THE
BOOK REVIEW DIGEST
FIFTH ANNUAL CUMULATION
BOOK REVIEWS OF 1909 IN ONE ALPHABET

Departing somewhat from the customary order of the preface for the annual Book Review Digest, we shall omit the usual explanations. We believe that four annual recitals have been enough to familiarize our patrons with the scope and purpose of this work as an organ of book valuation. Instead, we should like to say a word to the publisher, the author and the librarian—all three of whom look upon book criticism from different angles of interest.

The publisher, above all else, wants to sell his book; the author desires to be understood and appreciated; the librarian aims to provide the best food for the appetite of the reading public. If the publisher cannot find in reviews material that will aid him in putting his book on the market; if the author is misunderstood and misjudged; and if the librarian sees ground for complaint in the over favorable tone of reviews and in the lack of comparative estimates, the trouble may usually be traced to the book itself or to the reviewer.

We shall pass over the author’s duty to readers. We do wish, however, to remind our patrons that the responsibility of the reviewer is a vital one. Thru his criticism, the book is made or marred for a large class of readers who have not time to experiment with the season’s output of literature. Because the reviewer’s obligation is a serious one, the list of periodicals from which we cull excerpt material for the Book Review Digest has been selected with the utmost care; only reliable and authoritative magazines have been chosen whose departure from high standards of excellence results in injury to an established reputation. The reviews published in such periodicals may not be infallible—nothing short of the millennium can eliminate personal bias—but they represent the most conscientious interpretation and the best judgment of the present day.

With the foregoing facts in mind, we beg our patrons to remember that the Book Review Digest, without an opinion of its own, aims only to assemble the various critical judgments in a manner that will enable a reader to arrive quickly at a reasonably intelligent conclusion concerning the merits of a new book, and to offer reference data that will make possible easy access to the reviews from which the clippings were made.

• Am. Hist. R.—American Historical Review. $4. Macmillan Company, 66 Fifth Ave., New York.
• Am. J. Soc.—American Journal of Sociology. $2. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Am. J. Theol.—American Journal of Theology. $3. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• A. L. A. Bkl.—A. L. A. Booklist. $1. A. L. A. Publishing Board, 34 Newbury St., Boston.
• Ann. Am. Acad.—Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. $6. 36th and Woodland Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.
• Arena.—Arena. Discontinued.
• Astrophys. J.—Astrophysical Journal. $5. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Ath.—Athenæum. $4.25. Bream’s Buildings, Chancery Lane, E. C., London.
• Atlan.—Atlantic Monthly. $4. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 4 Park St., Boston, Mass.
• Bib. World.—Biblical World. $2. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Bookm.—Bookman. $2.50. Dodd, Mead & Co., 372 5th Ave., New York.
• Bot. Gaz.—Botanical Gazette. $7. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
• Cath. World.—Catholic World. $3. 120–122 W. 60th St., New York.
• Char.—Charities. Continued in Survey.
• Class. J.—Classical Journal. $1.50. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Class. Philol.—Classical Philology. $2.50. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Dial.—Dial. $2. Fine Arts Building, 203 Michigan Blvd., Chicago, Ill.
• Econ. Bull.—Economic Bulletin. $2. American Economic Association. Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca, N. Y.
• Educ. R.—Educational Review. $3. Educational Review Pub. Co., Rahway, N. J.
• Elec. World.—Electrical World. $3. McGraw Publishing Co., 239 West 39th St., New York.
• El. School T.—Elementary School Teacher. $1.50. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Engin. D.—Engineering Digest. $2. Technical Literature Co., 220 Broadway, New York.
• Engin. N.—Engineering News. $5. 220 Broadway, New York.
• Engin. Rec.—Engineering Record. $3. McGraw Publishing Co., 239 West 39th St., New York.
• Eng. Hist. R.—English Historical Review. $6. Longmans, Green, & Co., 39 Paternoster Row, London, E. C.
• Forum.—Forum. $2. Forum Publishing Co., 45 East 42d Street, New York.
• Hibbert J.—Hibbert Journal. $2.50. Sherman, French & Co., 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.
• Ind.—Independent. $3. 130 Fulton St., New York.
• Int. J. Ethics.—International Journal of Ethics. $2.50. 1415 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa.
• Int. Studio.—International Studio. $5. John Lane, 110–114 West 32d Street, New York.
• J. Geol.—Journal of Geology. $3. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• J. Philos.—Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods. $3. Science Press, Lancaster, Pa.
• J. Pol. Econ.—Journal of Political Economy. $3. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Lit. D.—Literary Digest. $3. 44–60 East 23d Street, New York.
• Mod. Philol.—Modern Philology. $3. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Nation.—Nation. $3. P. O. Box 794, New York.
• Nature.—Nature. 31s. 6d. Macmillan Company, 66 Fifth Ave., New York.
• N. Y. Times.—New York Times Saturday Review, New York.
• No. Am.—North American Review. $4. North American Review Pub. Co., Franklin Sq., New York.
• Outlook.—Outlook. $3. Outlook Co., 287 4th Ave., New York.
• Philos. R.—Philosophical Review. $3. Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
• Phys. R.—Physical Review. $5. Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
• Pol. Sci. Q.—Political Science Quarterly. $3. Ginn & Co., 29 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.
• Psychol. Bull.—Psychological Bulletin. $2. 41 North Queen St., Lancaster, Pa.
• Putnam’s.—Putnam’s and the Reader. $3. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 27 & 29 W. 23d St., New York.
• R. of Rs.—American Monthly Review of Reviews. $3. Review of Reviews Co., 13 Astor Place, New York.
• Sat. R.—Saturday Review. $7.50. 33 Southampton St., Strand, London.
• School R.—School Review. $1.50. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill.
• Science, n.s.—Science (new series). $5. Science Press, Sub-Station 84, New York.
• Spec.—Spectator. $7.50. 1 Wellington St., Strand, London.
• Survey.—Survey. $2. Charity Organization Soc., 105 East 22d St., New York.
• Yale. R.—Yale Review. $3. Yale Publishing Ass’n., 135 Elm St., New Haven, Conn.

OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:

• Abbreviations of Publishers’ Names will be found in the Publishers’ Directory at the end of The Cumulative Book Index.
• An Asterisk (*) before the price indicates those books sold at a limited discount and commonly known as net books. Books subject to the rules of the American Publishers’ Association are marked by a double asterisk (**) when the bookseller is required to maintain the list price; by a dagger † when the maximum discount is fixed at 20 and 10 per cent, as is allowable in the case of fiction.
• The plus and minus signs preceding the names of the magazines indicate the degrees of favor or disfavor of the entire review.
• In the reference to a magazine, the first number refers to the volume, the next to the page and the letters to the date.
• Books noticed since the April number have the month’s number immediately below the author’s name in the entry heading.
• A Maltese Cross (✠) indicates that the A. L. A. Booklist recommends the book for small libraries, or for immediate purchase.

The publications, named above, undoubtedly represent the leading reviews of the English-speaking world. Few libraries are able to subscribe for all and the smaller libraries are supplied with comparatively few of the periodicals from which the digests are to be culled. For this reason the digests will be of greater value to the small libraries, since it places at their disposal, in most convenient form, a vast amount of valuable information about books, which would not otherwise be available.

We shall endeavor to make the descriptive notes so comprehensive, and the digests so full and accurate, that librarians who do not have access to the reviews themselves, will be able to arrive at substantially correct appreciations of the value of the books reviewed.

This is particularly true in regard to the English periodicals, which are practically out of the reach of the ordinary library, we shall endeavor to make the digest of these reviews so complete that there will be little occasion to refer to the original publications.

Abbey, George.^[9] Balance of nature and modern conditions of cultivation; a practical manual of animal foes and friends for the country gentleman, the farmer, the forester, the gardener and the sportsman. *$2.50. Dutton.

“Classifies and analyzes the common animals and birds with reference to the harm or good they do to man. The classification into ‘Insectivorous and harmless,’ ‘Partly useful and partly injurious,’ and ‘Destructive,’ is applied in successive chapters to wild animals, wild birds, water birds, migratory birds, reptiles, and game. The author attempts neither to defend nor condemn, but with scientific impartiality tells the story of each creature’s habits and conduct from the standpoint of man’s welfare.”—Dial.

“If any fault is to be found with the author’s sense of justice, it is that, while the second part of his book gives directions for trapping or otherwise destroying those creatures that sometimes do harm, no corresponding space is given to directions for protecting and preserving those that do good.”

“Mr. Abbey shows himself a close observer, and in food habits at least, makes a real contribution to our knowledge of British fauna. The author is moderate in his statements, but a book such as this should be used with discretion.”

“If the text be bad the illustrations, which the author declares to be diagrammatic, are ten times worse. As regards the economic portions of the work, the author appears to know more of his subject, and we trust his observations will be found of use to the country gentlemen and farmers for whom the volume is especially intended.” R. L.

“A practical and useful account of animal foes and friends.”

Abbott, Rev. Edwin Abbott.^[11] Message of the Son of Man. *$1.75. Macmillan.

“Sets forth an extended summary of the evidence for the meaning of the term ‘Son of Man’ in the prophets, the later Jewish literature, and the New Testament.... Dr. Abbott’s contention is that Jesus’ use of the term is in line with that of the prophets, rather than with that of later literature; and that he persistently used the term to fix attention upon the divine image in which man had been made, and which he sought to restore in all men, by the Spirit of God.”—Bib. World.

“Throughout the book he shows not simply the ingenuity now generally associated with his name, but also the clear vision of a keen critic, and gives abundant evidence of accurate scholarship.”

“The learning and originality of the discussions are undeniable.”

“Dr. Abbott’s book is rather difficult reading.”

Abbott, Frank Frost.^[10] Society and politics. in ancient Rome; essays and sketches. **$1.25. Scribner.

A dozen papers most of which are to some degree comparative studies of certain phases of the life of ancient Rome and that of our own day. They are: Municipal politics in Pompeii; The story of two oligarchies; Women and public affairs under the Roman republic; Roman women in the trades and professions; The theatre as a factor in Roman politics under the republic; Petronius: a study in ancient realism; A Roman purclain; Petrarch’s letter to Cicero; Literature and the common people of Rome; The career of a Roman student; Some spurious inscriptions and their authors; The evolution of the modern forms of the letters of our alphabet.

“Not only delightful reading but brings the Romans within reach of our human sympathies.”

Abbott, George Frederick.^[12] Turkey in transition. *$4.25. Longmans.

This volume “suddenly switches us away from the muddy roads, the bare hillsides, the biting winds of the Balkans and the Anatolian plateau [of Captain Townshend’s book], into the noisy streets of Pera and offices of Stambul; we learn the people and come to the forces that move them.” (Sat. R.) The volume “sets forth with apparent accuracy the events as they happened, and their effect on the mind of a dispassionate observer.” (Ath.)

“Excellent book.”

“Those who have read Captain Townshend must then read Mr. Abbott. Mr. Abbott in his even more difficult task has succeeded as completely and as splendidly as Captain Townshend; he gives us what an enthusiast sometimes calls ‘the whole thing’ when he is at a loss to describe a very complicated situation.”

Abbott, Lyman. Home builder. **75c. Houghton.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“One of the most valuable points which Dr. Abbott does bring out, however, is the preservation of the sense of humor through all of the vicissitudes of the woman’s life. But it hardly possesses the philosophy that the modern, active woman of the larger communities can find use for.”

Abbott, Lyman.^[12] The temple. *$1.25. Macmillan.

Dr. Abbott says: “This volume is one of three volumes which make one book: ‘The great companion’; ‘The other room’; and ‘The temple.’ They are not Theology; they are books of religion.” The temple is the temple of the living body wherein dwells the spirit, concerning which the author aims not to expand the 2philosophies of either psychologist or physiologist, but to describe human experience as it is and as it ought to be; to interpret the laws both of the body and the spirit; to describe human nature. Contents: The body; The eye; The ear; The tongue; The hand; The feet; The appetites; The passions; Imagination; The conscience; The intuition; The reason; Love.

Abd al-Baha ibn Baha Allah. Some answered questions; collected and translated from the Persian of Abdu’l-Baha. *$1.50. Lippincott.

“The volume expounds the ideas of the Bahais, or Babis—religious mystics among Mohammedans—as given by their leader, Baha, to an English learner.... The author avails himself impartially of the Koran and of the Bible, regarding Moses, Mohammedans, and Christ as his forerunners.” (Outlook.) Among the subjects discussed are Darwinism, immortality, fate, and free-will, evil, reincarnation and pantheism.

“A great variety of subjects is discussed in the volume; all treated shrewdly, though sometimes crudely.”

Abrahams, Ethel Beatrice.^[5] Greek dress. 9s. Murray, J:, London.

“Miss Abrahams begins with a consideration of the dress of men and women as seen in the Mycenean remains, concluding that it argues strongly for the non-Hellenic character of the race. This dress was tight-fitting, and altogether different from the flowing robes and large outlines of Greek garments generally. These she proceeds to examine, carefully analysing both the passages in classical authors where it is described or referred to, and the portrayals of it that we find in vase-paintings or elsewhere. The text is amply illustrated.”—Spec.

“This book is to be recommended as the most practical and trustworthy account of the subject to be found in any language, and should prove useful not only to students, but also to artists and others who are interested in Greek costume.”

“Scholarly and well-illustrated volume.”

“A careful work.” C: Ricketts.

“A very learned and, as far as we can judge, complete treatise.”

Abrahams, Israel.^[11] Judaism. 40c. Open ct.

“An authoritative and singularly impartial survey of a religion which is at once ‘ancient and modern,’ and of which most people have strange conceptions.”—Nation.

“Mr. Abrahams, who writes as a scholar and as a broad-minded Jew, aims to set forth the chief traits of this new religion which arose, as it were, out of the decay of the Jewish state, and to trace the more important phenomena connected with Judaism in the course of its long and eventful history. This he does succinctly, skilfully, and with commendable courage.”

“We hesitate to criticise a Jewish rabbi’s definition of Judaism; but we do not think that Mr. Israel Abrahams has shown as vital an apprehension of the essential principles of Judaism as is shown by Emma Lazarus in her too little known volume, ‘The spirit of Judaism.’ In three important respects this volume appears to us defective.”

Adams, Joseph Henry.^[5] Harper’s machinery book for boys. $1.75. Harper.

Following the general plan of the author’s “Electricity book for boys” this book is designed to show boys how to take part in the achievements which are the mechanical expressions of man’s ability and ambition. The author explains in a simple and practical way the tools and general outfit necessary for inexpensive home shops, the elementary principles of their use, and then shows what a boy can accomplish easily with little outlay. There are many illustrations included, and a dictionary of mechanical terms.

“Practical, comprehensive, well illustrated.”

“The most prominent fault of the book is the inclusion of numerous general statements, quite unnecessary to the purpose of the book, which are not only in many cases misleading but often quite untrue.”

Adams, Oscar Fay. Motley jest: Shakesperean diversions. *$1. Sherman, French & co.

Contains “A Shakesperean fantasy,” and an imaginary sixth act to the “Merchant of Venice.” The first is supplementary to the “Tempest” “in which Prospero with the aid of Ariel transports Ferdinand and Miranda, long since happily married, back to the enchanted island, which he peoples for them, temporarily, with the figures of Shakespeare’s stage folk—Romeo and Juliet, the nurse, Mercutio, Falstaff, Lear, Richard II, Henry VI, and others—who discourse briefly in a fashion more or less in accordance with their theatrical moods and character.” (Nation.) In the second Shylock “is Christianized, officially and publicly, and openly proclaims his apostasy while secretly hugging his ancient faith and his passion for revenge.” (Nation.)

“It is a literary gem that will delight lovers of good things in dramatic form.”

“Two Shakespearean experiments, which are, perhaps, more entertaining than valuable.”

“The Shakespearean spirit is well imitated [in ‘Motley jest’] and the verse is smooth and rhythmic.”

Adamson, Robert.^[5] Development of Greek philosophy. 10s. 6d. Blackwood, W. & sons, London.

“In this volume we have reproduced the substance of various courses of lectures upon Greek philosophy delivered some eight or ten years ago by the late Prof. Adamson.... It is safe to say that no work of equal importance, covering the same ground and dealing with the same aspect of the subject, has appeared, in this country at least, for many years past. The ground covered reaches from the beginnings of scientific thinking down to, and including, the speculations of the Stoics; while the point of view from which it is surveyed is that of the critic of philosophy in the stricter sense of the term.”—Ath.

“It is abundantly evident throughout that modern and ancient authorities, and added the quality of erudition to his singular gifts of the author was well versed in the views of both mental acumen and soundness of judgment.”

“This volume will supply a long-felt want. Singularly able, stimulating and suggestive throughout, the book ought to secure a wide circle of readers. In English there is certainly no 3other treatise on the subject of like compass at all comparable with it in point of lucidity, thoroughness, and sound scholarship.” G. D. Hicks.

“The advanced student will profit by the clear and fluent exposition; the lecturer will see here a good example of the way in which the subject can be treated; the young student will find it an excellent companion to his Ritter and Preller. It would be easy to quarrel with many things in the actual exposition.” G. S. Brett.

“He is never verbose or obscure or trite, and he has the gift of developing an argument by natural stages, so that the reader follows without a profitless straining of the attention.”

Addams, Jane.^[11] Spirit of youth and the city streets. *$1.25. Macmillan.

Miss Addams makes some intensely vital observations and points straight to a city’s obligations in relation to youth’s insatiable desire for play. She shows that the almost frenzied zeal for recreation is only natural, that the sin of permitting tawdry and even evil satisfaction to come thru the dance hall and kindred places rests upon the cities themselves: “It is as if our cities had not developed a sense of responsibility in regard to the life of the streets, and continually forget that recreation is stronger than vice, and that recreation alone can stifle vice.” The spirit of play is related to the imagination and to the high moments in even the factory girl or boy’s reflection. “What do we do to encourage and to solidify those moments, to make them come true in our dingy towns, to give them expression in forms of art?”

“These chapters are not merely a socio-economic argument: they sound the note of direct human interest.”

“Her book is well worthy the study of all preachers and teachers.”

“It is brimming full of the mother sentiment of love and yearning, and also shows such sanity, such breadth and tolerance of mind, and such philosophic penetration into the inner meanings of outward phenomena as to make it a book which no one who cares seriously about its subject can afford to miss.”

Addison, Mrs. Julia De Wolf. Arts and crafts in the middle ages: a description of mediaeval workmanship in several of the departments of applied art, together with some account of special artisans in the early renaissance. $3. Page.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“A useful volume containing considerable information not easily found elsewhere.”

“If it were entirely recast and rewritten would be of great value to the students it is intended to serve.”

Reviewed by W. G. Bowdoin.

“Is a good book; but it will, probably, in many instances, prove too advanced ‘to inform those who have no intention of practising such arts.’ The chapters would be easier reading if the material in each were arranged under definite propositions.”

“The book is simply a delight crammed with information, with descriptions of the masterpieces in each craft discussed, and of the methods used in producing them, as well as instinct with that personal element which a volume dealing with work so human should possess.” Hildegarde Hawthorne.

Adeney, Walter Frederic. Greek and Eastern churches. (International theological lib.) **$2.50. Scribner.

A story of the Eastern churches from the time of the great Christological and Trinitarian controversies and heresies down to the present day. “The handbook covers a long period. It is divided into two parts. The first deals with Eastern Christendom up to the fall of the Byzantine empire.... The second part of the work deals with the separate churches—the modern Greek, the Russian, the Syrian and Armenian, the Coptic and Abyssinian churches.” (Cath. World.)

“There has long been need of a volume on the Greek and Eastern churches. Two considerations unite to give great interest and timeliness to this book. Nearly all the churches dealt with are or have been under the heavy yoke of the Turk. The work of American missionaries in European and Asiatic Turkey, in Egypt and Persia, has been almost wholly among adherents to these churches.” E: W. Miller.

“The carelessness and want of scholarship displayed are inexcusable. We admit that anyone who reads the book through will obtain a general idea of the history and movements of the Eastern churches: the ground is covered, and the main movements are grasped. We also recognize that the chapters on Arianism and the earlier controversies about the person of Christ are meritorious, and seem to be the result of conscientious study. But we cannot recommend the work as a trustworthy guide, or as abreast of recent research.”

“One chapter there is which hardly seems to have any logical right to its position here. That is the one entitled ‘Later Eastern Christianity.’ Against this fault of over-inclusiveness, there is one of omission; for the bodies of Eastern Christians that are still in communion with the Roman See are scarcely recorded. These faults, however, weigh slightly against the great utility of the book, which presents the best account that we have of present-day Christianity in the lands which once constituted the great Eastern Patriarchates.”

“Mistakes of names, apparently due to careless manuscript and hasty proof-reading, are uncomfortably frequent in his account of the Russian church. But the book as a whole is a readable and serviceable introduction to a division of ecclesiastical history little known to the ordinary student.”

“Minor faults aside, the book remains a noteworthy achievement, indispensable to theological and to all important public libraries.” W: W. Rockwell.

“While critical, Professor Adeney is also impartially appreciative, and intent on noting all the worth and truth that appears amidst unworth and error.”

Adler, Elkan Nathan. Auto de fé and Jew. *$2. Oxford.

“About one-third of the book is devoted to an extended review and laudatory criticism of H. C. Lea’s ‘History of the inquisition in Spain.’ The greater part of the remaining pages appeared in a series of articles in the ‘Jewish quarterly review.’ They contain a greatly condensed history of the Jews in Spain and Portugal and, what is by far the most valuable portion of the book, lists covering fifty pages giving statistics of nearly two thousand autos de fé celebrated in Spain and Portugal 4and in the colonies of those countries. The date and the place and in some cases the number of victims is given, with an estimate of the proportion of Jews. Several miscellaneous but related matters are treated. Fifteen pages are occupied by a bibliography.”—Am. Hist. R.

“The book shows extensive and careful research. It is not entirely free from errors. While it is of large interest and value by itself its principal use will be as a companion of Dr. Lea’s great work.”

“Dr. Adler owes nothing to the literary graces. However, he is a sound judge of evidence [and] has ample knowledge of his subject. Apart from occasional lapses, Dr. Adler is eminently trustworthy.”

“The chief merit of Mr. Adler’s volume is that his lists supplement Dr. Lea’s.” H. F. Brown.

Adventures in field and forest, by Frank H. Spearman, Harold Martin, F. S. Palmer, William Drysdale, and others. (Harper’s adventure ser.) †60c. Harper.

Fifteen wilderness adventures encountered in hunting wild beasts and reptiles. Our own country, South America, the West Indies, Africa and India furnish the forests and jungles in which the wild boar, grizzly, lion, lynx, cobra, polar bear, tiger, and other animals are respectively faced and overcome. Information concerning habitats and animal characteristics abounds.

“The various writers have told some stirring tales of out-of-door adventures.”

Ady, Julia (Cartwright). Baldassare Castiglione, the perfect courtier: his life and letters, 1478–1529. 2v. *$7.50. Dutton.

“Beginning with a description of the home life in the ancestral castle of the Castiglione family, the author traces every step of her hero’s chequered life, one noted man and woman after another flitting across her canvas, a few words here, a significant anecdote there, bringing their personalities into vivid relief, the interest culminating in the chapters describing the courtship and brief married life of Baldassare.” (Int. Studio.) “It is a history of the times, through which Castiglione’s biography flows.... By showing the wild crimes, the national and international brigandage, the mingling of moral depravity with artistic sensitiveness, of the age in which he flourished, she brings out all the more clearly his virtues, his honorable conduct, his ideals of courtesy.” (Nation.)

“We should have nothing but praise for a work which, if tedious at times and lifeless, is still full of industry and good courage, but that it is often careless in what may seem small things.”

“In handling her authorities she is too easily content to transcribe and abridge: her instinct for ‘throwing out’ is not always alert, and in the constructive use of her material she relies rather upon accumulation of facts, when well-judged comparison and generalisation would better serve her purpose.” W. H. Woodward.

“Hardly compares in effect with the author’s two recent biographical studies in the same period.”

“Delightful and copiously illustrated volumes.”

“She is a pleasant writer, a fair popularizer of more learned investigators, and a wholesome judge of deeds and events.”

“The bibliography that concerns itself directly with Castiglione presents no volume more thorough, and certainly none written with more sympathetic admiration for its subject, than this biography.” G: S. Hellman.

“She adds to sound learning a rich imagination and a quick sensibility to beauty and feeling; and beyond all this, the magic power of bringing to life whatever she lays a finger on.”

“Painstaking volumes.”

“Mrs. Ady writes with her usual industry and agreeable style.”

Aflalo, Frederick George. Sunset playgrounds: fishing days and others in California and Canada. *$2.25. Scribner.

An English traveler’s impressions of various American scenes with the main part of his descriptive strength spent in reproducing the joys of sea fishing around Catalina island off the coast of California.

“The latter part of the book, where we come to British Columbia and Canada, is more attractive than the beginning. The author, too, seems to be on better terms with his work, and the good passages come more and more frequently.”

“Like many Englishmen, he must needs pause now and then to criticise American ways and things, and sometimes his criticisms seem none too intelligent, perhaps even a bit childish.” G: Gladden.

“His book has not only its intrinsic interest, but will serve as a practical guide to any fisherman fortunate enough to follow him.” G. W. L.

“Perhaps the most entertaining of these unimportant observations are those in which the author discloses his dislike of Americans. Naturally, he says things that are just, as well as others that are quite unjust.”

“We may read, not without pleasure, about many subjects, from the negro problem onwards, but the fishing is the best part.”

Agar, Thomas Leyden.^[7] Homerica, emendations and elucidations of the Odyssey. *$4.75. Oxford.

“A portly volume of emendations and elucidations of the Odyssey—most of them ingenious, many plausible, not a few convincing. Mr. Agar believes that the language of the Homeric poems is not a medley, but fairly represents the speech of the Achæan people.... His emendations are especially directed to the restoration of the digamma, the elimination of the late article, and the banishing of the ‘hiatus licitus,’ against which he wages a war of epigrams.”—Nation.

“Mr. Agar’s own style is racy and pleasant to read, not in the least like the wooden style of the commentator. It must be admitted that the cumulative impression of the book is strong. Mr. Agar has brought together a body of evidence 5which must advance the knowledge of Homer, and we should not be at all surprised to see opinion coming round to his side.”

“The Homeric student will find entertainment or edification on nearly every page of the book, which will doubtless receive from the philological journals the detailed consideration which we cannot give to it here.”

Aitken, Robert.^[5] Beyond the sky line. $1.50. Huebsch.

A group of short stories based upon real observation in Spanish South America, the Orient, the Scottish highlands, the Isthmus of Panama, and the Boer country. They are as follows: The passing of the little sister Tula; Righinn; A second-class district; The price of victory; Paquita; Cœurvaillant; The black sergeant; Peter; The assythment of Mr. Archibald; Delilah; The brand of Cain; Gruagach; The unlighted shrine; Meretrix; Falaise; and The curious case in which Ginger Handsyde came home.

“It is full of excellent material and rich in promise. When the author has attained more skill in the practice of his art he should seize and occupy a higher place. What strikes one first about these tales is that they have been inspired by Mr. Kipling; and the next reflection that occurs is one of wonder at their variety and scope.”

“‘Beyond the skyline,’ makes any chance reader promptly register a vow to make a further acquaintance of the writings of their author.” F: T. Cooper.

“The stories are much better than the ordinary run, but the impression they make vanishes with the closing of the book.”

“There are many types, which are well analyzed; and the action of the stories is brisk.”

“The stories are not especially skillful in the handling of the material, and often the style is marred by an overwordiness of vivacity when simplicity would have been more effective.”

“Here we have a collection of short stories, and being long rather than short they are more than ordinarily excellent.”

Alden, Henry Mills. Magazine writing and the new literature. **$2. Harper.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“Brief, very readable sketches.”

Reviewed by B. P.

“Mr. Alden’s style is so lumbering and confused that we with difficulty make out the fact that he has strong opinions and is elephantinely trying to convey them to us.” H. W. Boynton.

“Turning to the second half of the book ... they take an attitude unusually sane and stimulating toward the whole present-day movement in literature, they present, on the other hand, certain views with which it seems distinctly worth while to take issue.” F: T. Cooper.

Alden, Percy, ed.^[6] Hungary of to-day. *$3. Brentano’s.

A work prepared by members of the Hungarian government. It treats industries and finances, the political position of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia, the financial and commercial advance of Hungary, taxation reform, factory and labor legislation, insurance against sickness and incapacity, the condition of agriculture, co-operation, state aid to agriculture, and elementary education.

