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committed to their charge. Hence the arguments in favor of a new series of readers must be very great to justify their supplanting others equally or nearly as good. Thus we often speak of works as possessing certain merits, yet not recommending their introduction under these circumstances.

The American Educational series of Readers appears to us, upon the whole, superior to many works issued by the same firm. First, its appearance is announced somewhat more modestly than former issues, and the claims set forth upon the introductory page are not so comprehensive and pretentious, yet such merits as it possesses are by no means hidden under a bushel. These, for example, are the arrangement and grading of the several numbers of the series, and in each the attention of the teacher is called to the fact that it is the "one step in advance of the preceding number." We imagine that a well-informed teacher might discover that fact for himself. But, in what that one "step" consists, or ought to consist, lies the whole question in the arrangement of a series of readers. Of this, however, nothing is said. In the introduction to each volume we read: "The beauty of the illustrations is obvious to all. They are designed and executed by the best artists," etc., ad nauseam. The illustrations are, indeed, tolerable, and may perform an important part in the plan of picture teaching, but, if their beauty is so "obvious to all," we see no reason for the reader's attention being so frequently called to it.

The Primary, or First Reader, endeavors to teach the word, alphabet, and phonetic systems of learning to read, all at once, which, we apprehend, will result in confusing the pupil, and give neither system a fair trial. The picture method of arresting the attention and imparting instruction is both natural and progressive, and as an auxilliary to object teaching will be very effective. We notice one section, "The philosopher and the boatman," which, in an excellent little work of a similar character, "Oxford's Junior Speaker," reviewed in our last issue, was claimed as adopted and copyrighted. If more had been taken from that "Speaker" it would have been well for the "First Reader" now before us.

We have searched in vain for the paternity of this literary foundling, and are forced to the conclusion that it is the work of irresponsible compilers, and the publishers alone must be held responsible for its contents. This is an index to a phase of the book-making business, which in our opinion is not creditable to the publishers who engage in it, and which is an injury and injustice both to those for whom the books are made, and to compilers of intelligence and respectability.

BELLES-LETTRES AND HISTORY.

Alsace. Par E. ABOUT. 12mo, pp. 347. Paris: Haschette & Co. 1873.

THE recent war between Germany and France, and its consequences, have drawn fresh attention to Alsace, which has long been the real ground of contention between the two nations. Its remarkable adherence to the cause of France, the devastations it experienced during the war, and its depopulation since, are among the most noteworthy phenomena of that memorable conflict. These facts, and the incidents connected therewith, are the basis of the work of M. About. It is needless to say that the subject is considered from the French standpoint, and that the author loudly commends the devotion of the Alsatians to France, and fully sympathizes with them in their detestation of the Germans. He does not hesitate to admit that the French are a conquered people; yet omits no opportunity of casting odium upon the conquerors; in some respects deserved, in many not. To him it is nothing less than the conquest of intellect by brute force; another inroad of the Vandals into the temples of learning and refinement. Doubtless there is much justification of this view to the French, but they seem to be entirely oblivious of the fact that Alsace has not always been an integral part of France. The latter endured for many years the severance from her body of the essentially French provinces of Brittany and Normandy, with a much better grace than she now shows in the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany. It is but little more than half a century since these provinces, with their German inhabitants, were annexed to France; yet the thoroughness with which they have become Gallicized is equally astonishing to the Germans and the world at large. Germany, having annexed the coveted province, finds herself in the case of the man who drew the elephant. The Germans of Alsace are more rebellious under German rule than were the French of Paris. Says M. About (p. 9):

"Tout le monde n'a pas visité l'Alsace; et ceux là mêmes qui l'ont traversée en chemin de fer ont pu etre clusês par la surface des choses. Dans tel ou tel village de l'Est, un aéronaute tombé du ciel pouvait encore, l'an dernier, se croire en Allemagne. Toutes les apparances concouraient à cette illusion: langue, costumes, types, habitudes, aliments, boissons. Ce jargon rude et lourd c'était bien l'allemand, personne rien doutait."

Yet he concludes:

"Avec leur sang, leurs mœurs et leur accent Germanique, avaient été les meilleurs Français de la France."

This fact the Germans themselves are forced to acknowledge, and find it the most difficult with which to deal. Having failed alike in applying force and reconciliation, their only resource is to allow the emigration of these people, and to fill their places with those more accustomed to the monarchial yoke, and this is itself defeat. As the author justly remarks, in this respect Prussian rapacity overreaches itself. The best security for a lasting peace would have been to make a neutral province between France and Germany. Instead, Prussia has made an enemy, aroused sympathy for France, and exposed her inability to obtain the allegiance of her estranged subjects.

The cupidity of the Germans is another subject of complaint. Each difficulty, like the main contention, can be adjusted only in France. As he puts it: "Les Prussiens ont été plus forts que nous, mais l'argent est plus fort que les Prussiens." "L'argent, toujours l'argent !" is the cry (p. 57). What man of letters can fail to sympathize with the writer as he returns to his library in Saverne and finds that his favorite authors are scattered and lost, and exclaims, in despair, "Chères livres : Je les aimais bien."

Speaking of this province, the place of his abode for many years, the author can only express himself in these words, for which the French language has no exact substitute: "Home, sweet home!" He describes its deserted state upon his return after the close of hostilities. The highways are unfrequented, and gay Baden is silent. Even gambling has become a burden, and the voice of the tourist is no longer heard in the land. Over all floats the emblem of subjugation, the black, red and white horizontal bars of the banner of the German confederation, while the voice of a fat, jolly German exclaims: "Monsié, vous n'etes en France."

