Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , Loudon , N . French Made Easy ; Phonetic Method of Learning French , with conversations on all topics . By Duncan Smith . London : Haughton and Co ., Paternoster-row , E . C .

IN this comprehensive volume the author or compiler endeavours to illustrate by example how the student may be assisted in grasping tho true accent of a language which undoubtedly shonld form part of the curriculum of every schoolboy and girl in the present age . We frankly confess , at the outset , that we have little sympathy with

those who stickle for a " spelling reform , " in consonance with phonetic rendering ; but after a perusal of this work we are bound to think that it will serve as a valuable help to those who are striving in the ordinary way to acquire a knowledge of French . The author , in a brief preface , observes that several of his friends and

acquaintance had often asked him how he managed to acquire so readily the correct accent and pronunciation of the languages he is conversant with ; and his reply has been that he did so by writing down tbe sound of the word or sentence he was desirous of learning . By following this method he easily overcame the barrier and difficulty

that beginners experience in studying language .- ' . This may be so , but we do not suppose that any beginner would bo fortified for the acquirement of the French language by such a work , however valuable it may be as a concordance , as that which he has jnst issued . If we take it in the light of a companion , or aid to the

learner who is already endeavouring by the usual meaus of books to master the language , it is easy , even to the casual observer , to see that this volume might be put to useful and practical service . The preface goes on to remind us that " it is not every one who can afford to travel , neither reside abroad , or have a professor always at

his side to give him tbe correct accent and pronunciation of a language . " That is the experience of every learner in onr own schools , and the consequent necessity of every one who would speak French fluently to spend a certain period of his educational career across the Chaun « l . To write or translate French maybe effectually

accomphshed by tho ordinary scholastic means , but very few effectually overcome the difficulties of accent without living for some years on tbe Continent . In a measure to obviate this difficnlty Mr . Duncan Smith has written tbe work before us , and in doing so he is well assured that he has " overcome the great obstacle in learning

languages . If by so doing he provides , we will not aay a " royal road , " but an aid to acquiring a thorough knowledge of the French language " at little cost and no great loss of time , " his efforts will command the respectful attention of a large circle of readers , and especially of the young who are floundering about amidst the

difficulties which always confront those who are endeavouriug to master the pronunciation of one of the most , useful of modern languages . The volume is dedicated to Bro . Mark Smith , who is well known and esteemed in Masonic circles , by whose kind counsel the author is led to undertake the work , and whoso sympathy and assistance

Mi-. Duncan Smith acknowledges as having beeu of the greatest value to him in tho labour of its preparation and completion . To say the least , this compendious and interesting volume is deserving the

consideration and perusal of teacher and student alike who are mutually solicitous for any aid that experience can lend in the mastery of an unquestionably useful and essential branch of modern education .

Morality . An Essay on Some Points thereof ( addressed to Yonug Men ) . By Maurice Charles Hime , M . A ., LL . D . ( Barrister . at-Law ) , Head Master of Foyle College , Londonderry . London : Messrs . J . and A . Churchill , 11 New Burlington-street , W ., and all Booksellers .

WE have already referred at some length to this bold and manly exposition of truth in relation to a delicate subject , with which very few men have been found to grapple in the interest of the public morals . Bnt in the present day . when onr streets , and eveu our very homes , are flooded with prurient literature , which is calculated to do

infinitely more harm , especially to young minds , than tho vaunted good which is pretended , it is most satisfactory to know that there amnion of Dr . Hime ' s courage to counteract the pernicious influences of such sensational rubbish as has disgusted the public sense within the past few months . It is unnecessary to refer in the faintest way

to the beastly revelations that have been so eagerly devoured by a certain section of the morbid public , and which even at the time we write form the staple of newspaper attraction ; but we can safely commend tho little volume bi-fmv . us to all classes of readers , especially young men , to whom tho thoughtful observations of tho author

are especially addressed . Very naturally , Dr . Hime felt in attempting this crusade against tho most prevailing immorality , he was treadiu « on delicate ground , and opening up a subject which one would rather not discuss , although it is impossible of being ignored . The stock objections to all essays of this kind aio thus summed up —( 1 ) That

they snggust evil thoughts to youthful readers , awaken feelings which would be far better dormant , and excite prurient curiosity ; ( 2 ) that young men are frequently very innocent , as the world is pleased to denominate those who are supposed to be ignorant about carnal sin ; and ( : j ) that essays of this kind may be read by others trin . ii those for

whose special benefit they are intended ; aud that , therefore , they should not be sent forth into tbe world , but kept ( if written at all ) for merely private circulation . All these objections are answered iu

a manly , open and honest fashion , and wo can only re-echo the author ' s desire , that by a perusal of this book many will be prevented from ever learning , by their own personal experience , the sorrows which arc always sure to follow , as punialimeuts , those who unlaw-

Reviews.

fully gratify the appetites treated of ; and of perhaps even inducing others who have gone astray in this respect to pause and ponder , and , as far as in them lies , redeem whatever time may still be left to them . Our worthy brother has done a service to mankind as a mentor , and a friend to warn our youth against the shoals and quicksands into which a majority of them are apt to fall , aud against which schoolmasters and fathers are too often too reticent to point out .

