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POPULAR MISCELLANY.
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McClure, William S. Scientific Materialism; Its Effect in Art and Morals. Albany: The Argus Company. Pp. 16.

MacDonald, Rev. D.. Savannah Harbor, New Hebrides. Oceania, Linguistic and Anthropological. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. Limited. Pp. 218.

Meriwether, Colyer. History of Higher Education in South Carolina.

Michigan. Report of H. B. Baker, Secretary of the State Board of Health, for 1887-'88. Pp. 328.—Agricultural College Experiment Station Bulletins, Nos. 50 and 51.—The Grain-Plant Louse, and Enemies of the Wheat Aphis. Pp. 6 and 7. Lansing.

New York Agricultural Experiment Station. Peter Collier. Director. Bulletin. A Study of the Corn-Plant: Lucern or Alfalfa.

Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, Columbus. Colic of Horses. By H, J. Detmere. Pp. 48.

Ryder. Prof. John A. The Origin and Meaning of Sex. (Two papers.) Pp. 2 and 3.

Sensenig, David M. Numbers Universalized. An Advanced Algebra. Part I. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 353. $1.40.

Sizer, Nelson. Right Selection in Wedlock. New York: Fowlers & Wells. Pp. 31 10 cents.

Smith, Charles Lee. History of Education in North Carolina. Washington: Government Printing-Office. Pp. 180.

Smock, John C. Iron Mines and Iron-Ore Districts in the State of New York. New York State Museum of Natural History. Pp. 70, with Map.

Taylor, Thomas. M.D. Twelve Edible Mushrooms of the United States. Washington, D.C.: Gibson Brothers. Pp. 23, with Plate.

Toronto, City of. Report on Extension of Water-Supply and Disposal of Sewage. By Rudolf Hering and S. M. Gray. Pp. 26, with Maps, etc.

Turner, J. B. Extracts from Note-Books on "The Fallacies of Science and Faith," etc. Jacksonville, Ill.: Morton Brothers. Pp. 30.

Van Dalle. A. N.. Editor. Pages choisés des Memoirs du Due de Saint Simon. Boston: Ginn & Co. Pp. 237. 75 cents.

Wilber, Francis A. A Convenient Form of Gas-Receiver, etc. Pp. 3.

Wisconsin. Twelfth Annual Report of the State Board of Health. J. T. Reeve, M.D., Secretary, Madison. Pp. 302.

Woodward, C. M.. St. Louis. Relation of Manual Training to Body and Mind. Pp. 26.



POPULAR MISCELLANY.

Practical and Moral Instruction in Schools.—What shall be taught in the schools, says the New York State Superintendent, in his last report, is a difficult question to answer. The law leaves it to each locality to settle for itself. "The tendency of the times, particularly in the larger places, is to undertake too much. It ought to be remembered that it does not devolve upon the public schools to put into the child's head all that he will ever be expected to know. . . . It is better to create a desire for knowledge, and supply the implements with which to gain it." The trial of manual training is commended, and this, it is observed, need not be confined to carpentry work with boys and making aprons and dresses with girls. Free-hand or industrial drawing may train the hand and the eye more effectually than handling a saw or a needle. Every school in the State may undertake this without difficulty. The importance of a pervading moral influence in the school-room is insisted upon. "There is, unfortunately," the superintendent remarks, "but little done to stimulate patriotism among children in the public schools, or outside of them. A generation ago it was common to use the masterpieces of our national oratory for the purposes of recitation and declamation in the schools, and the resultant influences were of no small consequence in arousing and cultivating patriotic ardor in the rising generations. Then every child was required to take part in the exercises. But even this is no longer common. The modern fashion is to take pupils who give promise of special success as orators and readers and train them elaborately for show upon public occasions. The older custom might be revived with profit." The normal schools continue to grow in size and extent and to improve in the character and quality of the work performed; and they are gradually confining themselves more and more closely to their legitimate work, the preparation of teachers for the public schools.

Methods of Transportation.—The development of the art of carrying is considered by Prof. O. T. Mason in a paper in the "American Anthropologist" on "The Beginnings of the Carrying Industry." Twenty distinct forms of the art are enumerated by him as preceding the modern inventions of transportation by the power of machinery. Among them are carrying in the hand, which is universal; with both hands, when the load is divided and balanced; on the fingers—the method of the ancient royal cup-bearers; with a baldric; with the load hung to a belt—chiefly employed in carrying treasure; hung to the arm, as when a basket is used; hung from the shoulders, on the shoulder, on the scapula?, on the back, on the head, on the forehead or bregma, in pockets, by men combined, by hauling, by throwing or tossing, by caravans, with relays, and by couriers. Primitive commerce, says the author, "and all the