The readers of translations from the German are deeply indebted to Mrs. M. A. Shryock for her unique selection of the novel "Elizabeth,"* it is outside the usual type. It is a timely piece of work treating of the "incompatibility in married life" and divorce; the author's views of divorce are from the Bible standpoint. The translation is delicate in style and refined and elegant in expression.

Theology.

THE pages of Mr. Gladstone's latest book are full of solid thought, conservative and cautious, yet with a scholarly sweep of reasoning and force of argument which cannot fail to convince. The themes are all connected with Biblical criticism and their treatment goes to show that the Scriptures are justly called "The Impregnable Rock."t—Vol. XIII. of "The People's Bible" deals with the Book of Proverbs. The character of this valuable series is so well known that it is necessary only to call attention to the fact that another volume has been issued. A thoughtful and stimulating study of Dante's "Divina Commedia "|| has been made by Dr. Harris, in which is emphasized and honored the spiritual sense of this great poem. Its philosophy and its allegory are made subjects of special inquiry, but there is a commendable absence of the fanciful interpretations given to every peculiarity of structure and incident by some would-be enlighteners. The allegoricalmystical method of interpretation is somewhat overdone in Mr. Latch's "Indications of the Book of Genesis," but the book deserves respect for its consistency and earnestness.All the references to temperance and intemperance in the Bible have been collected and the facts and arguments arranged under their respective heads in "Bible Temperance Studies."

*Elizabeth. From the German of Marie Nathusius. By Mrs. M. A. Shryock. Philadelphia: Porter & Coates. Price, $1.00.

+ The Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture. By The Rt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P. Philadelphia: John D. Wattles, Price, $1.00.

The People's Bible: Discourses upon the Holy Scripture. By Joseph Parker, D.D. New York: Funk & Wagnal's. Price, $1.25.

| The Spiritual Sense of Dante's "Divina Commedia." By W. T. Harris. New York: D. Appleton and Company. Price, $1.00.

intoxicants.Dr. Hurlbut has done a useful service for the leaders of family worship who feel themselves incompetent to decide what chapters of the Bible are most profitable for devotional purposes. He has selected a Scripture passage* for each day in the year, suitable in length, and so arranged as to follow the general current of history and to pass from Genesis to Revelation within twelve months. "A comprehensive selection of the living thoughts of the founder of Methodism, as contained in his miscellaneous works,"† is the explanatory subtitle of a valuable compilation. From Mr. Wesley's writings, sermons excepted, the articles and paragraphs which seemed to the compiler most worthy of consideration, have been separated and systematically arranged so as to show the vital points of the teachings of early Methodism. Mr. Wesley's original selection of Psalms for every day in the month and for special occasions, has been given a new dress by the publishers and deserves wide use as a handbook of Methodist worship. Earnest and helpful are the suggestions in Dr. Van Anda's little book on 'Prayer: Its Nature, Conditions, and Effects. A careful perusal can scarcely fail to lead to a wiser use of

The soul's sincere desire

Uttered or unexpressed.

-Mature thought and reverent treatment enter into Mr. Davies' discussion of the "Doctrine of the Trinity." It meets and answers every objection that could reasonably be raised against the statement that all the evidence of the Old and New Testaments is in favor of the doctrine that three persons co-exist in the unity of the Godhead."Fire from Strange Altars"¶ throws the light of its flame into the far distant past, showing the religious cults of "the land between the rivers," the gods of the Phoenicians, and the faith of the Pharaohs. To gaze upon these polytheistic eras is to turn back with increasing faith in the one imperishable religion and the world-God, who alone is able to satisfy the human heart and mind.-The many lessons for our everyday life which may be learned from the history of the prophet Elijah **

¿Indications of the First Book of Moses. By Edward B. Latch. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. Price, $1.50.

are set forth in the graphic and original style so characteristic of the writings of the Rev. Mark Guy Pearse. It is full to the brim of wise spiritual counsel.

Miscellaneous.

