The committee reserve the exclusive right for the National Educational Association to copyright the prize essays and to publish the same for general distribution.

The committee desire that each essay shall treat each topic independently and be complete in itself, no reference being made to statements contained in another essay. Generalities and speculations are not desired, neither are detailed technical formulæ and demonstrations. Each essay should present concisely and comprehensively the problem to be solved and the scientific principles involved; should discuss briefly the construction of the school building as related to the problem of sanitation in general and to the specific subject of the essay in particular; should describe in detail sufficient for the apprehension of the average teacher the conditions and mechanisms by which the best results may be obtained; should include figures and diagrams illustrating general plan and principles involved; should set forth methods and devices for detecting defects and suggest remedies for the same in buildings already constructed; should give references to a few buildings where the system has been adopted; and should be supplemented by a brief bibliography of standard authorities on the subject discussed and a short list of manufacturers of approved devices and supplies for carrying out the plans advocated by the author.

The essay on ventilation should include full suggestions concerning the use of disinfectants.

Should the awards on two or more essays be made to the same person, he will be permitted to revise and unify the manuscript before publication by the committee.

A. R. TAYLOR, Chairman of Committee,
Emporia, Kan.

IRWIN SHEPARD, Secretary N. E. A.,

Winona, Minn.

Aunt Clara (sympathizingly).-"Why, Harry, dear, what's the matter?"

Harry (sobbing).—" M-mamma whipped me. I w-wish I h-had been b-born a orphan."

A school inspector finding a class hesitating over answering the question, "With what weapon did Samson slay the Philistines?" significantly tapped his own cheek, and asked, "What is this?" The whole class instantly answered: "The jawbone of an ass!"

AMONG THE BOOKS.

The Inductive Geography. By Chas. W. Deane and Mary R. Davis. Potter & Putnam Company, New York, Buffalo and Denver; 334 p. 90 cts.

The Inductive Geography is a radical departure from the old-time geographies, which were not only cumbersome in size, but high in price.

The maps, although not as large, actually, as those in the present geographies, are, apparently, even larger by comparison, as they give about one-fourth of the detail matter. Three-fourths of the minutia on the larger maps are omitted, being unimportant and uncalled for in the text. The consequence is that the maps of the Inductive stand out with greater prominence, as every part presented is of importance and a complete and strong mental picture is made in the mind of the pupil. Two maps are given of each country-a physical map in black, with gradations of shade to represent elevations, after the German method, and a political map in colors. Charts showing the distribution of animals, minerals and vegetation are given in color and explained.

The plan is, as its name indicates, inductive. In its presentation of physiography the authors have been eminently successful, and, as a whole, the book is a wide departure from the old method.

The foreign possessions of the United States are presented in a separate section. The maps of these countries are given together, shown on the same scale. The book is well printed and handsomely illustrated with a large number of half-tone views.

In brief, the special features of this book are: Its size; its up-to-dateness; its good press work; its inductive method; its illustrative matter; its presentation of physiography; its smaller maps.

This book is an advanced book of a series of two, and is intended for grammar grades. The first, or primary-book by the same authors, will soon be ready.

Stories of Maine. By Sophie Swett. Cloth, 12mo, 278 pages, with maps and illustrations. American Book Company, New York and Chicago. Price, 60 cents.

Some of the most stirring and important events of our

history are described in this little book in a highly entertaining manner. The author has accomplished the task of preserving valuable records, much of which are unknown, because hitherto found only in books out of print or in the archives of historical societies, yet which are so full of interest that they "read like folk lore and legend and other than veritable history." Persons who read this book will wonder that so little has been written about some of the bloodiest Indian wars, bitterest fights for supremacy among old-world nations and most heroic struggles of pioneers to be found anywhere in American annals. With such a wealth of material the task has been to edict for treatment such events as portray best the growth of a wilderness of savages into a great and enlightened state. From the account of the early visit of the northerner to the present time the reader is taken through a series of events which make a complete and accurate history with a vivid picture of the struggles and hardships encountered by the pioneers and their descendants. The mere titles of the chapters, such as "King Philip's War," "How Captain Weymouth Kidnapped the Natives,' "Simon the Yankee Killer," "The First Naval Battle of the Revolution" and "Maine in the Civil War," show the interesting and valuable character of the book.

