SOLID GEOMETRY DEVELOPED BY THE SYLLABUS METHOD. By Eugene Randolph Smith, A. M., Head Master, Park School, Baltimore, Md. New York. American Book Co. Price, 75 cents. The syllabus method teaches pupils how to discover the proofs of geometric theorems for themselves, rather than merely allowing them to memorize. Hence this book is in line with present day tendencies. It is commendable also for the abundance of its exercises, containing six hundred of great variety, including about two hundred and seventy-five recent college entrance examination questions. The diagrams are good, and the book is strongly and attractively bound. SHORTER FRENCH COURSE. By W. H. Fraser and J. Squair, Professors in the Romance Department, University of Toronto. D. C. Heath & Company. Price $1.10. Especially designed for elementary classes in schools and colleges. Contains numerous oral exercises. There is a phonetic transcription of the French of the first ten lessons for the use of teachers who prefer to begin with the spoken rather than the written language. LOVE LETTERS OF AN ACTRESS. By Elsie Janis. New York. D. AFpleton & Co. Price, $1.00 net. Miss Janis has produced a bright, sparkling little book, which does honor to her head and heart. It is intense, it is natural, sometimes ridic ulous, sometimes delicious, and withal at times very sensible, practical and womanly. The nine men who pour their love at her feet are: The College Boy, The Lawyer, The Composer, The Actor, The Platonic Friend, The Millionaire, The Literary Man, The Farmer (back home whom she loved years ago), and The Stranger. But the last alas! is but a dream, the man she would like to find. She shows much skill in handling delicate situations. The book will make one laugh. It will arouse tender memories. On the whole its influence is for good. Periodical Notes. In the April Lippincott's Francis Newton Thorpe, who was an intimate friend of Horace Howard Furness, edits some interesting letters from this remarkable genius, who was the recognized authority on all matters Shakespearean. They throw most interesting side lights on Dr. Furness's character. The student of art should not miss seeing the Century's Modern Art Number (April), as it contains a richly illustrated symposium on "This Traditional Age of Art," which is an attempt to describe and analyze every phase of American painting. There is a strong out-of-door flavor in the April number of St. Nicholas. The readers of E. T. Keyser's article," The Boys Fishing Kit," is sure to be seized with an irresistible desire to at once, fishing rod in hand, emulate the skill and patience of Sir Isaac Walton. The April 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association claims that entirely aside from moral or sentimental reasons, and considered simply as a scientific regulation in the interest of efficiency, the abolishing of all alcoholic liquors from every ship and station of the Navy will recommend itself to the vast majority of the American people. The busy person who desires to keep in touch with the latest novels but finds no time to read them, should procure a copy of the Atlantic Monthly for April and read the "Recent Reflections of a Novel Reader." Novels commendable and otherwise are skilfully and keenly criticised in this most engrossing article. Devoted to the Science, Art, Philosophy and Literature VOL. XXXIV. of Education JUNE, 1914 No. 10 Brown University Teachers Association Twelfth Annual Meeting Friday and Saturday, April 17th and 18th, 1914 Friday Afternoon at 2.45, in Manning Hall Present Tendencies in the Teaching of English. Friday Evening at 6.00, in Lyman Gymnasium Sixth Annual Dinner of the Association, and Illustrated Saturday Morning at 9.30, in Manning Hall The Reorganization of History Teaching. Executive Committee The Officers of the Association and the President of the General Subject: "Present Tendencies in the Teaching of English." 3.00 THEME WRITING "The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.' George Wyllys Benedict, Associate Professor of English, 3.30 ORAL COMPOSITION. Ernest Cobb, Head of English Department, B. M. C. 4.00 TEACHING TO READ.* Henry Seidel Canby, Assistant Professor of English, DISCUSSION. This paper was pledged by the author to another magazine before he was acquainted with the plan of publishing the Association's program in "Education." It is therefore omitted here.-Editor "Education." Friday Evening, April 17th Lyman Gymnasium 6.30 SIXTH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE ASSOCIATION. Informal After-Dinner Speeches-President Faunce and others. Illustrated Lecture Student Life in Mediaeval Universities, by Arthur O. Norton, Professor of Education, Wellesley College. Social half hour from 6.00 to 6.30. Saturday Morning, April 18th 9.30 BUSINESS MEETING. General Subject: "The Reorganization of History Teaching." 9.45 COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS IN HISTORY; THEORY AND PRACTICE. William MacDonald, Professor of American History, 10.15 THE RECONSTRUCTION OF HISTORY TEACHING. J. Madison Gathany, Head of History Department, Hope 10.45 HISTORY IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. Samuel Burnett Howe, Department of History, South Side A recent report of a Committee of the College Entrance Examination Board asserts that the results of the History examinations are poorer than those in any other subject, and points out that at some time in the not far distant future, the question may be presented to the Board whether it will continue the present History requirements, or delibera tely change its requirements, and adapt them to the work that is now being done in the schools. Theme Writing GEORGE WYLLYS BENEDICT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, BROWN UNIVERSITY. "The Hand of Little Employment hath the Daintier Sense" T ÷HE last time I read Hamlet I happened for some reason or other to be particularly struck by the remark that I have taken for my text: "The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense." It kept running in my head; and presently, perhaps because I was at the moment somewhat pressed with theme-reading, it appeared to take on an unexpected significance as a pedagogical precept. At all events, it got mixed up in my mind with some questions and doubts as to the proper ends and methods of courses in themewriting; and in trying to answer my questions and allay my doubts I found myself recurring to Hamlet's words. The question of most importance was briefly this: whether present tendencies in the teaching of composition are likely to make our courses in writing truly serviceable to liberal education, and whether those courses have not in very many instances failed to do all that they should for liberal education because they have been so much concerned with teaching the art of writing as a practical accomplish ment. It is something of a paradox, of course, to say that the real object of training in composition need not be skill in writing; but that is what I mean. The skill, the practical facility in expression, desirable as it is, may be properly enough thought of as a sort of by-product; the chief thing to be sought in composition courses that form part of a scheme of truly liberal education may be instruction in reading. In other words, a very important object of training in composition, and for some students the most important object, is the appreciation of good style. This purpose has been somewhat neglected, somewhat obscured by other purposes, perhaps more important for the general run of |