THE CHOICE-OF A BOOK—.

in "A Spectator's Notebook," on October 2nd, invited suggestions in response :to the- request of a reader of The Spectator for advice as to what book he could most appro- priately give to his daughter, who Was just going up to Oxford for the first time. -Only- a selection of the replies received can be given-partly in the form of extracts. They include the

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following:

" To the fresher of any University I :would most vigorously recoMinend that very readable and good book, The Cvintrol of the Mind, by R. H. Thouless.; Your question,might well be followed by Another. What Wok'. would We 'give the Student to read during the Christmas vacation ? At this time we would do general benefit by giving The Art Of Living Together (Prof. L. P. Jacks). Then as knowledge accumulates and craft atrophies, we might mention The. Art of Writing, by Q,' and Notes on the Composition of Scientific Papers; by T. Clifford AllbUtt (which should be read by everyone who writes). If 'it should happen that the boinie Of 'studies does not include any biological subject, then the mind would be the better for The Microbe Minters, by Paid de Kruif. It will be a poor mind which is not stimulated to acquire his other books."

"I have no doubt whatever that by far the best books for your correspondent's daughter is The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green; It is possible that it is no longer in print. Three years ago, when I was going up, an ever-blessed aunt gave me an old edition of this heavenly book with numerous illustrations, designed and drawn on the wood by Cuthbert Bede himself. I read it slowly during My first two weeks-, and have frequently returned to it since then."

"I am interested in your query re, what book- might be considered best to give to a young girl beginning life at Oxford. Let it be biography—if possible, that of a woman. I would suggest a short study of Josephine Butler, written by M. E. Fawcett and E. M. Turner."

"I know of no more helpful book than the late Prof. I. E. MeFticlyen's Learning- and Life It, Might be considered too small a book for presentation (91 pp:), but its wOrth should

lint be judged by its bulk." _

"John Bickford Heard was known at Cambridge by myself and others. He produced a book The Tripartite Nature of Man (fifth edition, Clark, Edinburgh, 1885) showing that our defective theology is largely due to defective psychology. This I venture to .recommend."

"I gave my grand-daughter who is going to Cambridge Spender's Great Britain 1885-1935."

"May I offer my suggestion ? It is Luther Burbank's The Harvest of the Years-(Constable and Co.). This book influenced me strongly at such a time, and indeed is Still a treasure without price. There is scarcely 'a paragraph in it free from interest or wisdom."

" The best took for a' girl about to erite (txford iS"undoubt- edly Toni Jones. The hero is riot a mat, but-he is a manly, straightforward young fellow, who always plays the game, and never .takes advantlige of innocence. The language of Fielding is plain, so is that of the Old Testament : and it can do no harm, but a great deal of good, to any well-taught girl."

"I recommend this book for the young lady going up to Oxford, Hints for Self-Culture, by Har Dayal, published by Messrs. Watts and Co., London, 5s."

"I should suggest:The Trial and Decal& of Socrates (Golden

Treasury)." ; 4 Other suggestions include :

Frazer's Golden Bough (abred 'edition). -- R'obeft illidge'a' The Spihrof -Man (thtee Wordsworth's Prelude.

,Matthew Arnold?s Poems, Jude the Obscure.

The Works Of Dr.. Stope.s.

The Ring and the Hof*: Plato's' Republic (I)aiiiee and Vaughan's translation).

"...Janus "adds: ctui.not feel that any of these suggestions epreSeats the ideal, but I have 'nothing better myself to -put orWard. gut of-the whole list I. should myself, all .things considered select Matthew Ariio'lala Poems."