Wer 1st's. By Hermann A. L. Degener. (Degener, Leipzig. 9s.
6d.)—Herr Degener has given us here a German Who's Who. It is a gigantic undertaking, and need not fear coin- parison with its English contemporary, the less so seeing that this is its first appearance, while Who's Who shows the result of a considerable process of evolution. There are some thirteen thousand biographies in the volume, a considerable number being of non-Germans. Among these are some of prominent Englishmen. We may give as an example the English names that occur under the letter "A" : Abbott, T.; Adams, W. G.; Adamson, W.; Adler, Hermann; Akers-Douglas, A.; Allbut, T. C.; Ailing- ham, Helen ; Alma-Tadema, Sir L.; Anson, Sir W. R.; Arnold- Forster, H. 0.; Asquith, H. H. The total number of names under this letter is about two hundred and fifty. Taking another letter, "L," where there may be three times as many names, we find Labouchere, H.5 Lambton, F. W.; Lankester, E. R; Lascelles, Sir F. C.; [Leaky, W. E. H.] ; Legros, A.; Lloyd-George, D.; Low, C. G.; [Lowther, J.] ; Lowther, J. W. It is, of course, very diffieult to say what foreign names may be legitimately looked for in a book of this kind, but these lists are not as well chosen as might be. Literature is practically excluded. Two of the ten names under "L" are of deceased persons. Herr Degener would do well before he issues another edition to consult with some well-informed Englishman.
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