as the most useful chapter of the book is the one entitled: "Things Worth Knowing." Take, for example, the following: "What is meant by the Clearing-House? What is meant by the Star-Route? What is meant by 'horse-power'? What was the guillotine called in Scotland? When and

where was the last battle fought on the soil of England? From what did the term Uncle Sam' originate? What is the oldest republic in the world?" The questions and answers are all numbered, so that the reader will have no difficulty in acquiring the knowledge he needs. Of course, it can not be expected in a work of this kind that all the subjects could be exhaustively treated. Indeed it would have been foolish to attempt it; for the very effort to do so would have defeated the purpose of the book.

The editor has happily given the work a second sub-name, “ Aid to Social Hours at Home." One of his aims has evidently been to combine instruction and amusement, to awaken curiosity, and thus to create and foster a thirst for knowledge; and when this thirst is once established, means will always be found to obtain the necessary books for fuller and more complete information. Although no pains have been spared to make the work accurate, although the scientific subjects have been submitted to eminent scholars for criticism and correction, and although many of the subjects were written by experts, it is quite probable that, in spite of the greatest care, a few errors may have escaped the closest scrutiny. In a work of this nature, covering as it does such a wide and diversified range of territory, we must expect to meet some mistakes; but it may be safely asserted that these mistakes are so few and immaterial that they can not mar the good the book will accomplish. It must be borne in mind that in writing and correcting many of the scientific subjects, the learned doctors themselves did not always agree; and this very disagreement made the editor's work all the more difficult and laborious. It may be observed that the principal aim of the editor is to give "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," and to set forth the facts without comment or opinion. We think he has succeeded in his aim, and has produced a book which will be satisfactory to all classes.

Innocent recreation and amusement are as necessary to the moral tone of a people as fresh air and bodily exercise. It is always a wholesome sign to find a young man devoted to some hobby, outside his studies or his business, be it nothing better than daubing with colors or playing with edged tools. The employment of his time will keep him from late

hours and low company. The more inviting the home is made, the more extended the means of domestic amusement, the stronger will be the bonds of affection among the different members of the family, and the greater the likelihood that their happiness will endure. Home Culture can be made, in many ways, a source of infinite amusement as well as of profitable instruction. The day for inflicting pains and penalties on the learner has happily passed away; moral suasion has taken the place of corporal punishment in the best schools; and terror, as an engine of discipline, no longer exercises its baleful influence to make children liars and cowards. John Locke somewhere says, in advocacy of combining amusement with instruction, that if a boy were compelled to whip his top under fixed rules and for a given time, he would soon abandon the amusement in disgust. A great French writer puts it still more strongly: "If those who are the enemies of innocent amusement had the direction of the world, they would take away the spring, and youth; the former from the year, and the latter from human life." The moral influence of such a work as Home Culture will be even greater than its intellectual influence. In towns and cities, in farm houses, and in remote villages, during the long winter evenings, a whole family can join in the fun of mutual examination on the variety of subjects which the book furnishes; and it requires but a small stretch of the imagination to fancy the merry iaughter that will follow the surprising answer to some quaint question.

Every experienced teacher is aware that there are two kinds of “cram,' the one proper and necessary and the other foolish and injurious. When a student has finished a subject and is preparing himself for examination, he reviews it in order to strengthen the links and to polish the chain. This is termed legitimate "cram." But if the student knows little or nothing of the subject and endeavors to learn it in a few days for the purpose of passing an examination in it, his labor is injurious to his mind and the knowledge so acquired is worthless. This is termed illegitimate "cram." For wholesome reviews of many subjects Home Culture will be found exceedingly useful. To teachers and those preparing themselves to become teachers it will be a valuable book of reference. Pupils often ask their teachers strange and curious questions, which, if possible, should always be answered. The best teachers will sometimes find it difficult to give the correct answers on the spur of the moment. A glance at Home Culture will in all probability furnish the requisite knowledge. As a

practical experienced teacher, I found that intellectual contests among my pupils produced excellent results, particularly in the memoriter studies. When preparing boys for college, thirty years ago, it was my custom to allow them to fight battles in spelling, geography, history, etc., once a week. The two leading boys picked matches of twenty or twenty-five on each side, and pelted each other with questions until one or the other was vanquished. The spirit and energy evolved in these contests were very beneficial. The lads' wits were sharpened and their vocabulary enlarged. Home Culture will enable brothers and sisters to conduct similar contests over a wide range of subjects.

There have been catechisms of

This work is, I think, original. history, geography, grammar, etc., in separate books; but no single work hitherto that constituted a sort of catechetical cyclopaedia. Brevity, clearness and condensation have been carried to their utmost limit, so that it is absolutely astonishing how such a vast amount of useful information could have been crowded into so small a compass. To accomplish such a result the editor must have had constantly in mind Swift's celebrated definition: "A good style is the right word in the right place."

C

ULTURE implies all which gives the mind possession

of its own powers, as languages to the critic, telescope to the astronomer. Culture alters the political status of an individual. It raises a rival royalty in a monarchy. 'Tis king against king. It is ever the romance of history in all dynasties - the co-presence of the revolutionary force in intellect. It creates a personal independence which the monarch cannot look down, and to which he must often succumb. R. W. EMERSON.

HOW THIS BOOK MAY BE USED.

As a self instructor in the quiet of one's room or home.
In the home circle or social party as profitable amusement.
By students, applicants for the Civil Service, and others, pre-
paratory to competitive examinations.

By parents and children catechizing each other in quest of knowledge.

By teachers in class-examinations or pupils in mimic battle. By post-graduates and others for refreshing the memory in self-examination.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE.

HIS volume is based upon jottings from a note-book of questions and answers made while in the course of normal training, and during subsequent years as a teacher.

The plan of the book formerly sketched has been remodeled, its scope and usefulness enlarged, and its character and value greatly enhanced by the addition of new subjects, varied methods of instruction, and the latest applications of science. All these have been brought down to the present time.

The object of the compiler has been to place within the reach of every seeker after knowledge the elements of a comprehensive education which may be obtained and enlarged at home, in the midst of the family circle, or in the retiracy of one's own room. The manifold lines of knowledge are here drawn in such a way as to induce the student to read and study more extensively than he would otherwise do, and thus become more intelligent, better qualified to succeed in the various callings of life, and better fitted for usefulness and happiness.

It is not claimed that this book is comp ete in any of the departments treated. The spirit of this age of steam, electricity, and competition, demands brevity and condensation. Its design is suggestive and helpful, and based upon the theory that a "half loaf is better than no bread," that even a superficial knowledge of the various branches of education is far better than the total ignorance which deprives us of the pleasure and profit they afford.

So vast is the domain of science and learning that, in the space proposed, only the most important and essential principles are presented as stepping-stones to a more thorough knowledge of the topics introduced.

This volume is designedly a home book, and offers to parents a certain test of what is presumed to have been previously learned, to the children a criterion of what they ought to know, and should know, in this day of helps and educational advantages, and to teachers and others a means of freshening the memory with facts and figures learned in other days.