Perhaps the wider studies in the older

greater than the difference in their ages. spread of interest in, and leisure for, such country, the greater willingness to incur the criticism of adverse or sceptical opinion, and the support, which the British society secures but the American for the most part lacks, of men of large influence in political and ecclesiastical circles, may account in part for this difference. It has been even suggested that the number of "sensitives," that is, of those who have a special susceptibility to what is known as thought-transference, and other extraordinary and mysterious influences, may be greater in England than here. Our experience, however, has scarcely as yet gone far enough to warrant such a conclusion. We note in this connection that while the tone of the American report of proceedings in 1885 is almost wholly negative and sceptical as to the existence of such phenomena as the British society describes with great detail, the tone of the report for 1886 is more positive. The earlier report, for example, ends with the conclusion that thought-transference is not at all ordinary, or that "thoughts, such as have been made the subject of our experiments, are not likely to be transferred between two individuals taken at random." But the later report contains several quite remarkable cases of success in the "card-test," and in drawing copies of diagrams by thought-transference. Of some of these cases the verdict is that they "seem to confirm the accuracy of the results arrived at by the English Society of Psychical Research."

Perhaps the most valuable paper, on the whole, in these proceedings is the mathematical paper in which the doctrine of probabilities is applied to the card-test, and other similar tests, and the existence of a so-called "number-habit," or preferred order of guessing at numbers or of writing down numbers, is brought out.

The brief paper of Professor James on hypnotism shows those qualities of candor and acuteness, and that thorough training in physiological and psychological studies, which characterize all the work of this investigator. We sincerely hope that he may be able to prosecute these studies further. It is worthy of note also that he concludes with reference to one medium who "showed a most startling intimacy" with the affairs of a certain family, that she was "honest," and her trance genuine.

The American Society for Psychical Research certainly deserves a wider support, especially in the form of contributions needed. for securing continuous and thorough investigation.

PSYCHIC STUDIES.*-This little volume must certainly be regarded as somewhat premature, for it undertakes to show how the researches of the British Society for Psychical Research may be reconciled with the biblical view of miracles, prophecy, angelic appearances, demons, etc. But these researches, although very promising and of intense interest to students of psychology, can scarcely as yet be said to have yielded any assured results calling for such reconciliation. Most of the views proposed by the volume, however, are moderate and eminently sensible; and if further inquiry should elicit definite information respecting these mysterious phenomena with which "psychic studies" attempt to deal, we may perhaps look to its author for assistance in pointing out the relation of such phenomena to those recorded in the Bible.

GEOMETRICAL PSYCHOLOGY.-This book is a serious and elaborate attempt to represent the most abstruse psychological and philosophical truths by curves, spirals, and other forms of geometrical symbolism. The author has spent years of study in perfecting a system of such symbolical representation. That it is an ingenious, laborious, and interesting piece of work we do not question; nor are we disposed to deny the possibility of its stirring and defining certain thoughts in those minds that are peculiarly inclined and trained to run in the lines of the sublime science of geometry. Nevertheless, that is true of this attempt, which must always be true of all similar attempts; in order to be intelligible and communicable to the majority of thinkers the symbolism must itself be interpreted into words. Instead, then, of diminishing the chances of being misunderstood or of being unintelligible, this so-called "geometrical psychology" increases them. A double interpretation becomes necessary; first of the geometrical symbols into words, and then of the words into conceptions. In all psychological and philosophical studies spaceforms are of little independent value as modes of expression; mathematical demonstration can never take the place of verbal exposition and argument.

*The New Psychic Studies in their relation to Christian Thought. By FRANKLIN JOHNSON, D.D. Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1887.

+ Geometrical Psychology or The Science of Representation. An Abstract of the Theories and Diagrams of B. W. Betts. By LOUISA S. COOK. London, George Redway, 1887.

THE CONCEPTION OF THE INFINITE.*-In this small volume the author attempts an analysis of these two problems, or rather parts of one problem: Can we in any way mentally represent the Infinite? and, What is the nature of this mental representation? The answer to the first question is in the affirmative, and is given in part as the result of a critical exposition of the fallacies which have entered into the negative answers of Kant, Hamilton, and Mill. These thinkers have all erred, according to Professor Fullerton, in regarding the infinite as a "quantitative conception," or rather a successive synthesis of mental images of quantity that are necessarily incapable of ever bringing the infinite before the mind as a whole. But the view advocated by this volume is that the infinite is a "strictly qualitative" conception or general notion, the marks of which are "unlimited possibility of quantity."

