Roads to Riches. By Thornton Hall. (T. Werner Laurie. as.
6d. net.)—This "Romance of Money-Making "—it might be added of " Money-Losing "—is full of anecdote. Mr. Hall begins with telling us how various millionaires on both sides of the Atlantic made their fortunes. They do it more quickly and more sensationally in America. We have nothing to match the Standard Oil Company, which annually distributes a dividend eighty times greater than the original capital. But our methods are more old-fashioned, have more of the prisea fides, it may be, about them. Then we read about the Asters and the Rothscbilds, and after these about " women millionaires," a race which we do not seem to have on this side. So far we have been dealing with stupendous figures. There is a decided drop when we come to "Riches through the Professions." Sir William Jenner left 4375,000, and the first Lord belborne is said to have made 4600,000 between 1837, when he was called to the Bar, and 1885, when he retired from the Woolsack. But this pales before the financial glory of Madame Patti, who is said to have earned a million. M. Paderewski is credited with about half that amount. The figures of literature are less imposing, though some are not a little striking. Perhaps the comparisons and contrasts in this region are most remarkable. Put the price of a modern novel of the first rank alongside of the 4750 which was all that Jane Austen received for her half-a-dozen master- pieces. So much for making money, the story might be indefinitely extended ; for losing it the royal road is unquestion- ably the Turf. Mr. Hall has a most instructive story to tell about this matter. Altogether, this is a most entertaining volume.
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