THE outdoor studies of Mr. Hamilton Mabie in the volume "Under the Trees and Elsewhere"* are irresistibly charming. Through such sympathetic interpretation Nature has new delights for the houseweary person and she offers to him a repose of spirit not to be found anywhere else. "The Forest of Arden" has a magical influence; it lifts one from the prosy everyday life to one of unfailing sympathy and strong thought, in fact into the regions of the ideal.

The flower lover and amateur gardener will find pleasure and excellent suggestions in Mr. Ellwanger's "Garden's Story." From early spring to late autumn he follows the succession of plants, calling attention to their beauties and suggesting how they may best be made to give a wealth of bloom. These "charming attendants" of all gardens, the bees, birds, and butterflies, are shown to be fascinating utilitarians.

The pleasing, good-humored style in which Charles Dudley Warner writes of Southern California, under the title of "Our Italy," makes this part of the United States more alluring than

ever.

Notes on the climate and resources supported by interesting statistics make it a valuable study. Picturesque sketches of places and people, with profuse illustrations give a very attractive book.

The journal "Garden and Forest"|| for the year 1890 forms a fine volume when bound. The good type, fine illustrations, and interesting reading matter make it a very desirable work for one's library.

No doubt the future will have clubs industriously studying "Meredithese," and with good results too. One of the appreciators of the poet and novelist George Meredith & writes entertainingly of his characteristics. He seems to

* Under the Trees and Elsewhere. By Hamilton Wright Mabie. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. Price, $1.25. †The Garden's Story or Pleasures and Trials of an Amateur Gardener. By George H. Ellwanger. New York: D. Appleton and Company.

Our Italy. By Charles Dudley Warner. New York: Harper & Brothers. Price, $2.50.

| Garden and Forest. A Journal of Horticulture, Landscape, Art and Forestry. Conducted by Charles S. Sar gent. Volume III. New York: The Garden and Forest Publishing Co.

George Meredith. Some Characteristics. By Richard Le Gallienne. With a Bibliography by John Lane. New York: United States Book Co. Price, $2.00.

have got at the heart of Meredith's power, but it is only to one who already knows the excellent qualities of his style that this book will appeal, and for those there is much pleasure in it. "Mine own romantic town"-Edinburgh* receives royal treatment at the hands of Mrs. Oliphant. In an extremely fascinating style she writes of the kings, queens, scholars, and poets all that has made Edinburgh one of the most interesting of cities. Sixty illustrations add interest and beauty.

"Our Common Birds and How to Know Them," a small, plain volume, serviceable for practical field use, is a fairy in disguise, by its magic peopling of even barren places with charming woodland inhabitants that are unseen to the ordinary eye. The book contains sixty-four plates.

"The Compounding of English Words," at once so vexing and so important in these days of printing, telegraphy, etc., has been discussed and somewhat extensively revolutionized by F. Horace Teall. He deals tersely and lucidly with the points in question, and with exceptional consistency throughout, though from the complex nature of the case, some inconsistency necessarily ensues. The discrepancies, which in the dictionaries continually present puzzling annoyances, are obviated, to a reasonable degree, by the broad, plain rules here proposed.

Of Andrew Lang's "Essays in Little," the biographical sketches are excellent. They display good taste in selection and treatment and will serve as a worthy passport to the volume of essays, several of which are quite ordinary.

Bishop Vincent's "Study in Pedagogy: For People who are not Professional Teachers "§ is prepared to aid the child's friends to supplement his school education. It is a dainty little book in every respect. Though containing no new truths, the contents are fresh and bright in presentation, and adapted to accomplish a more far-reaching usefulness than the bulkier, more complex treatises designed for professional teachers.

*Royal Edinburgh. By Mrs. Oliphant. New York: Macmillan and Co. Price, $3.00. +Our Common Birds and How to Know Them. By John B. Grant. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Price, $1.50.

The Compounding of English Words: When and Why Joining or Separating is Preferable. With concise rules and alphabetical lists. By F. Horace Teall. New York: John Ireland, 1197 Broadway. Price, $1.25.

