23 APRIL 1927, Page 19

Professor Duncan's Astronomy (Harper, 12s. (3d.) is a text-book with

some interesting and some diverting passages. All who saw the total eclipse as ghostily its shadow-bands flickered across the white snows of eastern America in January, 1925 (as did the present writer), will ever after feel awed by contemplation of the heavens—as indeed we well may be. Relativity, solar and galactic systems, and such matters serve to put us in our place, as atoms of the instant before even that small part of the Universe 'we can apprehend. Such books, learned and yet light enough for the amateur to read, are to be welcomed, and we congratulate Professor Duncan on having accomplished a very difficult task with brilliancy.