Half-a-Million of Money, by Amelia B. Edwards. series containing a pretty portrait of the fair authoress. Another of the same S. R. Urbino's Catalogue of Standard Educational Works for the Study of Foreign Languages. We call the attention of all our readers engaged in the study or the teaching of French, German, or Italian, to the list of Mr. Urbino to be found among our advertisements. Times are greatly changed since we began the study of French, out of little shabby copies of Molière, Racine, and Boileau. Here, for a very trifling sum, may be obtained the works of modern authors, and probably the best possible way of attaining a knowledge of the French of to-day is to read such a series of modern French plays as those edited with notes by Prof. Bôcher. There is also the added recommendation to students residing near enough to the city to take advantage of the admirable French company of comedians who now visit Boston every winter, that many of the plays are acted by them. There is no such acting on our stage, and we have found by personal experience that to attend their charming performances is an excellent way of learning to understand spoken French without going to Paris. Mr. Urbino's list of German works is equally cheap and good, and he has lately published a little volume of English Dictation Exercises by Miss Sewell, which a judicious teacher can make very good use of in teaching spelling. The use of Edson's Hygrodeik, an instrument for showing by means of a Dial the state of the air we breathe; for dwellings, schools, hospitals, churches, halls, conservatories, mills, &c. William Edson, No. 10 Studio Building, Boston. We believe that one-half the community are making living mummies of themselves and ruining their health by living, not so much in too warm, as in too dry an atmosphere; in one from which almost all the natural moisture has been abstracted. We have accordingly taken pains to borrow the wood-cut of the elegant little instrument of Mr. Edson, and desire to draw the attention of our readers to its very great usefulness. Like older instruments of the same sort, it consists of a dry and a wet-bulb thermometer; but its peculiar feature, and that which makes it available for popular use, is the ingenious mechanical arrangement by which a dial and index are made to take the place of a book of tables; so that, by an adjustment which any one can learn to make, the relative humidity of the atmosphere of any apartment, and the question whether it is at a healthy point can be determined by mere inspection. 66 Omitting other uses to which the instrument may be put, we wish to dwell upon this dryness, as the real cause of much sickness and ill health in the community. Many persons wonder why in hot furnace-heated houses they still feel cold and uncomfortable. It is not for want of heat, but for want of moisture in the air they are breathing. The very important fact," says Mr. Edson, "that air at a low temperature can contain but a small amount of moisture in comparison with that which it should contain if raised to a high temperature, is usually entirely overlooked," and though feeble attempts are usually made to supply the missing moisture, it is very rarely that anything like the proper supply is furnished. If that duty is not properly performed we have here for our mantel-pieces a little instrument which warns us of the deficiency; and it is a highly important fact that we can live comfortably in a much lower temperature, if only sufficient moisture be present. Mr. Edson's little instrument costs from $15 to $25. We wish it could be introduced into all our school-rooms. We would have called it a "Moisture Indicator," instead of turning that into an awkward Greek word, but we believe that its inventor does not claim too much for it when he says that by following its indications we can maintain an atmosphere in inhabited rooms of such a nature that the most delicate lungs will not suffer; that the healthy will feel a degree of comfort never before experienced within doors; that speaking or singing becomes a pleasure; that plants may be made to bloom in it as well as in a conservatory and last, but not least in these times, 20 per cent. of fuel may be saved. The great importance of the subject in its connection with health is the reason why we draw attention to it. The proceedings of the recent meeting of the National Teachers' Association have been published in a handsome pamphlet, which may be obtained by members on application, and by other persons by enclosing 50 cents, to James Cruikshank, Esq., Albany, N. Y. