But alas! he makes the vicar himself save his faith from shipwreck by marrying the woman he wants—a queer and new argument for the marriage of the clergy, to be able to _believe_ through such means. Not that this is intended by the author for any such argument; he being a Presbyterian, makes no question of the propriety and wisdom of the clergy marrying, but that a clergyman should be taught _belief_ by getting the woman of his choice _is_ “passing strange.” He also prefers giving his daughter to a sceptic rather than to a “thoroughly religious man,” for fear the latter might “_confirm her in doubt_.” To a Catholic, this seems a wonderful conclusion. The chapter called “Child Nonsense” is nonsense indeed, and much below “Mother Goose” in literary merit. We wonder it found a place in the volume, which contains much genuine wit and good writing. The illustrations to the book are clever, and the type and binding attractive. AMBITION’S CONTEST; or, Faith and Intellect. By “Christine.” Boston: P. Donahoe. 1872. We cannot, perhaps, give a better idea of the style and scope of this modest volume than by a quotation from the Preface: “It would be presumptuous to say that I have attempted this little work in order to aid in preventing these numerous wrecks of the soul; for where other and gifted pens, essaying so much and so well in this direction, still find it difficult to do all _they_ would, it would be folly to suppose that my crude effort could accomplish anything. Still it is an effort made for the purpose of accomplishing _some_ good, and written under the auspices of her who has never yet failed to assist the weak, the ever‐glorious and Blessed Virgin‐Mother of God, it may perhaps add a mite to that which is now being done for the proper training of our Catholic youth.” GARDENING BY MYSELF. By Anna Warner. New York: A. D. F. Randolph. 1872. We cannot imagine a pleasanter way of studying horticulture than by adopting Miss Warner’s volume as a text‐book. We can overlook the little attempts at moralizing, after the evangelical fashion, as she goes along, in view of the dismal theological efforts made by her sister (if we mistake not) a few years since. We advise our lady readers who have space for cultivating flowers to consult this little manual, assured that the occupation of which it discourses, and its results, will bring them a large store of unalloyed enjoyment. THE CATHOLIC PUBLICATION SOCIETY has in press, and will publish early in November, _The Life and Times of Sixtus the Fifth_, by Baron Hubner. Translated from the original French by James F. Meline. THE CATHOLIC WORLD. VOL. XVI., NO. 92.—NOVEMBER, 1872. Centres Of Thought In The Past. Second Article. The Universities.