Round London : A Holiday Handbook to the Metropolis . F . E . Loagley , 39 Warwick Lane , London , E . C . IN selecting his title , "Bonncl Loudon , " Bro . F . E . Longley has hit upon a happy vein , which we have frequently heard mentioned as a desideratum in the City , and indeed in tho whole of tho metropolis .

True , there are gnides and guides to London which contain all tbe elements of erudition and research , and which contain a volume of interesting information ; but , the truth to tell , they comprise too much for the ordinary holiday seeker , whose time is precious , and who wants to see as much as he possibly can in the least time and at

the cheapest and most ready means that can be placed at his disposal This is precisely the sort of handbook which Bro . Longley has produced . He gives , multum in parvo , all the information which can be desired by a tourist on a " flying visit " to London , respecting the palaces , the public buildings , churches , hospitals , parks , gardens , & c

in and around the metropolis and its suburbs , together with a vast amount of useful detail as to thebest means of access to all the " sights o ' town . " The work is accompanied by a specially-engraved double-page route map , and a very useful index of thoroughfares , collated from the most reliable sonrces and revised from personal observation by the

author . Almost everybody is familiar with Longley ' s admirable guides to various parts of the United Kingdom , and are aware that instead of wading through unvvieldly matter in which legends and statistics are inextricably mixed up , he places at the fingers' ends of his readers the very information they require , at a glance , and in such form as

proves most convenient and handy at the precise moment such hints are most valuable aud sought after . For instance , if one wished to get speedily to the Crystal or Alexandra Palaces , or to Kew Gardens , one would not care to stumble through the pages of a Bradshaw or a Murray for the information desired ; but , here in Bro . Longley ' s little

brochure even the veriest tyro in touring would be able to find his " way about , " and to select the placvs most worth seeing , and at the most nominal cost . It is proverbial what ; i prodigious amount of work in this way is done by our provincial friends when they visit the metropolis , and to none will Bro . Longley ' s handy little guide be

more welcome than to them . We cordially recommend the " Guide " to all who are desirous of " covering the ground" in and around London in the most speedy manner possible , and what is of moment to many of us in these depressed times , with as little expenditure of

money as is compatible with the enjoyment of a holiday . The price of this useful little companion is only a penny , aud it is a marvel of comprehensiveness , which should bo in the hands of every visitor toaye , and resident—in the metropolis .

The Little One ' s Own Coloured Picture Paper . London : Dean and Son , 160 A Fleet Street , E . C . THIS month ' s issue of this admirable work confirms us in the favourable opinion wo have already given as to its merits . At one penny weekly it is a marvel of cheapness , and the youngsters look eagerly

for each week's issue . These each contain four pages of chromolithographed pictures , with explanatory reading , nursery rhymes , and well written stories ; while the aggregate of contents for tho month amounts to about seventy coloured illustrations and sixty

stones aud verses . The pictures are ably designed , and there is an originalty about them which is sure to delight children . The publishers are to be commended for the enterprise they havo displayed , and a large sale will certainly bo secured .

British Ballade . London : Cassell and Co ., La Belle Sauvage Yard , Ludgate Hill , E . C . WE presume there are few among our readers who are unfamiliar with the name of this great aud enterprising firm of publishers , who have done more than any others to disseminate works of a standard

educational character amongst all classes of society . The reputation of the establishment , which still bears tho name of its founder , is , indeed and in fact , a " household word " in every family circle , for it would be difficult to visit any well-regulated home without finding on the table or on the bookshelf some or other of the truly valuable

works which have been issued in serial form by Messrs Cassell and Co . We havo onry to refer to the Popular Educator , one of tho grandest and most comprehensive works ever published , and the value of which has been testified to by its re-issue , in we can hardly remember how many editions ; the Family Magazine , which

is unsurpassed by very few if any of its rivals in the regions of fiction ; tho volumes on history , science , forming , poultry , technical education , travel , adventure , and a thousand and ouc other subjects of interest and edification—to point out that , any one who has persevered through the series of these standard works needs

no other encyclopaedia to all that is worth knowing from a social , moral , or intellectual point of view . How many a , linguist , shorthand writer , or mechanic owes his success in life to the leading lessons given in the various branches of technical education which have run through the pages of Cassell ' s publications . And

nob only are these plain , matter-of-fact subjects dealt with by master hands , in a way such as must lead the student by easy and pleasant stages through the various strata of educational progress , but occasionally we are presented with gems of literature which go far to relievo the monotony of hard dry stndy , and to render light aud pleasant tho hours of relaxation . Such a tendency has tbe latest