P. 33.—The symbols are to be read by calling the letters and the small numbers one after the other, in the order in which they occur. If a compound contains an element which requires two letters to express it, the latter one, always a small letter, as on page 35, AgNO₃, it is to be read in the same way, with a shorter pause between the A and g than between the other letters, as A-g—N—O-₃. Ag and O₃ might be compared to words of two syllables. The number always belongs to the letter which it follows. P. 60. “Sir Humphrey Davy.” See C. L. S. C. Notes, page 59 of vol. v of THE CHAUTAUQUAN. “Biot,” Jean Baptiste (bēˈōˌ). (1774-1862.) A French savant. His fame rests upon his mathematical, physical, and astronomical writings. Biot’s description of Cavendish, translated from the French: “The richest of all learned men, and probably, also, the most learned of all rich men.” P. 63.—“La Trappe.” A Benedictine convent in France, famous for the austerity of its monks, founded in the twelfth century. “Van Helmont.” (1577-1644.) A Flemish physician, chemist, and philosopher. He attempted a reform in medicine, but his system was so mingled with mysticism that it is not of much practical value. He succeeded, however, in introducing much exactness into science. NOTES ON REQUIRED READINGS IN “THE CHAUTAUQUAN.” HOW ENGLISH DIFFERS FROM OTHER LANGUAGES. 1. Perhaps this absurdity, and the complications it involves, may be better illustrated by the following few lines from one of DeBertrand’s novels. (They might be found in a dozen others.) “Madame,” dit il, “il y a là une [feminine] personne qui demand M. le Baron.” “Quelle [feminine] est cette [feminine] personne?” “C’est un [masculine] monsieur,” etc.[I] Thus, it will be seen, both feminine and masculine articles must be used to designate the same object; and a person must be spoken of as feminine, although the person is a man; the reason being that _personne_, the _word_, is feminine.—_Richard Grant White._ [I] “Madame,” said he, “there is a person without who asks for the Baron.” “Who is this person?” “It is a gentleman,” etc. 2. For contrary to apparently reasonable assumption, the history of language shows that minute and highly wrought grammatical forms are the signs, or at least the accompaniments, not of advanced civilization and high culture, but of a rude and savage condition of society. The further we penetrate the obscure of antiquity, the more grammar we find. The oldest language known to us, the Sanskrit, is the most complex and elaborate in its grammar; the youngest, English, is, to all intents and purposes, grammarless; and Sanskrit grammar is at least four thousand years old. My readers will now see why it was that I said the minute forms and complicated grammatical relations of the Greek language are not the signs of a high development of language, but were relics of barbarism.—_Richard Grant White._ 3. “Galore,” gā-loreˈ. Plenty, abundance. SUNDAY READINGS.