(Educational. 
WHAT SHALL WE READ. 
IT aving Leon all my life a devoted lover of 
books, I am moved to offer a few suggestions 
which may possibly tie of service to some who 
have had loss experience among the shoals and 
quicksands which abound in the groat sea of 
literature. 
So long as the conditions of no two lives 
are exactly similar, it will be as Impossible 
to mark out a course of reading that shall 
meet the wants or every mbid, as to pre¬ 
scribe a diet, adapted to every constitution. 
The books that one person will read with 
interest and profit, to another may seem 
dry and tedious; while those which do us 
good at one period of our lives, will often, 
in later years, excite our surprise that wo 
should ever have cared for them. It Is also 
true that beddon changes in literature as in , 
everyt hing else; many of t he books which hi 
were t he delight, of generations past, nre 
now Bearedy read. Vet, every ago gives " 
birth to a few rare books “ that are not horn 
to die,” being imbued with that marvelous 
genius which Is always young and fresh. 
*' In these days of book deluge,” it be¬ 
comes no t rilling matter to select from the 
huge mass such as are worthy of perusal. 
It scorns almost like searching for a few 
grains of wheat hidden In a mountain of 
chaff, to look for anything worth reading 
among the plies of sensation novels which 
load t lie shelve* of every book store in the 
land. Those who have already acquired a 
correct taste arc In little danger of becom¬ 
ing lost In those ’‘sail swamps of litera¬ 
ture;" bul to the young It la especially im¬ 
portant that some guiding hand shall point 
out the “ ways that are dark,” and lead In 
paths that arc not only safe, hut pleasant 
as well. 
It is very much the fashion with those a 
who undertake to give advice upon Ibis 
subject, to prescribe largo iluscs of history 
as the reading best adapted to furnish food 
and strength to the youthful mind; and 
herein 1 think they greatly mistake. Many a 
young person, earnestly bent upon Improve¬ 
ment, has become sadly discouraged by at¬ 
tempting to wade through a ponderous book 
of history, which some friend had kindly rec¬ 
ommended as “ good reading," forgetting that 
the most extended historical works require ma¬ 
turity of mind and much Intellectual culture 
to be thoroughly enjoyed. By a judicious se¬ 
lection of a few lively, entertaining books of 
this class, a taste may be created which will 
grow and strengthen with years, and prove a 
source of the keenest, enjoyment. In this de¬ 
part merit 1 know of few hooks more fascinat¬ 
ing than Sir Wai.tkh Scott's “ Tale of a Grand- 
fathor." Jacob AuBOrr'a aeries of small his¬ 
tories—or “ historical biographies” they may be 
termed—are admirable, as giving vivid pictures 
of many of the most prominent.actors in the 
world's drama. I’t.trr a uen’s “ Lives" is a book 
that I very well remember reading with great 
interest many years ago. Irving's “ Life of 
Washington" is the heat history ever written 
of “the time that tried men's souls." ll'Avr- 
bigne’s “ History of the Reformation" reads so 
like a romance, that I think very few of even 
the most confirmed novel readers would pro¬ 
nounce It dull. Strickland’s “Queen 
of England" can hardly fall to Interest any one. 
“A Child's History of England," by Charles 
Dickens, need not lie regarded as too juvenile 
for mature minds. Indeed, many of the best 
histories are I hose written for children. Haw¬ 
thorne's “ Wonder Book for Boys and Girls” 
gives a very good insight into ancient mythol¬ 
ogy, of which it is well for all to know some¬ 
thing because of the constant allusion made to 
it in our literature. 
Of historical novels generally, I have a very 
poor opinion. When the best literary caterers 
aro engaged in making genuine history pala¬ 
table, it seem . hardly worth while to take up 
with food that is neither llah, flesh, nor fowl. 
Those of Sir Walter Scott, of course, every 
one must read and enjoy. T would also men¬ 
tion the “SchonbcrgCotta family"and “Kitty 
Trovylyan ” as well worth reading. 
In the line of biography and autobiography, 
there are so many "good” and harmless hooks, 
and so few which arc in anyway remarkable, 
that it is by no means easy to make a selection. 
One of the bent among t he more recent works 
of this kind is "The Life and Letters of Mary 
Russell Mltford." It makes us acquainted with 
a gifted and lovable woman, whose life, while 
giving joy to others, was full of toil and weari¬ 
ness. As a beautiful illustration of (Ilia! love— 
a love which suffered long 1 especially com¬ 
mend it to all Ihe "Troubled Marthas" who 
read the Rural New-Yorker. “My Schools 
and Schoolmasters, or tho Story of My Educa¬ 
tion," by Hugh Millku, is a history of the 
struggles which one of Nature's noblemen pass¬ 
ed through in working his way from the ob¬ 
scure position of a Scotoli stone mason to a 
high place in the world of science and letters ; 
It is a book which should lie In every family. 
“The Life of (joiirgr: Stephenson," another self- 
made man, will interest the boys-and the girls 
too, I hope. Vakton's biographies are enter¬ 
taining, although he is sometimes accused of 
whitewashing his victims, which may, perhaps, 
be excusable, when wo consider how badly some 
of them need it. 
