The Splash of a Drop. By Professor A. M. Worthington.
(S.P.C.K.)—There will be some scientifically minded young persons, such as the "Rugby schoolboy," of whom Professor Worthington—perhaps autobiographically—speaks, to whom this little book, a reprint of a Royal Institution Lecture, will be welcome. It requires some closeness of thought, and a capacity for understanding mechanics, to take in the reasoning. But every one will appreciate the marvellous instantaneous photo- graphs which illustrate the professor's exposition of the subject. —For any one whose leanings are in the direction of chess, whether he be young or old, we can recommend Chess Openings, by H. G. Bird. (Warne and Co.) Mr. Bird, a well-known exponent of the game, champions certain openings and variations which were commonly practised in the last century, but are now out of fashion. Mr. Hofmann gives an interesting account of Mr. Bird's career,—he has played chess for more than fifty years. It is instructive to be told that the character of the game has deteriorated under the influence of the large stakes played for. Forty years ago a five-pound prize sufficed. Now we must have ten times the value and more, and men, caring more for the money than the game, play for safety, and the dash of the old game is gone. Why not, as Mr. Ruskin suggests, give a prize for games won in the fewest moves ?
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