"THE STUDY OF THE CHILD."

The Study of the Child.-A Brief Treatise on the Psychology of the Child. By A. R. Taylor, Ph. D. (International Education Series. Edited by William T. Harris, A. M., LL. D.) 16mo, pp. xliii, 215. New York: D. Appleton & Co $1.25.

In the deluge of literature on the subject of child-study poured forth from the press in the last three or four years, one often wonders where to find just the right sort of a book to put into the hands of the parent or untechnical teacher. Dr. A. R. Taylor, president of the State Normal School, of Emporia, Kansas, now contributes a volume to the International Education Series which ought to go far toward supplying the want. In the first place, the author has a real appreciation of what the want has been, so he does not write on "child-study," but entitles his book, The Study of the Child. The distinction is real, and the difference is great. The question with the parent, and, indeed, with the teacher, ought to be, not "Am I a childstudent?" but, "Do I know this child ?" A careful perusal of Dr. Taylor's chapters will unquestionably help the child's caretaker to this knowledge. A book upon an abstruse subject so simply and untechnically handled and withal so thoroughly up to our latter-day requirement, is a rare addition to the literature of education. The preface of the editor, Dr. William T. Harris, gives to each book in this series added value, but in this book he makes an important contribution, brief though it is, on the "symbolic and conventional stages of mind in childhood, and on the process by which the child outgrows the symbolic stage of mind." The editor also discusses some other philosophical points in the study of the mind of the child. Much has been said in some quarters recently about the formal introduction of "child-study" into the teaching ranks of the Sunday school.

Psychologies have sometimes unadvisedly been recommended as text-books in this supposed part of the Sunday school teacher's preparation. It would be well for Sunday school teachers who wish to pursue a psychological course to examine a book like Dr. Taylor's which will lead them into a conscientious inquiry as to how they can become better acquainted with the particular children in their particular care.-The Sunday School Times.

I have today finished reading your "Study of the Child." I have found it a book of exceeding interest, and of deep discernment. It must make a large and controlling place for itself in its peculiar field. Let me thank you for the profit and delight which the book has given me.—Arthur B. Patten, pas. tor First Congregational Church, South Hadley, Massachusetts.

We are enjoying your work on "child-study" so very much, that our City Circle has decided to spend a whole year on it. We vote it the best and most practical book that has been in the State Reading Circle for years.-Supt. W. H. Olin, Ottawa, Kansas.

The Corner Book Store, Emporia, Kansas, has sold nearly two hundred copies of the book already.

"The Study of the Child" deals with the general subject, expounding theories and laying down principles for the guidance of those who intend to occupy themselves with the study. The author says in his preface that his aim has been to bring the subject within the comprehension of the average teacher and parent, and that he has avoided technical terms as far as possible. Like the other volumes in its series, it has substantial value for those who are directly engaged in educational affairs. The author dwells upon the importance of observing children in every phase of their daily lives. "They must be studied," he says, "in their homes, in their plays, in the schoolroom, at their work, at their books, asleep, awake, alone, with their inferiors and their superiors, in moments of despondency

and in moments of triumph, wherever they may reveal themselves to us, and wherever we may be able to gain admittance to their real selves." He continues by indicating that these observations suffice only for the diagnosis of the case, and proceeds to give practical suggestions for the correction of defects in the child and the stimulation of its mental activities. Several chapters deal with the nature and functions of the physical senses, with their relation to the developing mind, and the will and the emotions are successively discussed in much detail. In conclusion Dr. Taylor says: "The greatest direct educative force that can be brought to bear upon a child is sympathy; that sympathy that counts no sacrifice too great that may result in good to him; that sympathy that prompts an exhaustive study of his nature and of the various forces by which he may obtain to the stature of the highest manhood. * * Sympathy is the mother of patience and the inventor of devices. Its touch never chills, its resources never fail. If the study of the child does not quicken affection and interest for it, you are not called to its service, either as parent or teacher. If you are not moved to give it the best of your life, your work must in a large measure be vain. The great teachers have ever been men and women of warm hearts and of unselfish devotion."-New York Tribune.

Four Hundred Pretty Homes and Gardens. How general the use of photography is coming to be adopted by the modern magazine as a means of illustration is shown in the announcement of The Ladies' Home Fournal that it is about to publish six new, distinct series of articles which will include not less than four hundred photographs. The idea of the magazine is to present one hundred of the prettiest country homes in America, to encourage artistic architecture; one hundred of the prettiest gardens, to encourage taste in floriculture; seventy churches decorated for festal occasions of all kinds, such as weddings, Christmas and Easter services, etc.; some forty of the prettiest girls' rooms in this country; twentyfive floral porches and vine-clad houses; the story of the native wild flowers of America, told in seventy-five photographs. Over eight thousand photographers, in every part of the country, were employed by the magazine to get these pictures, and several thousands of dollars were paid in prize awards for the best photographs. The choice was made out of over ten thousand photographs received by the magazine.

Can you do better than to take The Overland for 1899? Here are one thousand pages of the fresh, strong work of the men and women of the West, writers who have lived the life of which they write, and seen and felt the things they describe, and five hundred pictures the work of the most talented artists of a region that has produced many such, and is producing them all the time. All for one dollar. Every dime you spend for the magazine, and every copy that you read or send to a friend is helping The Overland in its great mission set before it in 1868, when Bret Harte gave it its motto: Devoted to the development of the country." Put The Overland on your list for 1899.

