Review

Reviewed Work(s): PAGINAS SUDAMERICANAS by Helen Phipps

Source: The Journal of Education, Vol. 92, No. 13 (2299) (OCTOBER 14, 1920), p. 356
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42830046
Accessed: 28-02-2019 08:31 UTC

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 35§ October 14, 1920

FOREIGN BOOKS
NOTICED BY PROFESSOR HENRY GRATTAN DOYLE

George Washington University

PÁGINAS SUDAMERICANAS. By Helen Phipps, the fascinating medieval period, will find this book
Instructor in Spanish, University of Texas. Yonk- of absorbing interest and never-ending utility.
ers-on-Hudson, N. Y. : World Book Company.
Cloth. Illustrated. 230 pp. Price, 88 cents.
READING, WRITING, AND SPEAKING SPANISH.
The best thought in language teaching favors the
use in elementary classes, especially in high schools, By Margaret C. Dowling, Mission High School,
San Francisco. New York: American Book Com-
of what Lawrence A. Wilkins, the foremost author-
pany. Cloth. Illustrated. 256 pp.
ity on language teaching methods in the country,
This attractive little book for beginners in Span-
calls "constructed" texts, as opposed to so-called
ish makes a -splendid text for Junior High Schools,
"classics." Miss Phipps here presents an elementary
and serves as an introduction to the language and a
Spanish reader that has all the good points of the
foundation for later more thorough study. Its aim
"constructed" reader, combined with the advantage
of being written by Spanish-Americans. Her text isis "to give a working vocabulary and ability to use
it in speaking and writing simple Spanish." The ma-
mostly adapted from the Spanish edition of the Pan-
terial is extremely interesting and of a practical na-
American Union Bulletin, and is therefore free from
ture, and is attractively presented. The vocabulary
conversiation, dialogue, and idioms lugged in to illus-
taught is not all-embracing, but it does include many
trate a point, the style being pure narrative descrip-
words of comtnon, frequent use.
tion of practically uniform difficulty throughout.
The reading texts deal with everyday life, Spanish-
There is no story-interest; the book simply presents
American life and customs, etc., agreeable illustra-
in a dignified way the essential interesting facts
tions adding much to their charm. Proper attention
about each country, such as its history, geography,
is paid to building up a vocabulary by the use of anal-
economic possibilities, large cities, government, lead-
ogy, lists of words alike or nearly alike in Spanish
ing industries, etc. Striking chapters are those on
and English being utilized for the purpose. The
"vegetable ivory," the "jipijapa" ("Panama") hat in-
"familiar" pronouns and verb-form® are not given
dustry, "hierba mate" (an herb infusion similar to
except in paradigms, the pupils using "usted" exclu- .
tea, but more stimulating), and the saltpetre indus-
sivěly from the start. The exercises are of different
try of Chile. For each chapter the editor has pro-sorts and of varied interest. The usual vocabularies
vided brief "cuestionarios." The usual vocabulary is
included. There are numerous illustrations. The ex- and index are included. The book is thoroughly at-
tractive physically, something not to be neglected in
cellence of paper and typography that characterizes
these days when rising costs have compelled the use
the previous books of the New-World Spanish Se-
of inferior paper and inferior binding. For young
ries is maintained in this latest addition to a worthy
list. pupils the book has pronounced usefulness, both be-
cause it is adapted to their years and experience, and
because it is interesting, well-graded, and attractive.
LÀ CHANSON DE ROLAND. A Modern French
Translation of Müller's Text of the Oxford Manu-
MES PREMIERS PAS EN FRANCAIS. REGLES
script. With introduction, bibliography, notes, in-
ET EXERCICES GRAMMATICALES. By Nannie
dex, map, illustrations, and manuscript readings.
. By James Geddes, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of Romance G. Blackwell and Clio M. Chilcott, Washington
Languages, Boston University. New York : The Irving High School, New York City. New York:
Macmillan Company. Cloth. Illustrated. 476 do. D. C. Heath and Company. Paper. 48 pp.
It is impossible to read the "Chanson de Roland" in This interesting pamphlet is intended as a supple-
ment to the highly popular "Premiers Pas en Fran-
the original without previous training in Old French;
but it is possible for any student of French to read çais," although it may also be used independently.
The original book follows a method chiefly oral, and
and enjoy this modern French version of the poem by
the function of this supplement is to afford written
Professor Geddes. In concise, real French he gives
a straightforward translation of the 4000-odd lines of drill work thereon, preceded by a systematic presen-
the poem, albeit retaining all the archaic flavor of tation (in French) of the main facts of grammar. A
the original masterpiece. But the book is more than résumé of inflected forms is also provided. This new
a mere translation; it is an introduction to the "Ro- material brings "Mes Premiers Pas" completely info
accord with the syllabus of the New York City
land itself. Professor Geddes is a former pupil of
Schools. The vowel chart ( a unique adaptation of
Professor E. S. Sheldon of Harvard, the greatest liv-
the vowel triangle) included in the pamphlet is the
ing authority on Old French, and that influence, once
work of Dr. Alexander Green of D. C. Heath and
undergone, is always potent. So we find over eighty
Company, and is a very clever arrangement, the
pages of the text devoted to a scholarly summary of
amount of rounding and opening being vividly illus^
all that is known of the poem, - its manuscripts, its
language, its contents, its characters, its metrical trated graphically. The typography is unusually
structure, its place in literature, etc. This is fol- clear and clean as in the original book.
lowed by an extremely valuable bibliography, in
French, comprising 365 entries; not a mere catalogue GIL BLAS DE SANTILLANA. Spanish version by
of books, but a real bibliography, with summaries, Padre Isla of the French original of Lesage. Ab-:
covering ail the phases of Roland-study: philological, breviated and edited* with conversation and com:
♦historical, critical, literary. Full notes, a .number of position exercises and vocabulary, by Ventura Fu-
pages of variant readings, and an adequate index arç entes and Victor E. François, of the College of the
included. A word of praise is also due the illustra- ,City #f New York. New Yorjç; Henry JJçlt & Cq;
tions, which are taken from old manuscripts and add Clojh. 216 pp.
interest and atmosphere to the study of the poem. This js ,a edition of a# old favorite, en&t
fiot çnly Selleris of prençfc, but tho^e who Jpve ^rsaljy rm<ļ m Spanish efasse?, SÍ Jate year«

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