EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO.

The present moment's all our store;

The next, should Heaven allow;

Then this will be no more;

So all our life is but one instant, now.

CONGREVE.

In these four lines the poet describes, with the force and terseness of an apothegm, the life editorial. It is with us a perpetual now. Our New Year greetings seem but the echo of our Christmas good wishes; we feel that the multitude of patrons who will this day welcome the Lady's Book to their homes and hearts are the same noble, generous friends, or their counterparts, whose pleasant smiles and kind letters have been the sweetest record of our literary life. God bless you, dear friends! with his divine gifts of faith, hope, and love, is our earnest prayer.

This New Year may not-will not, we should saybring success and earthly enjoyment to us all. The dark clouds of trials and sorrows are over our beloved country, and who can escape the shadow, even if sheltered from the bursting storm? Let us not despond. The Lord reigns; He can bring gladness out of gloom; the sunshine of his favor is happiness. If we all could enjoy this blessing; if we had faith in God, and could truly say "Thy will be done on earth as in heaven;" if we had hope in the promise that the Saviour came to bring " peace on earth and good-will to men;" if we had the true love (or charity) which "suffereth long, and is kind," which "envieth not," "thinketh no evil," "is not easily provoked"-in short, the love "that never faileth," but even to our enemies is kind and forgiving, might not we women of America do much to restore the peace, happiness, and prosperity of our beloved land? Should we not be teachers and exemplars of "whatsoever things are pure, lovely, and of good report?" Shall we not, beginning this day, seek to gain and use these good gifts and graces of heart, soul, and mind, that will make our influence, like the Divine Mercy, a blessing to the world, and render eighteen hundred and sixty-two forever memorable as the YEAR when WOMAN did what she could for the good of humanity?

QUIET CHANGES.

SHE kissed me and put a white flower in my hand,
And said it would last till the morrow;
Bat the love that had prompted the gift would live on
Forever-come joy or come sorrow.

The flower in my hand and the vow in my heart,
The words of our parting were spoken:-
Her love has been dead, oh, this many a year!—
Still fragrant, though withered the token.
The dream was as bright and as pure as a cloud,
Rose-tints from the morning light taking;
Tet so quietly passed it away from our hearts
That we never once thought of their breaking.

CHILDREN. (SEE TITLE-PAGE.}

The Garden of Eden is the freehold of youth. Children naturally live in the place of flowers all the year round. Turn to our title-page, you will forget that winter is over us, while you see the charming spring of human existence opening, for both sexes, in happiness, from the pure buds of infancy to the sweet blossoms of girlhood; while little brothers are the welcome playmates, and thus they are taught by smiles of love and home pleasures the lessons of innocent enjoyment; the memory and sweetness of these happy days will brighten the roughest and darkest paths of man's life.

In the gloom that now pervades the present, should we not turn our thoughts and hopes to the future? If we must pass through an ordeal of bitter affliction, at least these little ones may see happier days. How diligent, then, should we be in preparing the children under our care and influence, so that they may be fitted for the stage of life when we leave it!

Many parents, by mistaken indulgences, injure their buds of fairest promise, and thus the fruit is blasted; lovely, happy children become, as adults, discontented, disagreeable, and vicious. Now is always the season of duty when we see childhood before us. Women always have a great and glorious work ready for them, because they are the educators of humanity. Homes, schools, benevolent associations; these are means and places in and by which character is formed and citizens are trained for the weal or woe of the State. By right beginnings with the pliant minds of little children, by cultivating the good and correcting the evil tendencies of their dispositions, we, women of America, may do more to promote the real greatness and true happiness of our country than has as yet been done by legislators, philosophers, and warriors.

"Eschew evil, and do good," is the precept of the Apostle; in no other way can its realization be attempted so hopefully as with the waxen heart of infancy. Is it not consoling, when we see our own bright days passing away, our great expectations failing, to trust to the better improvement of time and opportunities in the lives of our children, because of their better training?

It is not in magnificent cities, nor in arts, science, wealth, devoted to material comforts and physical improvements, that the true glory of the age must be found; man is nobler than his best works; woman is angelic only in her faith and love when these are divinely directed to her duties. The children of the country are the true exponents of the character of this generation. If the youth of our land are in heart, soul, and mind trained in the way of righteousness and conscientiousness; if they have been taught that usefulness is the key of human happiness, that obedience to God's laws is the perfection of moral excellence, and that Heaven is the place of Holiness, where nothing that defileth can enter, then we may surely expect the Divine blessing of "well done" on the past, and the Divine aid in sustaining our path of duty through the present year.

