Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , Music , & o . Intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , New Barnet .

Carnations and Picotoos for garden and exhibition , with a chapter concerning pinks . By H . W . Weguelin , F . R . H . S . ( 3 s 6 d ) . —George Newnes , Limited .

THIS tastefully designed volume might with advantage have been included in a deservedly popular series of primers issued by Messrs . Newnes . Under the title " The story of Carnations and Picotees " we should have welcomed it as warmly as any volume in that famous series of " Stories " which has enjoyed such a large sale . In truth , Mr . Weguelin deserves well at our hands ; for he

has treated his subject in a manner which is at once both lucid and exhaustive . It is only of recent years that such carefully written books on flower-culture have been prepared for us . Perhaps the more conspicuous merits of the work before us are the excellent illustrations , and the concise but sufficient descriptions of the many varieties of these choice flowers . Mr . Weguelin has

bestowed great attention upon carnations and picotees before attempting to write about them , hence his work is of real value to all lovers of flowers . He tells us that there is such a great variety of carnations and picotees that it is difficult to make a satisfactory selection . This we can well believe . The making of new flowers resembles in at least one respect the making of new books—there

is no end in the production . Mr . Weguelin ' s book has led us to believe that if ever we are desirous of " going in " for the culture of carnations we shall require a deal of space for the housing of our treasures . The chapter dealing with " carnations in the open " is of very practical use to readers who have even a small garden , where they can cultivate a few of the more hardy varieties . We should like to see all flowers—hardy or otherwise—so ably described .

How to writ © for the Magazines . By "^ 600 a year from it" ( 2 s 6 d ) . —Grant Richards . THE title of this book will elicit a smile from many . It is a kindly effort on the part of a writer , who is himself successful , to teach others how to be successful too . We think we could name

the writer ; but as he has chosen , for obvious reasons , to remain anonymous , we must respect his wishes . This book is itself an object lesson on the subject whereof it treats ; for you need not wade through many pages before discovering that you have been provided with a great deal of excellent information and advice conveyed in the fewest possible words . We must , however , in

justice say that it is a book for the absolute novice only ; for any young writer who has had any experience of journalism , however meagre , must know already the greater part of what is here set down . The novice , however , should profit greatly if he reads , marks , learns , and inwardly digests every word of this guide to success in a career where so many fail . The many snares and

pitfalls that beset the path of the literary aspirant are so ably touched upon . We were pleased to find the writer advising his readers to produce good articles rather than bad stories , and still more pleased to note that he has given them some really trustworthy guidance as to the length of an article , the number of the illustrations , and the best magazines for certain sorts of subjects . The remarks , too ,

as to how to prepare a manuscript in such a manner that an editor shall not lose his temper at the mere sight of it , are so useful that they are worthy of very careful consideration . We must say that we are afraid there will be many disappointments ahead for some who shall strive to reach the author's ^ 600 a year ; but this book is certainly a reliable guide for such as decide to try .

New Century Library ( 2 s net per vol ) . —T . Nelson and Sons . The Works of WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY . —Vol . v ., The Paris Sketch Book , & c . THIS is a very old favourite in new and tasteful garb . Thackeray is certainly of those who never come too early or too late . We will confess that for our part we are strongly partial to writings of his

other than the great novels—great , as busy folk know to their cost , in more senses than one . If any books of a similar nature are more entertaining than the Yellowplush Papers , The Book of Snobs , the Paris and Irish Sketch Books , and From Cornhill to Cairo , we should much like to meet with them . . Need we sav , however , that there is more in this little volume than mere entertainment . On

almost every page Thackeray has left the impress of a mind that regarded the world and they that dwell therein in a shrewd yet kindly manner . He can praise a Frenchman or an Irishman or an Arab if he considers praise due . Much has been said about Thackeray ' s cynicism by men who have a very superficial

knowledge of his books ; but we can heartily recommend our readers to leave sneers unregarded and to enjoy a quiet hour with " The Paris Sketch Book , " which in the compass presented us by Messrs . Nelson , in their now famous " New Century Library , " is of a size and weight not beyond the carrying capacity of the most exacting .

Jan Oxbor . by Orme Agnus . Illustrated by Bertha Newcombe ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . IN literature , as in other avocations , the merit of a man ' s work is to be measured by the difficulties overcome in the execution . This is , perhaps , a truism , but truisms , as W . M . Rossetti has told

us , must sometimes do duty as first sentences . The volume before us contains some of the best short stories we h ave met with for some time ; we observe that the publishers speak of it as the success of the season , and are not surprised . Mr . Orme A gnus has encountered many difficulties , and has overcome them all . It is no

Books Of The Day.

easy matter to write of Wessex life and scenes after Mr . Thomas Hardy ; but we are confident that we do Mr . Hardy no injustice if we say that , in many passages of Jan Oxber , Mr . Orme Agnus has proved himself as skilful a delineator of human foibles as the author of " Tess of the Durbervilles . " Jan Oxber and his mother , the clergyman and the squireand the miller and his daughter Ruth ,

, are the characters in this rural drama . What a world of pathos is called up , as by the wand of a magician , by the few conversations here narrated and the few acts that here transpire ! We have been reminded of the finest passages in many classics ; we' have found that Mr . Orme Agnus has added one more volume to that beautiful village literature of which we think when we meet with Goldsmith

or George Sand or Mary Wilkins . Nothing is here for tears ; for while Jan Oxber is , Heaven knows , touching enough , we are nevertheless rejoiced to know that those touches of nature which make the whole world kin can be so inimitably portrayed . The two best books published this year by Messrs . Ward , Lock and Co . are "A man of his age , " and " Jan Oxber , " unless our taste is greatly at fault .

CASSELL ' S MAGAZINE for October introduces us to some Rustic spots in London Parks " which will probably surprise some of the residents of the great metropolis who imagine it is compulsory to go far afield for examples of the beauties of nature . The illustrations are from photos specially taken by Messrs . Cassell for the article , but they represent well known parts of our public

playgrounds , and anyone who is not acquainted with the originals might profitably devote a few spare hours to their inspection—it will be found , in these instances , that art has not added to the charms of nature ' , but has only introduced us to really lovely spots at our very doors . Another realistic contribution is that dealing , with the " Great Railway Stations of London , " many of the illustrations of

which contain features we should admire if we saw them in a foreign guide book , but which almost escape notice in the busy rush of our every day home life . The number contains , in addition , five complete stories ( one of them being for children ); a contribution to the series of " National Defence :- articles— " No . v . —A visit to a Gun factory ; " and other interesting matter , the whole of the subjects being well illustrated , and thereby rendered particularly interesting .

BOOKS RECEIVED . Sir Stamford Raffles . England in the Far East ( Builders of Greater Britain series ) . By Hugh Edward Egerton , M . A . ( i ; s ) . —T . Fisher Unwin .

Henry Knox . A soldier of the revolution , Major-General in the continental army , Washington's chief of artillery , first Secretary of War under the Constitution , founder of the Society of the Cincinnati ( 1750-1 S 06 ) . Bv Noah Brooks , illustrated ( American Men of Energy series ) . ( 6 s ) . •—G . P . Putnam's Sons .

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