In the "Start in Life" Series (Hodder and Stoughton) we
have three volumes to notice,—Guide to the Civil Service, by John Gibson (3s. 6d.) ; Guide to the Legal Profession, by a Lawyer (3s.) ; Journalism as a Profession, by Arthur Lawrence (3s. 6d.) Mr. Gibson's book is, from the necessity of the case, matter-of-fact. Possibly there is something like a flight of imagination in the first chapter. It is true that a man may rise to very considerable heights in the employment of the nation ; but it must be remem_ bered that on the top of a mountain there is standing-room for only very few. Still, no one can read what Mr. Gibson says about Civil Service posts, or add up the figures that he will find in Whitaker, without seeing that the Government official is incom- parably better off than, say, the clergyman. Every one of the great Departments offers more prizes than there are in the whole hierarchy. Mr. Gibson tells the aspirant what he should do to get his foot on to the ladder, and what he will mount to. "A Lawyer" in dealing with the subject of his own profession has also to deal largely with facts. There is information to be given about examinations, preliminary and other; about the expense of entrance at an Inn of Court, and of articles for a solicitor; and about a great variety of other matters. All this will be found duly set forth in this handbook When Mr. Lawrence speaks of "journalism," he means something more than that word properly connotes. The monthly magazines are a part of his sub- ject, and they are certainly not journals. His subject is really literary work outside books. He knows it well, and his counsel to those who desire to make their living in this way is excellent.
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