M. About readily ascribes the result to the superior discipline of the Prussians, making man a machine, which he says is impossible in democratic France. Yet, with all their military mechanism, we might find another explanation in the fact that the German bayonets were supported by brains, and their discipline directed by education. France, on the other hand, defeated, turns to retrieve her errors and begin anew her political and military education. Bitterly, yet justly, he speaks of the indifference of Europe to the disasters of France, especially of those states which formerly enjoyed her favor and protection. No man with a spark of chivalrous feeling could behold unmoved the misfortunes of a nation so great, and to which civilization owes so much. The author's love for "la belle France," however, does not blind him to the faults of her ruler; yet he does not forget that at his last election more than seven million electors, including such men as M. Guizot, its glory, and M. Laboulaye, its delight, confided the destinies of France to the good pleasure of Napoleon III. In the following language is expressed as much truth upon this subject as we have seen

from any source. M. About thus sums up the character and errors of his sovereign:

"Il crayait à son étoile, à son génie, au canon de bronze rayé, au fusil chassepot, à la mitrailleuse de Mendon, à la supériorité d'une armée qu'il avait énervée lui-même en remplaçant les vieux reports du devoir et de l'honneur par un misérable interêt d'argent. Aigri, depuis quatre ans par son mecompte de Sadowa, et directement prorogué par l'intrigue des Prussiens en Espagne, il ne sut pas se contente d'une victoire qui laissait son prestige intact. Il se jeta tête baissée, et nous tous avec lui, dans une nouvelle aventure, ou la valeur de nos troupes ne pouvait contre-balancer ni la supériorité du nombre, ni l'armement, ni la tactique de l'ennemi. Cette guerre, etourdiment déclarée, fut conduite au début avec une mollesse et une irresolution qui livrérent nos armées, l'une apres l'autre, quand notre unique chance de salut était dans la vivacité de l'attaque."

These confessions, coming from an intelligent and patriotic Frenchman, are worthy of consideration as an aid to the solution of the question sprung upon the world by the unexampled success of Germany. Here we leave this interesting author, commending his work to all who desire vivacious and instructive reading upon a subject of recent and general interest.

12mo, pp.

Santo Domingo, Past and Present: with a Glance at Hayti. By SAMUEL HAZARD, author of "Cuba with Pen and Pencil." 510. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1873.

MR. HAZARD'S is one of those new books upon an old subject which are called forth from time to time by the varying phases of public interest. The general attention directed to Santo Domingo by the President's "pet policy," the visit of the United States commission, and, more recently, the Samana Bay contract have elicited much new information and revived a good deal that is old in respect to this historic Island. The author expresses himself surprised at finding how little was really known of it, and how few were the accessible books giving connected information in regard to it. Yet this land is one of the first in the New World trod by the adventurous Columbus, and which, having experienced in miniature the whole history of American colonization, slavery and revolution, now seeks to tread still further in the path of the Great Republic. The reason for the present condition of the Island Mr. Hazard finds in its past history. It has simply been the “victim of misfortunes," brought upon it by being successively the battle ground of the Spaniards and Indians, the Buccaneers, the English, the French, the Spaniards, the Haytians, and, finally, the Dominicans themselves.

Mr. Hazard joined the commission sent out by the United States

government to the island, and, having circumnavigated it, and traversed its length and breadth, he is evidently competent to speak of its present condition. He has also consulted the various works to be found upon its history, and this forms not the least valuable and interesting portion of his book. He thus gives his conclusions in regard to its importance:

"Santo Domingo, by its position and natural advantages, ranks first of all the beautiful islands in these waters; and though to-day impoverished and a beggar, yet she will prove, under proper care, such a precious jewel to the power that may be induced to take her under its protection as many kings would be glad to place in their crowns. Such is the peculiar formation of this magnificent land, that within its boundaries is found almost every variety of climate; while in the character of its soils and vegetation it is equally varied" (p. 2).

Columbus thus wrote concerning St. Domingo nearly four centuries ago:

"I swear to your majesties there is not in the world a better nation nor a better land; they love their neighbors as themselves, and their discourse is ever sweet and gentle, and accompained with a smile; and though it is true that they are naked, yet their manners are decorous and praiseworthy” (p. 7).

Yet, what a tale of the Spanish possession of this island is told in the fact, that in fifteen years from the landing of Columbus the number of these simple natives was reduced, by slavery and hardship, from one million to sixty thousand. The Spaniards, never relenting in their vocation of task masters, pushed these poor people to the utmost extremity, until, rendered desperate by their sufferings, a perfect saturnalia of suicide followed, so that from having numbered in 1858, sixty thousand souls, in 1514 the total number was reduced to fourteen thousand. Of this race, not one pure-blooded descendant exists to-day. This portion of the work is illustrated with numerous old cuts, indicating the customs of the natives and the rule of their conquerors. At this time St. Domingo city was noted for its splendor, while its port was the most busy one in the New World, but from a combination of causes, it, and the whole island, rapidly declined. The story of its varying fortunes and revolutions, the introduction of African slavery and its terrible results, the origin of the Buccaneers, the rule of Toussaint and the final establishment of the Republic of Dominica, are gleaned from its history by Mr. Hazard with an industrious, careful hand.

The Boucaniers (a name corrupted into buccaneers) were so called from their peculiar manner of roasting meat upon a boucan, while the name of freebooters which, in our time, has become corrupted into fillibusters, was derived from their swift boats called frei-botes. There is much information of general interest and great variety to be found

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