Nooks and Corners. By Mrs. Penton. (Ward and Downey.)— Mrs.
Penton describes this book as "a companion volume to ' From Kitchen to Garret.' " It deals with the same subject of "household management and house decoration," but is intended for persons in circumstances more affluent than those of the clientele of the earlier book. When we say that the minimum allowance for a girl's dress is reckoned at 8.50, it will be seen that persons at least moderately rich are intended. But the girls are of the class that "come out" in a formal way, and go to many balls, not the one or two with which ordinary people have to be content. Mrs. Panton has, indeed, liberal ideas on the subject of money. "Give the boys a good education and a start in life, and provide the girls with £150 a year, and you have done your duty by your children No one has a right to bring children into the world in the ranks of the upper middle class and do less." We do not deny, but it is certainly needless to tell any young man who has digested this, that he must "seriously con- sider the matter before rushing into matrimony." On less important topics we find plenty of good advice. The first chapter deals with "moving." Here there is plenty to be said. The author tells us that there was a difference of £100 between the highest and lowest estimates which she received when she last moved. It is not difficult, however, to approximate to the right sum. If we get as a basis of calculation the number of vans which the furniture will fill, the mileage can soon be reckoned, and a fair sum added for labour. One of Mrs. Panton's words of wisdom is not to allow the grocer's man to call for orders. A servant will always invent some want sooner than send him away with no order,— this she will probably think mean. This is a negative piece of advice ; of a positive kind is the suggestion of a billiard-table, a very excellent amusement, not for the young only, but for the old. A small table is better than nothing,—indeed, to an indifferent player, better than one of full size. We observe an error in the chapter "About the Boys." The fee of .P.8 8s. at University College School is for the term, not the quarter. We should hardly c311 it absurdly low, though it is certainly not too high, seeing that richly endowed schools are compelled to charge something not much less. Elsewhere she calls this the "London University School."
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