says it was 'professedly the philosophy of common sense and common language which by reason of its child-like directness and simplicity departed as little as possible from the fundamental conceptions common to all philosophies,' adding that owing to its being likewise coherent, systematic and well worked out, the Aristotelian philosophy will perhaps always take precedence as indicated by the numcial Medicine," "Some Aspects of Intoxication," "Heredity, Physical Disease and Moral Weakness," "Hypnotism, Suggestion and Crime," ber of revivals and reactions which have taken place in its favor.

"Whatever may be the deficiencies of this venerable philosophy, it may surely compare favorably with modern sectarian systems (almost as numerous as the religious sects with which they have been contemporaneous), and what a still more recent student of philosophy calls 'their muddled conclusions,' while its acceptance by the Church as the mind language best suited to the expression of religious dogma should induce seekers for truth to make themselves so far acquainted with it as to understand at least what the Christian Church really believes and teaches before rejecting it as inconsistent with modern science or their own spiritual needs.

"As it is chiefly to facilitate such an understanding that this work has been undertaken, it has been the translator's aim to render it into plain English, avoiding as far as possible technical words and expressions without attempting to modernize the more or less archaic simplicity of the original style."

THE GOLDEN DAYS OF THE RENAISSANCE IN ROME. From the Pontificate of Julius II. to that of Paul III. By Rodolfo Lanciani, author of "New Tales of Old Rome," "The Ruins and Excavations of Ancient Rome," "Ancient Rome in the Light of Recent Discoveries," etc. Copiously illustrated. Octavo, gilt top, pp. 340. Price, $5.00, net. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Archibald Constable & Co., Ltd., London. This is a beautiful book. Indeed, it is a triumph of the bookmaker's art. It gives one the impression that the publishers spared nothing in the making, their one desire being to bring the book out in the most becoming form. They speak of it in this way:

"This new and valuable contribution to the history and archæology of Rome is a companion volume to the earlier works, 'The Ruins and Excavations of Ancient Rome' and 'New Tales of Old Rome,' which have justly given Professor Lanciani the reputation of being the greatest authority on this subject. The purpose of the present volume is to describe the moral and material evolution of the Eternal City from medieval conditions, and to draw a picture of it as it was at the very summit of its renaissance.

"The early chapters describe the city before the days of Pope Paul

III. Then follows an account of the wonderful change brought about under this Pope, and a study of the four personages who, above all others, fostered or perfected the reform movement, namely, Agostino Chigi in the financial development, Raphael and Michelangelo in the artistic, and Vittoria Colonna in the religious and moral. In dealing with the lives of these illustrious persons, facts or anecdotes already well known to the general public have not been repeated, but the author has confined himself to particulars either unpublished or little known. In developing the subject one prinicpal aim has been kept in view-to illustrate the few monuments of that period left standing in Rome and mostly concealed under modern superstructures.

"The epoch described is perhaps the most interesting in the history of modern art, and consequently its appeal will be to a much wider audience than the other volumes in this series. The illustrations, about 100 in number, are many of them unique, the subjects having been drawn or photographed for the first time, so that both from a scholarly and an artistic point of view the book will prove a rare acquisition to the literature of Rome in particular and to archæology and art in general.".

Heavy calendared paper is used throughout, so that the very best effects are gotten in the pictures. The text is most attractively written and is entertaining and instructive. We shall not discuss its historical value.

JESUS OF NAZARETH. The Story of His Life Written for Children. By Mother Mary Loyola, of the Bar Convent, York. Edited by Father Thurston, S. J. 12mo., pp. 401. Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati and Chicago.

The author's excuse for undertaking the apparently impossible task of writing on a serious subject in a manner intelligible and interesting to children is found in the following sentence:

"The pressure of an earnest invitation sent me from America must be my excuse for venturing to add another Life of Christ for the Young to the excellent ones already existing. The aim proposed is to strengthen faith in our Lord's Divinity and to draw the hearts. of children to Him by a personal love. To do this within the limits. assigned it has seemed better to omit a certain amount of matter rather than sacrifice detailed descriptions of leading facts, which by impressing the imagination leave a vivid picture in the mind. Where different views as to chronology, etc., prevail, I have adopted the one supported by the greater number of Catholic authors."

How far he has succeeded we may learn from these words of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons:

"My heart was delighted on reading the proof sheets of Jesus of Nazareth: The Story of His Life Written for Children,' by Mother Mary Loyola. The book is eminently practical, simple, unctuous and interesting. In fact, no one can read it without loving God more and, therefore, becoming better. The author evidently realizes the want of the child mind, and at the same time comforts every soul in its longing for something higher and better."

This is high commendation, and the author may well be proud of it. We are not vain enough to imagine that we can say anything to strengthen it, and we are tempted to think we might be accused of presumption if we attempted it.

CANZONI. By T. A. Daly. Pictures by John Sloan. Philadelphia: Catholic Standard and Times Publishing Company.

The talented manager of the Catholic Standard and Times is becoming recognized throughout the nation as a forceful exponent of genuine American wit and humor. His quaint sayings are quoted from one end of the country to the other. His success as a humorist may be largely attributed to the fact that, in addition to his being a true American, he is also a sunny child of Erin and a genuine Catholic. There seems to be no phase of life in America which has escaped his keen glance, and he notes down his impressions with one bold stroke of the pen. His study of the racial characteristics and peculiarities of speech of the Italian colony has been close and sympathetic. He deserves to be called the discoverer of the Italo-AmeriThe little book has been universally greeted with well-merited encomiums.

