"As to religious views, Mrs. Ward holds the scales even. She makes

the reader feel for Laura and Helbeck in turn. Her attitude is that of the observer who sees good in all creeds, infallibility in none. If, in the speech of Laura, Helbeck, and the subsidiary characters, there is much that a Jesuit will approve and an agnostic dislike, there is much

also that a Jesuit will dislike and

an agnostic approve. Helbeck of Bannisdale is an analysis of an extremely difficult and interesting problem by one who has a genius for such inquiries, and who is able

to clothe her intellectual abstractions with the bodies of living men and women."

An exceedingly interesting novel, or rather study of social life is "American Wives and English Husbands, "(*) by Gertrude Atherton, the clever Californian author. It is, as the title suggests, a very ably drawn juxtaposition of English and American character and aspect of life. An English lord marries an American woman, rather vulgar, but very rich— an upstart for her money; his son marries a bright wholesouled California girl-for love; in the latter's loveable and really aristocratic character, the author apparently aims to show that in America birth and breeding is just as much a factor in character and life, and just as obvious as in the old country. The contrast between these representative characters, the struggle to accommodate themselves to foreign environ

(*) American Wives and English Husbands. By Gertrude Atherton. 12mo. cloth. Price $1.08. By mail $1.23.

FUBLICLIBRAR

A very commendable series of short historical monographs has just been commenced under the general title of Historical Studies. The general interest at the present moment

pivoting on Spain, no timelier subject could be chosen for the first number, than that of King Philip II., "The Creator of Modern Spain."(2) This alone cannot fail to attract gene

(1) Ramuntcho. By Pierre Loti. (In French.) 12mo. paper. Price 70 cents. By mail 80 cents.

The same. (In English translation.) 12mo. cloth. Price 90 cents. By mail $1.02. Paper. Price 33 cents. By mail 43 cents.

(2) The Creator of Modern Spain. By William W. Norman. 16mo. paper. Price 20 cents. By mail 22 cents.

ral attention and to vouchsafe a large sale. But it is not the subject alone which makes this pamphlet sure of recognition, it is the clever treatment of this subject which render the little book particularly interesting and readable. For Mr. Norman, who proves himself in his clever essay a thorough student of Spanish history, and of the vast material of historical documents pertaining to this particular epoch, shows us this interesting historical character in a light widely differing from the current opinion of Philip II. While this ruler has mostly been misrepresented as an unprincipled brute and autocrat, the author endeavors to set him in a better light, in a very convincing and logical manner. He points out the true motives of his policy and makes many of the repulsive doings during his long rule intelligible, which have without a correct understanding of the underlying motives due to education and tradition, and of the real character of Philip, so often been accepted indiscriminately upon the aspect of their results. Mr. Norman's essay will doubtless rouse a good deal of oppositional criticism, as the historian's opinions of King Philip have always been more or less divergent, but this will not diminish the intrinsic interest of this well written sketch. The publishers announce the following subjects for the next numbers: No. 2. The Great Churchill. No. 3. A Forgotten Episode in English History. To judge from the first number now before us, these pamphlets will make an extremely interesting collection

of historical essays, well worth preserving and being bound up in volumes, which will form a valuable addition to the library of every one interested in history.

Any good book pertaining to Spain is naturally of special interest to us at this time. One of the best books on "Old Court Life in Spain "(*) is the one by Frances Elliot under that title. It is like all of this clever writer's charming books, a standard and an old favorite. A pretty, new edition in twelve handy volumes has just been published by the Croscup & Sterling Co., and we will not fail to draw our readers' special attention to it. Her writings are too well known to need any further comment but this tastefully gotten up little set deserves special recommendation and will not fail to find a large sale.

୫

Our war with Spain is naturally absorbing the public interest so entirely, that all other political topics have been pushed to the background. One of these is the Hawaiian question, all the more of actuality since the President has signed the annexation act. There has recently been published a book, which under ordinary circumstances would have most decidedly attracted the widest attention in this country, but which at present is hardly receiving the attention which it deserves not merely on the strength of the topic itself, but also and preeminently for its

(*) Old Court Life in Spain. By Frances Elliot. 12mo. cloth. Price $1.10. By mail $1.25.

intrinsic literary and historical value as well as on account of the personality of its author. The book is entitled "Hawaii's Story"(*) by Hawaii's Ex-Queen Liliuokalani. When a crowned head, tempted by glory to shine as a literary light, writes a book, or, as is often the case, has it written by some professor or private secretary, there is usually no lack of newspaper advertising, eager either to idolize or to scandalize, and such books usually find a large sale. When, however, a book written by a queen, and as in the case before us, by her alone, without the assistance of some literary celebrity, is published in a foreign country, under adverse auspices, and without the humdrum and noise of réclame, and when such a book bears the stamp of historical authenticity and value, then it surely deserves mention and discussion. We will refrain from the discussion of the political side of it, which of course will find a great deal of opposition in this country; yet no one, whether politically opposed or in favor of the author and her claims and statements, will fail to acknowledge the sincerity and simplicity of style, the dignified reserve and the convincing accuracy and the truthfulness with which events and persons, instrumental in the overthrow of of the Hawaiian dynasty, are treated. It is an unpretentious yet simplicitly pathetic autobiography, which will not fail to throw a new light on many points that have hitherto been generally accepted as true, but will be found

