INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS FOR BOYS.
BOYS who are not satisfied with story books for Christmas presents, but who clamour for something more serious, have plenty of chance this year of having their tastes gratified. We have before us a row of books thoroughly suited for such a purpose—each of them containing quantities of the powder of instruction (chiefly scientific and historical) wrapped up in most appetizing jam taking the form of attractive bindings, interesting pictures, entertaining anecdotes, and lively descrip- tions. To begin with, for instance, we have All about Electricity, by Gordon D. Knox (Cassell and Co., 6s.). Here we find comprehensible but not too elementary accounts of various applications of electricity—for telegraphy, for loco- motion, for lighting—and even a useful, if necessarily slight, sketch of modern electrical theory. Nothing could give more delight to the boy of a mechanical turn of mind.—The same subject is dealt with in Our Good Slave Electricity, by Charles R. Gibson: (Seeley, Service, and Co., Ss. 6d.). This is a less ambitious work, and intended, it should be added, for children less advanced in years.—Another excellent work of a similar character is The Boys' Book of Astronomy, by Ellison Hawks (Grant Richards, 6s.), which handles the immense questions with which it is concerned in a thoroughly straightforward fashion. The photographs and drawings which illustrate it deserve to be specially mentioned.— Our next volume takes us from the heavens to the depths of the earth. Treasures of the Earth, by Cyril Hall (Blackie and Son, 38. 6d.), tells us about the various minerals and the methods of obtaining them, and contains chapters upon oil-wells, and china- and glass-making, as well as upon different sorts of mining and quarrying.—The Great Ball on Which We Live, by Charles R. Gibson (Seeley.
Service, and Co., 3s. 6d.), gives a somewhat discursive account of this planet, and of its origin and development. It would provide a child with its first rough lessons in many sciences- nstronomy, geology, biology, and even aeronautics.-The last of these sciences is explained with far greater detail in The Mastery of the Air, by William J. Claxton (Blackie and Son, 2s. 6d.). Plenty of information will be found in its pages as to the history and construction of flying machines, whether lighter or heavier than air.-From the mention of aero- planes we are led naturally to Modern Weapons of War by Land, Sea, and Air, by Cyril Hall (same publishers and price). This book cannot fail to be read with interest at the present time, especially as its author has been able to incorporate in it facts revealed by the actual experience of the present war. It describes in non-technical language theprincipal instruments of offence, including, besides aircraft, guns, explosives, mines, sub- marines, and torpedoes.-Another volume that is sure of .a hearty welcome just now is The British Army Book, by Paul Danby and Lient.-Colonel Cyril Field (same publishers, -Bs. 6d.). It gives historical sketches of many famous regi- ments, and traces the record of the Service as a whole, and, as may be imagined, is full of splendid tales of gallantry and heroism.-Turning now to the sea, we must mention The
-Story of Victory,' by Geoffrey Callender (T. Nelson -and Sons, 3s. 6d.). Written by a sound authority, this book traces the life cf the ship from the day her keel was laid to the present time, and it makes as thrilling a tale a■ could be told.-A new edition of Sailing Ships and their Story, by E. Keble Chatterton (Sidgwick and Jackson, Gs. net), has just appeared, and requires no new commendation from us. -Another exciting volume of sea history from the same -author is The Romance of Piracy (Seeley, Service, and Co., 5s.). The story of pirates of every epoch and of every country, from the time of the Egyptians to the present day, from the North Sea to the Malay Archi- pelago, is told in Mr. Chatterton's most vivid style.-Four historical volumes most suitable as gift-books have been added to the series known as " Heroes of All Time." These are the biographies of Alexander the Great, by Ada Russell; Augustus, by Rene Francis ; Mohammed, by Edith Holland; and William, the Silent, by Agnes M. Miall (George G. Harrap -and Co., ls. 6d. net each).-Along with these we may draw attention to a new edition of Britannia's Calendar of Heroes, -compiled by Kate Stanway (George Allen and Unwin, 2s. 6d.), which recounts some heroic deed for every day in the year. -We may conclude our article by drawing attention to two books of a miscellaneous character, both of which should be extremely popular with boys. The first is The Complete Scout, edited by Morley Adams (Henry Frowde and Hodder and ;Stoughton, 2s. 6d.). This includes numerous articles by various authors, covering the whole range of a Boy Scout's -activities and duties. The other volume is The Boys' Book of ,Pets, by W. Percival Westell (Grant Richards, 6s ), which will be found to give useful advice upon keeping tame animals of every variety, from the most commonplace to the most -recondite.
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