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have postponed valuable communications, in order to print the excellent practical article on teaching grammar. Will the author send us (Resident Editor) her name? The report of the mecting at the Educational Rooms was received after our No. was made up. We shall endeavor to give at least an abstract of the interesting discussion in our next issue. SARGENT'S ENTIRELY NEW SERIES OF READERS, AND PRONOUNCING SPELLER. Send for the Latest and Best before making a Change. In consequence of the great success of Mr. EPES SARGENT in his specialty of preparing Readers for schools, there has been a large demand for new books from him; and he has consequently prepared an entirely new and improved Series of Readers, which have been carefully and elegantly electrotyped, and are now ready. The smaller books are beautifully illustrated, and all those improvements, which constant consultation with our best teachers has suggested, are included. We defy contradiction in saying that the Series is the Best, the Handsomest, the most Carefully Prepared, and, we may add, the Cheapest, ever published. Mr. Sargent's long experience, careful scholarship, high culture as a literary man, and acknowledged taste, added to his admitted success in ONE Series of Readers, of which millions are sold annually, are a guaranty that committees will find it for the interest of schools to examine his New Series before making any change. The most striking evidence of his previous success may be found in the extent to which the latest compilers of Readers and Speakers have made use of his original labors in selection; his works appearing to have been The magazine from which compilers have taken nearly two-thirds of their pieces. The New Fifth Reader, just issued, is the greatest book of its class before the public. The ELOCUTIONARY INTRODUCTION embraces all the instruction of any practical value; and the Reading Lessons comprise the best elocutionary pieces in the language. It is eminently a book FOR THE TIMES, AND UP WITH THE TIMES-far in advance of any competing work. Sargent's New Pronouncing Speller has among its features a NEW AND IMPROVED SYSTEM OF NOTATION, and is exciting the greatest interest among teachers for the thoroughness and ingenuity of its system of indicating pronunciation. Copies for examination furnished on application to the Publisher. Aug., '64.-tf. JOHN L. SHOREY, 13 Washington Street, Boston, Mass. HALLET, DAVIS & CO., MANUFACTURERS OF Grand, Parlor-Grand, and Square PIANO-FORTES. A GOLD MEDAL was awarded these Pianos at the last exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, Boston; also a Silver Medal, FIRST PREMIUM, for PARLOR-GRAND PIANO-FORTE; also a Silver Medal for a VERY EXCELLENT SQUARE PIANO-FORTE, and a Silver Medal, highest premium, for superior workmanship. The following are extracts from the Report: "The Grand Piano-Fortes of Messrs. Hallet, Davis & Co. have many very admirable features. They have a great body of tone, and are specially commended for their fine touch and their beautiful singing quality. "The Square Piano of the same makers, No. 12790, was very much admired. It has great fulness, depth and mellowness of tone, and, in certain grave styles of music, would probably be unexcelled by any similar instrument on exhibition." Besides the above, THIRTY-TWO FIRST PREMIUMS have been awarded our Pianos,-nine for Grands and Best Parlor-Grands. Our Pianos are with NEW scales and SUPERIOR action, and we guarantee PERFECT SATISFACTION. Every Instrument is Warranted for Five Years. Second-hand Pianos taken in exchange for new. Illustrated catalogues sent free to any address desired. WAREROOMS, 272 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON. "The most Thorough and Scientific-the most Successful and the Best." GREENLEAF'S NEW MATHEMATICAL COURSE. NEW ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA ; A SIMPLE, EASY, AND COMPREHENSIVE WORK. NEW HIGHER ALGEBRA; A THOROUGH ANALYTICAL TREATISE, NEITHER TOO BRIEF NOR · TOO EXTENDED FOR ADVANCED CLASSES. No works of the kind have ever been more promptly introduced into the best schools in all parts of the country, or have been more highly recommended. The following DISTINGUISHED EDUCATORS, among numerous others, either use or commend one or both of these new books. BARNAS SEARS, President of Brown University, R. I. 8. 8. GREENE, Professor in Brown University, R. I. J. D. RUNKLE, Professor in Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. J. TATLOCK, Professor of Mathematics, Williamstown College, Mass. JAMES CLARK, Prefect of College of Holy Cross, Mass. M. K. PETTY, Professor of Mathematics, University of Vermont. J. M. VAN VLECK, Professor of Mathematics, Wesleyan University, Conn. A. P. STONE. late President of American Institute of Instruction, Me. G. H. CHRISTY, Professor Western University, Pa. T R. BAKER, Professor of Mathematics, State Farm School, Pa. DAVID N. CAMP, Principal State Normal School, Conn. D. B. HAGAR, Principal of Salem State Normal School, Mass. WILLIAM F. PHELPS, Principal of State Normal School, Min. GEO. S. JONES, Professor Quaker-City Business College, Philadelphia. A SUFFICIENT TEST OF MERIT. ROBERT S. DAVIS & CO., Please send for Catalogue. 45 Washington Street, Boston. |