LETTERS FROM OUR FRIENDS.

THERE is "sweetness" in "the hearty counsel of friends," so the Bible bears witness. It is pleasant to be praised. It is good as well as pleasant to know that what we have aimed to do, believing it to be right, doing it in faith, hope, and love, trusting that it would be beneficial to all who took interest in it, has been appreciated. In proof of this, we shall give extracts from letters that encourage us to go on in the course which is so warmly commended by disinterested friends, intelligent, accomplished, Christian women, whose favor it is our happiness to acknowledge thus openly:—

LETTER I.

P, Nov. 1, 1861.

DEAR MRS. HALE: I take the liberty to send to you an extract of a letter received from an invalid friend, to whom I sent a huge pile of the Lady's Book, as a "companion and consoler of her vacant hours." Some of her praises of the Book, which I could not so properly address directly to yourself, may, I hope, be not unsuitable nor unagreeable as the grateful opinion of a third person. I should add that I consider the Book also quite "suited to the meridian" of a large and healthy family, and that the arrival of the Lady's Book in mine is the never-failing signal for applause and delight. Who shall get it first? One for this purpose, and one for that; one for "the Fashions," one for "the patterns," one for "the rest of the story," and one for "the newest plan of a cottage." Each and all are eagerly and impatiently waiting their turn. I, who know they will all be satisfled in time, can only pray them to be quiet, and let their mother finish Mrs. Haven's last sketch, in deference to age and importance. If you could only see their faces, you would need no more complimentary testimony to the attractions of the Book.

But I am running on, when I meant only to give you a note from my invalid correspondent. You must know she has been confined for more than a year entirely to her couch, from the effects of a fall, and is indebted to her friends for such alleviations of the tedium of a constrained position and the confinement of a sick room as they may be able to offer her.

Most truly yours, (Extract.)

"Thanks, my dear E-, for the pile of good things you were so kind as to send me, and which I now return, without their suffering any injury.

Nobody who has not been confined week after week and month after month can have any idea of the weary occupation of the mind with pains and aches, nor how a little diversion is a great blessing. Many of the hours seem so leaden-winged, I long so for noon, for night, for morning; I long so for the little rarity, the trifling deli. cacy; I fret so at the pain, the slow ache; I vex myself with refuting the good things that have been said about convalescents and the joys of the sick room; I look for the improvement which adversity should have brought, and find only fretfulness, impatience, and hopelessness.

In this state, too ill in body and brain to undertake a book; too weak to lift The Netherlands,' too languid to touch 'Great Expectations,' which has been lying in wait for the last fortnight, think of my delight at receiving by express a nice, great bunch of Lady's Books! Enough, and not too many; light, easily handled, they don't tire me. Full of stories, long, and not too long; and wise, and not too wise, the gentle excitement was

good for my tired brain, which wanted occupation and relief.

Then you will be glad to know that I have embroidered a quantity of watch-cases, from the pattern in the June number, and have been entirely successful. In time you shall have better proof than even my assertion of this. I was so glad to find something so easy to hold in my hand, and so pretty in itself.

The last number gave Jenny the newest fashions and a pattern for the boys to draw from. I am ashamed to tell you how many plans of houses I have drawn out, lying here, sometimes copying from Mr. Sloan's designs, but oftener varying his suggestions, and literally making castles in the air. When I first began, my staircases were necessarily ascended round a pole in the middle of the edifice, or my drawing-room would be discovered without a window, possibly; but by degrees I am found capable of much architectural acuteness and ability, and am considered great in the matter of building closets. This agreeable variety to my long day I owe to your Lady's Book, too. You have said much, but not too much of its merits, for, though you have dwelt rather on the good spirit of its literature, its attention to the development of feminine traits, and its usefulness in directing the young mind to high and worthy aims, I was not prepared for its amusing variety of instruction. I can truly say it is a good thing in a family, and do not wonder at its popularity, though this is really the first time I have seen it."

LETTER II.

NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 1861. DEAR MRS. HALE: Many thanks for that exquisite volume, Agnes and the Little Key." It has indeed proved a "balm to a wounded spirit." I cannot conceive of a "memorial monument" more touchingly beautiful and delicate than this. Truly Dr. Adams, in the record of his own earthly sorrows, has spoken to all who are in affliction throughout a mourning world. A friend tells me that every incident through the whole book is literally true, that "little Agnes" was bis own first-born, and that the wife who at that time soothed his sorrows now sleeps by the side of Agnes. What a beautiful tribute he pays her memory when, speaking of his own deep grief and her efforts to comfort him, he says:

"She had the greatest skill in managing my feelings at all times, without any show of power over me. I worshipped her, almost, as a superior being, leading, guiding me in times of great excitement, and always bringing me out with self-respect, and with augmented reverence for her."

How I wish this could be said of more of our wives and mothers! Is it not for want of thoughtfulness, and judgment that there are so many unhappy homes? How true that it is more easy to win love than to keep it!* And yet, my dear Mrs. Hale, do you believe, if the same constant effort was used to keep the affectious warm which was used at first to win them, that love would ever change? Is it natural to suppose that a man will forget to love a being whom he has chosen to adorn his home, to cheer and welcome him when his day's labor has ceased, one around whom all his hopes cluster, and for whose life he would lay down his own? Would it not be well if every wife who sees her husband is absenting himself from his home, or feels his love is grow

Published by J. E. Tilton & Co., Boston.

ing cold, to ask herself, Have I done all in my power to keep the love which once was mine?

Cousin William, in speaking of his wife a few days since, said, "he little knew what a gem he was winning in Kate; that she was so high-minded, honorable, and thoughtful that each day he found something new to admire in her character, and that he felt confident she would always honor his choice." How many might receive the same commendation if they would only study to make their homes the chief centre of attraction!

Katie was not a little amused and gratified a few evenings since. It was dark and rainy, cold and dreary; with her usual thoughtfulness, she dressed herself as neatly as possible, kindled the fire a little brighter than usual, and, throwing her husband's dressing-gown and slippers upon his favorite chair, seated herself at the piano, and commenced playing a sweet but lively air, when Mrs. Brown, her husband's mother, who was visiting her, came into the room, and, seeing everything so bright and cheerful, exclaimed

"Why, Kate, are you expecting any one this rainy night?"

"No one but my husband," replied Kate, smiling. "It was so cold and cheerless without that I thought I would make my home more attractive, if possible, than usual, so that William will feel that, however the outer world may change, whatever storms there he may have to buffet, or tides to stem, his home will ever be cheerful and his wife ready to welcome him with a smile."

"Kate," said Mrs. Brown, at the same time imprinting a kiss upon her lips, "we all ought to love you; if for no other reason, because of your entire devotion to your husband."

I could not help contrasting Kate with Cousin James' wife.

Ann is a good, kind woman, but seems to lack Judgment. She is very agreeable all day, and I enjoy visiting her very much, for you know she is quite an intelligent woman; but the moment James comes into the house she commences complaining, and she continues to do so until he retires for the night. You know, my dear Mrs. Hale, that the spirit of fault-finding and complaining grows fearfully upon any one if they allow themselves to indulge in it. There is enough in this world always to trouble us, and unless we make it a conscientious principle to look at the bright side of everything, and avoid speaking or dwelling upon those things which are disagreeable, we lose half the enjoyment of life, and make ourselves and all about us unhappy. I have sometimes thought if Cousin James was not one of the best men in the world, he would never pass an evening at home; yet no person can, if they choose, make themselves more attractive than Ann. I do not think she is aware how this habit of fault-finding has grown upon her. I have sometimes thought it was our duty to tell her, lest her husband, after a time, should weary of constant complainings, and pass his evenings at a club-house or some place of amusement. But you, my dear friend, are familiar with these matters; your Lady's Book is the constant advocate of household acomplishments and has been the means, under the divine blessing, of making many a home happier and better by its examples of character and teachings of the right way. Most truly your friend,

*

*

BOOKS FOR HOME READING AND FAMILY LIBRARIES.Two kinds of literature are particularly suited to the present state of the public mind, viz., religious works;

we have noticed many such published by the Carters of New York, Lincoln & Edwards of Boston, and others. Next to these the standard poets, English and American, are of great merit in elevating the imagination and purifying the taste of the young, now exposed to the demoralizing influences which constant excitement always produces, and which the wild and often false rumors, so. rife on every side, cannot fail of increasing fearfully. Girls, as well as boys, are, under this delusion, rendered careless, if not incapable of common modes of mental improvement. They need reading that appeals to the heart and the imagination with power to compel attention, while its lessons shall be the highest truth in the most attractive form. Poetry, over many young minds, has this power. We intend giving a list of these best

books in some of our notices.