“All the articles are valuable in themselves and testify, in the aggregate, to an amount of solid information and skill in imparting it such as few cabinets anywhere at the present day can boast of. The accuracy of the volume in the matter of Hungarian accents and other respects is not all that might be desired, and, as in so many books on Hungarian subjects, the average foreign reader is puzzled by the Magyar names of places which are much better known by other appellations.”

“Its object is the glorification of the Magyar race, and little or no attention is paid to those problems which are becoming more and more acute in Hungary with every attempt that is made by the Coalition government to Magyarise the subject nationalities.”

“That this is an interesting volume we need hardly say,—let us imagine what we should think of a book to which the members of the British Cabinet should contribute. It is not less obvious that all the contentions are not to be taken for granted. It is an ‘ex parte’ statement.”

Alden, Raymond MacDonald.^[5] Introduction to poetry for students of English literature. *$1.25. Holt.

Differs from the author’s “English verse” in “three principal ways: it is more frankly dogmatic, attempting to state principles with some fullness instead of merely bringing together the materials for the inductive study of the subject; it includes a discussion of the imaginative and spiritual aspects of poetry, instead of limiting itself to verse form; and it omits altogether the historical treatment of the material, except where this is necessarily involved in clearness of definition.” The chapters are: Definition and origins; The classes or kinds; The basis of poetry (internal); The basis of poetry (external); English metres; and Rime and stanza forms.

“Without doubt the best work for students.”

“The book seems to us a sound and useful discussion of a subject of which the teaching in our schools and colleges now leaves much to be desired.”

“A careful and sound bit of literary exposition and criticism. Is thoroly well arranged.”

“Professor Alden has produced the best manual of its kind in print.”

“Will no doubt be welcomed by many English teachers for its very clear summaries of great questions, long discussed, no less than for its wide range of the literature of the subject of poetic theory.”

Alexander, DeAlva Stanwood.^[10] Political history of the state of New York. v. 3, 1861–1882. **$2.50. Holt.

v. 3. 1861–1882.

This instalment of Dr. Alexander’s exhaustive history begins with the civil war period and ends with Cleveland’s first presidential campaign. While the volume is a running narrative of the state’s history during the period it also furnishes an outline of the political careers of the large group of New Yorkers who figured so prominently in national affairs during war times and immediately following.

“This book is interesting from the first page to the last. Mr. Alexander has gone about it 6with an enjoyment that communicates itself to the reader, and his vivid, direct, graphic presentation of his story makes the book as interesting as a novel.”

Allcroft, Arthur Hadrian.^[5] Earthwork of England, prehistoric, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman and mediæval. 18s. Macmillan London.

“This classification [of remains] is eightfold, with a miscellaneous section for works which fall under none of the eight heads. It begins with promontory fortresses, which depend chiefly on natural situation for their strength; next come contour forts, also on hilltops, but rendered secure by artificial defences; then three classes of simple and less interesting forts; then homestead motes, in some ways the most interesting of all; and finally great defensive enclosures and fortified villages.... While Mr. Allcroft does not profess, like the Antiquary of Scott’s tale, to have discovered ‘an infallible touchstone of antiquity,’ he shows by exposition and by illustration how some of these problems have been solved; and his book is not less useful as a guide to what has been done than as a help to those who wish to reconstruct the history of their own neighbourhood.”—Spec.

“There are some curious blunders, but they are not sufficiently frequent to detract materially from the high opinion we have formed of the work as a whole.”

“It cannot be called scientific or authoritative. In its earlier chapters, at least, its treatment is frequently confused and vague. The different classes or types of earthworks are not kept sufficiently clear, and when one is under discussion others are brought in too freely, as if classification was not important. There occur also serious mistakes, especially in the account of the Roman earthworks.” M. V. T.

“We are too grateful to the author for the well-sifted materials he has supplied to judge the whole work by any defects, especially if those defects concern matters which the author may have considered as lying outside his proper scope of work. But there is one feature of the author’s work which calls for special notice. Though he refers respectfully enough to Sir Norman Lockyer’s work, he indulges in remarks about the astronomical inquiry which are both unwarranted and inconsiderate, without showing any appreciation of the points in question.” John Griffith.

“It is the plain man’s ‘vade mecum’ to earthworks. It pretends to no immense erudition, and it lays claim to no great discovery, but it is the work of a careful student, who knows all that has been said on this subject in recent years, who is not afraid to make up his own mind when authorities differ, and who has the power of expressing clearly and pleasantly his own views and those of others.”

Allen, Francis Henry, comp. Bibliography of Henry David Thoreau. *$5. Houghton.

“Comprises Thoreau’s books, selections from his writings, articles, and poems first issued in magazines, biographies, books, and periodicals containing biographical or critical matter about Thoreau, and records of sale at auction of the more important items.”—Nation.

“The work is well done, and is an important addition to the series.”

“As complete a guide book as any author might wish an admiring posterity to have for his works.”

Allen, Gardner Weld.^[5] Our naval war with France. **$1.50. Houghton.

A study of the spoliation of American commerce by the French, and the resulting hostilities during the last years of the eighteenth century. Manuscripts and contemporary newspapers have yielded the author material heretofore unused. Contents: Early misunderstandings; Negotiations; French spoliations; Naval preparation; The opening of hostilities; Events of 1799; The last year of the war; Private armed vessels; The convention of 1800; Reduction of the navy; Spoliations after 1801; The spoliation claims. Appendix contains sources of information, treaties, decrees, vessels in service, commanding officers, etc.

“Previous to the appearance of the book under review, no complete history of our naval war with France had been published. The author prints some valuable statistics for the war.” C: O. Paullin.

“Full and admirably clear account.”

“The book is written in a simple and direct style, and presents a clear and readable account of the stirring events described.”

“Dr. Allen’s account of this curious chapter in our history is brief and to the point. It abounds in references to authority; it contains a full bibliography and a careful index; its frequent quotations from the newspapers of that day give it a lively air of actuality; it is well written and well printed.”

Allen, Grant. Evolution in Italian art. *$3.50. Wessels.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“Sometimes Grant Allen’s acute intelligence throws new light on an old subject. At other times the text is amateurish and commonplace.”

“It is certainly refreshing now and then to encounter clear and systematic reasoning and a logically sustained premise in a field so thickly dotted with the flowers of misapplied sentiment and misfit knowledge.” Christian Brinton.

Allen, Horace. Modern power gas producer, practice and applications: a practical treatise dealing with the gasification of various classes of fuels by the pressure and suction systems of producer. *$2.50. Van Nostrand.

“In this book the author defines the principles governing the gasification of fuel, and describes the practical commercial types of producers which have been developed. He also sets forth details of the most recent inventions in this field, and the claims made by the inventors, in this way presenting to the reader the various problems encountered by designers.”—Engin. D.

“Taken as a whole, the book is written in a rather slipshod manner, which might have been excusable in the original articles, but should have been corrected when they were published in book form. If there were no other books on the subject this one would have value, but it is not equal to several of its predecessors.”—A. E. Forstall.

7Allen, Horace Newton. Things Korean. **$1.25. Revell.

“A collection of sketches and anecdotes, missionary, and diplomatic.” “As American Minister during the troublous times when China, Russia and Japan were struggling over the Land of the morning calm, the author had opportunities for exceptional insight into the political and personal forces of the conflict.... But Dr. Allen’s sketches deal more with the life of the people of all ranks than with political questions. He sympathizes with the Koreans in their loss of liberty, of a chance to work out their own destinies, but he sees no advantage in intervention now.” (Ind.)

“The book is attractive not only because of its contents, but also because of the pleasing style which at times recalls Lafcadio Hearn.”

“An interesting collection of miscellaneous notes of his observations and experiences during twenty years of residence in Korea.”

“Many of the incidents are entertaining and instructive, but many are trivial and hardly worthy of record.”

“What might have been an extremely valuable contribution to our knowledge of the Hermit kingdom, therefore, becomes an amusing but disjointed effort of a reporter.”

Allen, J. W.^[11] Wheel magic; or, Revolutions of an impressionist. **$1.25. Lane.

A little volume of pleasant essays in which the author reveals himself as the “Isaak Walton of cycling.”

“He includes a capital ghost story and some measure of incident, but is chiefly concerned with esoteric thoughts and moods induced by the country and the open air. Having protested more than once against the common conclusion that the cyclist must be a Philistine, we congratulate Mr. Allen on his pleasant proof to the contrary, in these pages.”

“He has sought to give his work an out-of-door air, but instead there is a flavor of lubricating oil, sprockets, chains, and ball-bearings.”

Allen, James.^[12] Mastery of destiny. **$1. Putnam.

Reasoning from the fact that thought is not less orderly and progressive than the material forms that embody thought, and that the “perfect law” of causation being all-embracing in mind as in matter provides relief from all anxiety concerning the ultimate destiny of humanity, the author “sets down some words indicative of this Law and this Destiny, and the manner of its working and its building.” The book is a companion to “The life triumphant.”

Allen, James Lane.^[7] Bride of the mistletoe. $1.25. Macmillan.

The first part of a trilogy. It rends the veil that gives privacy to a middle-aged couple’s interpretation of the mysteries of love, and presents in atoningly artistic phrases the “beast and the angel” leanings which characterize the man and woman respectively. “The theme is the American home, its sanctity and its perils.” (Nation.)

“The reader once more falls under the spell of Mr. Allen as a ‘raconteur,’ though he may feel that such prolonged tension and detail in the portrayal of defeated passion approaches dangerously near to melodrama. He may resent as unnecessary the intrusion of certain minute materialistic allusions in a study of human nature closely intertwined with a poetic summary of the evolution of man and man’s religion.”

“Mr. Allen has achieved a work of art more complete in expression, more cohesive, than anything that has yet come from him. It is like a cry of the soul, so intense one scarcely realizes whether it is put into words or not.” Hildegarde Hawthorne.

“The mature man or woman may, of course, read it with enjoyment and profit. But it is not—and this is a point that cannot be too strongly emphasised—a book for the ‘jeune fille.’”

“A crueller book for women has not been written before this time. About the meanest thing any person could devise would be to give a copy of it to a young bride, or a middle-aged married woman, or any kind of a married woman.”

“A prose poem notwithstanding the somberness of its theme.”

“There is a touch of unwholesomeness in the particularity with which he is wont to appeal to the lust of the fancy. No seriousness of intent can greatly avail Mr. Allen as long as this taint remains.”

“The author has vivisected to furnish forth a sentimental orgy—secondary and literary merely, of course—one of the cruel tragedies which must befall overcivilized folk in a natural world. The quarrel is not with the material nor with the use of the scalpel but with the poisonous purpose.”

“Delicately and at times eloquently written, the descriptions of Kentucky, the land of the author’s birth and heart, are full of lovely vision.”

“Its beauty is not a matter of mere phrasing, it is evoked out of the material, it is diffused like an atmosphere through the whole book. The defect of the story lies in its failure entirely to explain itself and justify the tragedy of married love which it suggests with delicate and penetrating skill.”

“The style is exquisite; it is Mr. Allen at his best.”

“The method is pictorial, and the writer’s effort has been to make a colossal pedestal and a colossal group. The effort is almost sublime, the result ridiculous.”

Allen, Lyman Whitney. Abraham Lincoln: a poem. **$1.25. Putnam.

The spirit of the bards of old possessed the author thruout the fashioning of this wreath of lyrics. First he sings of the dream of freedom and empire, then of the threatening alarums of war and of the rising of a great star upon the night of slavery. The people’s uprising, Humiliation, Emancipation, Victory, The great translation, The pledge of history and The land of promise are suggestive headings under which he groups his verse all of which is tuned to the Lincoln struggle.

“Is a good poem or rather series of poems.”

“A series of lyrics, with higher flights but deeper falls [than ‘A man of destiny’].”

Allen, Lyman Whitney. Parable of the rose and other poems. **$1.25. Putnam.

A group of poems written by a Presbyterian pastor. Many of them sing of enduring love, the love “ever rife with deepening proofs of immortality.”

“Over fifty shorter poems and sonnets that are written with grace, and mostly with a personal flavor.”

8Allen, Mrs. Mary (Wood).^[12] Making the best of our children. 2v. ea. **$1. McClurg.

Brief narratives illustrating by twos the wrong then the right method of handling situations by which parents are constantly confronted in the rearing of children. These concrete cases, dealing with some childish crises and first showing the wrong method then the right, are selected from problems arising thruout the years from babyhood to adolescence. The spirit of the right method in every case is family cooperation.

Allen, William Harvey. Civics and health; with an introd. by William T. Sedgwick. *$1.25. Ginn.

Physical perfection as a basis of effective citizenship is the keynote of this practical handbook. How to detect and remove the elements in school, home and street environment that induce physical and moral weakness and defects is the serious business with which Dr. Allen is concerned. Practical methods and suggestions are offered in chapters under the following heads: Health rights; Reading the index to health rights; Coöperation in meeting health obligation; Official machinery for enforcing health rights; Alliance of hygiene, patriotism, and religion.

“Though particularly addressed to teachers and school boards, it is of almost equal value to the parent and to social and civic workers.”

“This is a most readable book, of great value to any public-spirited citizen.” Carl Kelsey.

“His book should be widely read by teachers for whom it contains many practical suggestions.”

“Although nearly everything the author says is valuable and needs to be brought home to some hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country, yet we cannot but feel that his book would have gained in force and usefulness if he had condensed it materially. We do not wish to belittle the interest and value of the book, but merely to point out how both might have been increased.”

“Most interesting reading, well calculated to draw attention to the exceedingly varied efforts now making to bring about a general social betterment by beginning at the bottom.”

“A reading of Dr. Allen’s book is likely to give every teacher a new sense of proportion in dealing with matters of hygiene and sanitation. It is full of suggestions to those communities that have not yet put themselves in the right relations to questions of community health, and it records the achievements of the most advanced among our American cities.”

“I commend the volume in the most unreserved manner. There is no book to-day in the English language which contains more useful, valuable and reliable information on the subjects of which it treats.” G: M. Kober.

Altsheler, Joseph Alexander. Forest runners: a story of the great war trail in early Kentucky. †$1.50. Appleton.

The continuation of the adventures of the two boys who were the heroes of “The young trailers.” They encounter wild animals and Indians, and render their greatest service in saving a band of settlers from massacre.

“A stirring story. Has a fine feeling for the forest and for the courage of the men who braved its perils.”

Altsheler, Joseph Alexander.^[10] Free rangers: a story of early days along the Mississippi. †$1.50. Appleton.

Continues the fortunes of the boys whose achievements were set down in “The forest runner,” and tells of their journey down the Mississippi to New Orleans whither they go to present to the Spanish Governor-General the true state of affairs between the American settlers in Kentucky and the emissaries of Spain. After numerous encounters with their old enemy, Braxton Wyatt, and a traitorous Spanish agent, they accomplish their object and help thru the safe voyage of a supply fleet from New Orleans to Kentucky.

Altsheler, Joseph Alexander.^[10] Last of the chiefs. †$1.50. Appleton.

The story of two boys who join a caravan crossing the western plains under the guide of an Indian—the last of the chiefs. After perilous adventures they establish themselves in a Montana valley living as trappers and hunters. Upon their return to the East to dispose of their pelts they are captured by the Indians and witness the destruction of the tribe by Custer’s army.

American foreign policy, by a diplomatist.^[12] *$1.25. Houghton.

An anonymously written volume whose purpose is “to draw attention to the duty of diplomacy to further our foreign policy in different regions of the world, and to the conditions of national security upon which must rest its assertion.” It covers the whole field of international relations, dwelling especially upon our own inefficiency and the reasons for it with the hope of awakening public opinion to the consciousness of what it may rightly demand for diplomacy as an instrument for the nation’s welfare.

“The measures he advocates so ably are all in the right direction.”

“Whoever is able to detect the occasional admixtures of wide speculation and sheer nonsense in this vivacious book may use it safely and with profit.”

“This is a meaty little book with internal evidence why the author is so discreet regarding his identity.”

American school of classical studies in Rome. Supplementary papers of. Macmillan.

v. 2. Includes a paper by G. H. Allen on “The advancement of officers in the Roman army” which analyzes and tabulates the system of promotion followed by the Romans during the first three centuries of the empire; one by A. W. Van Buren which transcribes the palimpsest of Cicero’s “De re publica”; one by J. C. Egbert on “Inscriptions of Rome and Central Italy”; and a paper by C. D. Curtis on “Roman monumental arches” which “is attractive in theme, and addressed to a wide audience, whom it takes over a considerable part of the Roman world in a description of monuments, both artistic and picturesque.” (Nation.)

“Mr. Van Buren’s article will interest a small circle of specialists, and for them it will be of permanent value. George H. Allen’s article also appeals to specialists, but in a wider sense, and it will be consulted by historians as well as by classicists. Prof. J. C. Egbert’s ‘Inscriptions of Rome and Central Italy’ has a broader title than the contents really warrant. 9C. D. Curtis’s ‘Roman monumental arches’ contains no new material and makes no contribution to knowledge.”

“All four papers include valuable matter. The whole volume shows careful work and editing, and has a serviceable index.”

Ames, Mrs. Mary (Lesley), ed.^[12] Life and letters of Peter and Susan Lesley. 2v. **$5. Putnam.

A life of Professor Lesley “as he knew himself and as his friends knew him.” He was a geologist of eminence and his wife did little more than share his honors quietly and sympathetically. “The long unreserved letters, covering the period from 1838 to 1893, concern not the writers alone; they tell of men and women who have graven their names deeply in science, literature and even in politics; they throw interesting sidelights upon many obscure matters in our country’s history, for the Lesleys were associated intimately with many who were leaders in great movements.” (Science.)

“Any notice of this work, brought within reasonable compass, must be only a patchwork of fragments, giving no proper conception of its importance.” J: J. Stevenson.

Anderson, A. J.^[10] Romance of a friar and a nun: being the romance of Fra Filippo Lippi. **$2.50. Dodd.

Once more a rehabilitation of the Carmelite friar and the nun of Santa Margherita whose love story seems to lose no interest as the centuries go by. The friar’s “personality is so interesting that many people have written about him. Our author is very warm in his—or should we say her?—championship of the lovers, and makes out a good case for them in the appendices. The book is well illustrated by a number of reproductions of Filippo’s pictures.” (Spec.)

“An astonishing romance which may well be true even as he tells it, in essence, though certainly not in detail.”

“Sentimental and amateurish romance with no particular psychological insight and a merely superficial knowledge of the fifteenth century, the atmosphere of which he is quite incapable of suggesting. The chief merit of the book is that Mr. Anderson deals very reverently with the religious aspect of the story, and shows a sympathetic appreciation of the normal life of a Roman Catholic convent at the present day.”

“This story of the nun Lucrezia and the ‘glad friar’ is cleverly built up on a framework of facts and traditions. It is a pleasantly written book, full of merry talk and practical common-sense.”

Anderson, Ada Woodruff.^[6] Strain of white. †$1.50. Little.

A story of frontier life in the Pacific northwest during the 50’s. The heroine is the daughter of a Yakima chief’s sister and an army officer. “As the story opens this girl is just starting out to find her uncle, Kam-i-ah-kan, the chief of the Yakimas, in order to ask him who her father is; for beyond knowing that he is an army man of considerable rank, she has no information about him. Before she finds her father and is acknowledged by him to be his daughter, a great many interesting and exciting things take place, in which soldiers, settlers, and Indians are concerned.” (N. Y. Times.)

“The story is extremely well told and several of the characters are charmingly and artistically drawn.”

“There ought to be a special news interest just now in this spirited account.”

Anderson, Frank Maloy. Constitutions and other select documents illustrative of the history of France, 1789–1907. 2d ed., rev. and enl. *$2.50. Wilson, H. W.

A revision and enlargement of Professor Anderson’s original collection of French documentary material. It contains additional references and new documents, most of them of recent date, concerning the separation of church and state.

“No work of this kind could be beyond criticism; but this perhaps approaches perfection as nearly as could be expected. All documents included are important. Some fault might be found with the proportion of the volume. A few periods of large importance are almost entirely ignored. Few students of the period, however, would be willing to have these faults, if indeed they be considered faults, corrected by omitting any considerable number of documents given.”

“A valuable work for the college or reference library.”

“The selection of documents has been very judiciously made and no English or American teacher of recent French history can afford to dispense with this book. The volume is particularly valuable for collateral reading in college classes.”

“Is one of the most thorough compilations of its class. This collection leaves practically nothing to be desired by the ordinary student in this most fascinating field of modern history.”

“A similar volume in French would have been most useful to teachers here; until that has been supplied they may perforce use this book, which is well planned and carefully executed on the lines set down by the writer.” T. F. T.

“The new matter in this edition has been judiciously selected. It includes important documents relating to the recent separation of church and state in France.”

“The translation of the documents is not faultless, and the selection has been governed somewhat too closely by purely political interests to meet the needs of classes attempting to understand the real significance of recent French history. But the book is already a large one, and along the political line one has few suggestions to offer.”

“In the selection, translation and editing of the documents Professor Anderson has shown admirable judgment and care, and he has provided teachers of recent political history with a most useful instrument for class work.”

Anderson, Galusha. Story of a border city during the civil war. **$1.50. Little.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“The two divisions of the book are of quite unequal value. This lack of a period of reconstruction of judgments adds a charm to the really 10important part of the book, the personal reminiscences, which at times approach contemporary evidence in tone and vividness.” Jonas Viles.

“As a story of life in a border state city, the book is valuable. It is easily the best and most comprehensive account we have of the peculiar conditions in such a community, and much of it would apply to conditions that existed in the other border states. The writer aims to be impartial, and is certainly not bitter; but he never sees, probably never saw, the other side of the case.”

“For the most part our author relates what he heard and saw himself, and makes a good contribution to our knowledge of the time.”

“From first to last it is distinctly readable.”

Anderson, Lewis Flint.^[5] History of common school education: an outline sketch. *$1.25. Holt.

Aims to give clearly, concisely and concretely such information regarding the history and development of the common or non-professional school as will be of most aid to teachers and general readers in understanding the nature and functions of the common school of to-day and its relations to other institutions educational and otherwise. The author begins with the Greek and Roman schools and carries his history thru the middle ages, the renaissance, the reformation, early colonial period in America, on down to the present.

“We are not particularly imprest with its value.”

“Very complete and to be recommended to the quick-paced student.”

Anderson, William.^[5] Japanese wood engravings: their history, technique and character. *75c. Dutton.

“A pocket edition of the well-known book by the late Dr. William Anderson ... which Mr. Joly, in the preface ... characterizes as ‘an inexhaustible mine of information, not only upon schools of painting and their representatives in the collection, but also upon the subjects treated by the artists.’ Most of the illustrations of the present work are taken from examples in Dr. Anderson’s collection in the British Museum.”—Nation.

“It falls off decidedly in the reprint. The text on Japanese art as contained in the present book is, however, very helpful.” W. G. Bowdoin.

Andràssy, Gyula.^[6] Development of Hungarian constitutional liberty; tr. from the Hungarian by C. Arthur and Ilona Ginever. *7s.6d. Paul (Kegan), Trench, Trübner and co., London.

“Treats of the period from the entry of the Hungarians into what is now known as Hungary to the end of the reign of Matthias II, in other words, from 896 to 1619 A. D.”—Spec.

“An eloquent and statesmanlike panegyric rather than a history. It is not a systematic exposition, supported by references and allusions to sources. It is rather the work of a man who has consulted and digested every treatise on the subject and expects something like the same sort of knowledge from his reader. The translation is excellent.”

“It is interesting as a comparison between English and Hungarian constitutional development, but it suffers from diffuseness and repetition. Moreover, it only considers one side of the Hungarian question.”

Andréadès, A.^[5] History of the bank of England; tr. by C. Meredith, with a preface by H. S. Foxwell. *10s. 6d. King, P. S., London.

A history written by a Greek in the French language for French readers. The translator “has not attempted any revision, so that aside from purely technical corrections the treatment is unchanged. The value of this edition has been enhanced, however, by the addition of a critical preface by Professor Foxwell in which he contrasts this work with the others in the same field and makes note of a few points where he is inclined to disagree with the author.” (J. Pol. Econ.)

“Andréadès is strongest, as might have been expected of a foreign writer, on the historical side. There is wanting any inquiry into certain major issues which are sharply drawn in connection with banking reorganization in several of the countries of the world today and on which the history of the bank of England should afford evidence, either negatively or positively.” H. P. Willis.

“The task of the translator has been well performed.”

“The first complete history of the bank of England. Professor Foxwell’s appreciative, yet discriminating, introduction adds materially to the value of the volume.”

“Accurate and scholarly work.”

“It did not supplant previous studies on special periods and special aspects of the long career of the bank, but in offering a consecutive history of the bank, informed by sound scholarship and sober judgment, it furnished something for which there was and still is no substitute.”

Andreieff, Leonid.^[5] Seven who were hanged: a story; authorized translation from the Russian by Herman Bernstein. $1. Ogilvie.

A book of political and literary value in the form of fiction which is a protest against the reign of terror in Russia and embodies a strong indictment against capital punishment. It depicts with psychological insight the tragedies of seven who were hanged, two of them being women revolutionists.

“A beautiful and a terrible book, the result of a passion for humanity and of simple, strong art—a swift, passionate picture of human life and character. It is full of the wonderful psychology and emotional realism of the great Russian writers.” Hutchins Hapgood.

“There are paragraphs and sentences that are so real as to be a torture; but there are long passages in which the pace is forced. The sense of the inevitable is absent. It is the case of a highly gifted artist drawing up a tentative list of psychological states, and then selecting one as best suited to his purpose. With this proviso, we can not deny Andreyev an exceptional talent for seeing the truth.”

11“Is by reason of its art even more real, more horrifying, more impressive than any other Russian fiction which has been translated in a long time.”

“It is a powerful study. The translation seems to be very well done.”

Andrews, Charles McLean. British committees, commissions and councils of trade and plantations, 1622–1675. (Johns Hopkins university studies in historical and political science. Ser. 26, nos. 1–3.) 75c. Johns Hopkins.

“From a first-hand study of material in the British archives, Professor Andrews is able to trace with some detail the history of the various bodies upon which was devolved, from time to time, the supervision of plantation trade, and to point out the steady, though irregular, development of a colonial policy.” (Nation.) “The work of the merchants, Noell and Povey, is for the first time fully brought out.... In an appendix dealing with ‘Heads of business; Councils of 1670 and 1672,’ Professor Andrews incorporates with the references from the Calendars under the respective dates the notices of the proceedings given in Evelyn’s ‘Diary.’” (Eng. Hist. R.)

“By far the most complete and satisfactory account of the English organs of colonial administration during the period dealt with, which has hitherto appeared.” H. E. E.

“A contribution of prime importance to our scanty knowledge of English colonial administration in the seventeenth century.”

Andrews, Charles McLean, and Davenport, Frances Gardiner.^[5] Guide to the manuscript materials for the history of the United States to 1783. $2. Carnegie inst.

A guide to the manuscript material for the history of the United States to 1783 found in the British museum, in minor London archives, and in the libraries of Oxford and Cambridge.

“As a handbook for investigators it will be of the greatest value. With it in his possession the student can proceed with certainty from the first that he will not miss any important source of information. Thus a large amount of useless searching will be avoided. Very few errors or misprints have been noted, and in view of the care with which the volume has been edited, it is not likely that its prolonged use will bring to light any considerable number of such.” H. L. Osgood.

“Will be of the greatest value to English no less than to American students of colonial history.” H. E. E.

“A careful examination of titles shows remarkable freedom from errors in date or name. The volume is an invaluable aid to the investigator, and full proof of the utility of the series planned by Mr. Jameson and entrusted to such capable experts.”

“A useful guide.”

Andrews, Edward Lewis. Napoleon and America: an outline of the relations of the United States to the career and downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. *$2. Kennerley.

Here are reflections, largely conjectural, on Napoleon’s relations with America and interest in her affairs, and on what might have been had he come here after his downfall to restore his fortunes.

“Is scarcely more than a series of reflections on what might have been, if things had been different ... agreeably and cleverly written, but remaining conjectures and reflections.”

“Mr. Andrews conducts us along an interesting bypath in history.”

Andrews, Mary Raymond Shipman.^[12] Enchanted forest, and other stories. †$1.50. Dutton.

Fairy stories told to a child with the usual appetite for wonder tales have been collected and printed for other children with like appetites. “Many a child, new to all the tricks of the trade, will revel in John and Renard, the Fox, the whipped-cream plants, the chocolate-wells, and other incongruously delightful imaginings.... While “The enchanted forest,” different in its appeal, has no claim to very long existence, we must applaud any author who is young enough at heart to like ‘high jinks’ every night with a child.” (Lit. D.)

