SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
(Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not been reserved for review in other forms.] The Ruskin Union Journal. (4 The Albany. Not for sale.)— This is the first number of the organ of "The Ruskin Union," a society which is now in process of organisation, having for its object to "promote the study of the works of John Ruskin." This is laudable, even though it should give a happy hunting ground for " cranks." Among the contents of this first number is a lecture on " The Life and Work of John Ruskin," by the Rev. J. B. Booth. Mr. Booth delivers an attack upon the political economists. For ourselves, we are not ashamed to own that we learn much from Messrs. Alfred Marshall and H. Sidgwick. Another item is a set of letters hitherto unpublished re a certain medal which the R.I.B.A. offered to Mr. Ruskin in 1874. He refused to receive it, for four reasons :—(1) The tomb of Cardinal Brancaccio at Naples is used as a lumber-room ; (2) the Church of San Miniato at Florence has been turned into a common cemetery; (3) a cross on a certain church at Pisa was broken to pieces by a mason while he (mares) was drawing it ; (4) the rail- way at Furness is too near the Abbey. As we have not yet joined the Ruskin Union, we may be permitted to say that Mr. Raskin's reputation so far does not owe anything to the "Journal."
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