Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 38.djvu/141

Rh, as not promising, under present conditions, to lead to valuable results. The weekly weather crop Bulletin has been continued, and its value has been appreciated. Special attention is given to the height of risers at seventy places on twenty-six rivers.

The second volume of the report consists of a treatise by Prof. Cleveland Abbe of Preparatory Studies for Deductive Methods in Storm and Weather Predictions. Together with already known conclusions and principles, it brings forward many new results; discusses the relative importance of various forces and resistances, the prominent features of vortex motion, the turbulent flow of the atmosphere, and the dynamic origin of the diurnal variation of the barometer connected with it; gives much space to the vertical motion due to buoyancy, to the formation of clouds, and to the conclusions to be drawn from their study. It seeks for the source and maintaining power of the storm, and for the conditions that influence the movement of the storm center.

The Reference Handbook for Readers, Students, and Teachers of English History, by E H. Gurney (Ginn & Co.), is a series of tables of the historical families of England. It gives the descent of William the Conqueror, of the kings of England and their families, the descent of the present reigning families, the nobility of England, counselors and statesmen from 1066 to 1889, the principal British writers, and the dates of principal events.

Mr. John Kennedy, author of the Stem Dictionary of the English Language (A. S. Barnes & Co.), has proceeded on the opinion that there is a more satisfactory and more useful way of enlarging one's vocabulary than by definition. The definition of-a word built up out of a familiar primary word is superfluous, because the word explains itself. If we know the stem, we can readily determine the meaning of the words into which it enters. This leads to the study of stems and to the adoption of word-structure as the basis of elementary education. This book is prepared as an aid to the study. In it the principal stems of the language are presented in alphabetical sequence, together with the value of each; first the primary value, then the line of transition into the secondary or derived use. In connection with each stem is given a list of its principal applications, together with such parenthetical remarks as may be helpful in connecting the stem value with the present use of the word. The list is liberally illustrated with quotations from standard authors, showing how many of the words have been used in their writings. It is also freely garnished with notes that embody literary, scientific, or historical lore. The stem-list is preceded by a word list which may be consulted when the stem is to be found, and is followed by a list of prefixes.

The first six books of The Annals of Tacitus, edited by the late Prof. William F. Allen, has been added to the "College Series of Latin Authors" (Ginn, $1.65). About half of each page is occupied with notes, and an introduction of thirty-two pages embodies information about the works of Tacitus and their characteristics, Tiberius, the condition of the Roman Empire in his time, etc. Appended to the volume are some textual notes, an index of proper names, and an index to the notes.

The Pleroma (Putnam, $2.50) is an account of creation in blank verse, in which the author, Rev. E. P. Chittenden, combines the biblical story with the revelations of science. It is in what the author calls semi-dramatic form—that is, like the form of the second part of Faust, the characters, or "voices," being mostly angels, spirits, forces, forms, etc.

The question of reading the Bible in the public schools is briefly reviewed in an essay by Joseph Henry Crooker (Wisconsin State Journal Printing Company). The stimulus to the publication of this pamphlet was a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin prohibiting the use of the Scriptures for religious instruction in the schools of the State, and a subsequent address by Dr. Bascom criticising such action. The author finds a "fundamental fallacy" in the claim that Bible reading can be warranted in the schools of a secular state. It is not read as literature, nor as history, but as a supernatural revelation. He considers the decree "a friendly act" toward the Bible, since it prevents the use of archaic texts and passages obnoxious to young minds. The conclusion is reached that not only is the decision of the court in accordance with the