A NOBLE EXAMPLE.-Among the names of women whose deaths last year made many mourn, we must not omit from our Record the Lady Jane Ogilvy, of Baldoran, near Dundee, Scotland. She was the daughter of the late Earl of Suffolk, and wife of Sir John Ogilvy, Bart. The noble pair possessed kindred sympathies for the poor, the sinning, and the suffering. In 1848, Lady Ogilvy founded "The Home," an institution for the reformation of fallen women, and sustained it from her own purse. A year or two after, she established the Baldoran Orphanage. In 1853, with her husband's assistance, she founded an asylum for idiot children, which they jointly maintained. Last year she organized, in Dundee, a Convalescents' Hospital. Her private charities were also very great, and bestowed with remarkable judgment.

WOMEN'S UNION MISSION SOCIETY OF AMERICA FOR HEATHEN LANDS.-One year ago this day we told our readers of the plan of sending Christian women as teachers to Christianize and civilize heathen households.

Mrs. Ellen B. Mason, wife of Rev. Francis Mason, Baptist Missionary in Burmah, had founded a School for Karen girls; it had proved eminently good and useful, and become self-supporting. We asked our friends to assist in founding, on a similar plan, a School for Burmese girls. Mrs. Mason was here soliciting aid. The prospectus was sent out. The plan required $2,000 a year for five years. This money to be raised by one hundred ladies, Collectors, each one pledging to collect and pay over $20 per year for five years. Ladies of all Christian denominations were invited to unite in this effort; each denomination to have its share of the benefits of these Missions. We have now the pleasure of recording the full success of our plan. We have the one hundred Collectors, formed by the union of Episcopalians, Presbyterians (O. S. and N. S.), Baptists, Methodists, Congregational, and Dutch Reformed Christian women, all earnest co-operators in this work of faith, hope, and love.

The subscriptions for 1861 (over $2,000) are paid in. The teacher, Miss Sarah Hall Marston, for the Burmese School is on her way to that Mission; the teacher for Calcutta, to be devoted to the instruction of poor Hindoo widows, is provided for, and funds are ready for native Bible-women, one in each mission, of all the denominations united in the work.

Have we not good reasons for thankfulness? Nor have we recorded all the good gifts: a Sewing-Machine, of the best kind, from Wheeler & Wilson-a box of valuable medicine from Perry, Davis, & Son-and donations

amounting to over $100, sent the Editress of the Lady's Book for this Mission-these are to be added.

We consider that the past year has conferred on our country a great blessing in the formation of this Mission of Woman to Woman. Shall the present year fail to carry on the wonderful work? Read the book* Mrs. Mason has written to show what has been done in Burmah, and you can hardly fail of giving us-at leastyour sympathies.

THE WOMEN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA.-An institution known as the "Women's Hospital of Philadelphia," was chartered by the last legislature. The Managers have opened, for the reception of patients, a commodious building on North College Avenue, near the Girard College. The Hospital is designed for the treatment of non-contagious diseases of women and children. Mrs. E. H. Cleaveland, one of the Professors of the Female Medical College, is the Resident Physician. She has just returned from a visit of inspection to the hospitals of Europe.

We shall have more to say about this Hospital.

MISS S. J. HALE'S BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES, 1826 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia.

This school is designed to give a thorough and liberal English education, to furnish the best facilities for acquiring the French language, and the best instruction in music and the other accomplishments. The moral training and the health and physical development of the scholars are carefully attended to.

References: Mrs. Emma Willard, Troy, N. Y.; Henry Vethake, LL. D., Wm. B. Stevens, D. D., Wm. H. Ashhurst, Esq., Louis A. Godey, Esq., Philadelphia; Charles Hodge, D. D., Princeton, N. J.; and others.

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.-We accept the following: "Carrie's Doings"-" After Ten Years of Wedded Life" "Aunt Debby's Visit to Brother Reuben's Folks""Our Life Boats" (the other poems not wanted, nor prose articles at present)-"Ennerstine"-and "Our Amy."

We decline these articles: "Father Anselm's Love”—

"Song" "Musings"-"How Lovely"-"Dead"-"The Weather"-" Evangel" (the writer can do better)—“ Migration and its results"-"My Sister and I"-"Sing Merrily" and "Never write Letters."

We have other MSS. on hand to report next month.

Health Department.

