THE LOST CHORD; the favorite Christian songs, THE NINETY AND NINE, and JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL; and the popular song, THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET. Each volume in this Series is furnished in elegant cloth bindings, or fringed floral bindings at $1.50 each.

LOTHROP'S POPULAR LIBRARY EDITIONS.

Book lovers whose critical judgment extends to the binding as well as to the contents of a volume, will find something quite to their taste in Lothrop's new list of Illustrated Library Editions, which includes a selection of favorites presented in a form most acceptable to gift-makers, and very desirable for library use. The illustrations are by notable artists, and admirably suited to the text. In this class may be mentioned among others the volumes named below, which are published in 8vo form, extra cloth, in morocco, full gilt, at the wonderfully low prices indicated.

POETS' HOMES. The desire of multitudes to know something of the home life of the poets whose verses have become familiar in every household, will find gratification in the attractive one-volume edition of the delightful sketches edited by R.H. Stoddard, Arthur Gilman, and others, under the title of POETS' HOMES. It contains appreciative chapters upon Bryant, Longfellow, Whittier, Trowbridge, Lowell, Homes, Bayard Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Piatt, Stedman, Aldrich, and other poets of reputation. The homes of these poets are described in charming sketches, many of which are accompanied by portraits and other illustrations. Cloth, $4.00, Morocco, $8.00.

HAYNE'S POEMS. The welcome accorded to the first edition of the "Poetical Works of Paul H. Hayne," has led to the publication of a new edition. The critical estimate of Mr. Hayne's works, favorable from the outset, accords him a place among the few American writers whose works are likely to have a permanent place in public favor. As has been appreciatively said, "He is a songster of the Southern groves, and having built a nest in the wild wood (referring to his country home at Copse Hill), he is content in the companionship of his mate and his young, warbling to nature and to nature's God. If his notes reach beyond his sylvan hall, and fall upon ears without its wall, and plaudits of approval come in return, he trills responsively a grateful melody, and resumes his solo as he would do had no encore greeted him." Cloth, $4.00, Morocco, $7.00.

In the same attractive bindings, are the following complete Works of FAMOUS POETS at uniform prices, extra cloth, full gilt, $3.00. Morocco, full gilt, $6.00.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. Edited, with a critical Biography, by William Michael Rossetti. With an essay on the Chronology of Shakespeare's Plays, by Edward Dowden, LL. D. A History of the Drama in England to the Time of Shakespeare, by Arthur Gilman, M.A. A Critical Introduction to each Play, by Augustus W. Von Schlegel. An Essay on Shakespeare's Indebtedness to the Bible, a List of early editions to Shakespeare's Plays; an Index to noteworthy Scenes; an Index to all the Characters; a List of the Songs in the Plays; an Index to familiar Quotations, and a carefully prepared Glossary, Shakespeare's Will, etc. The above illustrative matter makes this the best-furnished one-volume edition in the market.

LORD BYRON, with portrait, correspondence, and notes, by Sir John Gilbert, W.J. Linton and others.

ROBERT BURNS. With portrait, correspondence and notes, edited by Allan Cunningham.

GOETHE. Translated in the original metres by Edgar Alfred Browning, C.B.

JEAN INGELOW. Including "The Shepherd Lady." 400 pages.

LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL, MARMION, and LADY OF THE LAKE.

Lord Macaulay's LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME. With IVRY and the ARMADA. With illustration by Wequelin.

OWEN MEREDITH (Robert, Lord Lytton). "Lucille," "The Apple of Life," "The Wanderer," etc.

JOHN MILTON. With Memoir, Introduction and Notes, by David Masson, M.A., LL. D.

THOMAS MOORE. Unabridged. With explanatory notes.

ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. There are, in this volume, gems of as noble and perfect poetry as in any language.—London Athenæum.

JOHANN C.F. VON SCHILLER. The finest one-volume edition of the works of this favorite poet.

SIR WALTER SCOTT. Including introduction and notes.

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY. "No poet was ever warmed by a more genuine or unforced inspiration."

ALFRED TENNYSON. Including all the latest poems. Illustrated by Gustave Doré, W. Holman Hunt and others.

LOTHROP'S GOLDEN TREASURY SERIES.

This series presents a selection of books, remarkable for the rare and enduring value of their contents, and made additionally attractive by the form in which they are published. The volumes are of the semi-square shape which offers such excellent opportunities for the best effects in simple but elegant typography and binding, and the results will be in the highest degree satisfactory to all lovers of handsome books. The series takes its name from the book first upon the list.

THE GOLDEN TREASURY, edited by Francis Turner Palgrave, consists of selections made with rare discrimination from the very best of English songs and lyrical poems.

IN THE BOOK OF PRAISE, Sir Roundell Palmer, with a just appreciation of their merits and a devout sympathy with their spirit, has brought together, from the range of English hymns, those which are worthy of a permanent place in public favor.

THE BALLAD BOOK, edited with no less painstaking care, and excellence in judgment, by William Allingham, includes an unsurpassed selection of the representative ballads which have won fame and favor for the bards of Britain. In no other form is so rare and pleasing a collection of British ballads to be found.

Of the volume which includes those masterpieces of Sir Walter Scott, MARMION, LADY OF THE LAKE, AND THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL, no explanatory words are necessary. These poems in the future, as in the past, will hold undisputed place among the gems of classic literature.

The popularity of England's Poet Laureate makes it equally unnecessary to more than present the title of the next volume upon the list, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF TENNYSON.

Lord Macaulay's LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME, IVRY, and the ARMADA, is another volume upon which comment is needless.

RELIGIOUS POEMS is an admirable selection, reflecting the life and sentiments of the Christian believer.

IN THE MIND AND WORDS OF JESUS, by Rev. T.R. Macduff, we have a masterly interpretation of the thoughts and utterances of the Divine Teacher, so full of deep insight, of spirituality, and helpfulness, as to seem little less than inspired.

This series of standard books would be incomplete without the name of Bunyan and his PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, which concludes the list.

Each volume is beautifully illustrated and printed on the finest paper. To their other excellent features is added a price which cannot fail to make them popular. Vellum, cloth, $1.25 each.