Literary Notices

We liave receivcd f'rom Saalfield's muslc store, 12 Bible House, N. Y., an uiiprctentious, little work whlch speaks for itself. It is entitled " Richards' New MetUod for the Piano Forte," and the publishers claim that anybody can learn tojplay the piano willwut a mnster by buying a copy oL the game. It contaius just enough rudimentary instructiou for the average beginner, has no tedious, unnecessary rcpetitions, and in poiut of contentó its merite are exceiitional. As specimens of what the whole book contains we mention pieces suchas "IntheGloaming," " Blue Alsatian Mountains," " Baby's Euipty Cradle," "Kathleen Mavourneen," " OU1 Oaken Buckut," " Nearer my God to Thee;" aelections from operas such as " Carmen,1' " Patience," " Olivette," " Billee Taylor," " Mascotte," etc; waltzes, such as " Kacquet,'" "You and I," "Ciiarniing," etc, and to sum up, weknow of no betterbook of the kind that has lately been published. All the music in t is good and taking. Sent postpaid by the publisher on receipt of 75 cents. In its variety, general instructiveness and ils bearing upou practicai interests, The Popular Science Monthly for February is even above the, usual standard. The flrst article, by Professor Gilllam, on "The African In the United States" is an able and dispassionnte study of tho negro question. Professor Bain's address as rector of the institution wlth whichhe has long been associated in Aberdeen, on "The University Ideal," is liere flrst published, and is a paper that will interest all who are concerned about the higlier education. "Natural Religión, a Study In the Growth of Scientiflc Morallty," by E. W. Boodle, is a sketch of the progress of scientific and liberal thought on the religiou side since 1850. "Methods in Modern Physical Astrouoiny,1' by Professor Janssen, is the presidential addresg before the French Association for the Ailvancementof Science. "Sj torces in American Life," by Herbert Spencer,. is „.of paper) but wu be read with extreme interesi. "--iaities of Superstition," by Dr. Oswald, is a striking continuatiouof his former per. "A Prehistorie Cemeterr,1' by Joseph F. James; " The Schools of Medicine," by Dr. R. O. Beard ; and "The Formation of Lunar Craters," are also excellent. There are, a full biography of th celebrated naturalist, Milne-Edwards, with a portrait, and a long letter on thebicycle questionat Stockbridge, to which the editor pays his respects in the proper place. The leadlng editorial is on the subject of " Machino Education," which isconsideredwith main reference to recent developuicnts in regard to public-school management in New York. The miscellany is very full, fresh, and instructive, as usual. New York: D. Appleton & Company. Fifty centg per number. $5 per 3'ear. The Nortli Americau Review for February opens with a symposium in which ] six prominent theologians, representing as uiany religious denorninations, give expression to their views upon the question of the "Revisión of Orceds." Prof. : ander Winchell, in an article entitled "The Experiment of Universal Suffrage," : institutes a profound inquiry into the easential conditions of stable popular governinent. which he flnds to be, substantial. ly, virtue and intelligence; but these conditions, he maintains, are tainable under our existing political tem, where an electorate either ignoranl UI l' II '11. JL MJIM-l) UJ ,i4U ¦¦uv , .„ vw VA. superior numbers, practically nullifies the , sufl'rages of the better and wiser portion i of tlie people, whose riglit to control the ( government of the commouwealth is j grounded in the very nature of thiugs. , Bishop McQuaid writes of " The Decay of 1 Protesuntism,1' and in essay ing to prove 1 bis thesis, rnakes a very adroit use of the ' admissions of protestant writers. "The Political Situation" is the joint titleof two articles, the one by Horatio Scymour, the j other by Qeo. S, Boutwell, who offer their t respective views upon the causes of the re1 eent overthrow of the Republican party. l An artiole by Dr. D. A. Sargent, on "Physical Education in Colleges," treats a subject of prime importance to the welfare of ? the youths in our higher educational instit tutions. Finally, there are two articles ] on "The Standard Oil Company," Senator ' Caraden of West Virginia defending that f Corporation againstitsassailants, and John c C. Welch setting forth the reasons for condeinning it as a dangerous monopoly. . Published at 30 Lafayette Place, New Í York. r