richest, most fertile, and most populous regions of Africa.' In the country of the Mashumas, he tells us, are to be seen several ruins which some have thought to be ruins of the ancient cities of Ophir, from which it was thought that the name of Sofala was derived. He is of opinion that they are only ruins of the churches of the Jesuits of the sixteenth century. It is, however, to be noticed that Father du Jarric, who wrote in 1615, describes them as 'remains of ancient stone buildings, which in size and splendour are to be compared with those of the ancient Romans,'* and remarks that the Septuagint calls Ophir Soupheir or Sopheira, the similarity of which to Sofala is sufficiently evident. There can therefore be no doubt that these ruins belong to some ancient civilization which had disappeared before the Portuguese and the Jesuit missioners came into the country in the sixteenth century." * Jarricus de rebus Indicis, p. 129. Recent Publications. Voices from the Heart (M. H. Gill and Son, Dublin). These sacred poems will certainly please and edify all who know the history of their composition. In a literary point of view they are of very various degrees of merit, but the shortcomings are amply accounted for in the very interesting preface to the collection. The deep spirit of Christian charity which breathes in every line written by Sister Mary Alphonsus was by no means the characteristic of her early poems when her name was "Mary of the Nation." She lived to regret bitterly the vindictiveness of her youthful patriotism, and prayed for the restoration of her gift of song, that she might write in another strain. Her prayer was granted, and every word from that time was written for God alone. She was fully sensible of the unfinished state of some of the verses, and with holy indifference left it to be decided by others whether she should put them into the improved shape which she had already given to them in her own mind, or should leave them as they were. Her saintly death answered that question all too soon. Her spirit will not grieve for the diminution of poetic fame so long as her little book is permitted to live after her to do its share of good. That was her only ambition. Ellen Downing, at the age of nineteen, had said in playful words, but with deep feeling, "If I get toothache here, it is through means of those English, clenching my teeth when I think of them, and look at the country they have darkened. But after her conversion, not from carelessness to goodness, for she was always exemplary in her conduct, but from virtue to higher virtue, she wrote in a nobler tone England! dear England! to whom my heart cries, The title of the book is a little uninviting, because, although it contains a true description of the contents, it creates an expectation of something sentimental in treatment which it requires the perusal of the preface to dispel. Certainly, the last thing of which these sacred poems can be accused is affectation or unreality. Even when they are wanting in poetic inspiration they are still always fresh and pure, and straight from the heart of one who was sanctified by suffering. The Pilgrim's May-Wreath, interwoven with sweet memories of our forefathers' devotion to the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. By Rev. F. Thaddeus, O.S.F. Burns and Oates, 1880.-Those who know how deep and wide was the devotion of our countrymen in the olden time to the Mother of our Lord will be pleased with the thought of offering to her acceptance in her month of May a tribute of affection borrowed from the days of English faith and charity. Three hundred years of gloom have passed over Mary's Dower, and there is more reason for sorrow than surprise if we find that in that melancholy darkness many "sweet memories" of Mary in local tradition have perished, even among Catholics, and can only be recovered now from written records. The whole land was redolent of her praise. The May-Wreath points out to us some of her many shrines which we are invited to visit in spirit day by day. Thus, for example, on the 1st of May St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, is commemorated; on the 2nd, our Lady of the Pieu, Westminster;* on the 3rd, Muswell Hill, Middlesex. Under each day we find (1) a * Consult Mr. Waterton's Pietas Mariana Britannica, p. 229. short historical sketch of the place selected for that day's spiritual pilgrimage; (2) a meditation on our Blessed Lady; (3) an English anecdote. The Apparition at Knock, with the depositions of the Witnesses. By Sister Mary Frances Clare. Burns and Oates; M. H. Gill and Son.-Everybody by this time has heard of the little church of Knock, and, as always happens when a history passes from mouth to mouth, various versions of the wonderful event have been disseminated. The discrepancies in minor details are less remarkable than the agreement in the main outlines. Pending the decision of the ecclesiastical authorities, it is highly desirable that a corrected account drawn up by some more responsible personage than a newspaper correspondent should give the data needed for arriving at a sensible opinion. This is just what Sister Mary Frances Clare has endeavoured to do, and she seeks to quicken charity as well as faith by declaring that the profits of the sale of her little book are to be devoted to the famine-stricken poor in all parts of Ireland. Practical Notes on Moral Training. With Preface by Father Gallwey, S.J. Burns and Oates, 1879.-It is difficult to exaggerate the value of a really good treatise, such as this unquestionably is, upon the difficult science of forming character, a science of supreme importance to the future of mankind. Parents, tutors, governesses, are very often very foolish in their management of the young souls confided to their care. Children can be spoiled in many ways quite as readily by ill-timed severity as by ill-timed indulgence—and, without any wrong intention, mischief to last a lifetime may be done by injudicious treatment in a few months. The first requisite in parents and teachers is a sense of responsibility. God will hold them severely to account if by their culpable incompetence young souls are thrown into the dangers of social life without those acquired habits of self-command which alone can save them from making shipwreck of virtue first and faith afterwards. But a sense of responsibility is not all that is needed. There must be knowledge gathered from the experience of others. Those who have charge of children are not justified in trying experiments in training them, for souls are much too precious to be trifled with. Therefore it is a part of the duty of parents and teachers to do their best to profit by the example of others, to endeavour according to their opportunities to find out, and, having found out, to be careful to adopt, the most approved method and the most secure course for bringing up their children in the fear of God. Sketches of Lives of Dominican Saints of olden times. By M. K. Dublin: M. H. Gill and Son, 1880. To make the examples of holiness which are the unshared glory of the Catholic Church better known in the families of the faithful is a praiseworthy object of Christian zeal. We want "Lives of Saints" in every available form, not only critical disquisitions for the learned, but also "simple sketches"-we quote from our author's Preface-"for simple people." The practical usefulness of the lecture does not depend upon the display of erudition, nor is it to be supposed that all devout clients of a philosophersaint need be philosophers themselves. The virtues of even St. Thomas of Aquin can be imitated by many, who cannot appreciate the excellence of his reasoning or form any very definite idea of what is meant when he is called the "Angel of the Schools." They will have read his life to some purpose if they strive to imitate his simplicity of heart. These sketches commemorate St. Dominic, St. Peter of Verona, St. Hyacinth, St. Agnes of Monte Pulciano, St. Thomas of Aquin, St. Raymond of Pennafort, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Vincent Ferrer, St. Antoninus, St. Pius the Fifth, Pope, St. John of Cologne, St. Catharine de Ricci, St. Lewis Bertrand, St. Rose of Lima, and nine |