Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

, Music , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , New Barnet . — : O : — The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne in the County of Southampton . By Gilbert White ( 3 s 6 d net ) . — Macmillan and Co ., Limited .

AN old friend in a new dress . So large and so continuous is the demand for this work that fresh editions appear at very short intervals . There is hardly a " library " of English prose literature in which the " Natural History of Selborne " is not included . The edition which the late Mr . Grant Allen supervised so ably was published just before his death , and since that a fine but expensive

edition has been issued under the care of an eminent ornithologist , i ' rof . Bowdler Sharpe . Despite these contemporary rivals , Messrs . Macmillan have several reasons for anticipating a remunerative sale for the volume before us . It is printed in large type upon stout , rough paper , and is unquestionably—certeris paribus—the

cheapest edition ever issued . Moreover , it includes the "Antiquities of Selborne , " a work of general as well as local interest , usually omitted from the cheap reprints of Gilbert White designed to meet the exigencies of small pockets and slender purses . Altogether we can commend this as a large , handsome volume , of which the bibliophile needeth not to be ashamed .

Now Century Library ( 23 net per vol ) . —T . Nelson and Sons . The Works of WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY . — Vol . viii ., Men's Wives , Bedford-Row Conspiracy , & c . BUYERS of j : his edition of Thackeray ' s works have long satisfied themselves that it is desirable to buy it to the end , when they will possess an exceedingly good and useful edition of the immortal

cynic . Critiques and reviews of Thackeray ' s stories , in which the commendatory element largely preponderates , have been written in enormous numbers by persons of many nationalities : but a fresh edition of "The Yellow-plush Papers" or "Men's Wives " seldom fails to evoke fresh : praise from the latest recruits in the army of criticism . In the former of the two works just named

Thackeray , with consummate cleverness , makes the servants ' employers see themselves as the servant sees them—a much more difficult task than might be supposed . There are many scenes extremely ludicrous , and the imitations of the theory and practice of spelling which once obtained in the world of which Mr . Yellowplush is an example , have raised many a laugh from the usually stolid . The printing of this edition continues as good as ever .

Love in our Village . By Ornie Agnus . Illustrated by Bertha Newcombe ( 6 s ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . WHEN reviewing " Jan Oxber , " a former volume by Mr . Orme Agnus , we said that the writer had proved himself as skilful a delineator of human foibles as Mr . Thomas Hardy . If the volume before us proved nothing else it would prove the justice of our

remark , these stories of love-making in a village m Dorsetshire are inimitably written ; so much so , indeed , that we are almost afraid Mr . Orme Agnus can hardly give us anything so good again . " The miraculous inspiration of Air . Jesty" is one of tnose stories which we are apt to regard as the result of a miraculous and momentary inspiration on the part of the writer , and we fear he

can hardly striKe so rich a vein again . ' At fifty " is well thought out , and " The 1 'oet's Love " is a prose idyll of me first water ; out the cleverly wrought story entitled " The dethronement of the Kingwill probably be more often read than any other which we h ; ive named . Mr . Orme Agnus is working a rich ore , and we trust it will be long beiore so promising a mine begins to "peter out . - '

Eton . By A . Glutton-Brock , B . A . With forty-six illustrations from photographs by tlie Rev . T . Perkins , and others ^ s ou net ) . —George jjeil and Sons . THIS volume should enjoy a very large sale . It has come upon us at an opportune moment . Education , in all its phases , lias never been so \ olubiy or so ably discussed as of late , and many of

us are anxious to have access to just such data as we find provided in the pages of Mr . Glutton-Brock . This history of Eton College is caretuuy written , profusely illustrated , and clearly printed ; but the index is far too meagre . This detect , however , might easily be reclined in a future edition . Some features of this voiume deserve special praise , such as the detailed account of the curriculum of trie airrerent classes , tlie systems ot tutorsnip and fagging , the lite

ot the young scholar in tlie . " house , and the recreations ot tlie leisure hours . Many an escajiade , 111 which some culprit has , in the words of Gray , " snatched a tearful joy is here narrated , and many details are set forth concerning those headmasters of the past who taught as thoroughly as they flogged—which is saymg a great deal . We are debtors to Messrs . Beil for so handy a voiume , on an institution of which Englishmen are justly proud .

