Professions for Boys. By M. L. Pechell and James J.
Nolan. (Beeton and Co. 38. 6c1.)—This is a revised and enlarged edition of a work which first appeared somewhat more than a year ago. It contains, we are told, two-and-twenty new articles. There are more boys, doubtless, who have to be employed, and it is well that there should be more ways discovered of employing them. As the list stands now, there are of "Home Professions" twenty- eight, of "Indian Professions" fourteen, and of "Miscellaneous Professions" fifteen. So far as we have examined the book, the articles seem to be sensible and to the point. Of course, they are more adapted to enlighten the parent than to instruct the actual candidate for employment. This is as it should be. Nor will it diminish the probable usefulness of the volume if the qualification for the various occupations suggested and described is put on a somewhat higher level than actually exists. We are told, for instance, that to pass the British examination for Orders "a thorough knowledge of. Latin" is required. That is an admirable ideal, but as for the fact!! Probably not one in ten of the candidates could write a decent piece of Latin prose. We are far removed from the days when Bishop Maltby of Durham used to begin his examination with a piece for Greek iambics. If we have any criticism to make on the articles it is that they are a trifle vague. But, after all, this is scarcely avoidable. The problem of actually getting into employment s o vitur ambui ma do.
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