BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11878, 1 February 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

The Magazines.— Readers of. Macniillan's will turn first in the January number to the article by Lieutenant-Colonel Maude on " The British Officer and His Foreign Critics." He makes a brilliant counter-attack by quoting German difficulties and German methods during the Franco-German war of 1870-71. Jesse Quail very cleverly summarises the "Forecasts of the Future," which have been made by such theorisers as Wells, Ividd, Bloch, Pearson, Clarke, and others. Stephen Gwynn expounds " The Revival of a Language/' which is, of course, Irish, and makes out a brilliant case for the Erse plaintiff." It is not unusual for a special pleader to make out a brilliant case, and few will be convinced that a dual language system will in any way solve the Irish question. The English 'illustrated Magazine opens with a cleverly written and photographed article " Coming Home Through Siberia," by Mrs. Archibald Little,. and closes with a phantastic" Of a Book Unwritten," by H. G. Wells. But the piece de resistance will be found in " The Commercial Future of Palestine," written by Sir. I. Zangwill, who is not only a. great novelist but an enthusiastic Zionist.

S.P.O.K. Publications.The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge publishes, under the direction of its General Literature Committee, a large number of popular books, which aro well got up and well written, and . not ; only appeal to < i>e romantic and adventure-loving but are entirely fit for admission into the most careful household. The secular tone and dubious ethics of many modern romances make many parents ■ adverse, to placing them in the hands of then children, en while they recognise that young people nowadays crave aftei exciting readingmatter. To this large section of society the S.P.C.Iv. solves a difficult problem, and saves much mental uneasiness by supplying a quantity of books, generally very readable, and always graded to the family level.

S. P.C.Iv. Boys' Books.Among boys'books recently published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge " Clung the Chinaman and His Middy Friends,' by G. Manville Fenn, is a racy story of. sailor-adventure in the China Seas in that well-known author's best style. The suppression of piracy, the methods of Eastern war, Chinese prisons and punishments, and other topics aire skilfully 'threaded upon a story full of hair-breadth escapes and perilous dangers. " Out on the Llanos," by Achilles Daunt, lias the wild 3 of Columbia for its scene, and' the adventures there among beasts of prey and alligators and snakes of some brave English. lads as its subject. "Sir Phelim's Treasure," by H. A. Hinkson, describes how a great buried treasure was found by a lad, and how he with a companion were cast away on an island, but got home safely to restore the family fortunes. " Tho Chronicles of D urn ford" is a public school story by John Cartwriglit, dealing with the life in and doings at a great school in a manner which every boy will appreciate and every parent approve. "Out of the Depths," by the Rev. J. Kinchin Smith, is a shorter school story for younger boys. All these books are cleverly illustrated, the three former profusely.

S.P.C.K. Girls' Books.—Among re-cently-published girls' books " Like Cures Like," by Catherine E. Mallandaine; " Robin," by Raymond Jacberns; "Mafeking Day,"'by Phoebe Allan; "Her Only Son Isaac," by H. Louisa Bedford " Goldenhearted," by M. Bramstou; and "The Old Millhouse at Alvermede" • can all be unhesitatingly commended for their interesting stories and moral inculcations. " The Whispering Chair," by Beatrice Radford, is for younger girls and children; "The Real Thing," by Christabel Coleridge,' is a '. children's missionary _ story which from an interest point of view is greatly superior to the wearisome narratives of a generation ago. "In Luck's Way." is a shorter story by Catherine E. Mailandaine. All these books are brightly bound and charmingly illustrated.

S.P.C.K. General. —In addition to the above Ave have in our parcel of recent 'S.P.C.K. publications a dozen or more booklets of great range of subject. There are: "Nursery Rhymes," . " Eyes and No Eyes," and "The Blue Dragons," for the little ones; "Spiritual Progress," written by Archdeacon Wynne for young communicants ; "The Soul's Daily Audience of God," by Dr. E. L. Cutts, and "Wise Laws and Modern Instances," by Mary E. Bellars, both deeply devotional; "Roses, Sweet Roses," a little story of gentle influence for - the young, by the Rev. W. J. Bettison, and "The Roses '• of the Red House," being the embalming of an oldworld love-legend by M. H. Rebenhara; and "Father's Man,'" a child story, also by the Rev. W. J. Bettison, with a couple of limp-cloth children's ; storyettes— How to Keep a Promise," bv R.L.S., and "Juno Days," by S.L.G.H. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge can easily claim that it has made it impossible for devout parents to complain with reason •of the lack of good, wholesome readable literature for the young' and the very young. •

Cianide Practice : By Alfred James. E. and F. N. Spon, Limited, London.—This book is written by the mining expert responsible for the adaptation of the cvanide process to the treatment of tailings. He designed, erected, and ran the earlier plants, and has since been intimately connected with the design and operation of some of the largest and most recent plants in Africa, America, Australasia, and India. Consequently, lie is in a position to write authoritatively of the most recent practice successfully employed. His book gives particulars as to the methods of treatment, extraction results, and costs of the roasting by Diehl • and Riecken's methods of treating , Ivalgoorlie ores, and lays down a basis for estimating the cost of plant erection. It shows how even low-grade propositions are paying most handsome dividends by using modern treatment methods. When lowgrade propositions with ores assaying only about 4dwt show profits amounting to £90,000 in two years the explanation of how it is done affects large numbers of directors. The general practice detailed is instructive to students and beginners, while even the most advanced experts may, find information given in a practical fashion as to the most recent process of the industry in the particular line in which they are interested. Workers on the treatment of slimes, tellurido ores, and dry crushing will discover here the figures and results of work at present accomplished, and the details of improvements now about to be experimentally or . practically applied. The chapter on promo-cyanide reveals a vast amount of original work that explains the. cause of many puzzling reactions. The decompositions of cyanide and bromo-cyanide are treated in detail.

Whitaker's Almanac, 1902. Spicer Bros., Limited, London. —This is the first to arrive of necessary reference annuals. When we say that it is fully up to its worldwide reputation no further comment is necessary.

Banking : By A. D. Cochrane. Effingham Wilson, London. — very readable and well verified account of the origin, development, and methods of banking. Moreover, the ideas of the author as to possible and desirable improvements in methods and organisation, particularly in the direction of banking co-operation and more particularly in. an " automatic" method of storing gold and steadying the price of Consols by buying them as" they fell and keeping in the gold as they rose". Mr. Cochrane is an enthusiast oil his specialty, but he goes far to proving his contention that banking is " the mainspring of civilisation."

, Miniature Series of Painters : Edited by G. C. Williamson, Lift. D. George Bell and Sons, London.—-This charming series of biographical sketches, written by critics of repute and illustrated by photographs of each painters best work, cover Velasquez, Burne-Jones, Fra Angelico, Watts, Romney, and Watteau. i, Published at a shilling each they will find their way to tha shelves of all who appreciate art and take an intelligent interest in the masters of colour, their struggles, their triumphs, and their work.

Now showing, splendid lino in hearthrugs, at 12s 6d caeh. Cheaper lines from Is 3d each. Wonderful value.Smith and Caughey, Limited.