 
Studies in English and American Literature, from Chaucer to the present time; with standard selections from representative writers for critical study and analysis. By Albert N. Raub, Ph. D., Principal of the Central State Normal School, Lock Haven, Pa., and Author of “Lessons in English,” “Practical English Grammar,” etc., 468 pp. Cloth. Philadelphia. Raub & Co. 1887. This is one of the books “to meet a long-felt want.” The work is intended not only to give a biographical sketch of the representative writers, but also a criticism of their work, and, following this, a masterpiece selected from each author’s writings, with such explanatory notes appended as will lead the pupil to study more critically and with more profit not only the beauties but also the defects, of his language. It is a book on literature, criticism, and the literary analysis of the English classics in one, and is an admirable supplement to the study of both Rhetoric and English Grammar. The plan is the now so popular method used by Kellogg, Swinton, and others, thereby giving this book many of the excellences found in the works of those scholars. If, however, it be pertinent to mention among its good qualities a defect, it may be said that the number of American authors is out of proportion to the English, thereby unduly emphasizing American literature. In the main, this is a very good book, and is altogether worthy of the ready acceptance which it is receiving in quite a number of our schools and colleges. Practical Rhetoric and Composition: A complete and practical discussion of capital letters, punctuation, letter-writing, style and composition. By Albert N. Raub, A. M., Ph. D., author of “Lessons in English,” “Practical English Grammar,” “Studies in English and American Literature,” “Methods of Teaching,” “School Management,” etc. 320 pp. Cloth. Philadelphia. Raub & Co. 1887. In the preparation of this work the author’s aim has been to compile a treatise on the subject of Rhetoric and Composition that may claim to be wholly practical and teachable. The arrangement of subjects varies from the usual order, and to good purpose. The influence of the school to which Bain belongs is made manifest to a great and quite beneficial degree, giving the book characteristics worthy of great commendation. Each topic or principle discussed is followed by copious examples which are in the main fresh and apposite. “Letter-Writing,” while well treated, is extended out of proportion to the rest. A great deal of space is given in this work to Poetry. Since the appearance of the works of Gummere, Mayor, and Schepper, the attempt to force Latin meter upon the English accentual verse is unpardonable. On the whole, however, this is a very good Elementary Rhetoric. Lights of Two Centuries: Edited by Edward Everett Hale. Illustrated with fifty portraits. A. S. Barnes & Co. New York. 1887. 8vo. pp. vi, 603. This work is a series of biographical essays comprehending fifty of the leading artists, sculptors, prose writers, composers, poets and inventors of the last two hundred years. It treats of those master spirits who, in contradistinction to those who belonged to “schools”, have caused by their individual efforts material improvements in their respective spheres. The essays are written in a perspicuous and easy style, although the matter is very condensed. They treat of the subject’s life as directly influenced by his works, carry the reader through philosophy, veiled by incident, and finally drop him much pleased and wishing there were more. We may learn a little of our national inclinations by looking over the Table of Contents. Among the artists, sculptors and composers, not one American is found, showing that in these features we are deficient. Among prose writers and poets, America claims one each. But when we come to the inventors we find that four of the nine, classed leading in two hundred years, were natives of our one-hundred-year-old republic. An agreeable feature is the pronunciation affixed to all proper names, so that we feel more at ease when we meet in print our cousins from abroad. The portrait of each one is given, and dubious points are explained in ample foot-notes. The type is large and leaded, and the volume tastefully bound. First Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of North Carolina, for the year 1887; W. N. Jones, Commissioner; Josephus Daniels, State Printer and Binder. Besides following reports of other States as models, taking from each that feature which he considers best, the Commissioner has introduced a chapter on railroads, a feature by no means out of place. In chapters III and IV, the agricultural interests receive their due share of consideration. The chapter on Convict Labor, however, shows a deficiency of information on the general subject, confines itself to opinions of politicians, employers of laborers, and labor organizations, and lacks statistics, which perhaps time may improve. For the first effort the report is a very creditable affair. It is well indexed, and thus rendered useful to general readers, all of whom can obtain it free by writing to the Commissioner at Raleigh, N. C. The first part of Whitney’s French Grammar, supplemented by conversational exercises and lists of idiomatic phrases, has just been brought out by Henry Holt & Co. This adds what was lacking in the other, and affords a welcome relief from the imperfections of the conversation-grammars of the BÔcher-Otto type. |
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