A Big Book About Band Instruments.

If you are interested in a band instrument of any kind, or would like to join a band or drum corps, you can obtain full information upon the subject from the big book o: 144 pages that Lyon & Healy, Chicago, send free upon application. It contains upwards of 1000 illustrations, and gives the lowest prices ever quoted upon band instruments.

A Charming Book About Old Violins. Violinists everywhere will hail with delight the beautifully printed and authoritatively written book about old violins, published by Lyon & Healy, Chicago. Good old violins may now be obtained for $25.00, and a violinist is foolish indeed to remain handicapped with a poor instrument.

Vol. XI.

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.

Through budding trees the South Wind sighed And said: "In silence yet abide.

Thy message for thy friend confide

To me, and take thine ease;

And I'll repeat it word for word,
I'll sing it soft as note of bird,
It will be welcome though deferred."
Thus tempted me the Breeze.

'Neath burdened trees of Junetime fair,
A sunbeam glanced through fragrant air,
And thrilled me as I slumbered there

And dreamed of thee, of thee. "Stir not," it said with warm caress, "Deep, fervent, wordless tenderness To her I'll bear." And I confess I yielded languidly.

...

O'er leafless trees the Rain Cloud sailed;
The forest, stript, her loss bewailed;
In stillness deep the echoes failed,

And hoar frost, like a shroud, Enwrapt the wood and mountain ledge. "Wouldst thou thy friendships old repledge? Send me, for words were sacrilege." So spake the passing Cloud.

On ghostly trees His Star shines clear.

O Thou, whose natal hour is here,
Come forth, and break the silence drear
That locketh Friendship Land.
The South Wind's song, O Heart most dear,
The Sun's warm touch, the Rain Cloud's tear,
All these, my love-lines of the year,-
Now thou wilt understand.

State Teachers' Association.

The thirty-sixth annual meeting opened in the high school building at Topeka, on Tuesday evening, December 27, with patriotic songs by the Modoc Club, the whole audience standing and joining in America. The address of welcome by Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter, of Topeka, was a rare bit in its way and was enthusiastically received. Little less happy was the response by Miss Edna Carpenter, of Howard. Both almost entirely discarded humor and directed the teachers more to the profit to come from the gathering.

President Peairs introduced John MacDonald, the president elect, who took for his inaugural theme, "Twenty-nine years

No. 4.

in Kansas, and after?" His reminiscences of the twenty-nine years of service in the cause of education in Kansas were interesting from beginning to end. The address was, frequently punctuated with characteristic humor and yet contained much food for reflection and profit. Though the president sees much still to be done in the way of the improvement of our public schools, he found many things to commend. He showed very conclusively that we have not been walking backward. Committees were announced, the Modoc Club responded to several encores, and "light conversation and laughter" held many of us there for a long time after.

The report of the committee on school legislation occupied the first hour on Wednesday morning, with vigorous and suggestive papers by Hon. Wm. Stryker, Superintendent C. G. Swingle, Superintendent E. T. Barber, and Principal Wm. G. Riste. The discussion was lively and well timed, in spite of the absence of several superintendents assigned on the program. Mrs. W. A. Johnson, of Topeka, presented a valuable paper on traveling libraries. She outlined the method in vogue in other states and explained what progress had already been made in Kansas. The subject was new to many teachers present, and the address will undoubtedly result in great good.

Everybody regretted the inability of President Barrows to be present for the evening lecture. He wired that he was in the hands of the grippe, but President MacDonald was fortunate in finding a most satisfactory substitute in Bishop Vincent. The Bishop seems more at home among school teachers than among any other class of people, and "That Boy" was never discussed with more telling effect than on the evening of December 28. "That Boy" is no fiction, but a real living entity and everybody not only knows him, but is personally interested in him.

Thursday morning at nine o'clock, Director H. H. Belfield, of the Manual Training School, Chicago, read a fine paper on "Manual Training in the Public Schools." Though he was in poor health, he succeeded in revealing many interesting things about manual training to the teachers present. Again the "discussers" all failed save one, though there were many substitutes present who kept up a running fire for half an hour. At eleven o'clock, "Needed Improvements in Our Institute System" was discussed by President Taylor, Superintendent Cowdrick, and others. It seemed to be generally agreed that some plan should be devised, (1) for shutting out school children from attendance at the institutes, (2) for giving the instruction a strictly professsonal trend, (3) for advancing the standard for instructors and conductors, and (4) for revising the institute work so as to articulate with the monthly teachers' meetings throughout the year.

Though perhaps over a hundred teachers had been compelled to leave on the afternoon trains, a fine audience greeted Miss Katherine Oliver on Thursday evening. Her readings from "The Little Minister" were intensely interesting and were appreciated by everybody. When she touched the "Bonnie Briar Bush" a great number of people seemed at home and there was only regret that she could not give us at least half an hour with these fine pictures of Drumtochty life.

The various departmental meetings in the afternoon of each day were well attended, in spite of the fact that the legislature was in session and the city offered other attractions elsewhere.