“The story is a mixture of already familiar books of the same kind.”

Andrews, William.^[10] Old English towns. **$2. Pott.

“The old towns selected for treatment are twenty-seven, beginning with Winchester, Canterbury, and Bath, and ending with Carlisle, Monmouth, and Chester. They are mostly chosen from well-known historic centres, but a few are of minor note, though well worthy of inclusion, such as Ledbury and Weobley in Herefordshire, and Chepstow on the Wye.”—Ath.

“Its statements may be taken as trustworthy by the general reader, to whom it will be a convenience to possess a book for general reference. In writing about Derby, Mr. Andrews fell into a considerable blunder, for which, however, he was scarcely to blame.”

“The author has ranged through legend, history, and literature, and gathered up everything the traveler need wish to know.”

“On the whole, this is a very interesting book and adequately illustrated.”

Andújar, Manuel.^[8] Spain of to-day from within; with an autobiography of the author. **$1.25. Revell.

“Travel and religion divide the pages of this easily read volume. The author was born in Spain in the Catholic church but was later converted and joined the Methodist branch of Protestantism. About one-fourth of the book is taken up with the story of the change of belief.... The last three-fourths tell of a journey through the Spanish peninsula, in which interesting descriptions of men, events and places are presented.”—Ann. Am. Acad.

“Past training and temperament explain many highly prejudiced statements made throughout the book, for no opportunity to have a fling at the mother church is lost.”

“The reader will find himself interested from the beginning to the end of the book.”

“We see modern Spain viewed critically and almost with prejudice.”

12Angela Da Foligno, St. Book of the divine consolation of Saint Angela Da Foligno. (New mediaeval lib.) *$2. Duffield.

“The book of the blest Angela treats of the severe and often impossible ideals of sainthood as conceived in the thirteenth century. Originally written in Latin, it appeared in ‘the vulgar tongue’ in 1536, and upon this Italian version is based the present English translation. Facsimiles of the early Italian illustrations are given. The chief value of the book is, of course, historical.”—Lit. D.

“Readers may differ from Mr. Thorold in the degree of their admiration for the ‘pure and candid soul’ of the Blessed Angela, but no student of mediæval culture can afford to neglect her religious testament.”

“A precious book, a rapt, ecstatic chronicle of the soul. While the dogmatic side must of necessity be alien to modern thought, and the idea of self-abasement still more alien one is never left unmoved by a spiritual transport such as these pages reveal.” J. B. Rittenhouse.

Angier, A. Gorton.^[8] Far East revisited: essays on political, commercial, social and general conditions in Malaya, China, Korea and Japan; with a preface by Sir Robert Hart. *$4.20. Scribner.

“A travel book. The first third presents a favorable report of what has been accomplished in the British Malaysian colonies and in Netherlands India. The last part contains the author’s real contributions. He finds the trade of Chinese ports growing and efficiently conducted. Praise is especially given to the German activity in Tsing-Tao. The recent edicts intended ultimately to bring the maritime customs back into Chinese control the author thinks ill advised. The opium legislation also is treated in a way which recalls the opium war and the present interest of England in poppy culture in India, but at the last the author puts himself on record in favor of helping China curb the use of the drug. There are two excellent chapters on present railway development in China.”—Ann. Am. Acad.

“Japan’s ambitions receive much more sympathetic treatment than is accorded by most recent writers.” C. L. Jones.

“His well-known knowledge of Far Eastern matters makes his comments important and trustworthy.”

“The book was well worth writing, for Mr. Angier journeyed with a keen eye to facts and future developments.”

Anthony, William Arnold. Lecture-notes on the theory of electrical measurements; prepared for the third-year classes of the Cooper union night-school of science; 3d ed., rev. by Albert Ball. $1. Wiley.

“In the revision of the late W. A. Anthony’s notes for this third edition Prof. Ball has added several problems in each chapter. There is also some additional matter on condenser capacity and its determination. Half the book takes up the bases of different systems and units of mass, force, energy, etc., and the relations between electrical units. The rest of the book is given over to the explanation of practical measurements of potential, current and resistance, and to the laws of the heating, chemical and magnetic effects of the electric current.”—Engin. N.

“Within this limited field it is a satisfactory little volume, fulfilling its purpose well and not attempting to exceed the requirements of the students for whom it has been prepared.”

Arabian nights, their best-known tales; ed. by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora A. Smith.^[12] †$2.50. Scribner.

Includes ten of the special favorites among the two hundred and sixty-four stories of the “Arabian nights.” The edition is uniform in appearance and make-up with Stevenson’s “Child’s garden of verses” which Jessie Willcox Smith illustrated, and the “Queen’s museum and other stories,” illustrated by Frederic Richardson. The twelve full-page illustrations, title page, cover and lining paper are done in color by Maxfield Parrish.

“They have retained—indeed, if recollection serves, even increased—the humor of matter-of-fact phrase and understatement which makes Aladdin’s mother, for instance, so delicious.” Algernon Tassin.

“Maxfield Parrish’s illustrations ... have depth and height, and tho they are decorative, they lose none of the rich imaginative quality that distinguishes all his work.”

“This book is by all odds the most beautiful child’s book of the season. We could have wished that the English had been as impeccable as the make-up and illustrations of the book.”

“No one who knows anything of either the editors or the illustrator needs to be told that their product is satisfying.”

Archibald, Raymond Clare.^[11] Carlyle’s first love: Margaret Gordon, Lady Bannerman. **$3.50. Lane.

Following the most approved methods of scientific research, the author explains the relations of Margaret Gordon with Thomas Carlyle, and answers the question, “Was Margaret Gordon the sole original of the Blumine of ‘Sartor Resartus?’”

“The volume before us tells us but little about Carlyle, and that little by no means new.”

“Those only who are concerned in certain Scotch genealogies will find the book valuable.”

“That the book is worth the labour it must have cost is more than we should care to vouch.”

Arctander, John W.^[7] Apostle of Alaska: the story of William Duncan of Metlakahtla. **$1.50. Revell.

A story, partly told from Mr. Duncan’s diary, which follows “the half century spent by this apostle among the Indians of Alaska and British Columbia, and how he acted as teacher, preacher, pastor, being at the same time instructor and overseer in the enterprises he started, including sawmilling, shipbuilding, salmon canning, and other industries.... The story of his experiences among these people reads like a romance of adventure in forty-two chapters, illustrated from drawings and 13photographs. There are also several maps and facsimile reproductions of interesting documents.” (N. Y. Times.)

“For the most part the story is practically Mr. Duncan’s autobiography, the author having depended upon his missionary friend for all the facts it contains, and having to a large extent made use of his anecdotal accounts of his interesting experiences.”

Arms, Mary W.^[11] Italian vignettes. *$1.25. Kennerley.

Eleven sketches that re-create for the reader “the atmosphere and charm of Italy, with her color, her cloisters, her people, her art treasures and relics of the past.” They are: In faery lands; To Marigliano; Into the golden age; Impressions in Rome; The Campo dei Fiori; An audience at the Vatican; Holy week and Easter in Rome; Old cloisters; Tivoli; Stones of Florence; A Venetian monastery.

“Is just one more of those perfervidly sentimental little books which paradoxically enough are inevitably provoked by that most sensible of people, the Italians.”

“Sensibility to the beauties of nature, appreciation of historic significance, and much grace of diction characterize Mary W. Arms’s ‘Italian vignettes.’”

Armstrong, Sir Walter.^[11] Art in Great Britain and Ireland. **$1.50. Scribner.

A compact, fully illustrated handbook of British and Irish art beginning with Stonehenge and ending with Alfred Gilbert thru which has been traced the development of national spirit and character. It deals successively with architecture, stained glass, needlework, iron work, illuminated manuscripts, engravings, etchings, painting and sculpture.

“It is surprising how much the author contrives to say in a few words.”

“An excellent elementary text book. The text is a model of condensation and the copious extent of illustration in good small cuts is a worthy achievement in publishing.”

Arnaud, Raoul.^[5] Louis-Philippe and his sister: the political life & rôle of Adélaïde of Orleans (1777–1847); tr. by E. L. Charlwood. *$4.20. Scribner.

“A lively composition from well-known sources, ranging from Madame de Genelis and Madame Junot to Madame de Boigne.... The title is misleading. There is much social and personal gossip, but very few pages are devoted to the history of the July monarchy and to the part played by Madame Adélaïde as her brother’s adviser, and after the death of the duke of Orleans the only person to whom he would listen.”—Eng. Hist. R.

“If not very instructive it is at least readable and amusing.” P. F. W.

“Curious biography and a clever translation.”

Arner, George B. L. Consanguineous marriages in the American population. *75c. Longmans.

The author’s conclusions are as follows: “That consanguinity in the parents ‘has no perceptible influence’ upon the number of children or their sex ratio, and ‘little, if any, direct effect upon the physical or mental condition of the offspring.’ That ‘the most important physiological effect of consanguineous marriage is to intensify any or all inheritable family characteristics or peculiarities by double inheritance,’—wherefore, it is to the interest of society that the physically and mentally defective should not be allowed to marry and propagate their kind. But, on the other hand, the logical conclusion is reached that ‘in the absence of degenerative tendencies the higher qualities of mind and body are similarly intensified by marriage between highly endowed members of the same family.’” (Ann. Am. Acad.)

“An interesting statistical study of the effects of inbreeding, and the author’s conclusions are hardly in line with popular belief on the subject.”

“A praiseworthy attempt to clear the ground of some errors which have crept in, and to reach certain conclusions which may be accepted.” W: B. Bailey.

“Within the limits of its scope the book is interesting and intelligently done.”

Arnold, Felix. Text-book of school and class management, theory and practice. *$1.25. Macmillan.

“This volume in many respects may well be contrasted with the one by Bagley. In the latter book practice leads and theory explains and justifies, while in Arnold’s theory leads and is related to practice chiefly by formal classifications.... The formal, systematic character of the book will be indicated by the chapter headings of Part 1, ‘Principal and teacher: the principal’; ‘Coöperation between principal and teacher: instruction’; ‘Coöperation between principal and teacher: discipline’: ‘Coöperation between principal and teacher: supervision.’ Topics are usually introduced by a general definition, e.g., the chapter on ‘Coöperation between principal and teacher’ has a formal definition and a half page quotation from Giddings’s ‘Sociology on the nature of coöperation.’”—Psychol. Bull.

“We cannot after a careful perusal of the work, recommend it at all warmly to the notice of English specialists, whether theoretical or practical, and we doubt its acceptability to American readers. The reader of the later chapters of the work will find many hints which, if he be a schoolmaster, may be serviceable to him.”

“It is doubtful if the beginner could extract any inspiration from Dr. Felix Arnold’s elaborately wrought ‘Textbook of school management.’”

“A subject on which much has been written is here discussed by Dr. Arnold with such insight, common sense, and thoroughness that it must command close and interested attention and convey a clearer conception of some of the important phases of a teacher’s conduct and duty.”

“Comprehensiveness and conciseness are happily blended.”

“There are many good things said by the author and in quotations, but it seems to the reviewer that there are in the book many things that are obvious or inappropriate.” E. A. Kirkpatrick.

Arnold, Gertrude Weld, comp. Mother’s list of books for children.^[12] **$1. McClurg.

A reliable list of children’s books for the mother, teacher and librarian. There are 515 14titles classified according to the ages and not the school grade of the child, and grouped under headings that indicate the character of the book—poetry, stories, travel, etc.

“There is little to criticize in the selection.”

“Some stories have crept into her list which should creep out, but, altogether, the little volume is one deserving of consultation before mothers do their Christmas shopping.”

“The selection is suggestive, provided one is content to pass over the latest novelty.”

“A most welcome aid in the problem of deciding what to give the children to read.”

Aronson, Victor Rees.^[9] Workingmen’s Compensation act, 1906. *$6. Unwin, T. Fisher, London.

“An exhaustive examination of the Act. Provision has been made for serving the purpose of the lay as well as of the professional reader; there is a complete examination of the Act, a summary of cases, &c.”—Spec.

“A careful view of the law and cases.”

“The student or legislator laboriously striving to work out an adaptation of workmen’s accident insurance or compensation to American conditions will surely welcome this book with gratitude and admiration. It is a model of analysis and precision.” J: R. Commons.

“We can heartily commend the book to the notice of all lawyers or laymen who may have occasion to read, study or administer the act.”

Arpee, Leon.^[10] Armenian awakening: a history of the Armenian church, 1820–1860. *$1.25. Univ. of Chicago press.

A compact history in 235 pages of the real vanguard of Turkish enlightenment and civil and religious liberty. The chapters are: Introduction; The revival of learning; Political history of the period; The Romanist emancipation; Paulicianism; The first reformers; The protestant excision; Why a protestant Armenian church; The struggle for democracy; Appendices—containing The Armenian confession and The Turkish constitution restored; Chronological table; Bibliography; Index.

“A learned and minute history of the Armenian church.”

Arrhenius, Svante August.^[9] Life of the universe, as conceived by man from the earliest ages to the present time; tr. by Dr. H. Borns. (Harper’s lib. of living thought.) 2v. ea. **75c. Harper.

Traces the historical development of cosmogonic ideas from ancient days up to the time of Newton. The divisions of the study in the first volume are: Cosmogonies of primitive races; Creation myths of ancient civilised races; The most beautiful and profound creation myths; Cosmogonies of the ancient philosophers; Dawn of modern ages: multiplicity of the inhabited worlds. For volume two the chapters are as follows: From Newton to Laplace: mechanics and cosmogony of the solar system: More recent astronomical discoveries: the stellar universe; The energy conception in cosmogony; The conception of infinity in cosmogony.

“There are a considerable number of mistakes, caused apparently by the translator’s want of acquaintance with the practice of English authors. These mistakes are not important, but when it is intended to give to the public science in a ‘tabloid’ form, pains should be taken to see that it is easy to assimilate.”

Arthur, William.^[6] New Building estimator: a practical guide to estimating the cost of labor and material in building construction, from excavation to finish. 5th ed. $2.50. Williams.

An enlarged and revised edition of a work of value to architects, builders, contractors, appraisers, engineers, superintendents and draftsmen. Various practical examples of work are presented in detail, and with the labor figured chiefly in hours and quantities.

“It is a compact compilation of cost data that should be in the possession of every person engaged in building construction.”

“Mr. Arthur is an experienced builder, so that the data on pure buildings is much more complete and authoritative than that on bridges, pavements, steel-work, etc., which the author evidently has taken from other sources than his own information.”

“This little book will be found useful, a compendium of general information covering a wide field.”

Arundell, John Francis, baron Arundell of Wardour.^[10] Some papers of Lord Arundell of Wardour, 12th baron, count of the Holy Roman empire, etc., with a preface by the dowager Lady Arundell of Wardour. *$3. Longmans.

“The discussions in this volume of ‘social inequality and natural right’ are not just ‘crambe repetita,’ but contain a number of serviceable quotations from French, English and American thinkers, and some good reflections of the writer’s own. The incompatibility of equality with liberty is pointed out, and also the circumstance that, while subordination is a fundamental law of the universe, the lines of social inequality are forever interlacing and intersecting.”—Sat. R.

“These papers were well worth collecting, for the late Lord Arundell of Wardour was something more than a country squire in politics or a very estimable, devout and conscientious man.”

Ashcroft, Edgar A.^[7] Study of electrothermal and electrolytic industries; statistics by I. J. Moltkehansen. 3 pts. pt. 1, Introductory. *$2. McGraw.

v. 1. “A general summary of the practical and theoretical development of the rapidly growing electrochemical field for the application of electric energy.... It is largely given up to a discussion of the commercial value of electrolytic and electrothermal processes, in which the author concludes that the future development of these industries depends largely on the use of cheap water-power. A chapter is then devoted to the location of plants with reference to such power developments, and to costs of operation. The final chapter discusses the broad features of plant design.”—Engin. Rec.

“The introductory volume promises well, although it lacks condensation. There is also a philosophising tendency which distracts from the main purpose of the book.” H: H. Norris.

15“The book is hardly to be taken as a technical guide to electrothermical processes, being mostly a very readable and interesting essay on the general factors entering into the progress and future of these comparatively recent arts.”

Ashdown, Charles Henry.^[7] British and foreign arms and armour. *$4. Dodge.

Valuable not only as an introduction for the student but as a trustworthy volume for the general reader this work begins with the rude weapons of the wild man of the forest primeval and hurries on thru the bronze and iron ages to dwell more at length upon the age of mail—when knighthood was in flower. The author’s purpose is “serious, antiquarian and historical.”

“The present magnificent volume has for the impressionable reader much of the charm which belongs to the romances of Sir Walter Scott.”

“With [some] small exceptions, the book is a remarkably complete, accurate, and unusually able treatise. It is pleasantly written, and compounded of wide knowledge, enlightened observation, and a notable comprehension and grasp of the facts. It is a volume for which there is decidedly a vacant place, and we recommend it to fill that vacancy on the shelves, not only of the student, but of any reading man who really cares to understand the life of the past.”

Ashe, Samuel A’Court.^[3] History of North Carolina. 2v. ea. 3/4 mor. $6. Charles L. Van Noppen, Greensboro, N. C.

v. 1. 1584–1783.

Treats the period in the following epochs: First epoch, 1584–91, Raleigh’s explorations and colonies; Second epoch, 1629–63, permanent settlement; Third epoch, 1663–1729, proprietary government; Fourth epoch, 1729–65, North Carolina as a royal province; Fifth epoch, 1765–75, controversies with the mother country; Sixth epoch 1775–83, the war for independence.

“It is a clear piece of narrative carefully constructed from the original sources, rather strong in its accounts of personal incidents, and weaker in discussions of social institutions. Generally speaking this is our best history of North Carolina in the period covered, and it is better than many other state histories, but it falls short of being a satisfactory work and leaves the task still to be performed by a student better trained in general history and with a better sense of historical forces.” J: S. Bassett.

“Mr. Ashe has studied the early records of his state with great care, and has written from them with admirable estimate of the importance of the various movements and episodes of which he has seen fit to take notice, and with an evident purpose to keep his narrative close to fact. He has not allowed his state pride to warp his judgment and betray him into erroneous conclusions.”

Askew, Mrs. Alice J. de C. (Leake), and Askew, Claude Arthur Cary.^[11] Testimony. †$1.50. Lane.

With the scene shifting from a quiet New England farm to London this story tells of a quarrel between a mother and her daughter-in-law, of the desertion of the daughter-in-law, of her flight to the home of a millionaire uncle in England who uses her beauty and wit as a help in working his way into London society, and of her final return and reconciliation.

“This narrative is marked by the authors’ usual ingenuity and spirit; but the plot is rather too obviously accommodated to the exhibition or contrasts between antagonistic individualities.”

“The first part of this book, the scene of which passes in New England, is excellently written and most interesting to the reader. When, however, the mother and the daughter-in-law quarrel and the daughter-in-law deserts her home, the novel distinctly degenerates.”

Association of American law schools.^[5] Select essays in Anglo-American legal history. 3v. v. 2. per set, *$12. Little.

v. 2. Contains twenty-five essays on the history of particular topics: Pt. 1 is devoted to the sources of legal history; pt. 2 “contains essays by Inderwick, Spence, Holdsworth and Mears on the history of the courts—common law, equity, ecclesiastical and admiralty, their organization and jurisdiction. Part 3, the largest of the four, traces the history of procedure, and the ten essays range from the late Professor Thayer’s ‘Older modes of trial’ and Sir Frederick Pollock’s ‘King’s peace in the middle ages’ to Professor Hepburn’s ‘Historical development of code pleading in America and England.’... In part 4 are six essays on equity.” (Am. Hist. R.)

“We do not mind the overlapping in subject-matter and the conflict of views when the subject-matter is the origin of equity and the conflict of views is between Mr. Justice Holmes and Professor James Barr Ames.” H. D. Hazeltine.

“Though primarily intended for lawyers, is at the same time brimful of matter valuable for historians. Only in a very few cases do the editors seem to have fallen below the high standard of excellence which they have adopted.” F.

“This is one of the series of three volumes which the scholarly lawyer cannot well do without.”

Atkinson, Eleanor. Lincoln’s love story. **50c. Doubleday.

“The average person knows only that Ann Rutledge was Lincoln’s sweetheart whom he lost by death. Of the character of Ann herself, the circumstances of Lincoln’s associations with her, the qualities which set her apart from the rustic maids of New Salem and drew Lincoln’s regard, and of the inner heart of the tragedy which separated them by death—the majority are ignorant. It is this which Mrs. Atkinson tells, correlating all this tradition, supplementing it with direct testimony from surviving friends of Lincoln, and projecting it against the background where it was enacted.”—N. Y. Times.

“Tradition and the testimony of Lincoln’s friends have been skillfully utilized in this delicate story.”

“An exquisite little narrative of the tragic romance that mellowed, softened and deepened Lincoln’s life.”

“While this story cannot take its place as literature with ‘He knew Lincoln’ or ‘The perfect tribute,’ it is, nevertheless, delicately and reverently told.” J. B. Rittenhouse.

16Atkinson, William Walker. Mind-power: or, The law of dynamic mentation. $2. Progress co.

“Mr. Atkinson premises that ‘there exists in nature a dynamic mental principle—a mind-power—pervading all space—immanent in all things—manifesting in an infinite variety of forms, degrees, and phases.’ He identifies this force, or principle—his terminology is rather loose—with ether, or concedes that it may dwell in ether. It is a thing in itself and the way to use it is to say: ‘I am dynamic,’ with all possible emphasis, which ranges this force on your side and makes you irresistible in love, business, and all the affairs of life.”—N. Y. Times.

“Can have no possible value to a student of scientific psychical research, but it may prove attractive to others. The book seems to be a sort of vade mecum for this class of spiritists, hypnotists, clairvoyants, and mediums, and if the reading of it is confined to them no harm will be done.”

Atlay, J. B.^[5] Lord Haliburton. 8s. 6d. Smith, Elder & co., London.

Not a biography but “the bare truths of a strenuous, and intelligent, and highly conscientious official life.”

“Mr. Atlay has done his work well.”

“To Americans, this short memoir of the successful career of a British colonist, born and bred in Nova Scotia, cannot but be interesting.”

“Is assuredly a contribution to the literature of army problems which no student of these can afford to neglect. It is also an inspiring and stimulating record of the life of a great civil servant.”

Audel’s gas engine manual. $2. Audel.

“Begins with the earliest types of gas engines and attempts to have the reader become familiar with the various engines in use up to three or four years ago. There are descriptions of a number of engines, but there is a noticeable absence of engines from about 100 to 500 h.-p. In general, the scheme is to familiarize the reader with the various types of engines, the principles upon which they operate, their construction, operation, care and accessories which are always found in connection with gas engine work.”—Engin. Rec.

“While deficient in the matter of theoretical, or thermodynamic, information, and therefore not complete as a text-book on the subject, this volume presents in a convenient form a large amount of practical information.”

“The author succeeds well in covering the ground in a general manner, and though more intended for the practical man, the book is worth the attention of any one interested in the subject. It is safe to say that the book gives more value for the money than any of its kind now published.”

Austin, Mrs. Mary Hunter.^[11] Lost borders. $1.25. Harper.

Stories of a country “where the boundary of soul and sense is as faint as a trail in a sand storm.” It is of the unrestrained life of the far western plains that the author writes, of the obsessions that seize upon men’s souls, of the moral irresponsibility, engendered by the desert, that has no use for the formal side of man’s affairs.

“It is a wholesome book for city-dwellers in its largeness of understanding.”

“This woman has the eye to see, the heart to understand, the art of words to convey.”

Austin, Stanley Elston.^[6] History of engraving from its inception to the time of Thomas Bewick. *$1.50. Scribner.

A popular compendium giving in concise form the various methods of engraving. The chapters are: Its fabled or romantic origin; More claims considered; Block books; Early masters—“E. S.” and Albrecht Dürer; Hans Holbein the younger; Progress of wood-engraving in England; Some masters of the French and Italian schools; The birth of mezzotint; Early British mezzotinters; More masters of mezzotint; A great exponent of stipple; The revival of wood-engraving. Index.

“No ‘History’ can properly deal with the rise and progress of engraving ‘From its inception to the time of Bewick’ in this space.”

“A somewhat bumptious little book. Mr. Austin has knowledge of some of the facts of his subject, although it is questionable if he possesses a clear idea of just what constitutes engraving.”

“The author’s enthusiasms lead him to seemingly rather overcolored statements.”

Auvergne, Edmund B. d’.^[8] Lola Montez. *$4. Lane.

This is the biography of a talented Irish woman whose distasteful early marriage consummated by a scheming parent marked the beginning of a checkered career of the sort known to adventuresses. “Maria Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert eloped at nineteen to escape a mercenary marriage. By twenty-four she had quitted a husband and become the Spanish dancer Lola Montez. In the eighteen years of life left her she passed from end to end of Europe at the public expense, accumulating adorations ‘en route’; fairly naturalized herself in the Paris of the greater Dumas and Émile Girardin; episodically sojourned with the Abbé Liszt; became the Egeria (blamelessly, it appears) of Louis I of Bavaria; lingered in a California camp, and flashed through the mining fields of Australia; became an author, and a devout Methodist at New York; a dull and decorous lecturer in London; made an edifying end, and was buried under her maiden name in Greenwood cemetery.” (Nation.)

“Reading the story of Lola Montez is like reading a vivid page from the eighteenth century.” A. B. Maurice.

“It is probably his rather forced flippancy, and the tiresome reiteration with which he employs Lola as a flail for Philistia that obscure the better qualities of his book. As it is we find his rather jejune Gautierisms almost insurmountable.”

“It is a kindly, sympathetic, and appreciative view of the famous adventuress that is presented.”

Avebury, John Lubbock. Peace and happiness. **$1.50. Macmillan.

At the heart of Lord Avebury’s entire presentation of the subject of happiness lies the conviction that “happiness depends upon ourselves.” His chapter headings are: The body, 17The mind, Aspiration, Contentment, Adversity, Kindness, Education, On friends and enemies, On riches, The dread of nature, The love of nature, Now, Wisdom, Religion, Theology, Peace of mind, and The peace of nations. The author’s attitude towards pain and evil is revealed in the statement, “Pain is not always, or even generally, an evil. It is often a warning and safeguard.... But we do not so readily acknowledge that the same is true of mental troubles.”

“Not original, but practical and helpful, with numerous pertinent quotations.”

“It is a temperate, healthy, beautiful book, one that every intelligent man or woman will be the better and the happier for having read. There are two chapters on religion and theology respectively in which one meets with a few statements from which a Catholic would dissent.”

“Lord Avebury is, in a modest and reasonable but very candid and courageous way, progressive and even radical.”

“There is a certain human kindness and philosophic depth about everything that Lord Avebury writes, and he has given us some very thought-provoking paragraphs in this volume of brief essays.”

“This volume has been pieced together out of Lord Avebury’s note-books, for the benefit of the rate-provided libraries, whose frequenters have an insatiable appetite for platitudes, and are not very familiar with the best things that have been said.”

“Sometimes, we think, our author is somewhat too dogmatic. Sometimes, again, he is a little trite. But, on the whole, his book is full of truth, good counsel, and pertinent examples, well chosen and well expressed.”

Avery, Elroy McKendree.^[5] History of the United States and its people from their earliest records to the present time. 15v. v. 5. ea. *$6.25. Burrows.

v. 5. Covers the period from the French and Indian war to the time of the declaration of independence.

“From the purely literary point of view, this latest volume is his best; the style has greater evenness and dignity, and less of trivial digression and straining for popular effect than in any of his earlier work.”

“This interesting period is handled by Mr. Avery in an intelligent, spirited, and entertaining fashion, due attention being paid to all of the important movements and stirring events that enlivened it.”

“In some respects, particularly in the matter of typography and illustrations, the best of the series that has thus far appeared. In all this narrative Dr. Avery has made good use of contemporary sources of information, both for text and illustrations.”

“We cannot on this occasion criticise the book in detail; but we must say a word about the rich variety of the illustrations with which it is furnished.”

Ayres, Leonard P.^[6] Laggards in our schools: a study of retardation and elimination in city school systems. $1.50. Charities pub. com.