SHORT SPIRITUAL READINGS FOR MARY'S CHILDREN. By Madame Cecilia, Religious of St. Andrew's Convent, Streatham, London, S. W. 12mo., pp. 238. Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago. Here is the history of the book as told by the author: "This little volume contains reprints of articles which were originally published in the Child of Mary Magazine, edited by the Austin Canons at Spettisbury Priory, Blandford, Dorset. To these monthly articles I have added a few which have appeared in the Messenger of the Sacred Heart and in the Franciscan Monthly. As many of our Children of Mary have expressed a desire to have these little articles in book form, I have ventured to collect and reprint them, in the hope that they may be useful to our dear Lady's children. and to others into whose hands they may fall. With the exception of a few verbal changes required to bring them up to date, the articles

stand as they were originally published, and a few others have been written to complete the book."

And here is what the writer of the preface, Rev. Gilbert Higgins, C. R. L., says about it:

"Filled with affection for the Children of Mary and penetrated with a sincere desire to see them rise to their birthrights, Madame Cecilia lays down rules, gives counsels, suggests lines of conduct which all tend to inspire women with notions of becoming selfrespect, lovable unselfishness and practical religion. The teachings of this book are varied. There is in it a lesson, a hint for every one. Examples and stories and apposite bits of verse are brought into the service of the author. The book if read carefully can hardly fail to lead many Children of Mary to become womanly women and true followers of their saintly and canonized predecessors, SS. Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecily and Anastasia."

THE LOVER OF SOULS. Short Conferences on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. By Rev. Henry Brinkmeyer. "Behold this Heart which hath so loved man!" 12mo., pp. 180. Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati and Chicago.

A collection of nineteen addresses, all devotional and dealing chiefly with the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Sacrament. The author says:

"Friends have often advised the publication of the following conferences. For a long time I hesitated to act upon this suggestion, as I cannot claim for them entire originality. They are bouquets of flowers gathered in years gone by from various gardens to suit my own taste and for the pleasure and comfort of those to whom they were presented. Perhaps their fragrance is sufficient to gratify and embalm other souls dear to the Sacred Heart. If so, may the Divine Master breathe through these blossoms the sweetness of love and the perfume of grace long after he who culled them has gone to rest from his humble labors."

THE GOSPELS OF THE SUNDAYS AND FESTIVALS.

With an Introduction, Parallel Passages, Notes and Moral Reflections. By the Very Rev. Cornelius J. Ryan, D. D., late Professor of Sacred Scripture and Hebrew, Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, Dublin. 2 vols., 8vo. Vol. I., pp. 334; Vol. II., pp. 396. Second edition. Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati and Chicago.

Of sermon books there is no end. Like other things, they may be divided into three classes-good, bad and indifferent. Like other things, also, they are generally indifferent. For that reason we have generally given them scant courtesy, because we think that a man

should but rarely preach the good sermon of another, and a bad serWe fear that the publishers have felt the ecclesiastical pulse before bringing out the many volumes of oratory which have recently appeared and that there is a demand for them. The conclusion is pretty reasonable that the poor laity are suffering the consequences.

It is with extreme pleasure, then, that we extend the pen of welcome to the book before us. It is well conceived, successfully brought forth and healthfully matured. It is a scholarly, dignified, lawful and useful book. It can be recommended without reservation to all preachers because, instead of destroying thought and study and preparation, it encourages them, and supplies the very best material to aid them. A glance at the plan of the author will reveal this.

"This explanation of the Gospels of the Sundays and Festivals was originally written for the use of a class of students in the College of the Holy Cross, Clonliffe, and it was intended as a full exposition of the passages of Sacred Scripture which are most frequently explained for the people. It is hoped that, supplied with the materials here collected, the ecclesiastical student or the missionary priest will be aided in his preparation for one of his most onerous but indispensable duties.

"In order to afford this assistance I have given (1) a brief introduction dealing with the gospels in general and with the scene of the gospel history; (2) the Greek and Latin of the Gospel extracts read at the Mass on the Sundays and principal Festivals throughout the year; (3) an English translation of each extract; (4) the parallel passage or passages when the subject is referred to by more than one evangelist; (5) a combined narrative in every case where there is a parallel passage; (6) a full explanation of each verse, together with an introductory note on the circumstances of time, place, etc., in which the event occurred or the discourse was delivered; and (7) moral reflections suggested by the matter already discussed in the notes. The Greek text is almost a verbatim reprint of the Vatican Codex B, as edited by Professor Ornsby, Dublin, 1864; the Latin text is taken from F. Vercellone's edition of the Vulgate New Testament, Rome, 1861; in the English translation I have almost constantly followed the edition of the Douay Bible published by Duffy, Dublin, 1888, with the approbation of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland; and in the moral reflections I have derived much help from Cardinal De La Luzerne's 'Explication des Evangiles.'

"To attain the end which I proposed to myself, I thought it necessary to study closely the early Fathers who have expounded the gospels either in whole or in part; the best Catholic commentators, both ancient and modern; the most esteemed Protestant writers, English and foreign; High Church, Low Church and Rationalistic; the best lexicographers, grammarians and authors of works on the antiquities of the Jews. I endeavored to avail myself of all the aid which was within reach, and to present my readers with the most recent information on the subject in hand. For the convenience of those who may wish to examine further any question here treated, I have inserted references to the authorities quoted, and have prefixed to this volume a list of the works consulted.