Amateur Work. Vol. VII. (Ward, Lock, and Co.)—The author of
"Every Man His Own Mechanic" issues another volume of this excellent series. To judge by the large correspondence which the editor conducts, it is more popular than ever, and meets a want felt by all who have time, inclination, and a mechanical turn of mind, but lack the quality of suggestiveness. Amateur Work goes a considerable way towards that ancient ideal, "that every man, whatever his position, should learn some useful trade." The vicissitudes of fortune would not have so often their harsh and painful side if mechanical knowledge formed a universal part of education. With the help of these papers, one can learn to make a piano or a banjo, to upholster, to work in tinplate, to make a cart, besides the arts of scene- painting, electro-typing, and other useful trades, and a variety of fancy work. There is also a series of good articles on "The Form of Tools," ancient and modern. We notice that a return has been made to "Fret-Sawing." Does this mean that the editor has partially exhausted the industrial arts ? We hope not. The volume is bountifully illustrated and indexed. Con- sidered from the abstract or the practical point of view, it would be impossible to imagine a more valuable work, or to over-estimate -the good that the series has done.
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