Books.
Volume 7, 1896, pgs. 311-313
Exercises for the Study of French, by E. E. [Edgar Ewing] Brandon and H. E. Dariaux (Macmillan & Co., in 8 books, 6d. each, or in 1 vol.) "I have amongst my pupils a class of boys, average age 13, who, after six school terms two lessons a week can understand French well enough to be able to enjoy and follow literature lessons given entirely in French." This statement, made by Mdlle. Duriaux in a most able and instructive introduction to the study of French, is verified by many who have had the opportunity to see these boys. Mothers and governesses, to whom the "Gouin method" has been somewhat of a dark saying, will rejoice in the appearance of this volume. The lessons are short, the sentences follow each other with that natural sequence which is the first condition in the success of the method, and at the foot of each short section (occupying about a page) are some eight or ten sentences of what Mdlle. Duriaux describes as "subjective language." "We experience feelings and form opinions about objective things; these are expressed in the subjective language." And this subjective language, the writer maintains, should be learned pari passu with the objective language. Avez-vous fait attention? Tant mieux, vous faites bien. C'est drole, n'est ce pas? Ce n'est pas mal, etc. is subjective language, i.e. the sort of remarks the teacher makes to her class in passing. There are some two hundred and fifty-six lessons in the volume, and an interesting calculation has been made, that out of 161 verbs contained in extracts from a given French author, 127 occur in the lessons; out of 125, in another author, 90; out of 52 verbs, 39. The same experiment applied to words not verbs, gives us 403 words in the lessons out of 505 in the passage. Thus the pupil who has learned these lessons orally has acquired a considerable vocabulary. The Gouin method has been so much discussed in the Review that it is unnecessary to enter into details. We need only say Mdlle. Duriaux has conferred an important benefit upon teachers who desire to use what will shortly establish itself as the natural and intelligent method of learning languages.
Life of Thoreau, by Henry Salt (Walter Scott, 1/6). Mr. Walter Scott is doing good service in the production of his Great Writer series. "Such a decided fact as a man of genius is ought to be gratefully accepted and interpreted." From this point of view, as well as from the intrinsic interest of Thoreau's speculations in these days of many questionings, our readers will appreciate this short life, written with literary power.
The Courtship of Morrice Buckler, by A. E. W. Mason (Macmillan & Co. 3/6). A little while ago we reviewed A Gentleman of France. The "Courtship of Morrice Buckler" is "a record of the growth of an English gentleman during the years of 1685-1687," professing to be written by his own hand. The style is simple and quaint, but without affectation, and here we have an admirable picture of the manners of the latter half of the seventeenth century. We learn how "the larger and more dominant emotions were voiced in the clothes, the delicate and subtle shades of feeling in the disposition of the ornaments." The "English gentleman" will be none the less interesting to dwellers in Lakeland, because his estate abuts on Wastwater in Cumberland. This is an altogether pleasant tale of family reading (for the elders), taking the reader in pure company into a certain intimacy with a period whose manners hardly bear closer investigation.
The Art of Reading and Speaking, by Canon [James] Fleming (Ed. Arnold, 3/6). "I have no hesitation in saying that he who subjects his voice to regular training will soon find that its tones, depth, flexibility power of modulation, and even its compass are improved." Canon Fleming has earned the gratitude of "all who desire to be cultured readers and speakers of our mother tongue" by this very practical yet profound study of the art of reading and speaking. Articulation, emphasis, the management of the lips, teeth and tongue, pathos, expression, the art of breathing--every point of good reading--is fully treated from the original standpoint of an orator who knows of what he is writing. The suggestive chapters on "Some of our faults" and on "Some Trifles" throw much light on the individual failures in the art of reading well. Melodious speaking as well as reading is considered in a most suggestive way, and when we read that "for more than thirty years I have humbly striven . . . by every means in my power to advance the art of reading and speaking," we realize all the more the privilege and advantage of studying this most necessary art under so able a teacher. The careful student of Canon Fleming's book should end by reading and speaking in a way to give pleasure to his audience.
