BOOK NOTICES. 381 



We select a few points of interest regarding our own immediate region. In 

 ^Missouri growth meets us for both 1879-80 and for the decade which then 

 • closed, the enrollment in the public schools in 1879-80 exceeding by 26,594 that 

 ■of the year before and by 5,263 the increase of youth entitled to free schoohng, 

 while 11,710 more children were in average attendance daily in 546 more schools, 



■ under teachers better trained and changed less frequently than in former years. 

 .Permanent school funds increased by $1,408,580, though school property was 

 frated $1,646,599 less in value and current school income fell off $62,671. 



For the whole decade there was great advance at every point, the additional 

 ipublic school enrollment including at the close 57,265 more youths than had 



■ meantime come of school age, making thus a deep inroad into the mass of the 

 jprevious illiteracy, while an average of 32,108 more of the enrolled were in the 

 schools each day. This, with an increase of 1,699 public schools, of 1,631 

 teachers for them, of $2,333,237 in receipts for schools, and of $4,261,383 in 

 the permanent funds for the support of them, is a record of which the State may 

 ;well be proud. 



In Kansas, — progress at almost all points marks 1879-80 as compared v/ith 

 the preceding year : 28,416 more persons of school age, 23,000 more in the State 

 schools, and 13,952 more in daily attendance, with provision for this increase in 

 310 more school-houses. There were 858 more teachers engaged at somewhat 

 higher pay and an addition of $291,944 to the current school revenue. Still 

 further evidence of progress appears in 163 more districts with uniform text 

 books, 673 more with graded courses of study, and a rise of $225,908 in the 

 ^valuation of school property. 



This Report is a work upon which a vast amount of labor has been expended 

 and from which all teachers and others interested in education can obtain in- 

 formation on all appropriate points. 



Sparks From a Geologist's Hammer. By Alexander Winchell, LL.D., Sec- 

 ond edition, i2mo. pp. 400. S. C. Griggs & Co., Chicago; $2.00. 



The first thing that attracts attention upon picking up this book is its ex- 

 ^tremely tasteful binding and the general excellence of its make up. After that 

 the contents engage the reader's mind and hold it continuously till the last page 

 is reached. As long ago as 1870 the writer purchased a copy of this author's 

 ^' Sketches of Creation" and found it most fascinating and suggestive reading. 

 5jnce then he has hastened to obtain copies of each successive work by Professor 

 Winchell, including "The Preadamites," and now the volume under consideration. 

 In all the same accuracy of expression, the same wide range of information and 

 thought and the same scholarly though popular manner prevail, so that it is adapt- 

 ed to all classes of intelligent readers, from professor to pupil. 



The present volume is devoted to a variety of topics, descriptions, essays, 

 .and discussions of scientific subjects which are classified as Esthetic, Chronologi- 



