business, but also in the destruction of the plates of nine volumes of the history, and of the whole edition of the first volume of the "Oregon." In rebuilding and reorganizing the concern, it was necessary to dispose of a part of the business. Mr. Bancroft, having determined to devote his life to the history, resolved to sacrifice all to that. Hence the new concern is formed as "The History Company," and its peculiar work till that is done will be to bring out this "History."
Physical Training in American Colleges and Universities. By Edward Mussey Hartwell. Washington: Government Printing-Office. Pp. 183, with Plates.
This is one of the "Circulars of Information" of the Bureau of Education, and is published at the request of the commissioner. Dr. Hartwell makes a comprehensive and satisfactory presentation of the subject. He begins with a sketch of the "ideals of manly excellence" and a running history of gymnastic training down to the time of Fellenberg and the Hofwyl schools; then describes the "Introduction of Gymnastics into America," from the starting of the Fellenberg schools in 1824 and 1825; relates the development of the "New Gymnastics," and records the history of the building of gymnasia in colleges. The particular accounts of the principal college gymnasia and gymnasia of the Young Men's Christian Associations are illustrated with views and plans of buildings. Tables are given exhibiting the facts that twenty-six colleges in the United States have buildings exclusively devoted to gymnastic purposes, the cost of which, including fittings, is estimated at $750,000; and twenty other institutions have gymnasium or drill-halls. Nine theological schools also have gymnasia. During the year ending July 1, 1884, thirty-three officers of the army were detailed to duty at colleges, universities, and schools of superior instruction to young men, for giving military drill. College athletics have been most developed in the East, and particularly at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. At most country colleges ample facilities in the way of grounds are furnished for the playing of base-ball, foot-ball, and tennis; and since track athletics, or walking, jumping, sprint and hurdle races, have become popular, very considerable sums have been spent on the grading and improvement of athletic fields. "Exhibitions and contests of every description which would not have been licensed or tolerated, much less pecuniarily supported, thirty years ago, now yield quick and large returns in popularity and cash to their promoters." On the subject of college athletics, the report draws largely upon the article of Professor Richards in "The Popular Science Monthly" for February and March, 1884, which is pronounced "the fairest and most intelligent paper elicited by the recent discussion of athleticism which has come under our notice," and one in which "the whole system is so well set forth, its advantages are so cogently argued, and the attacks of its critics so temperately met, that it seems best to quote copiously from it. Its exposition of the reciprocal relations of bodywork and brain-work should be grasped by every teacher." But professionalism, defined as "the purpose to win a game by any means, fair or foul," has come in to bring discredit upon college sports, and make recognition and regulation of them by faculties necessary; and what has been done and attempted in this direction is reviewed. "Women's schools and colleges are not, as a class, so well organized on the side of physical training as those for men, but something has been done in a few of them, and the Association of Collegiate Alumnae is laboring to awaken interest in the subject. A sketch of the condition of physical training in Germany forms an appendix to the report.
Report of a Commission appointed to consider a General System of Drainage for the Valleys of Mystic, Blackstone, and Charles Rivers, Massachusetts. Boston: Wright and Potter Printing Company. Pp. 243, with Plates and Maps.
The commission was appointed in 1884 to consider and report a general system of drainage for the relief of the valleys of the rivers named, and for the protection of the public water-supplies of the cities and towns situated within their basins; also to examine the various methods of disposal of sewage. And it was further authorized to consider and report upon the needs of any
