BOOKS OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1794, 5 July 1913, Page 9

BOOKS OF THE DAY.

W.-r: ■ . A MIXED BATCH. Yhe "Everyman"'Encyclopaedia. The fourth volume, Chu-Dec. of Dent's "Everyman" Encyclopaedia (to be completed in* twelve volumes at Is. 3d. each) is to hand per Whitcombe Wid Tombs, 'the shine excellent features to which I have drawn' attention in my iotices of previous volumes being again present. The biographical articles are Specially numerous, although I confess to {ojne disappointment with the article on Oaptiun Cook, whioh is but poorly done, and is followed by ho bibliographical information.. The articl-o on "Constitutions" runs into pome twenty pages, and Is .a really admirable summary, most useful _for reforenco purposes to students of political, and especially {Constitutional, history. The Canadian, Australian Commonwealth, and South African Union constitutions are not included here, which is, I think, a distinct mistake. Certain particulars as to the constitution have, under "Australia" aiid' "Canada," already been given, but with regard to 'Australia they were all too meagre, and in any case the omission under the general 'heading is unfortunnte. The scientific articles are, I notice, brought well up-to ' date. The "Everyman" Encyclopaedia is truly a marvel of cheapness, a veritable licon to the bookbuyor of slender means. Every country ijchoolhouso should, possess B'.set, . I'fiafia Work." " , ' "Eafia Work: A Simple Craft with Great Possibilities" (Whitcombe 1 and Tombs), by Henrietta C. Walker, is a wedl-written, much-detailed, and interesting description of how to mako various articles, both • ornamental and useful, from rafia, ono of the many by-products of tho palm. It is actually the stripping from the inside of the palm, leaf, prepared for the world's markets by the natives of many tropical islands. It comes to ■us .in one-pound hanks, the retail price being a shilling a pound.' From a single shilling's worth, says' Miss Walker, at is possible for the expert worker to make many pounds' worth of thoroughly iiseful and often beautiful articles. Rafia work is still in its infancy, and its .introduction into many of our charitable institutions, as well as schools, is, so the author contends, greatly to be desired. The uses to which the material can be profitably put are many. Verandah cushions, deck chair coverings, ordinary chair seats, hammocks, screens, and mats can, saysflMiss. Walker, be better made of rafia than of any other material. Fruitbaskets and bowls, .hats, shoes, belts, hat bands, buttons, and' hatpins—yes, ha.tpins!—are included in a list of rafia articles, besides handbags, purses, bookcovers, blotters, and boxes of all kinds. It is claimed that the detailed instructions given for the making of various articles are essentially simple and practical, and there are also many well-pro-duced illustrations. Some of the articles of which illustrations are given show excellent taste in design, liie price of the book is three shillings.

lAboriginalities. Oile of the first'pages'to which I always in tbo-iS,rduejV7"BulletiQ' l ,- js headed A&originalities;'''' in ' which' so much quaint bush lore,' so many good Btories of the "back-blocks" folk, so many interesting little studies of Australian natural history, find a place. It was a happy thought to make a selection from these "Aboriginnlities," case apparently from very early-'issues of the ■ •Bulletin," and to republish them in a Volume issued by that enterprising firm the Sydney Bookstall Company. The ■stories aro for tho most part of a purely humorous type, and "horse and cattle yarns" are specially prominent. I hope, however, that later on a second volumo of selections may appear, the selection being confined to natural history stories. Lionel Lindsay, contributes a number of amusing illustrations. .

love and Ethics. >In "Love and Ethics" (Putnam and Sons; per George-Robertson),:: Ellen 'Key, the well-known American writer on educational and' social" questions, again sets forth her opinions—some of them more original, I fear, than practical—on the j relation of the sexes. Personally; I find the author's arguments "somewhat difficult to follow. In America, however, admirers of Mrs. Koys's philosophy of life are very numerous, and New Zealand readers will (probably give a fair hearing to her, views. Another "Bairns" Book, • Really, the doctors and "race culture" enthusiasts seem to be determined to flood the world with manuals and hand-books in the treatment of infants. The latest . arrival (book, not baby) is "Babyhood—A Guide to the Proper Care and Management for Infants During the First Year of Their Life," by Dr. J. Bernard Daweon (London, Ewart Seymour and Co.). The took is, I read, a companion volume to "The Young Mother," by the same author, and seems to deal with every possible ailment which can afilict an iniant and perplex its parents. : (Price, gs. 6d. net.) * •. ' ■ ■