Reviews.

individuals are as jewels to any State , and to he polished and treasured accordingly ; but such instances are rare . The majority of children are destined for a certain work in life , and Avhilst we Avould not deny them every possible opportunity of culture and

advancement , we would most certainly insist upon it that there should first and foremost be instilled iuto them such useful knoAvledge as will prove not only a benefit to them , but will meet a necessity that they Avill experience in after-life .

With this vieAV has evidently been framed the Department ' s requirements in the case of girls presented for examination , with a view of obtaining Government grants . After passing in any tAvo of the four subjects—( surely the last would have

been enough)—grammar , history , elementary geography , and plain needlework ; children , according to their standards , are eligible to compete in needlework for an annual grant of four shillings per child . This needleAvork beginningin the case of

, infants of three , Avith position drill and simple hemming , goes on through every gradation of useful manipulation , such as hemming , seaming , stitching , felling ,

pleating , & c , & c , to the art of cutting out , fixing , and making garments of every description for Avomen ' s ancl children ' s wear ; nor is mending neglected ; Avhilst that most useful employment , which may well take the place of light and fancy-work ,

stocking-knitting , is made a prominent feature in the scheme of teaching . Now to meet these varied requirements ° f the Government , it is quite evident that some guide or manual of teaching is a boon if not an actual necessity ; ancl further , for such

guide to be of real utilit y , it is quite as evident that it must not only state explicitl y what the Department requires iQ every standard , but also the best Avay in which these requirements can be met ; in short , a handbook to be of real service ttust

not only set forth ' what to do' but also ' how to do it . ' One other necessity were is too in a work of this kind , and that is that , whilst it shall contain all that J * necessary , it shall not extend to one line be yond and furtherthat that all that is

; , necessary shall be told in the fewest Possible words , ancl those of the simplest Possible description . Many guides , hand-books , aud manuals

have been , and are still , published , aud several of the best now lie before us ; but iu nearly every case , either from the size and p rice of the book , or from the comp licated nature of the details , or a presupposition of a great deal of knowledge

that can hardly be called fundamental ; these , otherwise excellent , books are practically useless for the purpose Ave have in vieiv . Not so hoAi'ever Avith a series of little works just published by Mr . J . S . Laurieat the Central School Depot 22

, , , Paternoster Boiv , and dedicated by exjiress permission to H . lt . H . the Princess Louise , Avhich are the embodiment of a system of teaching adopted by the Lady Manager of a Voluntary School in the neighbourhood of London .

These little books are a marvel of cheapness as well as excellence , ancl comprise " a broadsheet" for posting on the Avail , containing the Government requirements in each standard , explained ancl arranged in a tabular form ; a statement of what

specimens of work are required by the Government Inspector ; supplemented by a Avell thought-out Aveekly course of instruction . We say Avell thought-out , because the scheme , whilst taking in every kind of work requiredso disperses it over

, the week and mixes it as it goes , that there is ahvays sufficient variety to prevent weariness in the mind of the youngest child . Next Ave have a little book in Avhich all

the mysteries of knitting are explained m each standard . Next , a similar book , devoted to the details of sewing ancl cutting out . And lastly , a series of diagrams on card , of the specimen garments required by the InspectordraAvn to scaleancl so arranged

, , that there is as little complication of form as possible and almost no Avaste of material , indeed none , if the advice of the authoress be followed to utilise all scraps in the instruction of the infants in the elementary principles of the art .

Add to this that the language is so simple that any child can read it for itself and understand it , ancl yet further , that 'The Lady Manager' fully justifies her title of doing what Ave have never seen done before , telling us to what use to put every specimen made , even , to the smallest hemmed strips , and Ave think that Ave have