The Russell Sage foundation furnished the sum of money necessary for conducting a preliminary survey that might (1) Put together useful material bearing on these topics; (2) Develop a mode of attack on the problem; (3) Analyze a sufficiently large number of cases to demonstrate the utility of the method and answer questions. The results included in this volume show that the most important causes of retardation can be removed; that regularity of attendance and faithfulness are major elements of success; that some cities are accomplishing results by exemplary measures; that relatively few children are so defective as to prevent success in school or in life.

“Presents valuable data.”

“The book, although very clearly written, is not a merely popular discussion of the subject as the wording of the title might lead one to suspect, but gives evidence of careful research, of keen analysis of the material presented, and of much insight into statistical procedure.” W. F. Dearborn.

“Such a book, at once readable and scholarly, scientific and popular, critical and constructive, is typical of the best in educational literature.”

“Every one interested in the welfare of our children ought to possess this book. And with all its statistics and generalizations, it is neither dry nor impersonal. For Mr. Ayres has given life to figures and character to diagrams, out of the great love of his heart for childhood.”

Ayscough, John.^[5] Dromina. †$1.50. Putnam.

“A book of unusual interest. The scene is laid in Ireland, and shifts to Spain and South America. The people are of ancient Irish lineage, with a group of Gypsies from Spain who surround their king, and consort with the descendant of Irish kings. The central figure, though by no means the strongest character, is the Gypsy King Ludovic—disclosed as the last Dauphin, the ill-fated son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The intricacies of the story are infinite, but the author holds the guiding clue firmly, and leads us through many winding ways, to our satisfaction.”—Outlook.

“A long, intricate story of considerable interest, fresh in its scenes, good in character delineation and full of shrewd observation and clever conversation.”

“One may be well content to condone the structural weaknesses of ‘Dromina’ for the sake of its individual beauties—its fresh scenes, original characters, shrewd and delicate observations, and unforced wit. Above all, one must recognize its special distinction—a power of spiritual perception which enables the author to deal convincingly with supernatural experience.”

“Each separate part is well executed; it is only the whole that is unsatisfactory.”

“There are enough desperate doings in the book to stir any grande dame’s fine blood.”

“It is in essence a fine and high-minded work.”

“Altogether the book is as delightful as it is surprising. One is the better for associating with its men and women, who, under their 18playfulness and fantasy, possess such high breeding, such courage, and so pure a power for serving their highest aims.”

“Each character of the many which crowd the pages is individualized and excites our interest, while the romance holds our attention to the end.”

“Variety of scene, sympathetic characters, and shrewd psychological insight combine to make ‘Dromina’ a very entertaining tale.”

“It is magnificent, but it is not enough concentrated in interest to move us much.”

“Mr. Ayscough’s writing is always interesting, but in the present book he really has given us too many kings without kingdoms among his characters. When all is said and done, there is a charm about ‘Dromina’ missed by many novels which are far more competently put together.”

Bacheller, Irving Addison.^[5] Hand-made gentleman: a tale of the battles of peace. †$1.50. Harper.

James Henry McCarthy, son of an uneducated wash-woman, discovers early in life that he is not a gentleman, and, with the aid of Lord Chesterfield’s letters, sets to work to attain ideals of good breeding. Having unusual ability for organizing business, he first achieves success in a private commercial industry, and afterwards makes himself necessary to the business of railroad consolidation, then in its incipiency.

“As a novel less successful than ‘Eben Holden.’”

“In his last book he has returned to his earlier manner and has written with the same sweet wizardry that made ‘Darrel of the Blessed Isles’ one of the most delightful spells ever cast by an author in fiction.”

“It is written in his usual inimitable style.”

“This story has something approaching the free panoramic effect of ‘Huckleberry Finn.’ His humor is as genuine, though with a leaning toward sentiment, and the flavor of his people and his scenes is as truly of the soil as Mr. Clemens’s or Mr. De Morgan’s. It is delightful to find an American novelist now and then who can picture American types without self-consciousness.”

“Is according to brand, but not quite up to sample. More bluntly put, his latest effort still retains the flavor of the workshop and shows its joints a little more freely than workmen approve.”

“Mr. Bacheller entertainingly describes rural New York in the period immediately after the close of ‘the’ war. There is nothing depressing throughout the book—everything is cheerful and warm hearted.”

“Its love story no one cares for, its literary form is odd, its plot is negligible, but it is decidedly worth while.”

“The new story is quite as effective as anything that the author has done.”

Bacheller, Irving Addison.^[11] The master. **$1.20. Doubleday.

This is many stories in one; but first of all it shows the influence of one Christlike soul over the dominant spirit of one styled “The Napoleon of Discontent.” The latter is head of a chain of anarchy that encircles the world, he has planned a campaign of blood and warfare, when this friend publishes a book preaching peace and helpfulness and the world supposes that the anarchist leader has written it. At once he is sought by wealth and power, offers of help pour in upon him and he finds himself more powerful as a leader of a peace movement than he had dared hope to be as a bloody avenger. Interwoven with this great theme is a tale of villainy and crime, an account of a school for novelists and also a charming love story.

Bacon, Benjamin Wisner.^[10] Commentary on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (Bible for home and school.) *50c. Macmillan.

A commentary that, in keeping with the aim of the series, offers Bible students the results of the best modern scholarship as brought to bear on the study of Galatians.

“The comment is sympathetic, intelligent, and stimulating.”

Bacon, Josephine Dodge (Daskam). An idyll of All fool’s day. †$1.25. Dodd.

A book of “busy nonsense” which records the adventures of a young man and a maid during a day’s outing. “Of course, from the time Mrs. Bacon’s youthful Benedick and Beatrice exchange hostilities at first glance, one foresees that on the last page the moon will be throwing a needless glory over youth and love and laughter, but the events of the day that work the change are none the less piquantly unexpected for leading to a foregone conclusion.” (Nation.)

“Bright, light and as amusing as impossible.”

“The action is continuous and amuses by its very impossibility.”

Bacon, Josephine Dodge Daskam.^[11] In the border country. **$1. Doubleday.

Here are three visions seen long years apart by a woman who three times, from different causes, hovers between life and death at the border land of consciousness. They show to her, and through her they teach us, that the work of woman is great in that it is a never ending service. The first vision comes to her when she hopes to be a famous artist and says to her: “Let men make pictures: do you make men!” The second, coming at a time when she is overwrought with trying to live her own life as well as her husband’s and her children’s, shows her that she need not make great songs but only teach them to her children. When she is grown old and willing to rest and ponder upon what life may be at a sunset window, the third vision comes to teach her that “We are running streams that muddy, if we settle. We have to live and find life out in living.” The three, too charmingly fanciful to be mere preachment, teach a great lesson to the restless, ambitious woman of today.

Baddeley, John F. Russian conquest of the Caucasus. *$5. Longmans.

“Not one man in a hundred knows or cares what happened in the Caucasus during the first sixty years of the last century; it has been left to Mr. Baddeley to tell us a story from 19which we can gather lessons that would have saved us lives and money immeasurable in our fiascos during our wars on the North-West frontier of India or even in our late contest with the Boers. Every one of the difficulties we have encountered in our wars with semi-civilised races, from Highlanders to Pathans, Zulus, and Boers, was met by Russian generals in the Caucasus.... Mr. Baddeley has saturated himself with a ‘genius loci’ before putting pen to paper.... And we have now for the first time in English a connected narrative from first to last of the startling succession of incidents that forms the history of one of the most magnificent mountain regions of the globe.”—Sat. R.

“In its impartial estimate of the essential strength and weakness of the Murid movement, its careful balancing of the case for the conquered with the case for the conquerors, lies the chief value of Mr. Baddeley’s sketch; and for this he has placed all students of modern Russia under obligation. As a piece of historical writing the work proves to be of very uneven character. Mr. Baddeley lacks the historian’s touch, and this is nowhere more evident than in the first half of the book. Here the narrative is labored and perfunctory in the extreme. Part 2, on the contrary, offers some very good reading.” C. E. Fryer.

“Of limited use in the public library but an interesting addition to the literature of frontier warfare and of considerable value for the study of Russian history.”

“No complete history of the conquest has ever been published, even in Russian, and this work of Mr. Baddeley is therefore a most important and useful contribution. A book that should appeal to a general reading public and not merely to those interested in military affairs.” S: N. Harper.

“[There are] one or two trifling inaccuracies in the text. He writes well, he has a thorough knowledge of the Russian language, and he is an enthusiast for the Caucasus.” Oliver Wardrop.

“His main subject, the wars of the Russians with the tribesmen, has never before been presented to English readers. Of them he gives a clear and impartial, but not a particularly animated narrative.”

“Travels and history have rarely been more aptly combined and set before us in an appetising dish. It represents thoroughly good work from beginning to end, and it deserves to find a place in every library. We have praised highly but not more so than is deserved. If the book has a fault it lies not so much with the author as with his subject.”

“His is a very fine achievement, and he may well be proud of it. The publication of this book is an event in the English study of Russian history.”

Bagot, Richard.^[7] Anthony Cuthbert: a novel $1.50. Brentano’s.

A story set in Italy which deals with the tragedy that a beautiful girl brings into an innocent man’s life. “When, two months after parting with her lover of a day, Sonia becomes the wife of his uncle, Anthony Cuthbert, unaware of the relationship between the two men, it is apparent that we are faced with a situation as repellent as the peculiarly heartless and sordid intrigue which brought it about. Mr. Bagot solves the difficulty ingeniously enough, but the final picture of Anthony complacently regarding his nephew’s son as his own, even if it can be reconciled with what is known of human nature (which seems doubtful), is one on which few, presumably, will care to dwell.” (Sat. R.)

“A garrulous style, a mass of unessential trivialities which retard the action and try the reader’s patience, and dialogue generally stilted and unnatural go far to discount the fatalistic impressiveness of the main idea.”

“In spite of a few strong episodes, this book is distinctly below the usual level of Mr. Bagot’s work, and in theme is needlessly and painfully offensive.” F: T. Cooper.

“Unfortunately, it is disagreeable without being impressive.”

“In the present story it is impossible not to feel that he has overstepped the bounds, not simply of conventionality, but of artistic restraint and good taste.”

“There is no true pleasure to be got out of a story of this kind.”

“Mr. Bagot sets himself a thoroughly unpleasant task in the plot of his new novel, and he does not succeed in carrying it out without offending against many of the canons of good taste.”

Bagwell, Richard.^[6] Ireland under the Stuarts and during the interregnum. 2v. *$10.50. Longmans.

These volumes complete the history of Ireland to the restoration. They describe the dealings of the English government with Ireland during the transition from Tudor to Stuart rule which period includes the effacement of the tribal system. The vital questions presented are the Settlement of Ulster, the career of Strafford, the rebellion of 1641, and the war and the confiscation that grew out of it.

“In one direction, and that unconnected with the narrative, the present volumes may be open to criticism. That is in the scarcity of maps. In short, Mr. Bagwell has not merely produced the best history of Ireland during this period, but the only one in its class. And he has laid a heavy debt of gratitude on reader and scholar alike for a contribution of the highest value in a field at once one of the most difficult and important in modern history.” W. C. Abbott.

“Occasionally there are signs of the easy writing which makes hard reading, and we wish that Mr. Bagwell would in future put the exact date of the occurrences he is describing in the margin, as a check to discursiveness. We should like to congratulate Mr. Bagwell on a fine piece of work. We are sure Mr. Bagwell will carry with him the judgment of most students of Irish history.”

“While each single paragraph is good, his book as a whole is unsatisfactory. Added to this, and perhaps because of it, his horizon is a limited one. ‘Ireland under the Stuarts’ is worthy to be placed alongside ‘Ireland under the Tudors,’ and this is high praise.” R. Dunlop.

“One may regret the absence of certain maps which would be useful to the reader, and the inadequacies of the indexes; one may note certain obscurities or omissions in the text; one may wonder at the lack of reference to the work of continental scholars; yet, when all is said, Mr. Bagwell has enriched the history of Ireland and historical literature generally.”

“Our author is diligent and judicious, tells his story clearly, and has produced a work which ought to be (though it will not be) carefully 20studied by everyone who intends to allude to the events of the seventeenth century in Ireland. He is, perhaps, a little too contemptuous of certain legends which have obtained wide currency.”

“The two volumes before us are characterised by the thorough and workmanlike treatment which gained their author his reputation some twenty years ago.”

Bailey, John Cann.^[7] Claims of French poetry: nine studies in the greater French poets. $2.50. Kennerley.

Aims to discover and illustrate what may be a reasonable attitude for an English lover of poetry to assume with regard to some of the poets of France. Following an introduction the essays are as follows: English taste and French drama; Marot; Ronsard; La Fontaine; André Chénier; Victor Hugo; Leconte de Lisle; Heredia.

“Mr. Bailey is at his best when he accepts and praises, but it is a little difficult to follow him in his apology for Marot. In the essays on Ronsard, Chénier, Hugo, Leconte de Lisle and Heredia, Mr. Bailey is at his best.”

“In spite of certain conspicuous merits, Mr. Bailey’s volume does not wholly satisfy the expectations which it raises.”

“If only for the fortunate manner in which the essentially poetic nature of the great fabulist is disclosed and illustrated, Mr. Bailey’s book deserves a hearty welcome.”

“This is an honest, capable, and on the whole entertaining book; its aim is to interest English readers in French poetry, and its quotations are in themselves enough for that purpose. The writing is careful, a little loose, sometimes very happily turned.”

“A series of interesting and sympathetic studies. Mr. Bailey though he says nothing of Malherbe is as hostile as Mr. Lucas to the whole school of classical poetry of which Malherbe was the forerunner and the prophet. This is all the more to be regretted, since his essays show clearly enough that Mr. Bailey possesses in no small degree that quality of sympathy without which all criticism is a vain and empty thing.”

Bailey, Liberty Hyde,^[7] ed. Cyclopedia of American agriculture: a popular survey of agricultural conditions, practices and ideals in the United States and Canada. v. 4. $5. Macmillan.

v. 4. “Is in part statistical and historical, in part social and educational. It considers the natural resources of agriculture, questions of labor in its relation to land, and of business organization in relation to agriculture. The further one looks into the four massive volumes of which this work consists, the more fully does one realize that it can be truly described as a popular survey of agriculture and its allied subjects. The illustrations which embellish these books have practical value and are in line and half-tone, the full-page plates being carefully printed on supercalendered paper.”—Lit. D.

“It gathers together from many sources a large mass of material hitherto unobtainable in book form.”

“This cyclopedia should be put at the head of the list of books to be bought by every public library having a farming constituency. The smaller the library the more important that it should have it, for it would require many other volumes to take its place.”

“Altogether Dr. Bailey’s work adequately fills a place that has long remained vacant.”

“Volume 4 contains more than one can find elsewhere, even though it does not contain all that one would like to find in it.”

“Well would it be if the fourth volume, or at least parts of it, could be placed in the hands of a multitude of thoughtful readers, for it contains the best knowledge attainable of the development in farm and country life along historical, commercial, and economic lines.”

“A very important contribution to the literature of farming and farm-life.”

“The person who will read intelligently these four books will have absorbed a large part of the best knowledge of American agriculture, and he will find that henceforth he will read agricultural periodicals and technical bulletins and books on agriculture and country life with more discernment.” W. M. Hays.

Bailey, Liberty Hyde.^[11] Nature-study idea: an interpretation of the new school-movement to put the young into relation and sympathy with nature. 3d ed. rev. *$1.25. Macmillan.

A third revised edition of Professor Bailey’s authoritative nature study work. He leaves unchanged his fundamental contentions that the movement is not the product of “eminent scientific men” but it belongs to the common schools; that its first object is a science-teaching movement, and its second, a nature-study movement; and that its purpose is to enable every person to live a richer life, whatever his business or profession may be. The changes introduced are such as have grown out of the author’s new view point that came with the change from teaching to administrative work.

Bailey, Liberty Hyde. State and the farmer. *$1.25. Macmillan.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“Every chapter contains valuable suggestions from a man of ripe experience.” C. R. Henderson.

“Dean Bailey advances striking arguments in support of his thesis.”

“The author’s philosophy of life is woven into every paragraph of this book. This philosophy is virile. It is put in forceful words which will be understood by all. The spirit of life is in the book, hence the book will live.” H: C. Taylor.

“This book is marked by lucidity of style, soundness of judgment and breadth of view.”

Bailey, Liberty Hyde.^[11] Training of farmers. **$1. Century.

A popular, suggestive, authoritative presentation of the farmer’s place in the scheme of American development, his possibilities and his obligations to society. The first general division 21deals with The means of training farmers; the second, with The school and the college in relation to farm training.

Bain, Francis Wilson. Incarnation of the snow; tr. from the original manuscript by F. W. Bain. †$1.25. Putnam.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“Few writers have a better vocabulary for translating the moon-capering spirit in Indian mysticism than Mr. Bain commands.”

“Falls in no way below the level of its delightful predecessors. Indeed, we question whether the earlier books can show anything equal to the preface.”

Bain, Robert Nisbet.^[11] Last king of Poland and his contemporaries. **$3. Putnam.

A sketch of the life of Stanislaus Poniatowski thruout which are vividly pictured the influences that caused the downfall of Poland; among them, class prejudice, religious controversy, useless Diets, and great waste and extravagance.

“We heartily commend Mr. Bain’s book, which is the most sympathetic and authentic on Poland since that published some years ago by George Brandes.”

“Mr. Nisbet Bain has written for us this mournful chapter in the history of a decadent nation, with a brilliancy and point not common excepting in the writings of French historians. The tale is as exciting as a romance, and reflects much of that realistic description of manners, good and bad, which we find in the works of Balzac.”

“Bain’s work is a valuable contribution to the modern history of Europe.”

“A scholarly and strongly written volume.”

Bainbridge, William Seaman.^[7] Life’s day: guide-posts and danger-signals in health. **$1.35. Stokes.

A volume based upon a series of lectures delivered at Chautauqua by the author. There are “no pet theories, no fads, no panacea. He states clearly and directly the conclusions attained by enlightened science and sound common sense working harmoniously for the hygienic salvation of ordinary people in this present-day world.” (Cath. World.) “It begins with the baby, in the chapter called ‘Dawn,’ and follows the man thru the working day to ‘Twilight,’ ending in ‘Night,’ with many sensible and scientific suggestions as to wise avoidance of danger and proper physiological ethics.” (Ind.)

“The characteristic note is one of moderation in all things, whether it be diet, exercise or parental guidance.”

“An amount of useful information and of sane advice that will serve the uses of the general public better than a whole library of medical and surgical literature.”

“It is free from any trace of the morbid or the pessimistic.”

“The advice is generally good and the book ought to help many of the class for which it was written.”

“A really helpful manual of health.”

Baird, Annie L. A.^[12] Daybreak in Korea: a tale of transformation in the Far East. **60c. Revell.

“A simple story, by a woman, of her Korean sister’s life in its phases of child-wife, widow, and slave. Though the leading character may be fictitious, yet all the facts and incidents narrated have come within the experience of the writer, and give a most vivid impression of the degradation and misery of the heathen peasant woman. Some interesting illustrations add to its attractiveness.”—Nation.

“The transforming of Christianity and the happiness which it brings into these gloomy lives are so strikingly portrayed as to make the book a demonstration of the value of missions which cannot be gainsaid.”

Baird, Jean Katharine.^[11] Sixty-five on time. $1.25. Saalfield.

Just before Jim Crissman, conductor on number sixty-five, is seriously injured in a wreck, he is asked by a young vagabond, found on his train, to deliver a message to a famous surgeon. Crissman’s recovery from the accident is attended with a loss of memory. He has forgotten all of his past, having but a dim recollection of something he was to tell some one. After a number of years, memory is restored by an operation performed by the very surgeon for whom he had a message. Thru the delivery of the belated message a father and son, long estranged, are reunited.

Baker, Alfred. Life of Sir Isaac Pitman. *$2. Pitman.

Sketches the career of the man who invented shorthand and who agitated spelling reform. The story of his life is the story of self education, hard work and definite accomplishment. While Pitman did not live to see his cherished scheme of spelling reform realized, his efforts can be traced in the latter-day interests in simplified spelling.

“The work should interest all stenographers and teachers of stenography. It will also be of value to spelling reforms.”

“Mr. Baker’s story is very interesting.”

“A useful biographical work. It may be said that slightly undue emphasis is laid upon minor incidents in the life of this inventor. The general story, however, was well worth telling.”

Baker, Etta Anthony.^[11] Girls of Fairmount. †$1.50. Little.

A story of life among a group of girls at a finishing school. Wholesome ideals are exploited instead of the superficial ones that are cultivated in many schools of the sort.

“Commends itself because of its glow of youth.”

Baker, Rev. James F. B.^[5] Nestorius and his teaching: a fresh examination of the evidence; with special reference to the newly recovered Apology of Nestorius (The bazaar of Heraclides). Putnam.

Based upon a fresh examination of the evidence bearing on the teaching of Nestorius, this contribution to theological study aims to promote closer relations and intercommunion between the church of England and the “Nestorian” church.

“While this does not in the least diminish the scholarly merits of the book, we can see 22that it is with unconcealed pleasure that the writer reaches the conclusion that Nestorius was not ‘Nestorian.’” H. L. Taylor.

“Mr. Bethune-Baker has conducted a detailed examination into the doctrines held by the arch-heretic with acuteness, learning, and impartiality; and it is hardly possible to read his book without sharing his conclusion.”

“We must be content with strongly recommending Mr. Bethune-Baker’s volume.”

Baker, Ray Stannard. Following the color line. **$2. Doubleday.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“A study of the negro problem remarkable for its objectivity and psychological insight.” C: A. Ellwood.

“The treatment of the question is sane and impartial.”

“The best book yet written for the general reader, describing the actual present situation of the negro, and the problems growing out of the presence in a white civilization. The book has a good tone. The author is not a pessimist. The illustrations are numerous and excellent.” Carl Kelsey.

“There is a great wealth of material in Mr. Baker’s book, which needs to be studied by every one who would form a well-based opinion on racial conditions in the South.”

“Mr. Baker’s attitude is that of the experienced newspaper reporter practised in observing closely and in following clues, skilled in choosing relevant and illustrative facts, accustomed to describing things as he sees them, but without marked sense of perspective.”

“Is essentially a piece of journalism. As such it is very successful. Its chief value, perhaps, is found in its record of the attempt on the part of members of both races to develop a spirit and method of co-operation.”

“Has set down his story in a spirit of fairness, although he has not veiled his sympathy with the negro in the struggle upward. There is not much new in the book, however. Nevertheless, the book is full of intense human interest, and it ought to take high rank among the ‘documents’ on the negro question.”

“That part of the book that will prove of the greatest interest is the fascinating and continual play of opinion that enters into every chapter. Deserves careful and serious reading.” M. W. Ovington.

Baker, Ray Stannard. New ideals in healing. **85c. Stokes.

A first exposition of the Emmanuel movement and the medical profession’s allied activity. The first part is devoted to “Healing the sick in the churches,” and the second to “The new mission of the doctor.” “As the Emmanuel movement is only one of many new efforts or experiments of the church to place itself in the full current of the new thought, so the work of Dr. Cabot in extending the influence and service of the hospital is only one of many notable activities of the medical profession.... The clergyman is discovering that a man has a body: and a doctor, that he has a soul.”

“It uses psychological terms without careful discrimination.”

Baldwin, May. Holly House and Ridges Row. †$1.50. Lippincott.

In story form are set forth for children interesting bits of information about London past and present.

“A brightly written story.”

“The girls take walks, and explain all sorts of places, old and new, information as to which Miss Baldwin has collected copiously and gives out again in quite discreet and readable doses.”

Baldwin, William Alpheus. Industrial-social education. $1.50. Bradley, M.

“The story of a movement which has been a gradual growth. It gives the underlying principles of selection, the kind of activities which, while adapted to Hyannis, are suggestive for the public schools of the state. Finally, the teachers of the different grades tell how they do the work. Interesting and helpful illustrations accompany the text.”—Ann. Am. Acad.

“The book is full of enthusiasm and common-sense. All teachers will be helped by considering the way useful activities indoors and out were made fundamental in the school life of Hyannis.”

“Set forth in an interesting way.”

Ball, Oona H.^[7] Their Oxford year. 6s. Methuen, London.

A pleasant story written by the wife of a Canadian professor who is devoting his Sabbatical year to work in historic Oxford. “They meet the people whom they might be expected to meet,—heads of houses, professors, tutors, undergraduates, and residents, the newcomers through whom, thanks to the academical changes and other causes, the population of half-a-century has been almost doubled. All these are very pleasantly drawn.” (Spec.)

“Mrs. Ball writes very pleasantly, if somewhat discursively, about Oxford life, which she evidently knows well from the inside.”

“This book is little more than a repetition of the same writer’s ‘Barbara goes to Oxford,’ and shows evidence of fatigue.”

“Its contents are mainly fact, very pleasantly pictured. The Latin might have been more carefully corrected.”

Ball, Robert Steele. Natural sources of power. *$2. Van Nostrand.

The contents cover: Water power and methods of measuring; Application of water power to the propulsion of machinery; The hydraulic turbine; Various types of turbines; Construction of water-power plants; Water-power installations; The regulation of turbines; Wind pressure, velocity and methods of measuring; The application of wind power to industry; Modern windmills—constructional details; and Power of modern windmills.

“Written primarily for the student, but of value also to the professional engineer.”

“The book has been made readable and interesting, not only to the engineer, but to every manufacturer who is in a position to economize on his means of power production by taking the 23natural forces that lie at his hand and harnessing them in his service.”

“This book, though brief in its treatment of the subject, possesses many features of value to the engineer. While it neither pretends to, nor does present anything new in regard to water and air power, it forms a compilation in condensed and convenient form, making it a valuable work of reference.” F. C. Finkle.

“The book can be specially recommended to those readers who, while not being specialists in the particular branch dealt with, desire to obtain a general survey of the subject.” C. C. G.

Balmer, Edwin.^[6] Waylaid by wireless; a suspicion, a warning, a sporting proposition, and a transatlantic pursuit. †$1.50. Small.

The English cathedral towns furnish a background for this story whose plot centers about a series of robberies in which American tourists are victims. The real thief, a wily Englishman, puts the guilt upon an innocent American and thru clever manipulation of wireless instruments and messages has him tracked, arrested and locked up. A vivacious American girl plays a willing part in clearing the hero.

“Breezy story of mediocre merit, improbable, but ingenious in its exposition of the possibilities of wireless telegraphy.”

“This invention alone would have sufficed the author to produce a readable book; for good measure he adds the counter-complication of wireless at sea.”

“The conversation is always telling and to the point, whether clothed in humor or seriousness.”

Bancroft, Marie, and Bancroft, Squire.^[6] Bancrofts: recollections of sixty years. *$5. Dutton.

The memories during sixty years of the Bancrofts who in the height of their success were accorded the leadership of the London stage. “The volume contains much interesting theatrical history, a rich fund of personal reminiscense, a rare budget of anecdote. The illustrations comprise many portraits, caricatures, scenes from plays, pictures of buildings. There are many letters from prominent personages. The Bancrofts have been more or less in touch with the leaders of thought and the men of action of their time and country.” (N. Y. Times.)

“Too expensive for its usefulness to the average public library.”

“On the whole the figures and financial details are the most interesting features of this book, which is not without ‘padding.’”

“For liveliness and variety, the book is one of the best of its kind.”

“Their book is full of interesting and often pregnant matter.”

“The book has a cheery, optimistic vein, and there is little in it of the acerbity and irony generally associated with the reminiscences of aged actors off the stage.”

“As a book of theatrical gossip it will prove innocent and entertaining reading to those who enjoy gossip.”

“A delightful book.”

“It is wonderful that two people of sixty-years of age should deliberately put such childish stuff into print. We have never met with anything which shows more clearly how ability on the stage is compatible with general insignificance of intellect and temperament.”

Banfield, E. J.^[11] Confessions of a beachcomber: scenes and incidents in the career of an unprofessional beachcomber in tropical Queensland. *$4. Appleton.

“Records the life and observations of an Australian retired from the society of white men on a little island off the north-east coast of tropical Australia. The author prides himself that he has ‘returned to nature,’ but that is almost impossible: he has returned to solitude, to poverty, to freedom, and many other things, but he has not accepted the conditions of nature. He has rejected the burdens of civilization, and gone off with the loot into the wilds; extirpated the native vegetation, and planted the trees that feed him agreeably. And there he sits with his telescope, rainguage, gun, and camera, and laughs at the slaves that stay behind, inventing more such instruments, and sending him groceries by the weekly steamer.”—Ath.

“He is not a man of science, but he has the instincts of the field naturalists, and writes interestingly of birds and beasts and insects.”