Essays in Little. By Andrew Lang. New York: Charles Scribner s Sons. Price, $1.00.

A Study in Pedagogy: For People who are not Professional Teachers. By Bishop John H. Vincent. New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 13 Cooper Union. Price, 60 cts.

The striking features and the peculiarities of a country seem to impress themselves at a glance upon such a veteran traveler as M. M. Ballou, and in his "Aztec Land "* he gives in his usual entertaining manner the impressions which come from a look at Mexico on all sides,-her history, her climate, her products, her people, and her scenery.-Mexico is seen from a different point of view in Janvier's entertaining "Stories of Old New Spain." The most delicate lines are used in drawing the romance and the wild life of the people.

The prince of guides is W. W. Story in "Ex

* Aztec Land. By Maturin M. Ballou. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. Price, $1.50.

+ Stories of Old New Spain. By Thomas A. Janvier. New York: D. Appleton and Company. Price, 50 cts.

cursions in Art and Letters." He throws new light upon old subjects and illuminates them. Michel Angelo, Phidias, and the Elgin Marbles, the art of casting plaster among the Greeks and Romans, a talk with Marcus Aurelius, and distortions of the English stage are the subjects to which attention is called.

Mr. Cecil Charles' "Honduras "|| is full of practical information of a country and people for which he shows a strong admiration. His genuine, good humored, hearty way of seeing things is very enjoyable.

Excursions in Art and Letters. By William Wetmore Story. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. Price, $1.25.

|Honduras: The Land of Great Depths. With Map and Portraits. By Cecil Charles. Chicago and New York: Rand, McNally & Company. Price, $1.50.

HOME NEWS.-May 1. Strikes in the North and East for the eight-hour day and higher wages.-Forest fires in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

May 2. Opening in Washington of the American National Conference of State Boards of Health and of the American Academy of Medicine.

May 4. Convention of the National Association of Machinists opens in Pittsburgh.

May 5. A $750,000 fire occurs in Pittsburgh. May 6. Opening of the twenty-ninth International Convention of the Y. M. C. A. at Kansas City.

May 9. Forest fires do much damage in Michigan and Wisconsin.

May 14. Opening of the annual session of the Scotch-Irish Society in Louisville, Ky.

May 16. Twenty blocks of buildings in Muskegon, Mich., destroyed by fire.

May 19. The National Union Conference opens at Cincinnati and the Trans-Mississippi Congress at Denver.

May 21. Opening of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Detroit, Mich., and the Reformed Presbyterian General Synod at Philadelphia.

May 26. Death of the Rev. Dr. Henry J. Van Dyke, of Brooklyn. Meeting of the American Baptist Missionary Union in Cincinnati, and the Congregational and Unitarian Associations in Boston.

May 27. Death of General B. B. Eggleston. May 28. Death of Judge S. M. Breckinridge.

May 29. The American University is organized at Washington, with Bishop Hurst as Chancellor.

FOREIGN NEWS.-May 1. Prince Bismarck returns to the Reichstag.- -Serious encounters between workingmen and troops in many cities of Europe.

May 2. In the Charleroi district, Belgium, 30,000 miners go on a strike -Opening in London of the Naval Exhibition. May 4. Announcement of the signing of a commercial treaty by Germany and Austria. May 5. Death of the Archbishop of York. May 6. Death of Madame Blavatsky. The Reichstag adjourns to Novem

May 9. ber II.

May 14.

The Bank of England rate is advanced from 4 to 5 per cent.

May 17. The eruption of a new volcano in Armenia destroys several villages.

May 20. Opening in Vienna of the International Postal Congress.

May 21. A new Portuguese cabinet is formed. -Pierre Loti becomes a member of the French Academy.

May 25. One hundred and sixty-five members of the Mala Vita Society in Italy sentenced to imprisonment.

May 30. The Newfoundland Legislature is prorogued after the longest session on record. -Opening in Milan of the International Peace Congress.