Ajar Loquitur. By Robert Weatherburn. (Crosby Lockwood and Son. 2s.
6d. net.)—This is the story of an old locomotive steam-engine, beginning with its recollection of being inspected by the two Stephensons, father and son, the latter pronouncing the verdict, "The whole engine is an improved Planet." It is not everybody, indeed, that knows what is meant by a "Planet." This suggests the only criticism that we have to make upon the volume,—it takes too much for granted. The first chapter is on "Cylinders," Ajax remarking that he retains the originals with which he was first furnished. The first two or three pages con- tain a number of terms which for some readers will need explanations,—" crescent springs," " castliners," " bushliners," "flange bolts," for instance. It is shameful, doubtless, not to know what these things are. But then human ignorance is unfathomable. To the initiated the book will be interesting in a high degree.
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