176 



8CIEJSCE. 



[Vol. IX., No. 211 



though he loves to characterize his uprightness by 

 this name, and to transfer the dogmatic defini- 

 tions of positive rehgion into the ethical sphere " 

 (p. 158). "Education has to prepare man for re- 

 hgion in the following respects : 1°, it gives him 

 the conception of it ; 2°, it endeavors to have this 

 conception reaUzed in his life ; 3°, it subordinates 

 the theoretical and practical process in adapting 

 him to a special stand-point of religious culture" 

 (p. 159). 



In treating the history of educational theories, 

 Rosenkranz distinguishes three types, the nation- 

 al, the theocratic, and the humanitarian. "The 

 first works after the manner of nature, since it 

 educates the individual as a type of his race" 

 (p. 188). The theocratic system resembles the na- 

 tional, but it makes the ground of the uniformity 

 of the individuals not merely the natural element 

 in common, but it takes as the common interest 

 the result of spiritual unity, which neglects na- 

 ture and concentrates itself upon the events of its 

 own history. "The theocratic system educates 

 the individual as the servant of God" (p. 188). 

 The third system "emancipates the individual, 

 and elevates him to the enjoyment of freedom as 

 his essence ; educates him within national limits 

 which no longer separate but unite ; and, in the 

 consciousness that each, without any kind of me- 

 diation, has a direct relation to God, makes of 

 him a man who knows himself to be a member 

 of the spiritual world of humanity " (p. 188). 



It is almost impossible to exaggerate the im- 

 portance of this treatment of education for teach- 

 ers and the American public generally. Too often 

 given over lo shallow theory, false practice, and 

 superficial sentimentalism, a broad, deep, and 

 philosophic treatment of education will be for 

 them both a stimulant and a tonic. To those used 

 to the trashy educational journals and books now 

 so current among us, Rosenkranz will undoubt- 

 edly be difficult reading. But he needs more than 

 reading ; he must be studied. The certam effect 

 of the study wUl be to develop the intellectual and 

 moral insight of the student, and, where a vicious 

 activity and bold experimentalism exist, to sub- 

 stitute for them a true practice and a sound phi- 

 losophy. 



The Swedish society of anthropology and 

 geography has published a collection of drawings 

 made by C. Bovallius during his stay in Nicaragua 

 in 1882-83. Though zoological researches were 

 the main object of the author's journeys, he 

 availed himself of the opportunity to make some 

 archeological collections. He went over the same 

 ground as Squier did more than thirty years ago, 

 but he found many new relics of the ancient in- 



habitants. He publishes drawings of many 

 statues hitherto unknown, and as he does not con- 

 sider some of Squier's reproductions sufficiently 

 exact, he gives his own copies of the originals. 

 The volume contains 41 plates, and a map of 

 Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In the plates we find 

 represented objects from Zapatera, a small island 

 in the lake of Nicaragua, rock carvings from 

 Ceiba, a small island near the former, and ceramic 

 objects from Ometepic, Zapatera, and Ceiba. 

 The author gives a brief introduction on the 

 tribes of Nicaragua, and descriptive text to ac- 

 company the plates. 



— The last number of the Quarterly journal of 

 microscopical science (vol. xxvii. part ii. p. 285) 

 contains a very severe criticism of Dr. Patten's 

 paper on the ' Eyes of mollusks and arthropods.' 

 The review is unsigned, but was presumably, we 

 venture to say, written by the editor of the 

 journal. Professor Lankester, who is certainly a 

 competent authority to pass judgment. Fault is 

 not found with the new observations recorded by 

 Dr. Patten : on the contrary, they are accepted as 

 sincere and valuable. The full severity of the con- 

 demnation is turned upon the theories and gener- 

 alizations of the author, and upon his criticisms 

 of preceding investigators. The accusation is 

 brought that the author has promulgated many 

 false views and crude theories, such as would 

 have appeared possible only to an Ignorant thinker ; 

 further, that he has recklessly set aside by simple 

 denials many statements of esteemed observers, 

 on the ground that they were irreconcilable with 

 his own conclusions ; finally, that he used a tone 

 in his criticisms which is unpardonable in a 

 scientific discussion under any circumstances. It 

 is very rare that such heavy charges are made 

 against any scientific writer. Their extreme 

 gravity renders it specially incumbent upon us to 

 reserve our judgment until Dr. Patten shall have 

 made his answer. As we have directed attention 

 to the accusation, we shall be glad to give due at- 

 tention also to the defence. 



— As part of the scheme of the late Colonel 

 Roudaire and M. de Lesseps to form an inland 

 ' African sea,' it was suggested that an attempt be 

 made to obtain water from artesian wells, with 

 the idea of cultivating the sourrounding country 

 and using the rents for building the canal intended 

 to connect the Mediterranean w^ith the proposed 

 sea. The first well was started in May, 1885. 

 Water was found at a depth of 295 feet, and in 

 June, 1886, was running at the rate of 2,340 gal- 

 lons per minute. As a consequence, the banks of 

 the Melah River (Tunis), which a very few months 

 ago were deserts, are no w^ populated and productive. 