Life of St. Francis of Assisi, by Paul Sabater, translated by L. S. [Louise Seymour] Houghton (Hodder & Stoughton, 9/- net). We are indebted to M. Sabatier for this important contribution to the history of the 13th century--a period which has an extraordinary fascination for us of the 19th. Shallow thinkers attempt to revive the outward guise of a former age; and we get the picture of a wooden doll with an aureole, probably by way of a Cimabue revival; but those who are blessed with the historic sense find the 13th century, as the 19th, palpitating with carnestness, effort, purpose, the hunger of the soul for great ideals. St. Francis, Giotto, Dante, Wiclif, Wickham were not mere lights in a dark place, but represented at its best the intellectual, moral and spiritual vigor of their age. It is with this recognition, that M. Sabatier approaches his subject; he is not content with ecclesiastical legends, but has made diligent search for every fragment of evidence that should help to reproduce the personality of this apostle of love and poverty. His work is profoundly interesting and instructive; it is inspiring, too, for we feel that when the 19th century St. Francis shall travel up and down the modern world, preaching love in poverty, we too, shall be ready to rise and follow. May we learn from the sequel the danger of warming ourselves at the enthusiasm of another, when we should burn with a fire of our own; this is the history of the degradation of great movements. The work of the translator is, if anything, too well done. Miss Houghton is faithful au pied du lettre, which hampers her style.
Adeline, Countess Schimmelmann, edited by W. S. Foggitt (Hodder and Stoughton, 3/6). If we have not a St. Francis amongst us, we have here the story of a woman living amongst us to-day which for exciting interest and entire self-devotion is comparable with that of St. Clara--St. Francis's fellow-worker among women. "'If", said one who heard the Countess, 'we were to do as she tells us, Society would be revolutionized!' Even so, was the answer; but if it be admitted that Society is not ideally perfect, and if the change contemplated is to be the free and spontaneous creation of the Spirit of Christian love, and of joyful loyalty to the truth enshrined in the teaching of Jesus, this revolution of peace will be by no means a calamity." Here we have the key note of this deeply interesting life, whether spent at the German court, among Baltic fishermen, Berlin socialists, or, in prison.
Clay-Modeling and Object Lessons for standard I, by Mrs. Steinthal and Miss Simpson (E. J. Arnold and Son, Leeds, 2/-.) Our readers will rejoice in the publication of this set of cards. The illustrations are wonderfully artistic in feeling, and show the model at every stage. The instructions are so clear, simple, and well arranged that it would be hardly possible to avoid giving a good lesson with one of these cards as a guide. A very interesting feature of the series is, that on the other side of each card is an object lesson on the object to be modeled, as an orange, for example. These objects lessons are by Miss Simpson, who is as eminent in her line (as a nature teacher) as Mrs. Steinthal is as an artist. This series of cards represents a valuable service to education.
The Story of a Piece of Coal, by E. A. [Edward Alfred] Martin, F.G.S. (Geo. Newnes,) A very interesting and instructive little volume. The author says that he endeavours to recount "the wonderful story of a piece of coal"; and the word "wonderful" affords the key-note to the text, i.e., we have here not merely useful information, but an aid to that scientific imagination which makes knowledge living. How gas is made, coal tar colours, the various forms of coal and carbon, are treated in a lucid and interesting way.
Embroidery Without Outline, by M. E. Hughes (Geo. Philip & Son, /-nett). Parents who are interested in Kindergarten occupations will find much variety here.
Simple Object Lessons from Nature, by, J. B. [Jane] Dickens (Geo. Philip & Son, 2/6). Miss Dickens' lessons should perhaps be called "Simple Lessons from Nature." They are simple and pretty, and show the nice feeling for nature which should lead to living teaching. One is glad to see such a book written by the Mistress of a Board School.
New Recitations for Infants and Babies, A. [Annie] Pickering (Geo. Philip & Son). A pretty collection, many of the pieces having the sort of sparkle we have learned to associate with American child-verse. Not withstanding our prejudice against the commonplace for children and our preference for that which is distinctly poetry, the gaiety and prettiness of some of these recitations commends itself.
Proofread by LNL, Nov. 2020