Olmsted’s “ Walks and Talks of an American 
Farmer in England," Baker'S “ Albert. Nyan- 
za,” and “TheNile Tributaries of Abyssinia,” 
and “Kidder and Fletcher's Travels in Brazil,’’ 
may be mentioned as among t he host books of 
travel. 
The recent visit, to this country of that large- 
hearted Englishman, Thomas Hughes, will add 
now interest to those delightful books, “Tom 
Brown's School Days at Rugby,” and “Tom 
jar is almost empty. JOHN, we’ll have to liavo 
that heifer and one of the hogs killed to-mor- . 
row." 
“ Well, well, wife, l suppose It can ho done." 
Monday night, the following week, the 
teacher catno homo with the children, tired 
and hungry, and secretly hoping that slipper is > 
ready. But, no! alio Is Informed that “ the men 
folks won’t come In to supper until dark." 
After lamplight;, when the men have come in 
from the barn, and washed, (perhaps,) she is in¬ 
vited to the supper table. And such a supper! 
Jlitimtp USoiild. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The History of Napoleon III. Rv John 8. 0. 
Abbott. Boston; B. II. Kussull. 1873. 
A magnificent work, upon which I lie ant hor 
has spent four years of hard labor, lie makes 
no statements which cannot be authenticated. 
The scones ho deals with arc the most mo¬ 
mentous nf a secular not lire which can em¬ 
ploy the pen of a historian. This Is doubt¬ 
less the best work of the kind which lias 
been published. II. deals wit h the life of 
the Emperor from his birth to Ids death, 
giving an account of ids great deeds and 
words. It, is needless to add that, nothing 
can ho more interesting t han air. Abbott’s 
style. Tho book Is sold only by subscrip¬ 
tion, but. it will lie sought for by all who are 
interested in tin; subject. Tho volume eon- 
l tains 730 pages and II lino steel engravings. 
J It is tho great Imok of the season, and will 
make an elegant addition to any library. 
The Chromotype. 
This is an American memorial journal of 
present and past events, published by the 
American College of Heraldry, No. li Uni¬ 
versity place, Now Vork. Tho February 
number is a tasteful production, embracing 
a wido range or subjects. The articles on 
tiie Dalgron and Lyon families arc of much 
interest. Fine steel portraits of lion. Mar¬ 
shall P. Wilder of Boston, and of AmoS 
Maynard Lyon, Esq., are given. The let¬ 
terpress Is very tine. An arliulo on tho 
Washington Genealogy is promised for tho 
next Issue, full of interesting fjicts. The 
public should give this work a. generous 
/ patronage. 
BLACK CREPE HAT-FRONT 
Brown at Oxford," In which he has given us 
such lively pictures of two prominent institu¬ 
tions of “ Merrle England." 
“My Farm of Kdgowood," by Donald O. 
Mitchell, will And favor with all who are In¬ 
terested In rural matters. Few writers have 
succeeded bo admirably in blending the poetry 
and common-sense of country life. “Rural 
Studies,” by llio same author, la also pleasant 
reading. There are no better books for tho 
young whose homes are in the country—or, in¬ 
deed, for the young any where — than those 
which load them to see and enjoy tho manifold 
beauties of earth and sky. We shall hear little 
complaint of tbo monotony and dullness of 
country life from those who have learned to 
behold t he glories new every morning and fresh 
every evening, which arc constantly being serv¬ 
ed Up for our nanotit. No mm has writ ten more 
lovingly and beautifully of Nature than John 
Kush i n ; but his works are too voluminous for 
tl.ie general reader, and are full of art talk whlph 
will interest few. A volume of selections enti¬ 
tled “Beauties of Buskin,” contain many of 
the most beautiful passages. 
But, Mr. Editor, I did not sot. out to make a 
book catalogue, and perhaps my ll»t is already 
long enough, although I have not mentioned a 
tithe of Urn books that I wish every one might 
AND BACK VIEW. (See page 255.) 
s ) Meat, potatoes, (which would have answered at 
an earlier hour, as the teacher has had nothing 
an earlier hour, as the teacher has hail nothing 
but a cold lunch since morning,) sausage, mince 
pic, pickles and preserves, (two or three kinds 
of each,) cookies, Jolly cake, warm biscuit, ami 
butter. Vague thoughts of Physiology and Hy¬ 
giene, Drs. Hall and Dio Lewis, float through 
i ho brain of tho weary and hall-famished teach¬ 
er, but are driven aw;iy by the sight and smell 
of these really delicious viands, which she is 
urged to partake of. After supper she la enter¬ 
tained, usually, by the former himself- who is 
glarl to talk with a woman who has lime to 
think. He secretly wonders why his wife ran t, 
converse as well as tills girl. Converse t How 
can she, with all the clothes to make, hem¬ 
stitch, ruffle, tuck, braid and embroider for six 
children, including the toddling two-year-old, 
who must have three times as many dresses as 
tm can ever wear out. How can shelie expected 
to have an idea on any of the great questionsof 
the day ? 