“We would freely acknowledge the literary charm, the wealth of metaphor, the artistic qualifications, and the excellent powers of observation of our beachcomber. At the same time we direct attention to some faults in this work, because we hope to see it pass into a second edition and become a classic for naturalists.” J. S. G.

Bangs, John Kendrick.^[10] Real thing, and three other farces. $1. Harper.

The first of these four farces, the title piece, is a clever take-off on the servant question. The scene is the office of the Maginnis Employers’ bureau, New York City, where appear not servants for employers to choose, but employers for domestic artists to choose. The reader can imagine what amusement Mr. Bangs could furnish out of this situation. The other pieces, each suited to dramatic reading or monologue, are: The Barrington’s “At home”; The return of Christmas and The side show.

“Four little farcical plays are very well suited for dramatic reading or for home theatricals.”

Bankart, George P. Art of the plasterer: an account of the decorative development of the craft, chiefly in England from the xvith to the xviiith century. *$10. Scribner.

Traces development of plaster work. “The illustrations, of which there are several hundred, are most of them from excellent photographs taken specially for the book or from geometrical drawings by Mr. Bankart, and include complete buildings, portions of ceilings, façades, etc., some on a large scale, with numerous separate reproductions of details such as rib enrichments, heraldic animals, panels, friezes, etc., culled from an immense variety of sources, beginning with antique stucco-duro and coming down to quite modern plaster work, so that they form a complete pictorial epitome of the plasterer’s craft from its first inception to the present day.” (Int. Studio.)

“A volume which can at once be accepted as 24a standard work. It can hardly be said that the volume is equally interesting throughout.”

“This important work will, no doubt, be widely welcomed, and, it is greatly to be hoped, will do much to inaugurate a much needed reform in the design and execution of decorative stucco. Perhaps the most valuable section of this book, truly unique of its kind, is that in which the causes of the decline in plaster work in England are examined.”

“He has rendered a real service to architects and decorators on both sides of the ocean by setting before them through actual example, the possibilities of a beautiful, but sadly neglected, form of decorative art.”

Banks, Rev. Louis Albert.^[12] Problems of youth: a series of discourses for young people on themes from the book of Proverbs. **$2.50. Funk.

A volume of talks to young people full of the sort of sympathetic and sane counsel that young people will be interested in and heed. Illustrative anecdote is fully used to send the lessons home to readers.

Barbour, Ralph Henry.^[11] Captain Chub. †$1.50. Century.

The fourth “Tom, Dick and Harriet” story, in which the boys rent a house-boat and, with Harry and her father for guests, cruise up and down the Hudson, going ashore now and then for the fun of adventure. They dance, fish, keep store in the absence of the owner, run into a camp of gipsies, and end with a merry house party.

“Tho this new volume is the fourth in a series, there is no abatement of wholesome fun and adventure.”

Barbour, Ralph Henry.^[10] Double play. †$1.50. Appleton.

In this new baseball story the author continues with the experiences of Dan Vinton, the hero of “Forward pass,” during his second term at Yerdley Hall. The incidents deal, on the one hand, with his mentorship over a wealthy New York boy who gets into a good many scrapes, and on the other, with the hero’s effort to make the baseball team, his final success, and the great game in which he wins the victory for Yerdley Hall. The methods of the baseball coach will interest all who are interested in the training of a team.

Barbour, Ralph Henry.^[12] Lilac girl. †$2. Lippincott.

Another of Mr. Barbour’s illustrated romances which is a symphony in lavender. The heroine is Eve of Eden Village and the hero is a young miner to whom the maid first appeared on the rear platform of a Pullman for a brief moment, in the mountains during a stop for a “hot box.” The daring man makes love to her, swears allegiance, and continues his love-making under more difficult circumstances five years later in a New Hampshire village.

“The tale is at once sufficiently brief, improbable, and cleverly told, to make an hour or so pass pleasantly.”

Barclay, Florence Louisa (Charlesworth).^[12] The rosary. **$1.35. Putnam.

A novel whose love motif is sounded in Nevin’s “Rosary.” Thru her rendering of that song, the plain faced Honorable Jane Champion reveals her soul to a young artist who is reputed to love beauty more than all else in the world; he declares his love for her, and the young woman, believing that her physical imperfections would prove a martyrdom to him, refuses to marry him. She believes that he will go off and forget her and leave her to her lonely life; but his allegiance never falters. One can’t quite forgive the inartistic touch in the story invention that renders the young artist blind before the reconciliation is brought about. It is too great a concession to a homely face and not enough of a justification for the illuminating beauty of the soul.

Barine, Arvède, pseud. (Mrs. Charles Vincens).^[11] Madame, mother of the regent, 1652–1722; tr. by Jeanne Mairet. **$3. Putnam.

A familiar and intimate story of the life of the Duchesse d’Orleans, the second wife of Philippe of France, the younger brother of Louis XIV. It reveals Madame’s uncurbed hostility of a thoroly German temperament against the French people until she came under the spell of Louis XIV; from that moment reconciliation with French life began. Her happiness, later domestic troubles, her great jealousy of Mme. de Maintenon and her association with Louis XIV are set forth in clear relief against a background of social and political France.

“A cleverly-written account. The translation is commendably fluent and readable.”

“M. Barine’s is most interesting. Altho the translator does not appear to have been born under the star of Addison, or exactly to the idiom of Addison, the translator makes herself intelligible. The work is a valuable addition to the history of social life in France during the age of Molière.”

“Altogether the story of her life is wrought into a delightful bit of comedy, not, however, to the neglect of its more serious aspects.”

Baring, Maurice.^[5] Russian essays and stories. 5s. Methuen and co., London.

A book that “helps to fill the gap of ignorance that still remains of a country with which we ought to be better acquainted. Mr. Baring has resided long enough among the Russians to have become master of their language and a welcome fellow-traveller to the sérroy naród (the lower classes). He has made it his practice to travel third class, to talk and hobnob in tea with the peasant, the soldier, the cobbler, and the Jew. His only object in writing the book, he states, is to give a record of things seen. To the two vital questions in Russian economics—that of the peasant and of the Jews—the author devotes several interesting and instructive chapters.”—Sat. R.

“Is one of the most picturesque and fresh books on Russia which we have seen for a long time.”

“We welcome this book. It presents a true picture of Russian life and character taken from nature. Mr. Baring’s deductions regarding the causes of the hate the Russians have for the Jews are in our opinion erroneous.”

“No one writing in English gives us a more truthful picture of the Russian peasant as he works and lives and talks.”

Baring-Gould, Sabine. Cornish characters and strange events. *$5. Lane.

“A volume of nearly eight hundred pages filled with all sorts of curious matter. In general arrangement it is a collection of biographies of those Cornish celebrities who have escaped interment in the National cemetery so 25ably planned and laid out and filled by Leslie Stephen and his successor in the editorial chair. Cornwall’s comparative isolation, as the author remarks, ‘has tended to develop in it much originality of character; and the wildness of the coast has bred a hearty race of seamen and smugglers; the mineral wealth, moreover, drew thousands of men underground, and the underground life of the mines has a peculiar effect on mind and character.’ A forty-three-page index conveys some idea of Cornwall’s wealth in noteworthy characters.”—Dial.

“The volume is as a whole distinctly entertaining, and contains only a few well-known or hackneyed subjects.”

“How the subject could have been more exhaustively treated, the reader of this thick octavo would find it hard to indicate.”

“As a whole, it cannot be said that the book gives the reader a strong impression of the imaginative character of the people and the land.”

Baring-Gould, Sabine.^[12] Family names and their story. $3. Lippincott.

A thoroly informing book on an interesting subject. “In his introductory chapter the author gives us some curious instances of how a confusion, naturally great, has been worse confounded by ignorance and carelessness, but in the next he brings us to somewhat firmer ground, and shows how names have developed. The first distinctions were tribal only; the tribal name gave way to the personal; the personal name had to be supplemented by descriptive appellations; last of all, the surname became hereditary.” (Spec.) He suggests the course of evolution in the case of many names thereby keeping the reader’s close attention.

“This is an interesting book; indeed, it is admirable in some respects because, although not a little has been written on the subject by others, it adds much to our knowledge; but we are bound to say that some of its statements are open to question.”

“Mr. Baring-Gould will be found a very instructive and entertaining guide by those who will follow him in such explorations as he has been able to make. We promise the readers of the volume plenty of amusement, and doubtless not a few occasions of debate.”

Barker, Edward Harrison. France of the French. *$1.50. Scribner.

“A book of reference, description, and discussion. In it we learn about contemporary French statesmen, scientists, inventors, authors, architects, painters, sculptors, dramatists, players, composers, singers. Especially do we learn about certain ‘Lights and shadows.’ Among the latter are, for instance, the blight of politics in its ‘tendency to descend to mere intrigue, faction-fighting, and Byzantism.’... Another shadow is, of course, that of pornographic literature and journalism.... But the lovers of the real France will welcome the ‘lights’ too, as described by Mr. Barker—the amazing industry, frugality, and thrift of the people, their kindness, good-fellowship, hospitality, and, what is little understood by those who visit Paris only, the emphasis on family life and the respect shown to age.”—Outlook.

“A cyclopedic work that touches very briefly on almost every phase of modern French life.”

“Meets a want which, if not yet long-felt, is none the less genuine.”

“Mr. Barker’s volume may be best described as an attempt to clothe the skeleton structures of ‘Who’s who’ with sufficient flesh for the uses of the average American newspaper office. This the author has done very successfully.”

“There is hardly any phase of French life which is not brought before us in Mr. Barker’s book and clearly illuminated.”

Barker, Elsa.^[10] Son of Mary Bethel. †$1.50. Duffield.

Set in Nashburg, Vermont, this story sketches a modern parallel of the Christ mission. The chief character is Jesse Bethel, a modern divinity, who is supplied “with parables and sermons, many of them of distinct spiritual beauty and valuable in themselves, but losing in impressiveness by reason of the inevitable comparison. The other characters are closely reminiscent of the apostles, Mary Magdalen, Lazarus, Mary the Mother, and others. Jesse Bethel preaches a mixture of socialism, pantheism, and mysticism intensely modern in inception.” (N. Y. Times.)

“The author is a woman who has not only plagiarized the New Testament and the acts of the apostles for her material, but Madam Blavatzsky as well as other theosophists, yogi, mystics, mental scientists, Christian scientists and spiritualists. It is the most naïvely composite compendium of quotations ever dramatized as fiction and designed as Scripture. All told, the book is harmless. If the reader is perfectly sane and normal he will not understand the worst parts of it, which are merely bad on the mind, and if his faculties have already been dissolved by the New thoughters, his case is hopeless anyhow and he might as well buy it and enjoy it.”

“If Miss Barker has a message of real spiritual import to give us, it is unfortunate that she chose this method, for it is not one which will appeal to those who hold the orthodox tenets of Christianity; and to others, while due recognition must be paid to her elevation of thought and reverent treatment of her theme, the value of the book is doubtful.”

Barker, Ethel Ross. Buried Herculaneum. *$3. Macmillan.

An account of the excavations of Herculaneum and of their products. “A brief description of the various works of art that are figured in the illustrations; also full tables of the various objects found, arranged in a convenient form.” (Ath.)

“Briefer and less entertaining than Waldstein but more convenient and satisfactory for the general reader wishing an introduction to the subject.”

“Its bibliography is more serviceable for students than that of the larger work [Prof. Waldstein’s], because it is classified and accompanied by brief critical notes. The book serves excellently to supply the compendious account of these excavations that has long been needed both by the student and the general reader.”

“It is neither so well written nor so entertaining as Waldstein, the only other modern work on the subject, but is more unified and less extravagant, and is to be preferred as an introduction to a somewhat neglected subject.” Grant Showerman.

“The author gives a concise and methodical account of the past excavations and of the objects discovered. But some perverse demon seems to have made havoc of her scales.”

26Barnes, William. Selected poems; ed. by T: Hardy; with a preface and glossarial notes. (Oxford lib. of prose and poetry). *90c. Oxford.

“In the judgment of Mr. Hardy, this volume of selections includes the greater part of that which is of the highest value in the poetry of Barnes. In his preface Mr. Hardy devotes some dozen pages to weighty criticism on the poet’s aim, his methods, and the literary value of the poems themselves; these he divides into ‘Lyric and elegiac,’ ‘Descriptive,’ ‘Meditative,’ and lastly ‘Humorous.’”—Ath.

“A new edition of his poems selected by one of our foremost men of letters, and he is the man best qualified to judge of the special value which attaches to the work of his whilom master, neighbour, and friend. Regarded as a penetrative analysis, carefully thought out and subtly expressed, [the preface] is noteworthy, even if it does not move us to enthusiasm for our author.”

“His homely pathos and beauty will have a charm for any reader who can surmount the first repulsion of the Wessex dialect.”

“With the aid of Mr. Hardy’s glossarial notes, the reader soon finds that the difficulties of the dialect have vanished, and that he is beginning to understand its charms. Perhaps a more serious impediment lies in the spirit of Barnes’s art. The genius of Barnes combines, in a unique fashion, the simple with the subtle, the ordinary with the profound.”

Barnett, Rev. Samuel A., and Barnett, Henrietta O. (Mrs. S. A. Barnett).^[5] Towards social reform. *$1.50. Macmillan.

Based upon a careful investigation of London’s social problems this study covers the subject of social reformers, poverty, education, recreation and housing. “If [the modern mind] could be aroused to overcome its primary disinclination, it would find here something more valuable than the ripe practical suggestions that appear on every page, namely, a prevailing steadiness of moral outlook, a cheerful sanity of judgment, and a hopeful spirit of faith and good-will which cannot fail to brighten the baffled student and draw the despairing social worker into fresh and more sanguine effort.” (Hibbert J.)

“Can be heartily recommended to social workers as one of the most stimulating and suggestive books of its class.”

“The point of view is sanely and progressively conservative, as befits those who have long dealt at first hand with the difficult task of social reform.”

“Their book is a record of liberal-minded achievement.”

“Of course these papers are written from the standpoint of a careful and sympathetic observer of English conditions, but there is in them a universal human element which gives them more than common interest for us in America, where the same problems are pressing for solution.”

“The reading of it has been a refreshment, and the memory of it will be grateful. There is one statement in this book [regarding the Labour party] that provokes contradiction.” J. M. L. Thomas.

“The essays are more valuable as revelations of British social conditions than as guides to progress in America.”

“Although for American readers, the work suffers from its localized outlook, yet its consideration of social problems is so sensible and judicious that it may be consulted to advantage by all interested in social service.”

Barr, Mrs. Amelia Edith.^[5] Hands of compulsion. †$1.50. Dodd.

“The present story is laid in the Hebrides, among people of a Calvanistic inheritance, yet with their Scotch humor lending them warmth enough. The heroine is led by those hands of compulsion named by many names—Fate, Providence, Chance—according to the temper of the speaker—which are busy shaping our ends for all our willful rough hewing. She is led from foolish and ignoble love to a sweet and true one. And the leading is not too evident, is apparently accomplished by the usual acts of life; yet the author is not afraid to hint of Divine government.”—N. Y. Times.

“The well drawn characters and realistic descriptions are of greater interest than the girl’s fortunes.”

“It will suffice to say that this author’s admirers will have no reason to feel disappointed at her latest product.”

“It is a book of wholesome reading, breezy out-of-doors, and cosey within.”

“There is about Mrs. Barr’s work a sincerity, a direct simplicity, and a knowledge of the singular experiences of human life which give her books a real value.”

“Told in Mrs. Barr’s best style.”

Barr, Robert.^[11] Cardillac. †$1.50. Stokes.

A story of the times of Louis XIII. Among the incidents the “escape of Marie de’ Medici down the silken rope-ladder from the castle of Blois is well managed.... We get glimpses of D’Épernon, Marshal Luynes, and others, and the queen-mother’s obstinacy and unwieldiness are probably not exaggerated.” (Ath.)

“Lively tale. From the historic side the story is not serious. Some of the author’s diction ... is jarring in a story of old times.”

“It is a clean, wholesome romance with plenty of verve and ‘go’—good pabulum for the young, refreshing to the old.”

“A machine-made historical tale. Quite inferior to his best work.”

Barrett, Frank W: Z.^[6] Mourning for Lincoln. **$1. Winston.

A slight volume of less than a hundred pages that reveals the universal sorrow that seized people’s hearts during the days following Lincoln’s assassination. “This was the great day of mourning since the world began; no other page of history has so much black ink upon it, nor is there another sodden with so many tears; no other day has its walls so heavily draped, nor its chambers so silent and sad.”

Barron, Samuel Benton. Lone Star defenders: a chronicle of the Third Texas cavalry, Ross’ brigade. *$2. Neale.

A lively chronicle of days of fighting and marching with Ross’ Texas brigade, “of battles and skirmishes, of soldier life in camp, in field, in bivouac.”

27Barrows, William Edward. Electrical illuminating engineering. *$2. McGraw.

“Deals with light and color, units of illumination and photometry, photometry and photometers, spherical photometry and integrating photometers, standards of illuminating power, incandescent lamps, arc lamps, flaming arc lamps, vapor lamps, shades and reflectors, and illumination calculations. Coming at the present time when interest in illuminating engineering topics is on the increase, and being the first book to treat the subject of illuminating engineering from both a scientific and practical standpoint, it should prove welcome.”—Engin. Rec.

“A technical treatise, less complete and taking up the subject along different lines than Cravath and Lansingh’s ‘Practical illumination’ which is the only similar work in English.”

“The value of the book is chiefly as a ready reference work for those with some technical education, and as a series of suggestions as to matters which may be followed up with greater thoroughness elsewhere.”

“The book suffers from carelessness of statement on minor points, and the effect is increased by typographical errors and omissions. What the volume covers is in convenient and accessible form so that the reader will be sorry the author stopped short of making it a great book.”

“The book is intended as a text in illuminating engineering for class room use, and is probably the best one in English now available for that purpose.”

Bartlett, Frederick Orin. Web of the golden spider. †$1.50. Small.

The golden spider of the tale is an ugly little heathen idol. It lures strong men into a web for the hope of hidden treasure at the end of a veritable Jason quest. The story begins one stormy night in Boston, and continues its course in the republic of Carlina. A Monte Cristo never gazed upon more wonderful treasure, nor engaged to serve a sweeter maiden than the reader is introduced to in Mr. Bartlett’s imaginative story.

“There are moments when it would seem almost as if here were a new writer worthy to be ranked with the few who can justify a story of wild men and wild scenes by its only real reason for existence. It is safe to predict that a great many readers will read this book through in a sitting, and also that almost all of them will like it immensely. A few will sigh and wish the talented author had set his standard just a little higher, or had been more consistent in living up to it.” G. I. Colbron.

“Lacks somewhat in even comparative originality.”

“This book gives the reader a lively hour. A combination of Richard Harding Davis and Rider Haggard, somewhat inferior in style to the originals.”

“The dazed reader need hardly be surprised if the too liberal author has not always managed to get his material to work together.”

Barton, Edwin H. Text-book on sound. *$3. Macmillan.

“Is neither taken up wholly with a mathematical discussion of dynamical principles, nor consists merely of experiments, yet combines these features and so fully covers the subject as to deserve the attention and meet the needs of the serious student of acoustics.” (Science.) “It is a book of a simpler order than the classic works of Helmholtz and Lord Rayleigh, being intended for students of moderate mathematical knowledge.” (Spec.)

“What, then, are the main characteristics of this book which confer superiority upon it? In the first place, the author does not hesitate to employ the elements of the calculus, although in many cases geometrical proofs are given as well. The second main characteristic is the close connection, maintained throughout, between theory and experiment. In the third place, we commend this book because it rings true to the spirit of research. There are very few misprints in the entire book.”

“All the material in it is excellent, the principal question in regard to some of it being one as to its relevancy. A few errors have escaped the proof-reader. The admirable choice and distribution of experiments, the masterly character of the discussions, the ample scope of the work and its attractive topography and makeup, constitute it a welcome addition to the text-books of this division of physics.” D. W. Hering.

“The chapters on various musical instruments are fuller and clearer than is usually the case in a physical text-book, and we should think that this is just the kind of treatise which the musician who desires some acquaintance with the physical side of the subject would be well advised to procure.”

Barton, George. Adventures of the world’s greatest detectives. 75c. Winston.

Fifteen detective stories, each the experience of some secret service man who has not only upheld the traditions of his post but has won laurels by personal success in several big cases. Among the adventures are Vidocq’s experiences in running to cover a gang of burglars in Paris, Chief Wilkie’s work in breaking up a great counterfeiting scheme, Robert Pinkerton’s clever management of a great safe robbery, and Captain O’Brien’s solution of a Chicago murder mystery.

“Detective stories that are true, and yet are just as complicated, mysterious and exciting as any that a novelist ever invented. Sometimes he has strayed far afield from the facts in the case, as in the opening story. But in this, as in the other stories, he keeps true to the kernel of the story, the methods and work of the detectives.”

Barton, Rev. James Levi. Daybreak in Turkey. *$1.50. Pilgrim press.

Dr. Barton states that his book does not pretend to be an exhaustive study of the Turkish empire and its problems, but that his purpose has been to set forth the various historical, religious, racial, material and national questions having so vital a bearing upon all Turkish matters, and which now reveal the forces that have operated in changing Turkey from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional and representative government.

“It is a volume of special value for study by mission classes or bands.”

“The book is eminently readable, the writer a broad-minded political thinker, and no more timely contribution to the discussion of the Turkish question from one point of view has come into our hands.”

“Is an eminently timely and readable statement of the various causes which have brought about the present conditions in the Ottoman Empire. There is a personal touch throughout 28which adds much to its interest. Its value would have been increased by a map giving the different missionary stations, and principal educational institutions as well as the political divisions.”

“One who would understand how the way was prepared for the surprising transformation of Turkey last summer from despotism to constitutionalism should read Dr. Barton’s recent book.”

Bashford, Henry Howarth. Pilgrims’ march. †$1.50. Holt.

The pilgrim of the tale is a youth with an artistic temperament. He struggles against the uncongenial tasks assigned to him in his niche in a big tea house, yet more disturbing are the unsympathetic Puritan friends whose constant warning is this: “Do not allow a love for drawing to intrude between your heart and God.” The struggle, the development, and the triumph are reproduced true to life.

“His tale is by no means without flaw, but it is at least individual, shows more thought, and has a new point of view.”

“It would have been much better had it been pruned of nearly half the characters. The book could have stopped fifty pages sooner and by doing so have been a better book.” F: T. Cooper.

“The exposition is not altogether lucid, and the sentimental outcome is abrupt and rather puzzling; but one closes the book with genuine regret at parting from the agreeable company of people who occupy its pages.” W: M. Payne.

“In technique the book is faulty, being much too long as well as overcrowded with characters. It happens, however, that the author has something to say, and on the whole has said it rather well.” Philip Tillinghast.

“These evangelical people are unnecessarily unlovely and devoid of imagination, but they have a sort of grim reality. The esthetic circle is more nebulous, nor is it, in spite of its freedom, much more attractive.”

“Though irritated, perchance, by a ‘bouffe’ opening, and by the use of small, every-day material, and by an excess of soliloquizing spirit—exaggerated DeMorgan echoes all—the reader ultimately yields to the honesty of the work and the broadly human sympathies that animate the pages.”

“There is often quite good humor in the situations, and the talk and the people are set forth with that cleverness and lifelikeness and that never failing air of good breeding which are so constantly in evidence in English novels and so rare in American fiction.”

“A story of original power and charm. The speech, being chiefly that of young persons, runs for the most part in that astonishing vernacular with which we are constrained to credit the juvenile Briton and some others.” H. W. Boynton.

Bate, Frank.^[5] Declaration of indulgence, 1672: a study in the rise of organised dissent. 6s. Constable, A., London.

A study of the “religious and political forces the ceaseless conflict of which, by slow degrees, led Charles II to the issue of the Declaration of indulgence, and which, by a process much more rapid, drove him, much against his will, to the withdrawal first of the declaration itself, and finally, two years afterwards, of the licences which had been issued under it. The range of literature, printed and written, which Mr. Bate has laid under contribution is ample. He gives citations from nearly 170 out of the 225 distinct sources which are enumerated in the bibliography.”—Eng. Hist. R.

“Though his story is clearly and fairly told, its narrow range and the avoidance of many larger issues of politics with which the toleration policy was closely bound up causes this study, while valuable and suggestive, to lose a certain depth of interest and breadth of perspective which the inclusion of other tendencies would have given it.” W. C. Abbott.

“We congratulate Mr. Bate upon what we imagine to be his first published work. It displays great and well-directed industry; it is agreeably impartial in tone; and it is written without undue emphasis, and with an effective simplicity of style. It is not without good reason that his study has earned the warm commendation of Prof. Firth.”

“This work contains by far the most complete and elaborate treatment [of this subject] which has yet appeared.” G. L. Turner.

“His heart is in his work, and it does not much matter that he shows the temper of a militant dissenter. He has admirably performed his task, enriching his book with an abundance of local knowledge, chiefly of Lancashire affairs, and enlivening it with extracts from the ballads and satirical literature of the time. But his greatest service is that he is the first to give a complete list of preachers and buildings licensed in 1672.”

“This study is, in respect of the industry which has been expended on it and the research of which it is the outcome, a most meritorious work.”

Baterden, J. R. Timber.^[8] *$2. Van Nostrand. Agr9–837.

A popular manual containing information about the uses, preservation and strength of the commercial timbers of the world.

“The book shows intelligent use of a wide range of information, and promises to be of interest and at least general usefulness to purchasers and users of timber throughout the world.”

“Owing to the limitations of space he has failed to present enough in regard to any one point to make the whole of great use to students or practical mechanics.”

“It is unfortunate that the author attempted to write a general treatise. He is confessedly ignorant of botany; and his account of the structure and origin of the numerous species dealt with is usually meagre and defective, and in many instances almost puerile. The practical man, for whom the work is intended, may find it worth the money, in spite of its inaccuracies.”

“The book is, constructively, like a well-built lumber pile of valuable information, and every item of interest drawn therefrom is a carefully weighed log of seasoned stock.”

Bates, Frank Amasa.^[5] Camping and camp cooking. *75c. Ball pub.

A book addressed “to the business man, the clerk, the mechanic and every one who wishes to camp out and does not know how to do it and still keep his self-respect.” As the result of camping experience the author offers a little book full of valuable suggestions to the amateur 29camper. He gives good advice concerning camp outfits, selection of place for camp, what to do if lost, and camp cooking.

“Less extensive than Kephart’s ‘Book of camping and woodcraft’ and White’s ‘Camp and trail,’ but also less expensive.”

“An excellent little treatise, presented in a spirit which will appeal to any man who really appreciates what camping means.” G: Gladden.

“A practical little book.”

Bateson, William.^[9] Mendel’s principles of heredity. *$3.50. Putnam.

“The work is divided into two parts. The first part is a compilation and summary of all Mendelian work to date. The second part contains a biographical sketch of Mendel and a translation of his two classic papers on hybridization in Pisum and Hieracium.... The body of the work is occupied with an account of the facts of Mendelian inheritance, as they have been accumulated since the work of Mendel was brought to the attention of the scientific world at the beginning of the century; and a considerable proportion of this work is the result of the activities of Bateson and his students.”—Bot. Gaz.

“In reading this book one seems to see the author striving to unravel a hopelessly entangled skein. Thread after thread is taken up and followed amongst a maze of seeming contradictions until the clue is ultimately lost. Prof. Bateson’s book is a fair presentation of the subject, though there is throughout a tendency rather to the special pleading of the advocate than to a critical examination of the theory.”

“It is a curious blindness to other facts of heredity which leads the author to the opinion that Mendelism probably represents the only type of inheritance which exists. The work will be indispensable for reference by all students of heredity as a compendium of Mendelian phenomena.”

“Professor Bateson’s book is the most complete and authoritative presentation of the studies which have been made of inheritance phenomena of this sort.” C.-E. A. Winslow.

“Bateson’s well illustrated and arranged summary of these facts is particularly useful as a work of reference for the biologist who is able to discount properly the too frequently exaggerated form of statement engendered by great enthusiasm and zeal for the cause.”

“Professor Bateson has indicated some of the lines on which the new suggestions can develop, and he has presented the subject in a clear manner.”

“It should be of value to the student of science.” Mary Proctor.

“It may be regarded as an authoritative statement of Mendelism at the present time. The book as a whole will be quite indispensable to the student of heredity.” W. E. Castle.

Batson, Henrietta M. (Mrs. Stephen Batson). Summer garden of pleasure. *$3.50. McClurg.

