We have received what has been not inappropriately called the
" greatest book in the world," the London Post Office Directory (Kelly's Directories, 32s.) It increases yearly in bulk, and it has, so far resembling Africa, semper aliquid novi. How much there is of the new in it few would inquire. One might suppose, for instance, that the number of trades would remain fairly constant, however much the numbers of persona practising them might vary. Yet in this year there are no less than one hundred and two added. Here are some specimens : " electric-rheostat makers," " fly-paper spreaders," " phonograph transcribers," "metal cement merchants," "wood flour merchants and agents." What, we wonder, is " wood flour " ? Possibly sawdust, with which, indeed, cornflour is made in Norway. Probably some trades disappear, but very few. One never sees a valentine nowadays, yet there are three " valentine and poetry card makers," and one firm that supplies them with the materials. Ono trade shows no sign of disappearance. There are some three thousand eight hundred publicans, twenty-four firms fit them out with bars, and sixty-two buy and sell their businesses as "brokers." The "publishers" number, it would seem, between four and five hundred.
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