masters, have gone abroad, and are everywhere hard at work. In hydraulics, for instance, across the Isthmus of Suez, a grand canal, 100 miles long, has been cut from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

By Stephenson and Brunel's imitators, an eight miles avenue has been pierced through the Alps. Between North and South America is projected a junction of the two great oceans.

The loftiest of the world's tunnels is, peradventure, that of the Andes, 3000 feet long, and 15,000 feet high. The 3000 miles of railway from New York to California employed at times during seven -years, 100,000 laborers. Noteworthy, also, are the 1200 miles of the Indian Peninsular railway, worked at an elevation of 8000 feet above the sea level. As if to outrun Europeans in sensational progress, America has held an international peace jubilee. About 20,000 musicians were engaged, and the choruses were reinforced by anvils, bells, fiddles, drums, and a park of artillery!

Some speculators have turned their hopes towards the regions of air. The atmosphere, it is presumed, may become a navigable highway for gas-inflated ships. Commercial bagmen may hire and insure war balloons, and defy cloud winds and hail storms as well as business antagonists, and even (as was done during the siege of Paris), interchange shots with hostile belligerent aeronauts. Like a circle formed by the stone cast into the tranquil like, each discovery appears to spread to an ever-increasing circumference. As if by magic, inventions quickly follow one another. They loitered formerly, it seems, for ages on the road. From creation's dawn thirty centuries elapsed ere the first elements of geometry were taught to the children of men. Twenty centuries and the law of gravitation

was detected by Newton. About the same time Kepler thought his own theory might wait a hundred years for an intelligent proselyte, since, for an astronomer, such as Kepler, God had waited some thousand years. Verily, "science puffeth up." With the hand ever advancing on the dial of progress, does it not seem that pride's cloven foot always follows at the heels of vainglorious savants?

Of recent inventions, not the least undeserving of notice, is the spectroscope, which gives the curious an insight of the sun's physical constitution. Noteworthy, also, is the meteorograph, a novel instrument, whereby the rain tells in what measure its showers fall upon the earth; and the wind, likewise, registers its own movements. revolution in the art of printing, will, it is said, be shortly produced by the logotype-an apparatus for casting thousands of syllables in a short time.

A

Having forced vapor to be an agent, lightning a messenger, and wind a servant, it need not astonish us if, by the swift march of modern intellect, the fabled mounting of the earth-born Phaeton to drive the chariot of the sun is left far behind.

However rapid their speed, in the acquisition of knowledge, the learned should pause to recollect that, although

Science may span earth and sky,

Yet, still earth's millions toil and die. Have scientific inventions disclosed to truthseekers a more luminous beacon of faith than the Gospel of Christ? or removed from the future of humanity a single cloud? The ungodly venders of an education, falsely so-called, are ignorant of that philosophy which was revealed to men by the God of all science: "Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding." This sound doctrine is ignored by Secularists,

who prefer physical science, classic, and gymnastic attainments, to progress in ethical training, which ought to be the lifelong study of Man. It is related of a student at a public school that his immodest behavior so shocked his parents at home that they complained of it to the school authorities; but the head-master replied that he was engaged to teach pupils Greek and Latin, and not morality. Better acquainted with Olympus and Parnassus, than with Calvary and Thabor-classic and muscular graduates are more likely to become sharp-witted Pagans than exemplary Christians. However, it is not the use, but the abuse, of athletic games and classical studies that is reprehensible. Both morally and physically, the youth should learn how to live

As fits their station, and best pursue
What God has placed them in this world to do.

But, is this high purpose promoted by a Darwin, a Huxley, a Lenark, or a Tyndall, who, by urging an apish origin with loss of tail, degrade humanity to a brute level? The idea of this superfluous appendage having been worn off by the practice of sitting, has been laughed out of court, it appears, since Turner's remark as to the

formation of human noses by the natural use of handkerchiefs. Skep tics are leagued together to live without God, and would dethrone Him if they could. The Evil One has public adorers. Revolutionists have openly declared themselves friends of the Father of Lies. Under the names of "Antichrist," "Babel's Tower," "Lucifer," and

"Satan," periodicals have lately issued from the Italian pressAre these the pompous tidings ye proclaim, Lights of the world and demigods of fame? For this, hath science searched on weary wing, By shore, and sea, each mute and living thing?

