The authors find that the great weakness of English education in the past has been want of a definite aim to put before the children, and the want of a philosophy for the teacher. Without some understanding of the meaning and purpose of life the teacher is at the mercy of every fad, and is apt to exalt method above principle. This book is an attempt to gather together certain recognised principles, and to show in the light of actual experience how these may be applied to existing circumstances. They put forward a strong plea for the recognition of the true value of Play, the "spontaneous activity in all directions," and for courage and faith on the part of the teacher to put this recognition into practice; and they look forward to the time when the conditions of public Elementary Schools, from the Nursery School up, will be such--in point of numbers, space, situation and beauty of surroundings--that parents of any class will gladly let their children attend them. * * * * * _Further volumes in this series are in preparation and will be published shortly._ FIRST PRINCIPLES OF MUSIC. By F. J. READ, Mus. Doc. (Oxon.) Formerly Professor at the Royal College of Music. _Crown 8vo._ =1s. 6d.= This book is the result of the author's long experience as Professor of Theory at the Royal College of Music, and is the clearest and most concise treatise of the kind that has yet been written. "It is a useful little book, covering a wider field than any other of the kind that we know."--_The Times._ "It is calculated to quicken interest in various subjects outside the normal scope of an elementary musical grammar. The illustrated chapter on orchestral instruments, for instance, is a welcome and stimulating innovation."--_Daily Telegraph._ LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD, 41 & 43 MADDOX STREET, W. 1. =Transcriber's Notes:= hyphenation, spelling and grammar have been preserved as in the original Page 21, Azizieh possibly should be Aziziah, but left as is Page 58, no common languge ==> no common language Page 81, smallest detail, for month ==> smallest detail, for months Page 85, supected of something ==> suspected of something Page 123, Mr. Morgenthan ==> Mr. Morgenthau Announcements at end, page 3, Bagdhad venture ==> Baghdad venture End of Project Gutenberg's Caught by the Turks, by Francis Yeats-Brown