NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15158, 23 December 1914, Page 8

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

CHIUSTMAS GIFT-BOOKS.

i Books aro always -welcome as Ciiristmas and Nek Year's gifts, especially to young people, and MiiS&r.s Blaekio and Son, who make a speciality of this kind of publishing, are as enterprising as ever in meeting the demand which eets in at this time of the year. Among those suitable for boys we may mention "Gunboat and Gun-runner," by FleetSurgeon T. T. Jones. This :s a stirring story oi British naval activity ?."i the Persian Gulf in the task of putting a stop to gun-running by Arabs for the benelit. oi rostleas tribes on the northwest frontier of India. The author, in his preface, says: "-My story is based on actual occurrences winch took plate some ten years ago. Most ol theso incidents have boon described to mc by participators in them. The proof ! sheets have also been revised by officers ! who have themselves taken part during more recent years in tho suppression of gun-running." There are some vivid descriptions of exciting encounters w.th Aral>s and Afghans, and the story is the more interesting now that the -British Navy is (inee more busy in the Persian (fuli. engaged in a task the heriousness of which exceeds even that described in tho book. Another capital story for boys is "The First 31 ate. the Story of .1 Strange Cruise," by Harry Collingwood. An American yacht, owned and commanded by tho wife of a multi-mil-lionaire, visits many interesting ports in India, Ceylon, Burma, and the Malay States. Finally β-he iV piled up on a" uncharted reef in the Pacific seas and the hero of the story, young Waiter Iyeigh, not only successfully jiilote the party to an u.ioccupied island, but shows gie.it resourcefulness in conducting them wifely through the Crusoe-like adventures which _ensue. Fitipllv we have one of tho famous historical romances by G. A. Henty. entitled "Tho Bravest of the Brave, or With Peterborough in Spain."' It is a sfory ni t!i.> Spanish War of Succession. Tho'Earl of Peterborough was a bold and resourceful military leader whose exploits have beon almost, forgotten, because, as Mr Henty remarks in the preface, his genim was directed by no r.tcady aim or purpose, and ho "was unable or tinwilling to work with other men. He vp.s clever nnd even unpcrupu'.ous in attempting to mislead an enemy, but Mr Henty tells us ho was true to h?.s word #nd punctiliously honourable in the ordinary affairs of life. Tho author gives a careful -portrait of the forgotten general, but tho hero of tho story i.;. of course, young Jack Stillwell, an English clergyman's son, who at the age of sixteen was impressed for G«_>rvico in the war. The adventures ivit'i which iic meets in the course of tho campaign are vividly described, and now that war is :n the :ur we anticipate that this excellent book will be in great demand. Nor are girl readers less (>xee!!ent!y catered for than tlio boys by the same enterprising firm. Or > book of topical interest is "Helen of the Black ■Mountain. ,a Story of Montenegro," by Bessie. Merchant. It is perhaps liardlv nrobablo that a Scottish c>l. when her father is taken away by Albanian brigands, should lend the expedition for jiis rescue, but when we have onco brought ourselves to accept this position we Follow her adventures witii breathless interest and are relieved to find that she comes through the ordeal successful and unspoilt. "A Mysterious Inheritance, 1 ' by the same author, is a stirring story of adrenhiro in British Columbia. Four tisters livintj'iii Quebec, having received a windfall, camn out io the forest district north of Vancouver city, ard are so deiightrxl -with country lifo that fhev take a farm and "mirabilo dictu" manage to mako it pay. It is a wholesome etory ■/edclent of the open-air IJf'o. "The School by the Sea," by Angela Brazil, is a-etorv of life in a Cornish school delightfuUv situated on a rocky headland with littlo coves of sand for "lathing places, and mysterious caverns in the rocks. To complete the attractiveness of tlie place tho s/jhool-lmildir <» itself was originally enacted in the fourteenth century ns a sm-ill nunnery'- A mysterious-locked chamber plays, a prominent part in the story "Tony's Chiuns," by May Wynne, is a pleasant •story of the holiday adventures of Tony Lavington aiid his three chum*, the scene being chiefly laid on the delightful north const of North Devonshire. It is a siorj which will please either boys or girls of about ten yeary of ajre.

Another bonk suitable for girls is; "A School Girls Diary." by Mnv Rμ?''win, which .tolls of an interesting tour of tho world, with whicn a romance is interwoven. Naples, Cairo, Singapore, and Queensland are among the olaces visited. (London: W. and R. Chamber*, i

Lastly we como to the picture Vkxilis for the little ones, issued l<v 3'pk'ts Blackie and Son. "Blackie's Children's Annual." in its eleventh year, ;'« :is quaintly illustrated and interesting as ever. Then there are "Animal Stories for little Folk," "Daddy Cat." i!justrated by Louis Wain in his usual inimitable style. "The Frank Adams Book of Nursery Rhymes.", and "More Old Testament Stories," the latter told by Theodora Wilson •. ilson, and illustrated in colour by Arthur A. Dickson. A very instructive series of illustrated books suitable for children above the third sfandard is that entitled. "Rambles Among Our Industries." We hiivu U3 "Wn n l ami TVWeaver," by William J. Claxton, and "The Seaman and His Craft," by the same author.

While on the subject of books for young .people wo.ought to mention Ward. Locke, and Co.'s "Wonder Book." the well-known picture annual for boys and girls. It is illustrated with twelve coloured plates and hundreds of engravings, while the tales and sketches are up to the usually high standard.