The guardians of youth ought to be convinced that without religious principles, there can be no education worthy of the name. The fine arts and sciences should be subordinately cultured, while the knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ is kept ever paramount before the mind. The consciousness of a present and future Judge's all-seeing eye tends to maintain the tempted virtuous in the dark, and honest without a witness. To win prizes for proficiency in secular learning, or for success in athletic sports, is not the end wherefore the children of men were created. They should be taught to have nobler aims.

The doctors of the nation assure profitable, whereas, godliness is us now that bodily exercise is little profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is as well as of that which is to come, apostle, "and worthy of all accep"a faithful saying," adds the tation." Wherefore, piety should be the "Alpha and Omega" of a Catholic educational programme. According to Holy Writ, "Bring up a child in the way wherein it should walk, and when it is old, it will not depart therefrom." Of course, there are exceptions to the rule; but, a religious training's ef fects are seldom utterly lost; for,

Like a vase, in which roses have once been dis-
tilled,
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you
But, a scent of the roses will hang round it still.

will,

Life was excellent as far as it went, but it was scarcely more than an extended sketch; and many of the magazine articles were mere accounts of Gallitzin's European connections. Miss Brownson has, however, gathered up all these, and combining with them much matter not hitherto brought to light, has succeeded in presenting to the public the fruits of her labors of combination and condensation, in a work which must supersede all former biographies, and place the authoress in a high position as an historical writer, and her book in the first rank as a reference for anything regarding its theme. One of the best recommendations of the work, and a rare attribute in biographical writing, is the impartiality with which Miss Brownson has treated of Father Gallitzin's character. She does not indulge in a series of empty laudations, but displaying all the weaknesses of her hero, shows how divine grace faithfully corresponded with had moulded him into one of earth's most perfect men. There is a large share of epistolary correspondence scattered through the volume, and the style is chaste, clear, and forcible, exactly suited to the subject. The book is embellished with a fine portrait of the saintly man commemorated, and is made still more interesting and valuable by the able introduction from the pen of the authoress's father, the widely known Dr. Orestes A. Brownson, in which he especially treats of the various phases of the Russo-Greek schism, from which Gallitzin was a convert. There is also a beautiful dedication to the memory of the dead mother of the authoress.

The binding is neat and durable, and the type remarkably clear. We are sorry that we cannot say as much for the paper, which seems to us to be unusually poor and altogether out of keeping with the excellent contents of the volume. This defect, however, can be easily remedied in future editions.

THE PROGRESSIONISTS AND ANGELA. Translated from the German of Count Conrad Von Bollanden. New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1873. Received through Peter F. Cunninghar, 216 South Third Street.

These are two more of the series of tales republished from the Catholic World, in the pages of which they have already earned such merited praise. They now appear bound in one volume. Their celebrated author is a German parish priest, who, being obliged through ill health to

forego the sacred duties of his office, devotes himself to literature, Catholic novels being the special line of writing wherein he has earned for himself a worldwide fame, and merited from Pope Pius IX the title which he bears as the reward of his labors. He is peculiarly an adept in "showing up" modern progress, that kind of "progress" at least which has its headquarters in freethinking and freedoing Germany; and whose disciples prefer to view the affairs, both of this world and the next, by the light of a bull's-eye on a locomotive, rather than by the light of Faith.

The tales are excellent, both in the lesson they convey and in the charming serio-comic style in which they are told; and we predict for them wide attention from all classes of cultivated readers.

ELEMENTS OF PHILOSOPHY. By Rev. W. H. Hill, S. J., Professor of Philosophy in the St. Louis University. Baltimore: Published by John Murphy & Co. Received through Peter F. Cunningham, 216 South Third Street.

