THE WONDERFUL HOUSE THAT JACK HAS.
The Wonderful House that Jack Has. By C. N. Millard. (Macmillan and Co. 3s.)—This book is written for American schools, and, to a certain extent, has an application to the conditions of life in America. Much of its contents, however, are likely to be of general utility. All is put in plain language— this is a speciality of the work—and the facts are, for the most part, such as it is well for young people to know. Still, we cannot help thinking that the author is something of a fanatic. It may be the case, to take an instance, that, theoretically, cocoa or chocolate is better for a growing lad or girl than tea or coffee. But when very considerable demands of a more practical kind are made upon the power to abstain, it seems a pity to add another not of the first importance. Tea, also, is far more easy to prepare than any other beverage of the kind, and to banish it entirely would be to cause no little trouble. Then, again, we object to what is said about tobacco. The best counsel to the young as to this might be given in a very few words : "Avoid it as you would poison"—nothing could be too strong as a dissuasive—" it will check your growth and do you untold harm. When you grow up, consider the question for yourself." The unqualified invective which Mr. Millard pours out on tobacco-smoking seems to us out of place. We regret this all the more on account of the generally valuable character of the book.
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