BY JNO. STAINBACK WILSON, M. D.

MEDICAL EDUCATION OF WOMEN.-WHERE SHALL THEY BE EDUCATED?-If regular physicians would give that encouragement to the medical education of woman which might be expected from a profession which boasts of its liberality and philanthropy, and which is so urgently demanded by the wants of the community, all of our principal medical colleges would have a separate course of lectures for the special benefit of women who might wish to qualify themselves for the practice of Medicine. This might be done very readily by having a suitable corps of instructors to deliver a course of lectures in the interim between the regular courses.

The advantages of such an arrangement are numerous and obvious. We will only mention some of the most prominent of these.

"Great Expectations Realized.”

1st. The great expense of erecting new college buildings would be saved.

2d. Woman could be assured of a regular orthodox education, untainted by the errors and corruptions of quackery.

3d. Being regularly received into the profession and being greeted by the approving smiles of regular physicians, they would become our warm personal friends, and the strongest advocates of the claims of regular scientific medicine, instead of enemies to us, and perhaps to our cause. But we fear, from present indications, that this policy will not be adopted, and that women seeking a medical education will be forced to obtain it either in some irregular college, or in separate independent institutions designed for their exclusive benefit. Two such colleges have already been established under favorable auspices-one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia. They both have a full corps of professors; and as we have reason to believe that the course of instruction is as thorough and as regular as that of our men's medical colleges, we wish them great success in the cause in which they are engaged. And this success, we verily believe, will be attained whether regular physicians favor or oppose. Educated female physicians or doctresses is a want of the age, and the want will be supplied.

In our opinion, the day is not far distant when medical colleges for the education of woman will be needed in the West, and in the South, as well as in the North. And as the multiplication of such institutions will increase the facilities for obtaining a medical education, and consequently the number of students, we hope to see the day when each of the three great sections of our country will have at least one flourishing college for the medical education of women. These colleges should

be liberally endowed by private contributions, and their success thus placed beyond all contingency. Will not the women of America sustain the colleges already established, and aid, by their influence and by their contributions, in erecting others whenever and wherever needed?

A SAD PICTURE OF ALCOHOL AND ITS DOINGS.-Professor S. H. Dickson, in a last year's lecture before the students of Jefferson Medical College, says: "All Christendom should shudder at hearing that, while yet the Asylum for Habitual Inebriates, undertaken to be built by the munificent State of New York, is not half finished, applications have been made for reception by not less than twenty-eight hundred of these unfortunates; of which number-it is enough to make one's heart bleed to record it-upwards of four hundred were women! Not women

of the pariah cast, which society makes and then tramples in the mire, but women in a condition, either of themselves, or through their friends, to bear the expense of such accommodations."

Another writer, speaking of the causes of intemperance, makes the following remarks, which are peculiarly appropriate when applied to women: "The causes of intemperance are not to be found in the glittering temptations of the bar-room, nor sensuous seductions of the sparkling cup. They are found in wrong-doing on the part of the parents, who, conceiving children in physical sin, train them, by example and precept, to a false, artificial, and unnatural life; illustrating in their own lives the effects of their personal follies, and transmitting depraved appetites to their offspring, who, with such an inherited tendency, find vent for their clamor ous appetites and passions in debauchery and sensuous indulgence."

Literary Notices.

BOOKS BY MAIL.-Now that the postage on printed matter is so low, we offer our services to procure for our subscribers or others any of the books that we notice. Information touching books will be cheerfully given by inclosing a stamp to pay return postage.

When ordering a book, please mention the name of the publisher.

From T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, Philadelphia:LADY MAUD; THE WONDER OF KINGSWOOD CHACE; or, Earl Gower: or, The Secret Marriage. By Pierce Egan, author of "The Flower of the Flock," "Love Me, Leave Me Not," "Lady Blanche," etc. etc. We do not deny but Mr. Egan has produced an attraction, perhaps a fascinating book, and one in which there is no ordinary amount of talent and skill displayed; a book, moreover, which is likely to obtain an extended circulation, and find multitudes of admiring readers. But we never greatly appreciated romances whose characters are made to stalk through the story like actors upon a stage, throwing themselves into theatrical postures, and declaiming, at every opportunity. And the author of this book is particularly hard upon the poor individuals whom he has seen fit to bring before the public; keeping them constantly upon the strain, and compelling them into all sorts of melodramatic absurdities. The book is somewhat carelessly written, grammatical inaccuracies occasionally marring the page. Price $1 25.