We welcome this work with the greatest pleasure, because it fills a long-felt want in the curriculum of academical instruction. The advanced students of our colleges make their philosophical studies

from the Latin text-books of the various

approved Catholic authors, but that class of students who, either from the fact that they are not blessed with a fluent knowledge of the Latin tongue, or who have not the opportunity of taking a collegiate course, have been obliged to have recourse to the dubious works of the Protestant writers for what philosophical knowledge they could obtain in the vernacular. Independently, however, of this primary advantage, Father Hill's work is very meritorious. This first volume comprises only Logic and Ontology, but should it meet with public favor it will be followed by other treatises on Cosmology, Psychology, Theology, and Ethics. Of its soundness as a text-book, we presume there can be no question from the high standing of its author, and the suspicion that the Society of which he is a member would not otherwise have permitted its publication. Most of the Latin terms are retained for their conciseness, but always accompanied with an explanatory translation. The author has also adopted the simplest terminology, and omitted the discussion of the modes and figures of the syllogism, which are not of practical use. We give this work our warmest approbation, with the hope

Herr Conscience is a charming writer, as all who have had the pleasure of reading any of his rovels can attest. But it is so long since we have had anything from his once prolific pen that we had began to fear he was entirely lost to Catholic literature. His Merchant of Antwerp, however, which came forth about a year ago, the first book, if we remember rightly, that he has given us since 1858, revived his almost forgotten fame, as it was one of the best really Catholic stories lately emanating from the press; and now it is followed by the two volumes with the above title, and a promise from the publishers of a uniform series of all his works.

The Amulet is an exciting tale of deep crime and swift retribution from an avenging Providence on the one hand, and on the other, of gentle virtue supported by a firm constancy meeting the reward of its heaven-inspired confidence. The plot is founded on an historical incident which occurred in Antwerp during the sixteenth century.

The Fisherman's Daughter is, we fancy, more in the author's usual vein; the shades of night being depicted in colors less dark, and the lighter traits of sound virtue predominating, as they naturally should, in a chastely written story of the simple and beautiful life of the Flemish peasantry. Though neither of these "short tales," as they are designated on their covers, are equal to some of Hendrik Conscience's previous works, yet we can most heartily commend them as small specimens of that pure literature so much needed in our day.

ONLY A PIN. Translated from the French of J. T. De Saint Germaine. New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1873. Received through Peter F. Cunningham, 216 S. Third Street.

The incident on which this charming tale is founded, is a well-known and popular legend, which has been given in various forms for many years. But this version of an old theme is known in French literature as a little gem, ranking with Saintaine's famous tale, Picciola, or Laboulaye's Fireside Stories. It was only the other day that we held a copy of the original in our hands, and heartily wished that some one would translate it, when presto, like the work of a fairy godmother, who answers at an instant all good wishes, we in a few hours after find it on our table, "done into English," as they used to say on the title-pages of our great-grandfather's days. We are sure that we need not even suggest anything further about its merits; the title alone is sufficiently tempting to readers, even if the book bad not already a European fame. But it is just with that very title that we have to find fault. Why give a so unnecessarily free translation of the far better name in the original, l'Histoire d'un Epingle? In this instance we think it would have been the wiser course" to let well enough alone.”

A TYPOGRAPHICAL error in our review of Wild Times, in the May number, caused us to say that "Miss Caddell's Blind Agnes was equal in profundity to Cardinal Wiseman's Fabiola or Father Boyce's Shandy Maguire." The misprint was sufficiently ludicrous to be self-evident. The sentence should have read, "equal in popularity."

IN the next issue of this magazine will be published the First Grand Prize Oration, to be delivered at the Annual Com19th, 1873, in the American Academy of mencement of La Salle College, June Music, Philadelphia. Subject: "PIUS IX, AS MAN, PONTIFF, AND KING."