The book is in an attractive form, well printed and handsomely illustrated. It is an invaluable addition to the supplementary reading of schools.

Old Norse Stories. By Sarah Powers Bradish. 240 pages. Illustrated. American Book Company, New York and Chicago. 45 cents.

In this book the author retells some of the most popular of these stories in a way to make them attractive to young readers. These strange and wonderful stories were an important part of the life and thought of our remote ancestors who lived many ages ago in Northern Europe. As they gathered around their firesides in the long winter evenings they told of giants, dwarfs, elves, and other creatures of the imagination, and through their power and intervention they accounted for all the operations of nature around them, as day and night, summer and winter, storms and sunshine, life and death. These myths, for such they were, and kindred folk tales were handed down through many generations by oral tradition, when they were recorded

in books of poems and stories, called Eddas, written many hundreds of years ago. These in turn became the source and inspiration of many works in art and literature, of which the German Nibelungenlied is a well known example. The place these "Old Norse Stories" have in our history and language make a knowledge of them by the young desirable, and few books will prove so fascinating for children or so valuable for school and family reading as this one.

History of English Literature. By Reuben Post Halleck. American Book Company. New York and Chicago. 499 pp. $1.25.

No book will receive a heartier welcome from teachers of English than this new volume. It furnishes a concise and interesting text-book of the history and development of English literature from the earliest times to the present. The subject is treated as a related whole, and the general drift of literary thought is clearly portrayed. Though philosophic, it is simple, stimulating, suggestive, and leads naturally to original thinking. It is not a collection of biographies, for only sufficient facts of an author's life are given to make students interested in him as a personality, and to show how his environments affected his work. The author's productions, their relation to the age, and the reasons why they hold a position in literature, receive treatment commensurate with their importance. Special attention is paid to literary movements, to the essential qualities which differentiate one period from another, and to the animating spirit of each age. A carefully prepared list of books is included to direct the student in studying the original works of the authors discussed, and questions are added with a view to stimulating thought and comparisons. Summaries are also given embracing the chief characteristics of each writer and the most important facts in each age. The book contains many excellent illustrations and a unique and instructive literary map of England, showing the birthplaces and homes of the chief authors.

A Smaller History of Rome. By Sir William Smith, D. C. L., LL. D. Revised edition by A. H. J. Greenidge. American Book Company. New York and Chicago. 371 pp., with colored map, plans and illustrations. Price, $1.00.

There is probably no book on this subject more univer

sally used by high schools and similar schools than this Smaller History of Rome. It occupies a distinct position by itself. In this new edition care has been taken to preserve the essential characteristics and proportions of the original book as far as possible, with due prominence to the most important events. Some valuable additions have been made, however, including the results of recent historical investigations. In typography, as well, it is a vast improvement, and all the maps and a larger portion of the illustrations have been especially prepared for this volume. We predict for it a great success.

CARE OF SCHOOLROOMS.

The Michigan State Board of Health respectfully recommends to school boards and other officers having charge of assembly-rooms that they put into operation the following methods in the interest of public health:

"That the regular care of schoolrooms include sprinkling the floor before sweeping, the subsequent dusting of desks or wiping them with a clean damp cloth, and the airing of the room before its use.

"That the interchange of books be allowed only under such conditions as render the transmission of disease impossible. That the use of slates be discontinued.

"That persons known to be affected with tuberculosis of the lungs, or who persistently cough and expectorate, be denied the privileges of such rooms, either as teacher or pupil. That all spitting upon the floor by any person be strictly forbidden, and that proper conveniences for receiving sputa be supplied.

"That at least once a year the room and contents be thoroughly disinfected, the woodwork and floor washed with an antiseptic solution, the walls whitewashed, and the plumbing and ventilating inspected."

Lady." And what does your father do?"

Little Girl.-"Oh, papa is a doctor."

Lady." Indeed! I suppose he practices a great deal, does he not?"

Little Girl.-“Oh, no. He doesn't practice any more. He knows how, now."