THE ZOUAVE DRILL. Being a Complete Manual of Arms for the Use of the Rifled Musket, with either the Percussion Cap or Maynard Primer. Containing also the Complete Manual of the Sword and Sabre. By Col. E. E. Ellsworth, Late Colonel of the Regiment of the New York Fire Zouaves, and late Colonel commanding of the United States Zonave Cadets of Chicago. With a Biography of his Life. The title of this book is sufficient in itself to recommend it to general attention. Price 25 cents.

From JAMES CHALLEN & SON, Philadelphia:

THE SKELETON MONK, and other Poems. By Franeis de Haes Janvier. Our readers, familiar with that beautiful ode, "The Union Forever," will warmly welcome this volume, by the same elegant writer. Mr. Janvier excels in the language of poetry; its difficult, varying measures seem like playthings to him, flowing from his pen as his natural mode of expression. This is a rare gift and marks a high degree of merit in the true poet. The volume contains over forty poems, the longest, "The Skeleton Monk," is a legend of strange power, with its wild fancies, quaint humors, and perfection of rhythm, rhyme, and diction. This will especially please

men.

Our lady friends will find "The Voyage of Life" an exquisite poem. Many of the shorter pieces, particularly "Dreamland," "Spring," and "Two little Stars," are rich in the peculiar beauties of the author's genius, fine fancy, tender sensibility, and the moral vigor of soul which gives expression to the noblest feelings of humanity, not as poetic flourishes, but as the sacred principles of life and conduct. The Elegiac poems are remarkable for deep pathos and variety of delineating true sorrow; while the patriotic songs stir the blood

like the sound of a trumpet. We think these poems must bring Mr. Janvier not only high praise for talents, but for the higher merit of genius devoted to pure morality, that there is in the book "no line in dying he would wish to blot."

From E. H. BUTLER & Co., Philadelphia:

A GALLERY OF DISTINGUISHED ENGLISH AND AMERICAN POETESSES. With an Introduction. By Henry Coppée, A. M., Professor of English Literature in the University of Pennsylvania. While looking over this splendid volume, containing nearly a hundred illustrations and selections from about sixty popular writers, we felt deeply grateful to the man of letters who has devoted so much care and displayed such rare judgment in selecting specimens of woman's genius. Here we have the exquisite gems of thought and feeling which the feminine intellect has produced in the highest domain of literature-poetry. So many and varied excellencies of imagination, taste, learning, and religious feeling are rarely found in one book; and the perfection of the illustrations add greatly to its value. We think this "Gallery" of beauty and genius should adorn the centre-table of every lady who can afford to display such a perfect collection of feminine literature. It is only the well-merited tribute of respect we owe Professor Coppée when we thus praise this volume, and commend it as a New Year's present, which will keep his name in remembrance as the eulogist of woman.

From HARPER & BROTHERS, New York, through J. B. LIPPINCOTT & Co., Philadelphia:

THE OKAVANGO RIVER. A Narrative of Travel, Exploration, and Adventure. By Charles John Anderson, author of "Lake Ngami." With numerous Illustrations, and a Map of Southern Africa. Mr. Anderson, in his present work, gives the result of his explorations in South Africa between the thirteenth and twenty-third parallels of latitude, explorations embracing more than a year in duration, and which were conducted in spite of many serious obstacles. He has given a careful account of the appearance of the country, as well as of its productions and animals, and of the few natives that he fell in with during his journeys. He has also added material information concerning the coast and rivers, and their practicability for the uses of commerce, partly the result of his own observation, and partly gathered from the descriptions of previous navigators and travellers. Though the book is minus the gorilla hunts of du Chaillu, there are numerous adventures with elephants and lions to make amends for this. Price $200.

THE LAST TRAVELS OF IDA PFEIFFER: Inclu sive of a Visit to Madagascar. With a Memoir of the author. Translated by H. W. Dulcken. This book, edited by the son, and prefaced by a brief biography, of the remarkable woman whose last travels it describes, gives from Mrs. Pfeiffer's own notes a full and interesting account of her journey to Madagascar, and her observations and discoveries while there. Though the style is simple and straightforward, still the reader cannot fail to perceive in these writings the evidences of a mind deeply observant, and of more than common breadth and capability. She displayed all the characteristics of the true traveller, and the records of her journeys should be faithfully preserved and duly prized, as the labors of one who has done much for science and general knowledge. Price $1 25.