A Schoolmaster's Retrospict. By Maurice C. Rime, M.A. (Simpkin,
Marshall, and Co.)—Mr. Hume, in reviewing a period of somewhat more than eighteen years of a schoolmaster's life, takes the opportunity of stating some experiences and conclusions. Some of these are of general interest; some refer to Irish or local matters. We do not find ourselves always in agreement with Mr. Rime, but we can testify that he is always worth listening to. He is absolutely opposed to corporal punishment, an opinion wherein he certainly differs from great authorities. Indeed, he has given up all punishment whatever. This is very curious, and we should like to hear more about it. As to the subject of edueation, he prefers to walk on the old paths. He pleads for the more frequent admission of laymen to the headmaster. ships of schools. Indeed, he puts his argument in snob a way that one would infer that no clergyman ought to be a schoolmaster. " School- masters should be physicians," not in esse, but in posse. Many other matters are dealt with, and always in a sensible, reasonable way. About the prospects of Irish schools and schoolmasters, Mr. Rime has some interesting things to say. The Disestabliehment of the Irish Church has injured them, as might be expected. Landowners, land. agents, and lawyers, especially conveyancers, have suffered from the land agitation, and cannot afford their former outlay on education. On the other hand, school-keeping is more costly than it was. Meat that cost 41(1. per pound in 186d, now costs Rd. or Sid. Servants' and labourers' wages are much higher. (How do these facts fit in, by the way, with the tale of the tenant-farmers' distress ? Men who get nearly twice the old price for their meat—and Ireland is mainly a grazing country—and pay reduced rents, or no rent at all, ought to be well off.) This is a useful and interesting book.
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