(*) Hawaii's Story. By Ex-Queen Liliuokalani. 8vo. cloth. Price $2.00. By mail $2.20.

to have been misrepresented, originating from interested sources which are partial and in opposition to the Queen's party. The author's style is succinct and clear, yet often where occasion requires it, fervent and of convincing warmth. Her appeals are not obtrusive nor offensive, but show the motives of conviction, right and justice. Aside from all this, the book presents a most interesting picture of Hawaiian civilization, the country, and the customs and life of its people; it describes Hawaiian court life, with all its complicated ceremonial, public and private life, education and many other curious and noteworthy details. The book is altogether an extremely interesting and readable one, and deserves wide appreciation, even among those who may be of the opposition (from a political standpoint), yet who are unprejudiced enough to recognize the virtue of "audiatur et altera pars."

Arctic exploration has ever had a peculiar fascination for scientific investigators and for lovers of books of travel and adventure. An especial impetus to the taste for such books has recently been given by Nansen's great book Farthest North, (1) which has now also been published in a cheaper popular edition. New works on this subject are therefore sure to find an eager public, particularly if they are of such an interesting character as "Northward," (2) by Robert

(1) Farthest North. By Dr. Fridtjof Nansen. Popular Edition. 8vo. cloth. Price $2.25. By mail. $2.50.

(2) Northward. By Lieut. Robert E. Peary. 2 vols. 8vo. cloth. Price $5.85. By mail $6.15.

its mental operations are analyzed with extreme care and described with a clearness and simplicity to which one is not always accustomed in subjects so apparently abstruse as that of psychology.

"The system set forth is not a variation of the ordinary collection of exercises. That which is therein presented consists of the expression of the real facts of life itself; not accidental facts merely, but those which everyone has lived, is now living-external and internal phenomena, deeply imprinted upon the mental background of every human being. And these facts are not seen at hazard: they are grouped, analyzed, organized, studied in the exact order of succession which is marked out by nature. These facts are lived over again, as it were, a second time by remembrance; they are reconstituted as a part of the individuality of the student, who again learns to express them, but this time in a foreign language. Our common life is once more begun at the mother's knee, and lived through with the rapidity of thought; and the conscious knowledge of self thus acquired is obtained as well as the mastery of a foreign language.

"The reason of the success of M. Gouin's system, and the ill-success of the ordinary methods, may be briefly summed up as follows:

"The ordinary classical method sets the student (1) to read from a book what they do not yet know how to pronounce; (2) to connect the printed word in on language with another printed word in another language; (3) therefore, to perceive the sense of the foreign language, always through the intermediary of their own language, i. e., by translation, and not as a native, by direct association; (4) more often than not the class exercises given are void of real sense or signification a set of more or less absurd, illogical (and untrue) statements, having no application whatever to the learners' own individuality, are used for exercises, introduced solely to employ the vocabulary and to illustrate the rules of grammar; lastly the whole process throughout is abstract and arbitrary, resting on no other foundation than the fancy of the compiler.

"This process of system set forth by M. Gouin is opposed in almost every particular. (1) The learner has for exercises sentences which bear a distinct and sensi

ble meaning, and are true in substance and in fact;

these are linked together in logical sequence of the de

velopment of their action, forming separate and simple

dramatic scenes of primitive life, giving rise, naturally, to good literary expressions; (2) the learner has the significance of the word or phrase always given to him or called up in his mind before he is introduced to the foreign word or phrase which express it; (3) the association of the foreign word or phrase is thus not with an English word, but with the actual fact or mental conception which the English word only stands for

and expresses; (4) he is given the pronunciation ora first, and before he sees the printed form, and this several times successively and methodically, until it is engraven on his memory; (5) only after he thoroughly knows the meaning and pronunciation is he allowed to see the written or printed word; and lastly, no rule, no word, no expression, is given in an abstract condition, but always as depending on some concrete fact previously known and directly applying the student's own individuality.

"In this way the foreign language becomes in reality a 'language' to the learner, not a slow translation or set of printed signs, it is associated with actual facts, and expresses his ideas and mental conception in the foreign language itself-in other words, the student 'thinks in the foreign language.""

In the preface to "The Facts of Life" which forms No. 1. of the French series of Bétis & Swan's Psychological Method, the authors say in their preface:

"Modern languages are not constructed upon a logical plan; if they were, it would be possible with a small number of root words and a few rules of grammatical construction, to express ideas clearly and accurately in any language. The study of a foreign language would then be reduced to a simple matter, as the expressions of one language would correspond exactly with the expressions of the other, and could always be translated word for word."

With a thorough appreciation of these facts, this new method has been built up on an entirely new plan and is practically revolutionizing the present teaching and studying of foreign languages. The practical results achieved are astonishing and have proved the genuine merits of this excellent new method. There is no doubt, that it will soon find the deserved recognition and general adoption also in this country.