We have before us two volumes of a singularly interesting
kind. It is not too much to say that they are unique. Certainly they preserve to the world many things that, from their very nature, must otherwise have disappeared. The title is Sir Benjamin. Stone's Pictures (Cassell and Co., Is. 6d. per vol.) It must be explained that Sir Benjamin Stone is a most skilful and most industrious photographer. He loses no opportunity of per- petuating by use of the photographic art scenes which he conceives to be worthy of preservation. It is impossible to avoid, where such a subject occurs, some regrets that the world should. have been for so long without this wonderful help to history. What would we not give if we could get a " snapshot " of the Spartans at Thermopylae, of the advance at Salamis, of Pericles addressing the Athenian Assembly, of Nicias haranguing his troops before their last struggle in Sicily, of M. Curtius leaping into the gulf in the Forum, to mention a few of the most obvious ? We must be thankful for what we get. The first volume is entitled "Festivals, Ceremonies, and Customs." Among the pictures are " The Stratford-on-Avon Mop," " The Welsh Eisteddfod," " The Northumbrian Baal Fire," " The Guy Fawkes Search," "Proclaiming the King," and "Tossing the Pancake at West- minster School." The second volume is " Parliamentary Scenes and Portraits." Any one can imagine what this is like, and it is needless to quote examples.
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