The Ace of Spades . A psychological episode . By R . Andre and G . Leitch Walker . Illustrated by Powell Chase ( 3 s 6 d ) . — Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . HAD we found this volume less entertaining we should have felt it a duty to complain ot its secondary title ; for " a

psychological episode' hardly justifies its name . But if psychology is lacking , adventure is not , and we confess to having tollowea the story to its finish at a sitting . The Captain and his landlady , Mr . Curtis , the true and the taise , the Professor , and Rose , are all admirably sketched and play their parts so well that the plot appears to ravel and unravel of its own accord . We believe we do

Books Of The Day.

no publisher an injustice when we write that for downright interest and sprightliness of incident and dialogue no books recently issued are superior to those which we have received from Messrs . Ward , Lock and Co . " The Ace of Spades " is printed in so bold a type that it may easily be read in an express train .

Left to Themselves . By E . M . Green . Illustrated by Arthur Hopkins ( 2 s ) . —Wells Gardner , Darton and Co . THIS story of some little folks who were left to themselves through the death of their father is one which deserves a careful perusal . More serious in tone than many of the books prepared for young people just now , it is admirably thought out and

written . The author ' s manner is somewhat suggestive of that of Mrs . Henry Wood ; indeed , the way in which the finer traits of human character are here depicted has reminded us strongly of " Oswald Cray . " We have often quarrelled with the pseudodidactic romance when written for adults ; but the usefulness of " stories with a purpose" for children cannot be questioned .

MESSRS . ELLIOT STOCK announce among their new publications "Alfred the Great ; His Abbeys of Hyde , Athelney , and Shaftesbury . " The book is by Mr . J . Charles Wall , and the preface by the Dean of Durham . There are several illustrations . Price 5 s .

MESSRS . F . V . W HITE AND CO . have issued another novel by the indefatigable Mr . Guy Boothby . "A Cabinet Secret" will not be a secret for long , for this yarn-spinner addresses an immense audience , and his stories are widely appreciated . The book is illustrated by A . Wallis Mills , and is published at 5 s .

MESSRS . MACMILLAN ' New Cranford series , in cloth elegant , gilt edges , at 3 s 6 d each , comprise a very choice selection of famous works . Their range is wide enough to suit the most catholic taste ; it includes books by Hood , Sheridan , Goldsmith , Washington Irving , Swift , Miss Mitford , and others . Some of the illustrations are by Hugh Thomson and Joseph Pennell ; some of the introductions by Canon Ainger , Austin Dobson , and Augustine Birrell .

BOOKS RECEIVED . General Wauchope . By William Baird , F . S . A . Scot . Second edition ( 2 s 6 d ) . —Oliphant , Anderson and Ferrier . My Lady Marcia . A Story of the French Revolution . By Eliza F . Pollard . With illustrations . —Thomas Nelson and Sons .

Girls' Christian Names . Their History , Meaning and Association . By Helena Swan ( 2 s 6 d net ) . —Swan Sonncnschein and Co ., Limited . The Wrong's of Indian Womanhood . By Mrs . Marcus B . Fuller . With an introduction by Ramabai ( 5 s ) . —Oliphant , Anderson and Ferrier .

Miss Cleveland ' s Companion . A novel . By Adeline Sergeant . —F . V . White and Co . The White Battalions . By Fred . M . White ( 6 s )—C . Arthur Pearson , Limited . Emma Marshall . A Biographical sketch , by Beatrice Marshall ( 6 s ) . —Seeley and Co ., Limited .

The Romany Rye : A Sequel to "Lavengfo . " By George Borrow . With special introduction by Theodore Watts-Dunton . New edition ( 2 s ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited .

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