When bed time arrives, the " farmerine 
leads the way through the cold, gloomy parlor, 
tu tho still more cheerless parlor bedroom, sit¬ 
uated in tho northeast, corner of the house, 
where It never feels the sunshine. The bed, 
evidently, is designed to show off ajl tho nice 
patchwork tho house contains; it is covered 
with four or live nicely-pieced and dosoly-qullt- 
od quills, which are so heavy it is almost im¬ 
possible to turn under them, and they are with¬ 
out tho warmth of one good “ comfortable.’ 
MUSLIN FAILLE AND LACE FICHU - COLLAR.-(See page 255.) 
read and enjoy. I will close with the hope t hat 
every young Uurnlist. may cultivate a taste for 
all that is best and purest in literature, and 
thus become the possessor of an unfailing 
source of pleasure. Frank Effingham. 
-- 
“THE TEACHER IS COMING.” 
“ Ma, tho teacher wants to board here, next 
week.” 
“Dear me! How can I have her? The lard 
The teacher lies and shivers until she goes to 
sleep ; rises in the morning with a dull pain in 
hor head ; goes to tho early breakfast and drinks 
two or three cups of strong tea or coffee, to 
st imulate hor for the duties of the day, which 
she knows aim must spend In a poorly-vent il¬ 
ated schoolroom, warmed by one of those high 
coal stoves, by which you never can warm your 
feet, and which throw their sickish heat at 
your head. What wonder that the teacher, 
after a few terms, is a vyorn-out machine ! 
A. s. o. 
tin nil ivy Hull'- 11 niira with tho Groat 
Preachers. By M. Latri 1 
dolphin: Porter X Coates. 
A large, handsomely-bound volume)nfftlff 
pages. It. contains sermons, select oil from 
x the mast or divines of i Jhrlstondom. All de¬ 
nominations, ages and countries are repre¬ 
sented. Asa volume of excellent Christian 
literature, we know nothing hotter. The book is 
Illustrated with steel portraits of D’Auihone, 
Bishop McIi.v.une, Jon at ii an Edwa i; os, John 
Knox exhorting Mary Stuart, Luther, and 
Henry Ward Beecher. The book has an in¬ 
dex of subjects whioh Is of much value. This 
fine work is sold only by subscription, Mr. Pil- 
kinuton Jackson of room 12, No. Pit Nassau 
street, being tho general agent In N. V. City. 
Some recent exposures of bogus book agents 
have been made, but we know Mr. Jackson to 
be a man with whom any one cun deal honestly. 
Tills hook would make a valuable addition to 
any family library. 
Wilson’s Reflector, 
This is tho title of a now eight-paged month¬ 
ly, published at Cleveland, ()., by the Wilson 
Sewing Machine Co.; fl a year. Besides being 
largely devoted to the Interests of sewing ma¬ 
chines—tho famous Wilson machine in particu¬ 
lar—It lias a well-conducted literary depart¬ 
ment, undortho editorship of Mr. ,1. Lawrence. 
Tim Reflector Is handsomely illustrated, is de¬ 
voted to tho manufacturing interests of the 
country, ami offers a handsome chroma to 
every subscriber. 
The llaiijolat, JJy Frank ». Converse. New 
York: Wm. A. Pond A Co., 5-17 Broadway. 
It is fashionable to sneer at the banjo, but 
Thalbbug— that king among pianists—conde¬ 
scended to take lessons upon It when in this 
city. The capabilities of tho instrument are so 
limited, however, Unit we judge few who aro 
competent for hotter things will use it. The 
work will be Instructive to a banjo player, and 
it contains a good selection of music adapted 
' for the instrument. 
Small-Pox. Uy Dr. CARL Booth. Boston : Alex¬ 
ander Moore. 
A NEAT’ lit t le volume, very valuablo while tho 
disease of which it treats is so prevalent, writ¬ 
ten in a plain, sensible maimer, easily to lie 
comprehended by the unscientific. 11 gives the 
predisposing conditions of this awful disease 
and their prentivoa, with a scientific exposition. 
Every man and woman should have a copy. 
Social Economy.—By J. E. Thohalu Rogers. 
Now York: G. 1*. Putnam it Hons. 
A work which treats in a clear and compre¬ 
hensive manner of these subjects all American 
citizens should become familiar with. Such 
questions us Workmen, Improvement, Employ¬ 
ments, Wages, Unpaid Work, Money, Parent 
and Child, Education, Taxes, Charities, Crime, 
etc., are happily discussed. 
The Sure Teacher« or, Child's First Course 
for the Piano.— By Wm. Ives. New York: 
Wm. A. Pond X Co., M7 Broadway. 
A very useful help to “ little fingers "—there 
being large diagrams and careful lingering of 
the exorcises, which arc numerous and well 
selected. dVo commend this book to those 
who have children to teach—we think it a vory 
good one. 
Wyman’s Piano Text-Book. By ADDISON P. 
Wyman. New York: Wm. A. Pond & Co. 
A neat little hook, designed for beginners in 
piano playing, made up of questions and an¬ 
swers and figured scales. Wc should judge it to 
be effective for its purpose, 