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The analysis of the book is acute and interesting; and the distinction between the ability to image the infinite as a quantitative whole by a successive synthesis and the ability to form some sort of a conception to which the word corresponds, is undoubtedly valid. But after all, the analysis which Professor Fullerton accomplishes, if its correctness be accepted, brings us around again to the difficulties from which it took its start. For in this conception of the "unlimited possibility of quantity" we know what the mark of quantity" is, what the mark of "possibility" is, and so what is a "possibility of quantity." But what is an unlimited possibility of quantity? To answer this question is, indeed, the rub; for the infinity of the concept-that is, its characteristic quality-as Professor Fullerton has defined it, lies in this word, "unlimited." Now if we try to image the "unlimited possibility," etc., we have the vain attempt at an unending synthesis. But if we regard this unlimitedness as itself a concept, it is equivalent to the very concept from which we set out, namely, to the concept of the Infinite. For are not unlimited and infinite one and the same term?

THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION.t-This book is one of great interest, and well deserving of the careful study of every teacher

*The Conception of the Infinite, and the Solution of the Mathematical Antinomies: A Study in Psychological Analysis, by GEORGE S. FULLERTON, A.M., Adjunct Professor of Philosophy in the University of Pennsylvania. J. B. Lippincott Company, 1887.

The Philosophy of Education. By JOHANN KARL FRIEDERICK ROSENKRANZ, translated from the German by Anna C. Brackett. New York. D. Appleton & Co.

1887.

who desires to understand the foundations and meaning of his art. It has the distinction of being the only work on the philosophy of education by a really philosophical mind, as distinguished from works on the theory and practice of teaching. Although less than three hundred pages in extent it furnishes a wonderfully complete treatment of its subject; of this any one who will take pains even to read the epitome contained in the preface of the editor, Dr. Wm. T. Harris, or to glance over the table of contents, will be amply convinced. The key-note is struck firmly in the first sentence of the first chapter (p. 19): "The nature of education is determined by the nature of mind-that it can develop what it is in itself only by its own activity." . . . Again: "Education is the influencing of man by man, and it has for its end to lead him to actualize himself through his own efforts."

This book, although treating of the philosophy of education, is far from dull; it abounds in suggestions of great helpfulness to the practice of teaching. For example, on the preparation and use of text-books, Rosenkranz has very stimulating and suggestive remarks. "If we are indebted," says he, "to life for our perceptions, we must chiefly thank books for our understanding of our perceptions" (p. 121). "The recorded wisdom of the human race is preserved in books, and hence the chief province of the school is to endow the pupil with power to use books profitably through life so that he may perpetually draw from that reservoir of wisdom and interpret his own life."

MISCELLANEOUS.

SOPHOCLES' GREEK LEXICON.*-There are few more interesting literary phenomena than the persistence of the Greek language. Through revolutions, invasions, and long periods of oppression, this noble language has still survived. Greece fell before the Roman arms, but her language lived on, and has now outlived the Roman's tongue by many centuries. One might compare the language of classic Greece to those famous works of Greek genius, which time and war had thrown down, marred, broken and buried in the soil. They are brought forth at length and are examined. The features are disfigured, parts of the form are lost, but the outline yet remains. They * Greek Lexicon of the Roman and Byzantine Periods, (from B.C. 146 to A.D. 1100). By E. A. SOPHOCLES. Memorial Edition. Chas. Scribner's Sons, New York. $10 net.

still bear the evidences of the skill which shaped them. They are still beautiful and precious. So it is with the language of Greece. The finished syntax is broken down, the classic forms have been modified, and the vocabulary corrupted from many sources; but it is the Greek language still. Classic Greek does not survive in the modern merely in the sense in which AngloSaxon survives in English, or Latin in French and Italian.

To trace the transitions of the Greek language from the classical period until now is an interesting and difficult task. It was in this field that the late Professor Sophocles, himself a native Greek, pursued his special studies so long and so successfully. He has placed before us in this Lexicon the results of a wide and intimate knowledge of the Post-classical and Medieval Greek. It is a work which only specialists in Greek philology will be likely to use; but a work covering so completely and so exclusively a field of its own, as to entitle it to strong commendation. It has been before the public for more than fifteen years, but is now re-issued in a superb memorial edition, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Thayer, of Harvard University.

The Introduction contains a valuable sketch of the periods of transition through which the Greek language has passed with lists of the principal authors belonging to each.

GEORGE B. STEVENS.

THE ART AMATEUR announces for 1888 many attractions which will make it more than ever indispensable to all students and lovers of art, and a very welcome guest in every cultivated home. The number for November has a color study of "Grapes," by A. J. H. Way, a bold and effective figure of a "Sportsman" for tapestry painting, a pen and ink study of "Nasturtiums," and a profusely illustrated article on Cats," the first of a series on animal painting and painters. The numerous designs include two full-page figures-a Breton peasant by Jules Breton, and a Flem ish maid after Toudouze; china painting decorations for a cream jug, panel and plaque (snowberry, sweetbrier and begonia); embroidery designs for a cushion and a sermon case, and a page of monograms in P. There are also practical articles on fruit painting in oils (with special reference to the grape study), "wet" water color, photograph painting, flower painting on Holland, and tapestry painting; "Hints about Art Galleries;" and an account of "A Modern French House." Price 35 cents a number. Montague Marks, publisher, 23 Union Square, New York.