This book devoted entirely to flowers aims first to illustrate the subject of colour schemes in groups and borders, and second to show “how the annual flower famine may best be avoided that seems to afflict most herbaceous borders when June’s plethora is over.” The witchery of flowers creeps into the pages, and the author’s advice to the person who intends to join the sudoriferous band is “If he desires to be a free man—or she a free woman—gardening he ‘should shun like gambling, and take refuge in cities and hotels from this pernicious enchantment.’”

“Mrs. Batson is eminently practical, and she writes pleasantly.”

“Thoroughly delightful book.” S. A. Shafer.

“It is well worth its place in the flower-lover’s library.”

“Mrs. Batson’s book should make a very wide appeal. She approaches her subject with the same care as that with which, one can see, she tends her flowers. While to those whose lot is cast in the country the book will be of great interest and real practical value, to the town-dweller it will be an ever-present delight.”

“Much of the advice is presented in an uninteresting manner, but it is all made easily accessible by the device of marginal headings for the paragraphs.”

“For the lover of home gardens the book will be most useful.”

“Altogether, we have here a delightful and useful book.”

Batten, Samuel Zane.^[7] Christian state: the state, democracy and Christianity. **$1.50. Am. Bapt.

To interpret the State to itself, to make society know its meaning, its functions, its tasks, and its goal, to interpret this modern phenomenon known as democracy and to show its relation to human progress—these points are included in the problem with which the author deals in this volume.

“A good solid book the reading of which would awaken many a man from his lethargy as a citizen and convert him into an active helper in the task of making state and national life to conform more and more closely to the ideal of the kingdom of God. Dr. Batten is conversant with the best literature upon his subject.”

“As a popular presentation of an important subject the work deserves commendation.” E. S. Drown.

Baudrillart, Henry Marie Alfred. Catholic church, the renaissance, and Protestantism: lectures given at the Catholic institute of Paris, January to March, 1904; tr. by Mrs. Philip Gibbs. $2. Benziger.

“The renaissance and the reformation are treated as two phases of the same movement which, in modified form, continues to-day—a movement away from authority and towards individualism.” (Cath. World.) The rise of the renaissance is traced and its anti-Christian influence in Italy. “The sweep of the movement is followed into France, England, and Germany, in which latter countries it merges into the fiercer current of the reformation.... Other lectures are devoted to following up the intellectual, doctrinal, and political consequences of Protestantism and to a refutation of the frequently urged claim that Protestantism has been more favorable than Catholicism to the political and social progress that has been made in modern times.” (Cath. 30World.) Sidelights are thrown on the character and work of Luther.

“This is an extremely interesting and instructive volume from a fair-minded and erudite Ultramontane. We have, indeed, rarely found a juster and more discriminating account of the great religious genius [Luther] of the sixteenth century. The translation is fairly good; but the use of proper names is misleading, and there are far too many misprints.”

“The work is avowedly apologetic in aim; but, however much one may challenge some of M. Baudrillart’s interpretations, no opponent can quarrel with his impartiality in his presentation of facts.”

Bayley, Harold.^[8] New light on the renaissance; displayed in contemporary emblems. *$4. Dutton.

Water marks in paper and printers’ designs used in tail pieces and typographical decoration are the emblems that the author studies for the purpose of showing that “the civilization of Provence, in the dark ages, far ahead of that of the rest of Europe, was the real precursor of the renaissance; that the Albigenses and Waldenses, objects of papal persecution from the thirteenth century and originally dwellers in Provence, where they were the first papermakers, were the heralds of a new and liberal thought and aspiration opposed to ecclesiastical corruption; that these were destined to have their fruition in the renaissance and the reformation, and that they and other thinkers of like sort circulated and spread their beliefs by the water marks in the paper of which they were the makers, just as the other sects of heretics, Lollards, Hussites, and such, secretly communicated with each other.” (N. Y. Times.)

“The author’s conclusions may fail to convince, but his work is of considerable interest to the bibliophile and to students of printing and papermaking and of medieval history and literature.”

“Mr. Bayley has written a considerable book with views of mediæval thought derived from unsatisfactory sources.”

“However difficult it may be to accept the author’s conclusions as a whole, it must be admitted that he has really shed a new light on the renaissance, and in so doing has evolved a theory that carries with it genuine interest, and moreover he has extracted from these ancient emblems facts and interpretations that must enter into any consideration of the subject in the future.” Laurence Burnham.

“It may be doubted whether the main thesis of the book will be taken very seriously by those who study the renaissance. Nevertheless his book has claim to serious consideration in some ways. It will interest, and it certainly is very handsomely made.”

Bayne, Samuel Gamble.^[11] Fantasy of Mediterranean travel. **$1.25. Harper.

A running comment upon the amusing incidents and petty annoyances of travel constitutes this small volume. The author’s cruise of the Mediterranean with visits to Spain, Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, the Holy Land, Italy and finally England is sketched in a sprightly and somewhat slangy fashion while the real charm and beauty of the places visited are shown in more than thirty photographic illustrations.

“His text is of the most casual, superficial character, but his illustrations are excellent.”

“Notwithstanding all his merriment and his flippancy ... his pages are full of accurate and serious information concerning all the places visited.”

Bazin, René. Coming harvest (Le blé qui lève); tr. by Edna K. Hoyt. †$1.25. Scribner.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“Sympathetic in the treatment of nature and deeply religious in tone.”

“It is too well written. The author has idealized his poor man, lifted him into the realm of art, and made his grievance a part of literature rather than of life.”

“Most interesting study of peasant life in the Nivernais. It must be confessed that the story itself is almost lifeless and the individual characters not very interesting.”

Bazin, René. Italians of to-day; tr. from the French by William Marchant. **$1.25. Holt.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“There is a strong personal quality in M. Bazin’s slightest pages; and he has the knack of unobtrusively inocculating his readers with his own sympathies.”

“Its translations exceed the limits of freedom, for they are incorrect. In general, however, the translator has caught the language and spirit of the French critic, and has done him and Italy a service to put this book in English dress. M. Bazin is a worthy follower of Taine and Gautier in their memorable ‘Voyages en Italie.’”

Bazin, René. “This, my son.” †$1.25. Scribner.

Pierre Noellet, son of a small peasant proprietor in La Vendée, knows full well that he will never become a priest, yet for the sake of the coveted education which he cannot have in any other way, declares himself willing to enter the priesthood, profits by his years of preparation, announces his deception to his father, goes to Paris to pursue a literary career, is wrecked mentally and physically, feeds on the prodigal’s husks, and finally, dying, is taken back to his father’s home. The relentlessness of class distinction, and the modern-prodigal lesson make the book important.

“An artistic, vivid picture of French peasant life and customs.”

“No writer to-day is depicting the varieties of provincial life and the problems of the French peasants with the same minuteness as René Bazin. The plot itself is neither skilfully worked out nor important. The structure is diffuse and there is small effort at proper proportion or emphasis.” G: Middleton.

“With all the sweetness of the French scenery, the ‘blond light of France’ upon everything, his stories are ghost stories of human sorrows.”

“Without lagging for a moment, it lacks incident, and the plot is common-place.”

31“It has none of the tediousness of the sugar-coated tract, nor has it the melodramatic obviousness which is perhaps suggested by a bald rehearsal of its incidents.”

“The story at large is one of compelling truth where in Anglo-Saxon hands it would almost certainly have been one of utter falsehood.”

“Another of René Bazin’s sweet, wholesome stories of rural France.”

“A story simple enough, but M. Bazin colours every page with his sympathetic understanding of rural life, of the call of the land, of the allurement towards town life that so easily grips the farmboy who discovers that he has brains and yet so rarely leads him to happiness.”

“Not equal in power to M. Bazin’s last book, ‘Redemption.’ The novel is quite adequately translated.”

Beach, Edward Latimer.^[10] Ralph Osborn, midshipman at Annapolis. †$1.50. Wilde.

A story that offers a true portrayal of midshipman life at the Annapolis naval academy. It affords the young American an accurate conception of the routine of drills, studies, customs and environment of our naval college.

Beach, Rex Ellingwood.^[10] Silver horde. †$1.50. Harper.

“A thrilling record of struggle against the elements and of struggle also against the duplicity of man in the newly opened country in Alaska. The plot turns about the establishment of salmon-canning factories in a district where the wealth to be obtained easily through the marvelous incoming of the fish has led an unscrupulous man to establish a monopoly and to fight newcomers by every means, fair or foul.”—Outlook.

“A lively tale.”

“Undeniably there is good stuff in it, if that happens to be the kind of stuff you like.” F: T. Cooper.

“The reader, who has been fascinated by the author’s graphic descriptions of the cold and the hardships of the country, begins to recognize that he is really reading Frank Norris’s ‘Octopus,’ with the scenes laid in Alaska rather than in California.”

“The book has verve and go, a stir of life that affects you like a deep breath of sea or mountain air. There are some excellent pictures of the world out there in the grip of its deadly winter and the brief bright glory of its summer.” Hildegarde Hawthorne.

“No one can deny that this story has rugged vigor or that it holds the reader’s attention closely, but it lacks just what Sir Gilbert Parker has—that is, literary finish and a sympathetic touch.”

“Love and adventure crowd upon each other so swiftly that the reader almost gasps for relief.”

Beadnell, Hugh John Llewellyn.^[9] Egyptian oasis: an account of the oasis of Kharga, in the Libian desert, with special reference to its history, physical geography, and water supply. *$3.50. Dutton.

“A record of solid and painstaking works conducted under many difficulties and real hardships. Mr. Beadnell gives a very fair account of the historical monuments of Khargeh, but he is at his best when describing things of a more modern and practical nature, such as artesian wells, desert routes, and the work of the Geological survey.”—Sat. R.

“It will be read with profit by many besides professional water-engineers.”

“The accounts of the various deposits laid down in these old lakes, with their interesting contents of worked flint-flakes and pottery, are among the most novel and interesting portions of Mr. Beadnell’s book.” J: D. Judd.

“What he has to say about the water supply is perhaps the part most apt to interest the ordinary reader.”

“Told in a simple style without any embellishments.”

“Mr. Beadnell gives us a very complete scientific account of the region, of its geological formation and other physical conditions.”

Beale, S. Sophia.^[5] Recollections of a spinster aunt. Reynolds, Paul R., N. Y.

Letters and a diary which throw light upon social and political England as well as on the Continent during the period from 1847 to 1882. “The contents of the book are too varied in subject to catalogue. In a charmingly unconnected fashion are recorded the child’s first ideas of ‘Don Giovanni,’ of the queen and Prince Albert, and of the opening of Crystal palace. Then follow the art student’s impressions of London and Paris; and we are shown glimpses of an intimate acquaintance with the art of Europe, with English politics, letters, religion, and music, all in the simple personal narrative of an evidently unusual and interesting woman.” (Dial.)

“In a book of this kind there is no need to dwell on inaccuracies. Miss Beale has produced a refreshing and lively book, full of good things, and however she ‘put together’ these ‘old letters,’ she has done it very well.”

“To the catholicity of interest is added an unusual lucidity and delightful simplicity of style.”

“Miss Beale has given the reading public an opportunity of enjoying many shrewd observations and well-considered judgments.”

Bean, William Joseph. Royal botanic gardens, Kew, historical and descriptive; with introd. by Sir W: Thiselton-Dyer. *$7.50. Cassell.

“The author of the present work is the assistant curator, who not only knows all the circumstances connected with the internal management of the gardens, but is also full of their spirit and traditions.” (Ath.) “Besides history, it contains a capital description of the most remarkable plants and the latest improvements.” (Spec.)

“He has told the story of Kew in a straightforward and interesting manner, without any superfluous matter.”

“Mr. Bean has most happily succeeded in combining historical and descriptive chapters.”

32Beard, Charles Austin, ed.^[12] Readings in American government and politics. *$1.90. Macmillan.

“A source-book to accompany the author’s text upon this subject, now in course of preparation. The selections are 237 in number, grouped in 32 chapters, from ‘Colonial origins of American institutions’ down to recent ‘Social and economic legislation.’”—Dial.

“The selections are well suited to accompany an elementary course in government in either college or secondary instruction.”

“The book affords a very valuable adjunct to the work of instruction in American history and political science.”

Beard, Daniel Carter.^[12] Boy pioneers. **$2. Scribner.

Every true American boy, to whom Daniel Boone is a hero, will be interested in the Society of the sons of Daniel Boone, an organization now numbering over twenty thousand members. Here is a book by the founder of the society telling just how a branch may be organized and how its business should be conducted. It also tells how to erect a fort, handle a gun, throw a tomahawk, talk Indian sign language,—in short, how to be a boy pioneer.

“Were a boy to put into execution all the admirable directions given by Mr. Beard he would be such a pioneer as one would imagine Boone himself dreamed of being.”

Bearne, Mrs. Catharine Mary. Royal quartette. *$3. Brentano’s.

In the lives of four women is traced the history of France from the reign of Louis XIV thru the first third of the nineteenth century. The heroines of the quartet are Marie Adélaïde de Savoie, Duchess of Burgundy; Madame Adélaïde, daughter of Louis XV, granddaughter of the earlier Adélaïde; Marie Luisa, Infantà of Spain, daughter of Carlos IV; and Marie Amélie Thérèse of Naples, wife of Louis Philippe, King of the French.

“Although the author has the command of several languages, a certain familiarity with the Continent, and some facility in narration, she seems to possess little or no powers of concentration or sense of perspective.”

“Mrs. Bearne, as always, has a good scent for the telling anecdote, and in the present arrangement, especially, there is an added interest in the historical changes of such lives as we pass from the autocratic court of Louis XIV to the Paris of Louis Philippe.”

“She has gathered her material from the most authentic sources and enlivens her recital by vivid pictures of the times of which she writes.”

Beaumont, Francis, and Fletcher, John.^[6] Works. Variorum ed. v. 3. *$3.50. Macmillan.

v. 3. Contains five plays as follows: “The faithful shepherdess”; “The mad lover”; “Rule a wife and have a wife”; “The loyal subject”; and “The laws of Candy.”

“The high standard of scholarship and accuracy, to which we called attention when we had our first opportunity of welcoming this edition of Beaumont and Fletcher, is well maintained in the third volume lately published.”

“Set forth in all the perfection of careful scholarship and charming form.”

Becker, Carl H.^[9] Christianity and Islam; tr. by H. J. Chaytor. (Harper’s lib. of living thought.) **75c. Harper.

A comparison of Christianity with Mohammedanism, of interest to the missionary, the ecclesiastic and the inquirer, which traces the course of analogous development and the interaction of influence for the purpose of increasing one’s knowledge of religion.

“The subject is one with which English readers are not very familiar, and it will be found exceedingly suggestive.”

Becquer, Gustavo Adolfo.^[10] Romantic legends of Spain; tr. by Cornelia F. Bates and Katharine L. Bates. **$1.50. Crowell.

A mother and daughter have here rendered into English a score of short stories by a latter-day Spanish writer. The tales are romantic and imaginative, full of such delicate mystery that they cannot have lost much in translation. They tell of such things as a young noble who spent years following the trailing robe of an illusive vision whom he thought he loved only to become a hopeless pessimist on finding her a moonbeam; or of a hunter who pursues a strange white doe hoping to stay it to gain his mistress’ favor but when his arrow flies true he finds to his despair that he has slain the loved one herself; or again, of the wronged maiden whose love was gone to the wars and after her death her unburied hand bearing his bethrothal ring warns him of dangers. The volume is illustrated with photographs of Spanish scenes.

“Tales containing some of the morbid elements which distinguish Poe’s stories. However, their delicate imagery, close observation and tendency to mystery and symbolism establish a closer kinship to Hawthorne.”

“His writings are well worth reading and are given to the public in excellent form in the volume before us.”

“It is a real service to literature which Prof. Bates and the late Mrs. Bates have performed, in giving us this admirable translation of the work of a powerful and poetic spirit.”

Bedell, Frederick, and Pierce, Clarence Albert.^[12] Direct and alternating current testing. *$2. Van Nostrand.

“A manual for use in the electrical engineering laboratories of technical schools, and in conjunction with standard texts on electrical engineering.... The book consists of a carefully selected series of typical tests on direct and alternating apparatus.”—Engin. D.

“A little book of great general and practical interest. The study of the actual working of electrical machinery, together with a continuous interlacing of theoretical exposition, as found in this book, is immensely valuable reading, apart from its purpose as a hand-book for the testing floor. The description of test procedure is clear and thorough.”

Beeching, Henry Charles.^[6] William Shakespeare: player, playmaker, and poet: a reply to George Greenwood. *$1. Lane.

A small volume “containing three lectures, the first a direct series of arguments against Mr. Greenwood’s ‘Shakespeare problem restated.’ 33The two others ‘endeavour to set out the player’s life as simply as possible, and show the congruity of what is recorded of his character with the impression made upon our minds by the dramas themselves.’”—Ath.

“That it would have been well if Canon Beeching had cut himself adrift from his lectures, and spent a little more time and trouble on his work. Nevertheless, even in this little volume there are collected some very hard problems for Mr. Greenwood’s ‘replication.’ There is unfortunately no index.”

Reviewed by Edward Fuller.

“Somewhat more coherent and saner than most of its predecessors.”

“But full of interest as these pages are, most readers will probably be of opinion that so fine and scholarly a critic has done too much honour to a ‘weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable’ theme. The value of Canon Beeching’s essay lies in the opportunity which it affords him of discussing several curious and obscure points connected with Shakespeare’s biography.”

Beer, George Louis. Origins of the British colonial system, 1578–1660. *$3. Macmillan.

A full account of the origins, establishment and development of the British colonial system up to the outbreak of the dissension that resulted in the revolution. The author “gives an account of the laws of trade and navigation as they prevailed in the reigns of Henry VII, Elizabeth, under the Stuarts, and during the Commonwealth. He goes deep enough into his subject to treat of the general fiscal system of England as far as it concerned the colonies.” (Lit. D.)

“The chapters which contain the exposition of his main thesis are the most important portions of his book.” C: M. Andrews.

“The first comprehensive and scholarly treatment of this subject, based on records heretofore generally neglected.”

“Several of the more political chapters contain much that is both valuable and new.” C: H. Hull.

“If present-day politicians were willing to learn lessons from history, no publication could be more timely for the tariff reformers and imperialists of England than Mr. George Beer’s two volumes on British colonial policy.” A. G. Porritt.

“He is obliged to tread the same ground again and again, until the repetition becomes a little wearisome. Still, altho this may detract somewhat from the readableness of Mr. Beer’s present volume, it does not lessen its value as a contribution to the history of the British empire.”

“Writers, especially those in this country, undoubtedly have too long overlooked or failed fully to appreciate the [British] side of the issue, and we are under no slight debt to Dr. Beer for the admirable way in which he is developing it.” C. W. Wright.

“The author sets about the task of elucidating his points with praiseworthy accuracy and lucidity.”

“Mr. Beer’s style lacks grace and charm of presentation, and his treatment is rendered heavy by excessive detail and by a lack of clearness of exposition. His book would have been more readable if he had introduced more summaries and generalizations to show the bearing of his facts and statistics. He has, however, performed a very important work, and future volumes will be awaited with interest.”

“His laborious compilation of authorities is rather a marshaling of facts than of thoughts.” E: A. Bradford.

“No student of this or any other period, whatever his predispositions, can fail to welcome a work which is so effective and so satisfying in its conclusions as this.” H. L. Osgood.

“Not only does credit to his patience in research, but is also a most readable volume.”

Beethoven, Ludwig van.^[5] Letters; a critical edition, with explanatory notes by A. C. Kalischer; tr. with preface by J. S. Shedlock. 2v. *$7.50. Dutton.

Tho deficient in the “deliberate niceties of composition” Beethoven’s briefest note is “characteristic of his deep, sincere, and passionate nature.” These letters furnish an insight into the soul-struggle of a great genius. Dr. Kalischer “does not profess to give us all Beethoven’s letters, but a complete and carefully collated collection of all those which have already appeared in book form, plus a considerable number which have not hitherto been printed. To the English edition Mr. Shedlock has added a few more new letters and a brief introduction.” (Spec.) There are indexes to the references to Beethoven’s works in his letters, and to the names mentioned in the portraits; facsimiles, etc.

“Of small service to the average public library, and less readable than the standard biographies but a valuable addition to large reference collections.”

“It is not too much to say that no other man was so well fitted as Mr. Shedlock to edit and add to this collection.”

“For students of Beethoven, this edition of the letters is now the only one. His annotations and commentary give his work the character of a biography, and it is brought up to date.” L: J. Block.

“His letters constitute perhaps the best biography of this titanic genius of the tone world, certainly the basis of all that we know of his life and character.”

“All that was really worth reading could have been easily held in one volume of 400 pages.”

“The letters are endless in their suggestions of characteristics of the great composer, and their interest for admirers of the man and his music is far reaching. The English edition is not free from misprints—in fact, they are rather surprisingly frequent.”

“Of actual new material there is not much in these volumes, and the new portion is not of very great musical interest. Mr. Shedlock has done his work of translation extremely well on the whole, and that fact renders his occasional lapses the more surprising.”

“Where Dr. Kalischer differs from Nohl, Thayer, and other experts as to dates or the identity of Beethoven’s correspondents, he does so on good grounds, and his notes, though somewhat ponderous in expression, show a pleasant combination of careful research, good feeling, and enthusiasm.” C. L. G.

34Belabre, Baron de.^[5] Rhodes of the knights. *$9.75. Oxford.

“Six years’ residence in the island as French consul has given [the author] special facilities for his task; he has been allowed to inspect several buildings hitherto closed to scholars, and he has produced a very complete account of the walls, public edifices and shields of the knights, profusely interspersed with excellent photographs. He does not profess to deal with the history of the island, except where it is necessary for the explanation of the monuments, but he gives a brief historical introduction with a list of the Grand masters who held office in Rhodes, and he has carefully read the works of his predecessors, whom in several cases he is able to correct.”—Eng. Hist. R.

“We must be grateful to Baron de Belabre for a most valuable collection of views and plans of Rhodes, which make his monograph a work of permanent value. A few slips in dates deserve correction.” W. M.

“A scholarly publication. Most of the photographs with which the book is illustrated are unique and were taken from places to which access is usually denied.”

“An elaborate and amply illustrated account.”

Bell, John Joy.^[5] Oh! Christina! 2d ed. **60c. Revell.

9–8994.

A new edition of a story which has for its heroine an irresistible child of the Glasgow streets. This little girl, an orphan, goes to live with a prim aunt who keeps a shop. The child’s perspicacity in matters pertaining to store management is exceeded only by her intense enjoyment in grown-ups’ love affairs. She is a refreshing little creature near of kin to the author’s Wee Macgreegor.

“Scotophobes and other dull folk are warned off, but most people will, we think, appreciate the sterling and winning character that underlies the little rough husk of the Glasgow ‘keelie’ of twelve.”

“Christina and her nonsense are likely to be much laughed at and quickly forgotten, which is, of course, laying more to her credit than to her discredit.”

“‘Christina’ will help to pass a very enjoyable hour.”

“The book may be read in an hour, and that hour at least will be one of jollity.”

Bell, John Joy. Whither thou goest: a romance of the Clyde. **$1.20. Revell.

An unspoiled, unselfish girl left at her father’s death with a fortune becomes the victim of a jealous, ambitious aunt’s cunning and cruelty. The niece discovers the woman’s perfidy in time to save from her doom a cousin who had been auctioned off to the highest bidder on the matrimonial slave block, and to woo back her own happiness at the expense of pride and fortune.

“An interesting story of average merit.”

“The story is chiefly remarkable for the careful drawing of the minor characters.”

“A sweet, simple story, sweetly and simply told.”

“‘Whither thou goest’ is a much better piece of work [than ‘Thou fool’], closer and finer in construction, its interest better managed, its characterization more vivid. It shows the hand of a man with a native gift for story telling growing stronger and more skillful with practice.”

“The story is not on ordinary lines; it is most skillfully constructed and includes a variety of characters which make it bright and unfailingly entertaining.”

“Is full of that genial humor and kindly philosophy applied to things of everyday life that made his other stories so attractive.”

Belloc, Hilaire.^[12] Marie Antoinette. **$2.75. Doubleday.

An introductory chapter on “The diplomatic revolution” emphasizes the importance of the great alliance between France and Austria in relation to Marie Antoinette’s entire life. “Her marriage, her eminence, her sufferings, and her death were each directly the consequence of that compact; its conclusion coincided with her birth; from childhood she was dedicated to it as a pledge, a bond, and at last, a victim.” Following a lead thus established, the biographer sketches against a background of historical events, terror-wrought towards the close, the fascinating story of Marie Antoinette. The modern viewpoint and method give special force to the work.

Belloc, Hilaire. On nothing and kindred subjects. **$1.25. Dutton.

“Mr. Belloc’s little collection of essays and reflections is quite one to put in the pocket or portmanteau for the end of the week; and it is one to be taken out and read. But it is probably small beer compared with the stuff Mr. Belloc could brew if he chose.” (Sat. R.) “Among the topics chosen for treatment as ‘kindred’ to nothing are these: On ignorance, On advertisement, On a house, On a dog and a man also, On railways and things, On a child who died, On the departure of a guest, and On coming to an end.” (Dial.)

“The book has the air of being designed for a small circle of the elect. It is, however, the work of a clever man.”

“The book is written in a fine spirit of carelessness and spontaneity; nevertheless the author need not have pushed laxity to such an extreme.”

“The book is passably entertaining, but it lends weight to the assertion in the fourth essay that ‘you must not take things for granted because they are printed.’”

“His new volume is quite up to the standard; fresh, frank, versatile. It sparkles all through. He gives us here the result of his play, and a most pleasant result; but many of his admirers may be beginning to look for the result of his labours.”

“Of Mr. Belloc’s satire we have no very high opinion. Some one may suggest that he makes fun of things which we respect. But if we are not pleased we might at least be hurt, and we are not hurt.”

Benedict, Clare. Resemblance and other stories. †$1.50. Putnam.

“Fresh and charming sentiment, care for lively and ingenious plot, faithful presentation of social life, sunny humor, convincing characterization, and graces of style” are the points that make their appeal to Miss Benedict’s audience. There are ten stories in the group. The first or titular story is an example of the suggestive method in story writing. It begins and ends in mystery of which the reader’s only inkling comes through the agitation and fear manifested by a husband and wife 35who are witnessing a performance of “Macbeth,” both of whom are further terrified by the resemblance of the wife to Lady Macbeth.

“It is a good, sensible, workmanlike fulfilment of the formula. One may read these stories with a sense of gentle satisfaction, if with no thrill.”

“Miss Benedict unquestionably has great ability as a writer of delicate psychological problems. What she lacks in technique is sure to come with practice, while she starts with the possession of a quality which subtler and more finished writers, such as Mrs. Wharton, might well envy, the quality of heart.” F: T. Cooper.

“A volume of short stories that, although of quite uneven merit, are distinctly of some importance.” Philip Tillinghast.

“Miss Benedict writes gracefully, though without a great deal of distinction. Her stories are mildly interesting and belong to the class of magazine fiction which is too well-bred to be very striking.”

Benjamin, Helen Mina (Helen Melville, pseud.), and Benjamin, Lewis S. (Lewis Melville, pseud.).^[7] London’s lure; an anthology in prose and verse. *$1.25. Macmillan.

“An anthology of brief passages in prose and verse, classified with more than ordinary intelligence, relating to the great city, its sights and scenes, its denizens, and its natural beauties.”—Dial.

“Attractive little book.”

“The volume is delightful.”

Benn, Edith Fraser.^[12] Overland trek from India by side-saddle, camel, and rail; the record of a journey from Beluchistan to Europe. *$5. Longmans.

A record of travel “far too rough for a lady, and still less suited to a child.” “Starting from Quetta, in Beluchistan, Mrs. Benn, after a sojourn in Seistan, made her way to Krasnovodsk, on the eastern shore of the Caspian. She crossed the Caspian to Petrovsk, and journeyed from this place to Batoum, on the eastern extremity of the Black Sea. Along the southern shore of the Black Sea her three methods of progression, side-saddle, camel, and railway, had to be given up for conveyance by sea. But of this part of her travel she takes small account. It will suffice to say that she went home by Constantinople, Sofia, Belgrade, Budapest, Vienna, and Dresden. Indeed, from Tiflis to Batoum occupies but twenty-five pages out of three hundred and fifteen.” (Spec.)

“Interesting book. Though the account is not up to date, it has the special importance of recording the state of affairs at and around Seistan before the consulate was built and the telegraph laid from Mashhad (Meshed) and Quetta.”

