The firm, convinced statements of Dr. Van Dyke in “The Reality of Religion”[M] are a welcome change from much “popular” writing and preaching on religious themes. To him there is no question of the truths of the Bible. God is manifest as a physical reality, a moral reality, an historical reality, a spiritual reality. The saving power of the Cross of Christ is no theory; it is a fact. The whole is ringing with the perfect confidence the writer feels in the living truths which he presents. It carries in its tone conviction. The book is a strong argument for what it teaches. If one man has found such perfect knowledge no reader can afford to overlook his experience. It is a forcible appeal to unbelievers; it is splendid help to wavering minds.
Mrs. Harrison, in writing “The Old Fashioned Fairy Book”[N] has not only opened up a world of delight for little readers in which they can amuse themselves by the hour, but has also conferred a great favor upon mothers and many other older persons by putting into their hands the means by which they may be enabled to respond to the oft repeated wish, “tell us a story, please.” The book is a treasure house in which one may find that which will suit any hour and any mood. There are tales of dwarfs and witches, and “lots of fairies,” and lovely princesses, and brave champions, and all the rest of the things that belong to fairy lore. And charming illustrations set off the whole book; even the cover is a delight.
We are pleased to welcome a complete collection of Lucy Larcom’s poems.[O] For many years she has been sending out her fresh, loving verses, until she has won a warm place in the hearts of earnest readers. Her poems possess beside a real melody in versification, a pure, devotional tone which makes them something better than merely pleasing; it makes them inspiring. Her deep appreciation of nature, her quick sympathy with the sorrowing and the tempted, her tender love for childhood, fill her poems, making them most beautiful collections for lovers of verse.
“How We Live”[P] is a little book finely illustrated, that treats of Physiology and Hygiene. It is adapted to the use of scholars in the elementary schools. The chapters are short, well arranged, and clearly expressed; at the end of each is a list of questions upon the subjects taught in the chapter, put in a novel and interesting manner. The effects of alcohol and narcotics upon the system are pointed out, but great care has been taken not to exaggerate the statements, as is too often the tendency in a work of this nature. The book merits a welcome from all parents, who should see that their children are learning just such lessons as it teaches, and so growing up to be strong men and women.
One of the new series of Appleton’s Science Text-Books is a Compend of Geology.[Q] The aim of the author has been to make an interesting as well as an instructive book, and to direct the attention of scholars to the phenomena now occurring on all sides. No roundabout method for leading up to the study proper has been used, but the author has very simply commenced at the beginning. The directness of the whole book is one of its best features. His method of unfolding the science is at once easy and natural, and can not fail to awaken and retain the close attention of the student. The definitions are clear, concise, and simply stated; the illustrations are numerous and finely supplement the text.
A very neat little book is that called “Vocal and Action Language.”[R] In a carefully prepared introduction the objections against the study of elocution are very fairly met, and its necessity, importance and history set forth. Public speakers can gather many a useful hint from its pages aside from the practical drill lessons which it contains.
[C] Critical and Exegetical Hand-book to the Gospel of Matthew. By Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer, Th.D. Translated from the sixth edition of the German, by the Rev. Peter Christie. New York: Funk and Wagnalls. 1884.
[D] One Year’s Sketch Book. Illustrated and arranged by Irene E. Jerome. Boston: Lee & Shepard, Publishers. New York: Charles T. Dillingham. 1885.
[E] Emile; or Concerning Education. Extracts, with an Introduction and Notes by Jules Steeg, Dêputé Paris, France. Translated by Eleanor Worthington. Boston: Ginn, Heath & Co. 1885.
[F] The Enchiridion of Wit. The Best Specimens of English Conversational Wit. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1885.