“The book is full of noteworthy things.”

Bennet, Robert Ames.^[11] Volunteer with Pike: the true narrative of one Dr. John Robinson and of his love for the fair Señorita Vallois. †$1.50. McClurg.

A picture of life in Washington during Washington’s administration stands out in clear contrast to graphically described frontier experiences which include the sighting of Pike’s peak by the man whose name it was given.

“Robert Ames Bennet deserves not a little praise for the historical setting he has given to his romance of love and adventure.”

Bennett, Enoch Arnold.^[11] The glimpse: an adventure of the soul. †$1.50. Appleton.

A Londoner, devoted to art and literature, finding that he had ceased to love his wife and that she preferred the attentions of a certain genius whom he numbered among his friends, suddenly succumbs to a stroke of apoplexy. He is left for dead when, in reality, he is conscious but unable to move. In this state he gets a glimpse of the world to come which the author amplifies with skill and imagination.

“This is not a real novel; it is a ‘tour de force,’ but there is no denying its extreme cleverness.”

“Although not to be put in the same class with that author’s strong, big, and rather grim volume, ‘The old wives’ tale,’ is none the less a work of distinct originality. Whether it was really worth doing is quite another question.” F: T. Cooper.

“There is much mysticism and some metaphysical felicity in the book, which will hardly make a strong popular appeal.”

Bennett, Enoch Arnold.^[9] Old wives’ tale. *$1.50. Doran.

“Paints in minute detail the commonplace events of a rather dull middle-class provincial English family.” (Outlook.) “Mr. Bennett takes as the subject the separate histories of two sisters, who in the first chapters of the book are in their later teens, while the curtain does not fall till they have both died as elderly women.... The other characters in the book are grouped round these two salient figures, and though they stand out from the canvas, yet do so in due subordination to the two heroines.” (Spec.)

“A story of unusual length but unfailing interest.”

“There are very few books in English which mirror back so truly and with such a fine sense of proportion the relative amount of joy and sorrow that enter in to the average human life.” F: T. Cooper.

“A remarkable work of fiction, a book of such sincerity, truthfulness and insight as to make the ordinary novel seem hopelessly shallow and artificial by comparison.” W: M. Payne.

“It is a solid chunk of reality, a character study in three dimensions. Intensely interesting because the author has the uncanny power to turn ordinary people inside out so we can see what they think of themselves.”

“When he has ceased to speak, there remains nothing for us to learn about these people, body, mind, or soul. For the rest, it is enough to say that there is nothing about them which we are not grateful for knowing.”

“Not a book to be readily forgotten by those who read it with understanding.”

“In ‘Old wives’ tale’ Mr. Bennett has arrived. It is a great novel.”

36“To make such a book thoroughly enjoyable, as it certainly is, forms a literary ‘tour de force’ on which Mr. Bennett is to be congratulated.”

“An exceedingly clever novel, and one which will well repay perusal.”

Bennett, William Harper.^[6] Catholic footsteps in old New York. $2.50. Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss.

“Covers a period from 1524 to 1808, with chapters on martyrs like Jogues, bishops like Carroll, and governors like Dongan; it rambles with Father Le Moyne up the Heere-Graft or Great Canal, now Broad Street, and calls on Dominie Megapolensis, that courteous host and would-be theological opponent of the early Jesuits; it pays a tribute to the memory of James II; exposes the fanatical bigotry of Jacob Leisler against the ‘Papists’ and gives a full picture of his downfall; portrays the hallucination of the ‘hellish negro plot,’ following which ‘the law passed against Catholic priests was only once enforced, and then to bring to death a Protestant clergyman.’”—Cath World.

“It need not be said that the author has attempted no critical analysis of movements or of personages; he cares little for sequence, and wanders in many climes, not without bringing home some of their brightness; though he has consulted very many authorities, he makes no pedantic show of learning; he is devout yet just to opponents; sometimes vigorous in style, and never dull. To the growing class of educated Catholic readers it is to be cordially commended for its intrinsic merit and for its loyal tribute to the church.”

“A valuable as well as a highly entertaining history.”

Benson, Arthur Christopher. At large. **$1.50. Putnam.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“Quiet, reflective essays affording new and helpful viewpoints on the philosophy and meaning of life.”

“Is lighter, clearer, and much more sensible and bracing than his previous essays concerning life or things in general. Though there are several things said which have previously been said better.”

“Whatever Mr. Benson’s titles ... the welcome thing, the thing we are sure to find, is a genial understanding of the frailties of human life along with a calm optimism, a wealth of thought, and a very fluent style enabling one to wander under any title easily away with the author from the cares that infest the day.”

“On the whole, they stand very well the test of consecutive and continuous reading, though primarily intended to be taken up at monthly intervals.”

“His new book, even if one cannot quite receive all his ideas, has the old originality and haunting charm. His thoughts are not platitudes.”

Benson, Arthur Christopher. Poems of Arthur Christopher Benson. *$1.50. Lane.

A collection of Mr. Benson’s poems including old and new pieces. His verse shows “the same vein of quiet, wholesome sentiment that runs through his essays, the same sensitiveness to the beauty of nature and to the beauty of moral dignity and spiritual purity.” (Outlook.)

“Larger libraries having the author’s volumes of essays will find readers for this unpretentious verse, which has the same pleasing qualities.”

“Mr. Benson’s aptness for the Laureate-like task of writing both decorously and with distinction on topics of public interest ... is also, we think, significant of his limitations.”

“Mr. Benson is as fluent a writer of verse as of prose, and his poems are thoughtful, placid and refined, but not distinguished.” W: M. Payne.

“His work is minor in the better sense that it is unpretentious, and that it is replete with conscious reminiscences. Indeed, it might almost be sufficiently characterized by calling it a mixture of Tennyson and Matthew Arnold.”

“Mr. Benson’s verses appeal to a cultivated dilettante fancy.”

“His verse is in no sense poetry of a high order; but it shows the practiced hand of the intelligent craftsman, well trained and disciplined.”

“When he is at his best and simplest there is something very gracious and soothing about his scholarly and assiduous work.”

Benson, Arthur Christopher.^[10] Until the evening. (What is worth while ser.) **30c. Crowell.

Six brief essays as follows: Prayer; The mystery of suffering; The faith of Christ; The mystery of evil; Renewal; After death; The Eternal will; Until the evening. In each the author takes a fearless stand, as, for instance, in the opening essay, he says “I confess that liturgical prayer does not very much appeal to me.... Prayer should not be relegated to certain seasons, or attended by certain postures, or even couched in definite language ... the deeper secret lies in the fact that prayer is an attitude of soul and not a ceremony.”

Benson, Edward Frederic. Climber. **$1.40. Doubleday.

A social climber is the central figure of this story. “Lucia Grimson, knowing that her dearest friend was on the verge of becoming engaged to X (a rich peer), carries off X. The friend marries Y. Lucia, heartily bored with X, steals the affections of Y. Exposure follows, and the carefully wrought fabric of social success goes crash. We are asked to believe that Lucia, the heartless, mercenary, treacherous, frivolous, falls so madly in love with Y that for a moment she believes the world well lost for love.” (Sat. R.)

“The evolution of the clever and at times vulgar Lucia is logical and consistent, except, perhaps, in the closing scenes. We hear much of the brilliance of intellectual and ‘smart’ gatherings and superb banquets, but something has evaporated in the telling.”

“Mr. Benson is a very prolific writer, but it is long since he has given us as good a story as ‘The Climber.’” M. K. Ford.

“Never, perhaps, has the ruthless nature of social ambition ... been more sternly unmaskt than in ‘The Climber.’”

“It is with a sense of dreariness that the reader closes the book with the question in his mind if the society life of to-day is really as bad as it is painted.”

37“A solid book which refuses to be skimmed, and which might even bear a second reading.”

“An immensely clever and detailed portrait. The background of the novel is put in with dash and spirit.”

“Mr Benson in an unexpected moment of candour about his heroine observes that ‘it is hard to follow the working of so superficial and trivial a soul.’ Conscious of that by the time he has produced some twelvescore pages about her, he forbears to ask whether the attempt is worth making.”

“If it is necessary to portray in great detail so unattractive a figure, it must be acknowledged that Mr. Benson’s study is eminently successful. ‘The climber’ is not an immoral book in the sense of vice being triumphant, but inasmuch as the overthrow of the heroine is due to the imprudence of being found out, it can hardly be said to be what our forefathers would have called ‘improving reading.’”

Benson, Edward Frederic.^[10] A reaping. **$1.25. Doubleday.

“The record of a kind of sentimental journey through a twelvemonth of a married couple who are still on the sunny side of forty, and is mainly a chronicle of moods and reflections. We find here, besides much introspective matter, discourses on most of the author’s favorite topics: music, gardening, travel, the amenities of town and country life, with a passing touch of the supernatural. The picture of the husband and wife playing with lead soldiers, rocking-horse, and Noah’s ark, to say nothing of the dolls’-house, in the as yet unoccupied nursery appears to us a little curious.”—Ath.

“The book is a series of essays strung on a shining strand of story. More particularly it is a mood, a smiling outlook on life, to be often taken from the shelf and glanced through, remembered in quiet moments and talked over with a friend at tea.” Hildegarde Hawthorne.

“All this is agreeable enough to read, except that the important things touched upon—the bunkers in the course—are a little out of keeping with the small-talk.”

Benson, Margaret.^[6] Venture of rational faith. 6s. Macmillan, London.

A clear-headed, conscientious defense of orthodox Christianity.

“Though not an important book, may interest a good many. She never seems to me to touch the quick of human thought and feeling. I fear that the stuff of her book is conventional, and that the book itself is mostly dull for the reason that she nowhere gives us to see how the conventionalities which she handles have come to be to her so real. I will add that it is not a book written in a hurry, that wide reading has gone to it, and that it is clear and forcible. It has a good many memorable sentences.” H. W. Garrod.

“An able and scrupulously candid book.”

Benson, Ramsey.^[10] Melchisedec. †$1.50. Holt.

To bring out strongly the un-Christlike qualities of the orthodox churches of to-day the author has chosen for his hero a child of the wilderness, a nameless quarter-blood Indian to whom civilization and convention are not even names but in whose heart glows the Christ spirit, the obsession to serve his fellowmen. Jean Valjean and St. Francis first inspire him, and, eager to be about his Father’s business, he seeks a white man’s city only to find hate in the church, sneers in organized charity and crime and selfishness in the hearts of his fellowmen. His zeal carries him from revivalists and the Salvation Army to Catholicism and the Jesuits, then in his distress of spirit he turns to the Unitarian ministry. From each new hurt he flees from man to his native woods for comfort, but always returns to his life of service until, too deeply scarred, his soul is at last martyred upon the rack of orthodoxy.

“He has written another book in the same certifying manner, the most improbable and at the same time one of the most veracious stories ever conceived.”

“There is scarcely room for question that Mr. Benson, at least, has failed in his major purpose, though he has given us a psychological study of no mean interest.”

“The author has essayed a theme well out of the ordinary, and one of sufficient difficulty to test the powers of a skilled novelist. The practical handling of it has been a little too much for Mr. Benson’s capacities at this time, but it is, nevertheless, a noteworthy piece of fiction. But as a whole the tale is picturesque, unusual, and has the always gratifying quality of suggestiveness.”

Bentley, Harry Clark. Corporate finance and accounting; Legal notes by T. Conyngton. $4. Ronald.

“The aim has been to provide a manual for the use of a corporation treasurer. Various devices and methods for procedure are described in simple, untechnical language, while the legal side has been carefully elucidated by Mr. Conyngton. The volume is divided into six parts dealing respectively with the treasurer’s duties and legal obligations; the corporate books of account; the corporate finances, including checks and dividends; negotiable instruments; corporate securities; and finally the various forms used by the treasurer or for the corporate finances and securities. For obtaining a knowledge of such things this volume should prove valuable for those interested in corporation finance. It does not attempt, however, to enter into the broader and more fundamental questions of policy in connection with this subject.”—J. Pol. Econ.

“Presents the subject in an entirely new and satisfactory manner.” W. K. Hardt.

“A reading of the text leads to the conclusion that for any other than a general purpose the author has either attempted too much, or has succeeded in doing too little.” F. A. C.

“In the selection of materials judgment has been used to give to the uninformed a complement of ideas that may be useful, but in no part is the work systematic. The book possesses considerable pedagogical value for a school offering a ten weeks’ course in business practice, but has contributed nothing to scientific literature.” F: A. Cleveland.

“[There is] a failure, in the presentation of the subject, to distinguish properly between principles and their application by ‘methods’ to specific cases. A manual easy of access and worthy of a prominent place on every business man’s desk.” B: F. Wright.

Benton, Elbert Jay.^[7] International law and diplomacy of the Spanish-American war. $1.50. Johns Hopkins.

“A history of the relations of the United States and Spain during the Cuban insurrection 38and the resulting Spanish-American war. Especial emphasis is given to the controverted points of international law which were passed upon during the conflict. Though the sources used do not include the Spanish material on the subject, the viewpoint throughout is judicial. Some of the author’s conclusions are, that the ‘reconcentrado’ policy was a justifiable means of warfare; that the refusal of arbitration offered by Spain in the Maine case was a mistake; that McKinley did not exhaust the resources of diplomacy before turning the conduct of affairs over to Congress; and that the intervention of the United States on humanitarian grounds was not good practice in international law. The decisions of the courts in prize cases and allied subjects are reviewed in detail.”—Ann. Am. Acad.

“The material is well organized and clearly and compactly presented. The author’s judgments are generally fair and impartial.” G. W. Scott.

Bernard, Auguste.^[7] Geofroy Tory, painter and engraver; first royal printer reformer of orthography and typography under François I; an account of his life and works; tr. by George B. Ives. *$37.50. Houghton.

“A translation of M. Auguste Bernard’s account of Tory’s life and work, supplemented by scholarly notes and by a large number of designs, which represent, however, only a very small part of the immense amount of work accomplished by Tory’s fervid industry.”—N. Y. Times.

“The main value of this book is, then, due to its perfect reproduction of the best work of Geofroy Tory.”

Reviewed by Laurence Burnham.

“This beautiful volume is creditable in the highest degree to the author, the translator, the printer, and the publisher.” F: W. Gookin.

“Mr. Ives’s rendering of the French text is accurate and painstaking, but now and then leaves the reader a little conscious that it is a translation.”

Berry, Charles William. Temperature-entropy diagram. 2d ed. rev. and enl. $2. Wiley.

“In the revised edition of the ‘Temperature-entropy diagram’ a more extended application of the principles of the Τφ-analysis to advanced problems of thermodynamics has been made than was possible in the limited scope of the previous edition. The chapter on the flow of fluids has been entirely rewritten and treats at length various irreversible processes. A graphical method of projecting from the ρυ- into the Τφ-plane has been elaborated for perfect gases and its application illustrated in the chapters on hot-air engines and gas-engines. The various factors affecting the cylinder efficiency of both gas- and steam-engines have been thoroughly discussed. One chapter has been devoted to the thermodynamics of mixtures of gases and vapors, and another to the description and use of Mollier’s total energy-entropy diagram.”—Preface.

“It is evident that the author has put an Immense amount of work into the revision and brought out one of the most complete books that we have on the subject.”

Berry, John B. N. Some assurances of immortality. 50c. Fenno.

A slight book of sixty-six pages whose short chapters discuss the modern acceptance of Who and what is God? Where is the soul? Man’s immortality; Spiritism; Materialization; Faith; Intuition and conscience; Prayer; Love; Trust; and Hope.

Berry, W. Grinton. Bishop Hannington and the story of the Uganda mission. **$1. Revell.

A book designed for mission study classes which “tells the romantic story of Bishop Hannington, not without detail, but still within a moderate space, and so makes it more accessible. James Hannington was a veritable Moses. His name is connected, and rightly connected, with Uganda, and yet he never set foot within its borders. Nevertheless he achieved much. Things seemed hopeless enough when he met his end; yet there is no part of the world where missionary effort has achieved a more distinct success. Hannington was martyred on October 29th, 1885,—he was but thirty-seven years old; twelve years afterwards there were six hundred and fifty-nine Christian lay-agents and four thousand four hundred and forty-two baptisms, nearly half as many as those recorded in all the Church missionary society stations throughout the world. The story of the struggle by which these results were won is singularly interesting.” (Spec.)

“He has seized upon the essentials of the great tale and leaves us stirred with a new wonder at the Gospel which could inspire such devotion and win such triumphs.”

“This very handy volume will be welcome to many readers.”

Berry, W. Grinton. France since Waterloo. *$1.50. Scribner.

W9–66.

A record for the reader who has “only a vague, imperfect, and unsatisfying knowledge of what has happened in France since Waterloo.” “The ‘interpretation of facts’ is the author’s own, and he is an Englishman, but seemingly unprejudiced. He has acquired the art of visualization. He presents clear pictures of important epochs in comparatively few words.... He does not neglect the advance of science in France, the encouragement of art, the unsettled relations of church and state. He has chapters on Boulanger and the Dreyfus affair. Besides some acceptable portraits, there are maps and a chronological table, a list of rulers and chief magistrates, some genealogical tables, and a good index.” (N. Y. Times.)

“It is only fair to say that the author exhibits scrupulous care to be impartial, although his ‘limitations’ must be obvious. It is not possible to commend Mr. Berry’s treatment of recent history. The kind of reader who may be expected to peruse a condensed history will be puzzled by many passing allusions, and will not find much assistance from the index.”

“There is also a lack of exact statement in tracing the beginnings of the present difficulties in the first revolution.”

“He may not reach the same conclusions as other competent students of contemporary French history, but the utility of his book is unquestionable. It tells a long and involved story in a few well-chosen words. It is comparable with the best kind of journalism.”

39Bertholet, Alfred.^[12] Transmigration of souls. (Harper’s lib. of living thought.) **75c. Harper.

A clear account of the doctrine of metempsychosis traced thru ancient and modern history. “The doctrine filled a considerable space in time past, and it is well to be instructed about its various forms and phases by one who has studied the subject thoroughly.” (Spec.)

“This little volume is worth reading.”

Beruete y Moret, Aurelino de.^[8] School of Madrid. (Library of art.) *$2. Scribner.

Continues and supplements the work of Señor Beruete’s father on Velasquez. The author’s task is “the exploration of that unknown country from which the figure of the great Spanish master emerges so unexpectedly. The period to be studied covers some seventy-five years from the arrival of Velasquez at the Court of Madrid in 1623 to the death of Claudio Coello at the end of the century. Of these successors of Velasquez who go to form the school of Madrid, that artist’s pupil and son-in-law Del Mazo is the protagonist and the hero of the story.” (Sat. R.)

“Is distinguished by scholarly caution and critical acumen.”

“It is possible to dispute Señor de Beruete’s judgment in connexion with matters of which he treats only in passing fashion. On the whole the English is clear, and the style idiomatic if pedestrian.”

“Valuable work.”

“Señor Beruete’s work is so scholarly and so serviceable that we regret to point out its obvious weakness—the failure to take into account Spanish pictures in America.”

“To students of the Spanish school [it] should prove invaluable.”

Betts, George Herbert.^[10] Distribution and functions of mental imagery. $1. Teachers college.

A study of both voluntary and spontaneous imagery whose problems divide themselves in two groups: (1) those which grow out of the power to evoke images voluntarily: and (2) those which grow out of the spontaneous use of imagery in thought.

Beveridge, William Henry.^[5] Unemployment: a problem of industry. *$2.40. Longmans.

An inquiry into the conditions and causes of unemployment and suggestions for the problem’s solution. “The principles of future policy laid down are chiefly two: First, organized fluidity of labor through central labor exchanges, reducing to actual requirements the necessary labor reserve, instead of the existing reserve in each trade, and even for each employer; and second, the averaging of work and earnings by means of insurance against unemployment, principally through the labor unions.” (N. Y. Times.)

“The author tells us, in excellent form and with singular completeness, exactly what the public wants to know at the present moment on ‘Unemployment.’ The volume is a storehouse of facts for the use of both sides in any controversy which may arise.”

“One of the most searching analyses of unemployment that has yet been made.” Irene Osgood.

“While his details are drawn from British sources and his conclusions apply more particularly to conditions in Great Britain than to those of any other country, yet his conclusions are largely applicable in any of the great industrial countries of the world.”

“No doubt the student of economics will find much to question in Mr. Beveridge’s pages. But for all that, the real value of the book is not to be questioned. It is worthy a permanent place on the bookshelf of the economist and in the hands of the reformer.” A. B. Wolfe.

“The chief value of the book—and it is a real one—is the very complete and fair presentation and analysis of the facts and the causes of unemployment.”

“If the Unemployed workmen act of 1905 had accomplished nothing more than the production of this book it would have been justified.” J: R. Commons.

“Not the least interesting part of Mr. Beveridge’s book is his examination of the difficulties which beset older workers in finding fresh employment. We cannot follow Mr. Beveridge in the easy view he takes of the mobility of labour.”

“A correct analysis of the machinery of exchange as the organising principle of labour distribution is of the highest importance, and we recommend Mr. Beveridge’s contribution to the subject as one of much force and ability. We enter, however a ‘caveat’ that the author hardly realizes the influence of the existing labour exchange.”

Biagi, Guido.^[10] Men and manners of old Florence. **$3.50. McClurg.

Five sketches that give realistic glimpses of the social life in Florence from the thirteenth to the beginning of the last century, during the age when Florence was a distinctive factor in the civilization of Europe, when, as the author says, “her native manners and customs had not yet been submerged and lost in the great stream of modern influence and fashions.” Contents: Florence within her ancient boundary; The mind and manners of a Florentine merchant of the fourteenth century; The private life of the renaissance Florentines; Tullia of Arragon; The twilight of the past; Index.

“Is not only a highly informing work but a highly entertaining one.”

“The author wrote the preface of a charming work upon ‘The women of Florence,’ by Isadoro del Lungo, reviewed in these columns last year, which should be read in connection with these essays.”

Bianchi, Martha Gilbert.^[9] Cuckoo’s nest. †$1.50. Duffield.

“A novel, the action of which takes place chiefly at Monte Carlo, offers well in this hour of cosmopolitan fiction. England, America, France, Poland, and Germany share the honors in providing the principal persons of the tale.... The American abroad, the gambler of noble birth, the courtesan, the brilliant and amorous amateur of the violin, the rude but sportsmanlike Englishwoman with a title, the all-conquering dragoon—these are the not unfamiliar human materials out of which the Countess Bianchi has constructed her plot.”—Nation.

“Up to the last, one has no clear idea just where the author meant to place her centre of interest. But this does not alter the fact that 40she has here and there done some surprisingly good bits of work in portraying character.” F: T. Cooper.

“There are passages of somewhat too detailed description for the taste of Anglo-Saxondom; but the moral of the story is wholesome.”

Bierce, Ambrose.^[10] Shadow on the dial, and other essays. *$2. Robertson.

A group of essays with a wide range of subjects. They are as follows: The shadow on the dial; Civilization; The game of politics; Some features of the law; Arbitration; Industrial discontent; Crime and its correctives; The death penalty; Religion; Immortality; Opportunity; Charity; Emancipated woman; The opposing sex; The American sycophant; A dissertation on dogs; The ancestral bond; The right to work; The right to take oneself off.

“Mr. Bierce now forces the note, talks about matters he does not perfectly understand, says habitually more than he means, counts that sentence lost which contains no paradox, and contradicts himself without a blush.”

“If Mr. Bierce does not contribute vastly to the knowledge of the world, he assuredly adds delightfully to its amusement.” Hildegarde Hawthorne.

“It is quite clear that what Mr. Bierce writes must be taken ‘cum grano.’ But there must be something genuine in it.”

Bigelow, John.^[12] Retrospections of an active life. **$12. Baker.

“To have lived to the ripe age of 92 years with full share of health and happiness, to have seen pass in review a great crisis in the history of one’s country, to have grown up with the great advances in science and the applications of science to commercial and industrial life, and finally to be able to sit down with pen in hand and describe these events accurately, fully, and entertainingly.” (N. Y. Times.)—this is what John Bigelow, ex-Ambassador to France has done in three volumes.

“More of his own way of looking at things, and less of his friends’ epistolary account of them, would have been welcome. The result, in the bulk and cost of the work, is not eminently satisfactory.” P. F. Bicknell.

“One ought not and one can scarcely criticise this voluminous work. But a little more careful editing would improve the quality of certain sections. For instance, one would like both sides of the correspondence more frequently in order not to lose the thread of the argument. While giving many letters written by other men, Mr. Bigelow is rather too sparing with his own letters, a sign of his never-failing modesty. The intrinsic value of the matter adduced outweighs all secondary considerations.” I. W. Voorhees.

“There is no man living to-day so fitted to write the story of the last three-quarters of a century of American life as seen by one who has actively participated in it; and the vigor of his activity is paralleled by the vigor of his narrative.”

Bigelow, William Sturgis. Buddhism and immortality. (Ingersoll lecture for 1908). **75c. Houghton.

Descriptive note in December, 1908.

“An exceedingly well written presentation of the Buddhistic conception of immortality from the point of view of a sympathetic student of Buddhism.”

“The result of asking us to conceive states without a subject to which these states are attributable is to render his ideas very confused and confusing.”

“As an attempt to interpret oriental ideas to western minds, the book deserves high praise. In particular, the exposition of ‘Karma’ is admirable; and the nobler side of Japanese Buddhist doctrine is brought before the reader very effectively.” E. H. Hollands.

Bigg, Charles.^[8] Origins of Christianity; ed. by T. B. Strong. *$4.15. Oxford.

“In this excellent work, the Christian history and literature of the first three centuries are treated with great learning and breadth of view, being constantly brought into relation with the wider history of the times. The book is thus an introduction both to the history and to the literature of the early church.” (Bib. World.) “The first chapter is a review of the Roman Empire as it was at the time, an institution usually tolerant, but coming into hostile contact with Christianity on the point of Caesar-worship. Dissent from this was high treason. Chapters follow on the foundation of the Roman church, on the fiery trials through which it passed under Nero and Domitian, and on its early teachers, the pseudo-Barnabas, Clement, and Hermas.” (Spec.)

“The style is terse, concrete, original, and often abrupt. But the story is full of interest, and exhibits a wide acquaintance with Christian and pagan literature. While the work will have no little value and interest for the student, the general reader will find it a useful introduction to the early history of the church. Professor Bigg’s views on Christian literature are not always critically based. The index is far from complete, which is the more unfortunate in view of the large range of subjects, persons, writings, and events treated.” E. J. Goodspeed.

“On some matters Dr. Bigg has not adopted what seems the most critical view, and the later books of the New Testament, those, e. g., of Domitian’s time, might well have been included. But the book will be useful, as showing the subsequent literature vividly in its historical setting.”

“This is a disappointing book. The promise of the title is not fulfilled. Nor is the work of the quality one might expect from the Regius Professor of ecclesiastical history in Oxford, whose Bampton lectures on ‘The Christian platonists of Alexandria’ have long been well and favorably known. A more serious defect is the superficiality of treatment.”

“Altogether, this is an awakening book.”

Bigham, Madge A.^[11] Overheard in fairyland. †$1.50. Little.

A book of fanciful explanations of the origin and characteristics of flowers, trees and other elements of woodland life.

Biles, John Harvard. Design and construction of ships, v. 1. *$7.50. Lippincott.

v. 1. Calculations and strength.

It is divided into three parts: pt. 1 deals with areas, volumes, and centers of gravity; pt. 2 deals with ship calculations proper, such as calculations of displacement, center of buoyancy, 41metacenters, trim, etc.; pt. 3 deals with the strength of ships.

“The book could be somewhat condensed to advantage, and its value would be increased if the author had expressed more fully his own opinions and recommendations as regards some of the matters touched on.” D. W. Taylor.

“The author’s style is clear and the method of development orderly and well arranged. The mathematical methods used in dealing with the various principles involved in the theoretical portions are not always the simplest or best. In the broad field of ship design and construction, it is a book which should prove of the highest value and it may be cordially commended to the notice both of students and of designers and practitioners in general.”

“The arrangement of the book is excellent, its style concise and clear. For a long time there has been a need for such a book.” W. H. White.

Bindloss, Harold.^[11] Greater power. **$1.30. Stokes.

In its wilderness setting, and in its pioneer struggle with the forces of nature this book is similar to the many that the author has written of life in the Canadian Northwest. To the intelligence and ability of the hero are united the fore-sightedness and initiative of the heroine—a combination that is bound to transform wildernesses into places of habitation.

“Readers who have liked his earlier volumes will find in ‘The greater power’ substantially the same merits and the same defects.” F: T. Cooper.

“It makes a varied and virile tale no less deserving of praise than the half dozen of its sort that have come before.” W: M. Payne.

“Mr. Bindloss’s muse is always rather heavy footed, and his style, intensely realistic, lacks the imaginative spirit. But his knowledge of the country is profound, his love for it evident, and his descriptions of the wilderness and of the lives of the men who toil therein have the flavor of actuality.”

“The book is a good, straightforward description of a way of living which must always have at least a vicarious attraction for readers pent in crowded towns.”

Bindloss, Harold. Lorimer of the Northwest. †$1.50. Stokes.

The Canadian northwest is the scene of this story which follows a clean, strong, young pioneer’s fight for fortune and the woman he loves. Its pages are filled with struggle, disappointment and finally the success resulting from a determined fight with the elements of opposition that face the sturdy pioneer. The ozone of the prairies gets into Mr. Bindloss’s pages.

“The way in which two women are always turning up at the psychological moment to add new complications to his difficulties, forms a tax upon our credulity which tends to discredit even that part of the story that is soberly and sincerely told.” F: T. Cooper.

“In his dealings with nature, as exhibited in that part of America which he has made his own, it seems to us that Mr. Bindloss is steadily growing in fineness of observation and power of description.” W: M. Payne.

Bingham, Hiram.^[8] Journal of an expedition across Venezuela and Colombia, 1906–1907: an exploration of the route of Bolivar’s celebrated march of 1819 and of the battle-fields of Boyacá and Carabobo; with map and 133 il. from photographs taken by the author. *$2.25. Yale pub. assn.

The journal of an expedition made in the interests of history along the route of the great general Bolivar who in 1819 conducted an army across Venezuela and Colombia by a road that was regarded impassable. The record of Dr. Bingham’s undertaking along this course is of definite interest “not only to historians, but to naturalists, geographers, ethnologists and lovers of travel in general.” The book is generously illustrated.

“The text is a useful contribution to the meager literature of this region, but is not of great interest to the average reader.”

“Had the author used the diary to refresh his memory, and written the account of his trip in regular book form, it would have made the work more readable and more valuable. Even as it stands the volume is one of great interest, and the numerous photographs are excellent.”

“While the historical element in Dr. Bingham’s diary is always dominant, yet other interests are by no means excluded from the narrative. That Dr. Bingham is not an ornithologist may be known from his speaking of toucans as if they were horn-bills; and indeed science is throughout the story a secondary interest. Yet his observations in the fields of geography and ethnology have considerable value.”

“The reader will get a very good idea of the kind of country and its inhabitants.”

“The ordinary reader will find in this volume an interesting account of travel off the beaten track and will gain from it an insight to the manner of life of the rural populations of Colombia and Venezuela.” Forbes Lindsay.

Binyon, Laurence. Painting in the Far East. *$6. Longmans.

“The artistic unity of Asia is Mr. Binyon’s theme, and in a series of illuminating chapters he proceeds to demonstrate that it is in China that the central tradition of Asian painting is to be found. His thesis unfolds itself spontaneously like some lovely blossom, and his accompanying exposition of Oriental color, line and rhythm offers a helpful initiation to a style which few Occidentals rightly appreciate though many lay claim to that distinction. Not only is Mr. Binyon’s book specifically valuable; it is also collaterally so.”—Putnam’s.

“His book is a notable one, comprehensive in its outlook, clear in its statements, and irrefragable in its philosophy.” F: W. Gookin.

“Although at a disadvantage by reason of the probable paucity of fine original examples to refer to, the author has succeeded in producing a valuable résumé of the history of art in China and Japan which is a welcome addition to our literature upon the subject. Some regret, however, will be felt by lovers of that art at the altogether unrepresentative character of the illustrations to the volume.”

“His task has thus been comparable to that of a critic who should attempt to describe Italian art without the treasures of Italy. But 42within the limitations imposed upon him, he has made a useful and interesting volume.”

“This is a work to study by heart and come back to often of works on art (and the word is said advisedly) the most important in the last decade, and the most enchanting of more than half that time.”

“So simple and direct are his pictorial and poetical perceptions that you get at once at the secret sources of an immeasurably remote and tortuous fountain-head. Real knowledge of the subject is limited, and hence such a work as Mr. Binyon’s should find place on the shelves of almost every apostle of beauty.” Christian Brinton.

“Mr. Binyon’s book delights us not only by the interest of the subject, but also by the charm of its style and power of expression.”

Birdseye, Clarence Frank. Reorganization of our colleges. **$1.75. Baker.

As a result of a well conducted examination of the grave abuses practised in both administration and student life departments of our colleges and the inadequacy of means used for remedial purposes the author indicates the nature of the trouble and its location in the college body, and suggests a general method of treatment—an antitoxin—capable of effecting a cure if taken in time and in the right way. He proposes the placing of college reorganization under a separate administrative department, with the active cooperation of parents and business alumni.

“The exposition of the problems is a helpful service in the cause of higher education.”

“From a literary standpoint the book is greatly marred by its redundancy. Mr. Birdseye states that the chief duty of the college is to prepare for citizenship and therefore that the intellectual is not alone to be considered. Here he goes too far.” Carl Kelsey.

“Much of the emphasis of the book is timely, and some of it commendable.”

“An interesting and stimulating contribution to the now widespread discussion as to the conditions of American collegiate instruction.” F: P. Keppel.

“This is the boldest and clearest plan for improving the higher education in this country which has hitherto appeared.”

“He has put his finger on the most serious defect in our American colleges; he has analyzed that defect with great skill and has shown how composite it is; and he has offered, so far as we know, the only remedy that appears to be as comprehensive as the ill it is designed to cure.”

“In its diagnosis of the weaknesses of the college this book is clear, and even trenchant; but it is, on the whole, fair.”

Bisland, Elizabeth, and Hoyt, Anne.^[10] Seekers in Sicily: being a quest for Persephone by Jane and Peripatetica. **$1.50. Lane.

“Miss Elizabeth Bisland and Miss Anne Hoyt, masquerading as ‘Jane’ and ‘Peripatetica,’ went to Sicily as seekers for the dead body of a great civilization, using their Theocritus oftener than their Baedeker, and waiting in the cold springtime for the coming of Persephone ‘laden with leaves and flowers and the waving corn.’ Every step they took stirred up wraiths of myths and history, and reminded them of Proteus rising from the sea, and of old Triton blowing his wreathèd horn. The theatrical scenery of Taormina, the bones and stones of Syracuse, the temples of ancient Girgenti, ‘the nicest place’ in Sicily, and the land of Goethe’s ‘das land, wo die citronen blüh’n,’ Palermo, were visited in turn.”—Dial.

“The book is full of life and color, successfully interprets the spirit of the country and supplies a need for a book of popular travel devoted entirely to Sicily.”

“Seriousness and playfulness go together in this happy visit to the fields of old renown, and provide a very readable book of travel.” H. E. Coblentz.

“The book is worth reading, provided that one does not attempt to read too much of it at one sitting.”

“It is the usual combination of random and inaccurate information by way of crumb, with abundant facetiousness, sentimentality, or simple talky-talk by way of plums.”

“Visitors to Sicily will find this book an exceedingly interesting and valuable companion.”

Bithell, Jethro.^[10] Minnesingers. v. 1. *$2. Longmans.

A forerunner of the author’s history now in preparation which will treat of the minnesong as compared with the old lyrical poetry of Provence, Portugal and Italy. “This volume is independent of the one to come, for as the translator justly observes of its contents, ‘if they are poems, they should need no commentary; that they are poems in the original, is certain.’ We take satisfaction in saying that they are also poems in their English dress, poems to be enjoyed for themselves, with no ‘arrière-pensée’ of a philological nature.” (Dial.)

“He undoubtedly permits himself a good deal of freedom both in form and expression—occasionally with happy results, but not infrequently, we think, without adequate compensation for the sacrifice made.”

“This volume is a real enrichment of the literature of poetic translation.”

“Mr. Bithell’s translations are excellent, preserving in good measure the spirit of the originals, together with the form.”

Black, Hugh. Gift of influence. **$1.25. Revell.

Sermons dealing with young men’s problems of life. “While quoting frequently from the poets, they noticeably abstain from anecdote, a resource of preachers for which Professor Black’s earnest and engaging manner is an effective substitute. All college preachers should take suggestion from their compact brevity. Dr. Black thinks that there is more of idealism among our students than of materialism. ‘No one can despair of the future who knows the splendid material the colleges of the land contain, and how eagerly men long to attempt great tasks.’” (Outlook.)

“These brief and vigorous sermons constitute real messages to students, not, indeed, as such, but as men and women with ideals and needs common to humanity.”

43“A volume abounding in eloquence, wisdom, and sound teaching.”

“The sermons are eminently practical.”

Blackwood, Algernon. Jimbo: a fantasy. **$1.25. Macmillan.

Partly allegorical, this is a study of the mind of an imaginative child whose governess introduces the first element of fear into his marvelously peopled world of thought. It further furnishes a remarkable analysis of the strange forms and weird experiences encountered during this same child’s season of delirium, in which the governess atones for the wrong done to the child by helping his astral self escape from the prison in which it was detained.

“A distinctly clever and even poetic fantasy of aviation. The total effect would be stronger if Mr. Blackwood had revealed or appeared to reveal a doctrine about fear which would uplift the reader.”

“It is written in a simple and exceedingly graphic style, and people who like that sort of reading will doubtless enjoy the book.”

“We do not believe it is fit for children to read, nor do we imagine its lesson would be very effective among matter-of-fact grown-ups who need the warning contained in it.”

“The book is thus incidentally a sermon to governesses, and ought to be studied by everybody who has to do with children, except children themselves, for whom the homœopathy is quite excessive. One false touch and the aerial illusion would be shattered, but the realism is maintained.”

“‘Jimbo’ is not a book for children, and tender-hearted parents will find it almost unbearably painful, in spite of its comparatively happy end. But as a fantastic exposition of the psychology of fright, as an attempt to illustrate the workings of the mind in the spectral world of delirium, it is of engrossing interest.”

Blackwood, Algernon. John Silence: physician extraordinary. $1.50. Luce, J: W.

Dr. John Silence is a psychic doctor-detective who in the five cases narrated by his confidential assistant tracks criminals who are not discernible by the human senses. He deals with the powers of darkness; in one case it is the discarnate soul of a woman whose evil he transforms by his spiritual alchemy; in another, personified emotions; and still another, “fire elementals” and fluidic bodies.

“The reader can take the prescribed amount of the supersensible for granted long enough to feel creepy with the victims of uncanny manifestations, and to pursue their adventures with interest to the climax of each ‘case.’”

“John Silence is a sort of spiritual Sherlock Holmes, a novel contribution to the gallery of autocratic specialists in various lines who tower in the pages of modern fiction.”

“You do not lay down the book until it is finished; and when you do it is with distinct regret that it must come to an end at all.”

“These stories are weird and thrilling, and their literary and psychological atmosphere makes that of the cleverest of ordinary detective stories appear thin. But they are too palpably impossible to produce illusion. They interest and excite, and Mr. Blackwood is ingenious, imaginative and skilful in description of persons, moods, and scenery; but they are just sensational and melodramatic.”

Blaine, Harriet Bailey (Mrs. James G. Blaine). Letters of Mrs. James G. Blaine; ed. by Harriet S. Blaine Beale. 2v. **$4. Duffield.

These letters run thru Mrs. Blaine’s Washington life from 1869 to 1889, and are mostly home letters to her absent children. They show her devotion to her husband and children, cast sidelights upon Mr. Blaine’s statesmanship, furnish brief, intimate characterizations of men and women prominent in Washington society during her day, and reveal her love of service, honesty, honor, and courage.

“A judicious editing would have resulted in reducing the work by half.”

“Why on earth should a book be issued in two volumes to inform us, for instance, that the Blaine family had liver and bacon for breakfast in November, 1876.” R: W. Kemp.

“Mrs. Blaine at her best was a bright and witty woman, and her letters would stand on their own merits far above many which get into print; but, after all, it is the political connection which gives them their chief interest. Hence it is the inevitable impression that they have been a little too thoroughly culled, for the sake of avoiding offense, that will be felt by many as their main defect.” W. H. Johnson.

“A real and extremely interesting portrait. Occasionally she shows marks of what is almost literary genius. The letters are always excellent. The volumes have an index, but it has been badly prepared.”

“There is a useless index, consisting of a list of proper names, with nothing but the pages on which they are referred to. The notes are school-girlish, and not without errors.”

“Mrs. Beale has rendered a very important service to the American people in making public [this] collection of letters.”

“In making a collection of her letters public Mrs. Beale has revealed the portrait of a characteristically American woman and has thrown new light on some recent phases of American history, and she has thus done a double service to the American people.” E. F. Baldwin.

“They show us the simplicity of life in Washington a few decades ago.”

Blake, Alice Elizabeth (Mrs. Warrenne Blake), ed.^[5] Memoirs of a vanished generation, 1813–1855; with an introd. by the Lady St. Helier. *$5. Lane.

While chiefly confined to the domestic affairs of General Knox, his children and many kinsmen, these memoirs reflect the inner political and social life of the times. “There is an atmosphere of old-fashioned goodness and kindness, high morality, warm affection, all kept fresh, gay, and healthy by a keen sense of the absurd, which makes the book a charming contrast indeed to some family chronicles, French and English, one could name.” (Spec.)

“There is a sufficiency of anecdote and family incident in these memorials.”

“Not, perhaps, very exciting, but giving a true picture of the times. On the whole, these memoirs are a unique and interesting addition to our knowledge of a ‘vanished generation.’”

44“The singular, unaffected charm of the book ... is owing to Admiral Knox’s delightful and excellent character, the graceful ease with which he and his belongings accepted the troubles of a life not altogether smooth, and the light Irish humour which meant happiness for them all.”

Blake, Sir Henry Arthur.^[10] China; il. by Mortimer Menpes. (Menpes crown ser.) *$1.50. Macmillan.

A work whose art value is of the first importance. Mr. Menpes’s excellent illustrations consist of sixteen full-page color drawings and numerous marginal line drawings. The accompanying text sketches the physical features, the manners and customs of the various peoples in China, their status in the educational affairs and their prospects for future commercial activity.

“The illustrations are excellent.”

“The book is an art work of merit, and (no negligible item to many buyers) of modest price.”

“Sir Henry Blake would undoubtedly be very interesting in conversation, but he cannot impart his first-hand knowledge or impose his valuable opinions, because simply he does not know the trick of writing.”

“The text is reasonably picturesque in its description of Chinese life and customs.”

“A very sympathetic, human quality runs through the illustrated story of an artist’s trip through the Celestial kingdom.”

“Compresses a great deal of information within his hundred and forty pages of letterpress.”

Blanchard, Amy Ella.^[10] Four Corners abroad. (Corner ser.) †$1.50. Jacobs.

A new chapter in the lives of the four girls who, since the days of their first introduction to young readers, have enjoyed a good deal of sight seeing. The haunts of tourists take a new interest as seen thru the eyes of the enthusiastic quartette. The book furnishes plenty of amusement as well as information.

Bland, Edith (Nesbit) (Mrs. Hubert Bland).^[5] Daphne in Fitzroy street. †$1.50. Doubleday.

A lovable, ingenuous girl without home and parents and for near relative a little sister to love and protect, is the heroine of this story. Opening in a private French school where Daphne is captain of her playfellow brigands, the scene shifts, after her father’s death, to a disagreeable aunt’s home and finally to an artist’s quarter in London where the chief events, closely linked with art and romance, transpire.

“On the whole, it is a readable and pretty book, especially for young people.”

“The story is genuinely amusing and interesting.”

“It is a bright romance, told with the easy manner of an expert.”

“The book, though readable, cannot be called a great success.”

Bland, Edith (Nesbit) (Mrs. Hubert Bland). House with no address. †$1.50. Doubleday.

A tale which ranges from the pathetic to the gruesome, from simple motives to deeds darkly mysterious. The central figures are a dancer of the Salome dance, the idol of London, and her lover who after a long absence returns to find her enmeshed in a strange matrimonial tangle. Mystery and tragedy in which the head used in her dance plays a gruesome part are followed by an unexpected squaring of accounts in which the supposed hero is not a hero at all.

“As a sheer study in horror, the thing is well done, but it is not the sort of book that can be commended either as good art or helpful reading.” F: T. Cooper.

“‘Salome’ sensationalism cannot possibly go farther.”

“A sufficiently lively essay, it will be seen, in the latest style of the blood-and-thunder romance.”

“Any amount of clever handling cannot make the preposterous persons seem real. It holds the interest, but not the convictions of the reader, and it leaves him disgusted.”

Blandin, Isabella M. E. History of higher education of women in the South prior to 1860. *$3. Neale.

From acts of state legislatures, catalogs of schools, data preserved in libraries of historical associations, and letters written by people connected with schools facts have been gathered to justify the South’s often misdoubted claim to an early recognition of the importance of girl’s education. The book sketches the history of the various institutions, seminaries and colleges for women that existed prior to 1860.

Bleackley, Horace.^[8] Ladies fair and frail; sketches of the demi-monde during the eighteenth century. *$5. Lane.

Sketches of the following six adventuresses of the eighteenth century: Fanny Murray, Kitty Fisher, Nancy Parsons, Kitty Kennedy, Grace Dalrymple Eliot and Gertrude Mahon.

“Despite its somewhat meretricious title this careful book is a genuine contribution to serious biography. The results of Mr. Bleackley’s careful research are recorded in pleasant style, but a few slips in names and spelling need attention.”

“Has treated his subject in a manner at once serious and indicating a great deal of patient and painstaking investigation.”

Blewett, George John. Study of nature and the vision of God. *$1.75. Briggs.

“Concerned with a two-fold opposition of fundamental philosophic tendencies: that between idealism and mysticism, and that between abstract and concrete idealism. The first two essays deal with the main antithesis itself; the one outlining the idealistic position which in its method of apprehending the true nature of reality is made to move from the world to God, without forgetting the world from which it started: the other tracing the development of mysticism, as interpreted by Spinoza, which in its method ‘leaves the world behind.’ The history of Christendom, is considered as representing the conflicts of these two tendencies. The remaining essays are studies in the history of idealism, with reference to Plato, Erigena and St. Thomas.”—Ann. Am. Acad.

“The philosophical and theological value of this work lies in its reconciliation of the world 45as it appears to the demand that it shall be seen as framed throughout for the realization of a supreme purpose. Its theme is logically, but rather verbosely, outlined.”

“These essays deserve a permanent place in the English library of philosophy. His style has the defects of its merits. It is never commonplace, and at times rises to impressive eloquence. The refined but vigorous moral enthusiasm which pervades the whole book is almost appealing. But there are few passages, especially in the first essay, which are somewhat turgid and periphrastic, and some have a slight tinge of homiletic sentimentalism.” E. H. Hollands.

Bliss, Edwin Munsell. Missionary enterprise. **$1.25. Revell.

A volume which supersedes the author’s “Concise history of missions.” He has “put into this moderately sized volume the whole story of Christian missions from the early times till now, enlarging especially upon their development in the nineteenth century.” (Outlook.)

“A good, general survey of Christian missions.”

“A statesmanlike presentation of the objects for which the most progressive missionaries are working and the methods by which they are seeking to accomplish them.”

“His skill is exhibited in this volume, in which the large facts and salient principles are brought to due prominence, notwithstanding the extent of field and fact which he covers. His volume will serve to spread intelligence as to the ambitions and purposes which underlie the efforts of the more statesmanlike propagandists of the faith, and the substantial and permanent results which missionary effort is assuredly accomplishing.”

Blomfield, Reginald Theodore.^[9] Mistress art. *$1.40. Longmans.

“A series of critical essays varying greatly in subject, but all bearing on the author’s main contention, ‘that architecture is not mere decoration or ornamental building, but something outside and beyond the various crafts which it calls into play,’ ‘a grim intellectual art, moving amid big conceptions.’” (Ath.) Contents: The study of architecture; Design and temperament: Architecture and the craftsman; The limitations of the arts; The grand manner: Egypt and Greece; Pergamos and Hellenistic art; Rome; The grand manner: France.

“We strongly recommend it to architectural students and others, as a vivid and sane piece of criticism.”

“These lectures contain plenty of matter which is worth pondering over.”

Bloomfield, J. K. Oneidas. $2.98. Alden bros.

“Gives a very sympathetic and appreciative account of the career of the Oneida tribe of Indians. His chief interest is in the religious work done among them. One learns very little of the social organizations or daily life either under the older régime or to-day in Wisconsin.” (Ann. Am. Acad.) “It describes their habits, customs, and beliefs during these several periods, and devotes a good deal of attention to the development of their present degree of civilization. A particularly interesting chapter is that which gives an account of the mysterious Eleazer Williams, believed by many to have been the Dauphin, son of Louis XVI.” (N. Y. Times.)

“Much extraneous matter is introduced and there is little evidence of critical judgment in dealing with sources of evidence.”

“A historical document of value and a work of remarkable patience and care.”

Boardman, Edwin Augustus.^[8] Small yacht. **$2. Little.

“A practical treatise on the building, care and management of racing boats, to which is added instruction on the strategy of the race itself. All these points, where such a thing is possible, are illustrated with photographs, designs, and diagrams. The designs include valuable plans of 18-footers of several designs, of 30-foot cruisers and racers, showing many details of construction, with many plans of sounder boats of various shapes and rigs. A complete copy of a builder’s specifications for a sounder class yacht, extending over some ten pages, is added to the section of the work which is devoted to construction.”—N. Y. Times.

“Amateurs and even experts will find [it] of both interest and value.”

“A book which should be of value to owners and prospective owners of small sailing craft for racing.”

Bode, Wilhelm.^[5] Florentine sculptors of the renaissance. (Classics of art ser.) *$4. Scribner.

A collection of studies published six years ago to which have been added an essay on Leonardo da Vinci and on the Medallist Niccolo Fiorentino.

“The book is the most authoritative work on its subject that has hitherto appeared, and combines with much keen technical criticism a realization of the personal idiosyncrasies of the artists under review such as has been rarely achieved by the author’s fellow-countrymen who, as a general rule, lose sight of the craftsman in their vivisection of his productions.”

“There is a swarm of loose and occasionally false renderings by the translator. Professional students know how to use Dr. Bode’s writings. Others should be warned perhaps that many of his conclusions are of a tentative and most disputable sort.”

“The critic is independent and at times aggressive, and he has undoubtedly made here an important and original contribution to the subject.”

“The illustrations are absolutely the next things to having a set of fine photographs, and the book is full of interest and personal charm and delightful sentiment. If this book is a little rambling, yet the stopping-places are all delightful.”

“The book’s only defect is an undue vehemence in criticising other critics of sculpture.” E. F. Baldwin.

“There is rather too much of Dr. Bode and his opponents in the book, and too little about certain of the Florentine sculptors: especially about the greatest of them all, Michelangelo. It need hardly be said, of course that, taken simply as a series of essays on various aspects of the subject, the book contains much that is extremely valuable.” Laurence Binyon.

46“Dr. Bode, as we should expect, writes an interesting study of Florentine sculpture. His knowledge is great, and his views command respect. We cannot, however, go quite so far as he does when he says that but for the remains of antique statues left in Italy, the art of that country would have developed on the same lines as in the north.”

Bode, Wilhelm.^[5] Great masters of Dutch and Flemish painting; tr. by Margaret L. Clarke. (Library of art ser.) *$2. Scribner.

A translation of the second edition of “Rembrandt und seine zeitgenossen.” The author deals with the following subjects: Landscape painting in Holland; Dutch still life; Dutch genre pictures; Rembrandt; Van Rijn; Frans Hals; Adriaen Brouwer; Rubens; and Van Dyck.

“With the few exceptions to which we draw attention the book is thoroughly up to date and unusually accurate.”

“Nowhere else will one find Rembrandt’s life and work more sympathetically described.”

“The opinions of the scholarly Dr. Bode will always command respect, but some of those expressed in the work before us will challenge contradiction.”

“There are venial blemishes in a usually excellent book.”

“He writes with full knowledge, and from a critical point of view that is at once discriminating and sympathetic. His analyses and descriptions are helpful and sympathetic, and while his criticism is seldom technical, it gives a real assistance to the reader who would enter into the spirit of this art, understand its motives and methods, and gain a well-rounded idea of what the principal period of Dutch art signified and still signifies.”

“Is rather unequal in its interest, but leaves an impression of more substance than the look of it promised. The rendering is, on the whole, so fluent and easy as to read like original work; twice only has the idiom betrayed the translator.”

Reviewed by E. F. Baldwin.

Boehm, Theobald.^[6] Flute and flute-playing in acoustical, technical, and artistic aspects; originally published in German in 1871; tr. and annotated by Dayton C. Miller. $1.50. D. C. Miller, Cleveland, O.

A treatise written in 1871 by the inventor of the modern flute. It “bears on the acoustic, technical, and artistic aspects of the instrument. The tables of fingerings are easily understood, and will no doubt be of value to the flute player as well as interesting to the student of acoustics.” (N. Y. Times.)

“It contains many useful hints both as regards the execution of florid music (which operatic audiences still dote on) and the expressive playing of sustained melodies.”

“The treatise is a thorough one.”

Bogges, Arthur Clinton.^[12] Settlement of Illinois, 1778–1830. (Chicago historical society’s collection, v. 5.) $3. Chicago historical society.

“The record of the narrow poverty out of which came abundance, of the chaos out of which came organization, in short, the record of the small beginnings of a great American commonwealth. The description is minute: forty-five closely printed pages contain the list of the authorities used. Its accuracy is vouched for by Prof. Frederick J. Turner and J. B. McMaster, who critically read the work before publication.”—Nation.

“The technique is commendable. Numerous references to government documents, territorial records, and manuscript collections support statements of fact. Little use, however, has been made of the ‘Publications’ of the Illinois state historical society. Some statistics could well have been left to the foot-notes and an additional map showing the location and density of population in 1830 would have been an aid to the reader. Typographical errors occasionally occur, the most serious ones being the inaccurate numbering of foot-notes. A carefully prepared bibliography, critical in nature, gives an appraisal of the historical value and accuracy of all works consulted.” W: V. Pooley.

“The book will have small attraction for those who read merely for pleasure. The sober student, however, will find here the bases of Illinois’s history clearly and fully discussed.”

Bohannon, Hattie Donovan.^[5] Light of stars. *$1. Fenno.

A story of Eastern Texas whose young hero is a weird mixture of youth and old age. His lonely struggles are shared by his one friend, an old doctor, who from his quiet corner witnesses with pain the village flirt’s unconscionable weaving of a net about the boy. How the young man uses his disappointment for strength development furnishes the lesson of the story.

Bojer, Johan. Power of a lie; tr. from the Norwegian by Jessie Muir; with an introd. by Hall Caine. $1.25. Kennerley.

Set in Norway this is a story of a man who signs his name to a bond for a friend, and then, when the friend goes into bankruptcy, denies that he had gone security for him, and sees him imprisoned for forgery, while he himself becomes a longsuffering hero and is banqueted by his townsmen.

“We have seldom read a novel in which the psychology of self-deception is so strikingly presented as in this grim little study of human nature.”

“It is all done with Scandinavian thoroughness, with utter conscientiousness of patient detail, unsparing, indefatigable, grim—as Mr. Hall Caine says with ‘high seriousness.’”

Bond, Francis. Fonts and font covers. *$4.80. Oxford.

“The first section of this book is concerned with the story of baptism, wherein are discussed its original import, the methods of administration, the baptistery and its piscina, and the transformation of the baptistery tank into a tub font, a font on legs, a pedestal font, a chalice font, and even a metal basin or earthen-ware bowl.... The second part of Mr. Bond’s work discusses the classification of fonts and their symbolism, together with the exceptional materials of which they are sometimes formed, such as various metals and brick.” (Ath.) The last section deals with a fully illustrated list of fonts chronologically arranged.

“The present volume marks a great step in advance in both the quantity and carefulness of the descriptive letterpress, especially in the 47number of illustrations; of these by far the greater number have never appeared before, while the more important examples are produced on a generous scale.”

“The text, indeed, while a monument of painstaking erudition, and crammed full of detailed information, partakes too much of the nature of a descriptive and analytical catalogue to possess any special charm or attractiveness. As a compendium of information, and as an admirable collection of historic examples, most suggestive to architect and decorative or ecclesiastical designer, this handsome book must be of great value and must entirely supersede all previous essays in the same field.”