IMPROVING BOOKS.
Under this head are classed those on different countries, on history, biography, natural history, popular science, and real adventure.
As has been said before, these are specially suited for prizes, as they will be read again in after life. For those intended for young people there will never be any great demand. In almost all lending libraries they stand still on their shelves with clean pages. We teach our children too much for them to be willing to learn for themselves. The appetite may come in after times, and sometimes may exist or be excited in some particular direction. In cases where young people are secluded from school by illness, it is desirable on all accounts that their mental fare should include something besides devotional books and fiction.
To begin with, the use of maps and the reading lessons at school make scenes in different countries interesting, and perhaps the surest books to be appreciated as rewards are those giving pictures of costumes, &c.
ON DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
687. All the Russias. By E. C. Phillips. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
688. Chats about Germany. By M. Brown. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
689. Round Africa. By E. C. Bruce. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
690. The Land of Temples. By M. Field. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
691. New Zealand. By B. Francis. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
692. Glimpses of South America. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
693. A Ramble round France. By J. Chesney. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
694. The Land of the Pyramids. By J. Chesney. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
695. The Eastern Wonderland. By B. C. Angus. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
696. Peeps into China. By E. C. Phillips. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
These have ‘pictures’ to every other page, and are wonders of cheapness and really interesting writing.
697. In the Polar Regions. (Nelson) 2s. 6d.
698. In the Temperate Regions. (Nelson) 2s. 6d.
699. In the Tropical Regions. (Nelson) 2s. 6d.
All the above are compilations full of interesting descriptions and good illustrations.
700. Little Lucy’s Wonderful Globe. By C. M. Yonge. (Macmillan) 4s. 6d.
Sketches of child life in various lands, adapted to Frölich’s illustrations. Too dear for a prize, but children like it when lent to them.
701. Child Life in Chinese Homes. By Mrs. Bryson. (R.T.S.) 5s.
702. The Children of Africa. (Hodder & Stoughton) 5s.
Fully illustrated, very easy and amusing, though China is better done than Africa as being a less wide field.
703. Early English Voyagers. (Nelson) 5s.
The voyages of Drake, Cavendish, and Dampier excellently told.
704. Letters from Egypt. By J. Whately. (Seeley).
A model of the style of thing.
705. Germany. By S. Baring-Gould. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
706. Egypt. By Stanley Lane-Poole. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
707. Denmark and Iceland. By E. C. Otté. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
708. France. By the Author of ‘Mlle. Mori.’ (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
709. Japan. By S. Mossman. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
710. Russia. By W. R. Morfill. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
711. Austria. By D. Kay. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
712. Greece. By L. Sergeant. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
713. West Indies. By C. H. Eden. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
714. Peru. By Clements Markham. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
715. Australia. By J. F. Vesey Fitzgerald. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
716. Spain. By Wentworth Webster. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
717. Sweden and Norway. By F. H. Woods. (Sampson Low) 3s. 6d.
These are not so ornamental as Cassell’s series, though they have maps and illustrations; but if I may judge from the two specimens I have seen—namely, ‘France’ and ‘Germany’—they are full of interest and information amusingly given, and would be excellent for any intelligent person in need of knowledge of some special place. Very good for town or club libraries where the readers rise above fiction.
718. Great Waterfalls. By John Gibson. (Nelson) 2s. 6d.
Well-illustrated descriptions of cataracts and geysers.
719. A Jolly Fellowship. By F. Stockton. (Kegan Paul) 5s.
The droll adventures of three American schoolboys who make a tour by themselves in Florida and Cuba.
720. Road to the North Pole. (R.T.S.) Series I. and II., 1s. each.
An excellent abstract of the American Arctic expeditions of the ‘George Henry,’ the ‘Polaris,’ and the ‘Jeannette.’
ADVENTURES.
These are truthful adventures, in contradistinction to the Kingston, Ballantyne, Verne, and other ‘books for boys’ which abound. Where we should lend those we should give these.
721. Real Stories from Many Lands. By Lady Verney. (S.P.C.K.) 9d.
The wonderful first navigation of the Colorado. A terrible conflict between a horse and a tiger, and the escape of Grotius. Easy, and likely to satisfy the children who ask ‘Is it true?’
722. Perils of the Deep. (S.P.C.K.) 4s.
Collections of the most striking and memorable wrecks and other trials of sailors. Just the book for men or boys invalided.
723. Peril and Adventure. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 2s.
724. Valour and Enterprise. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 2s.
725. Brave Days of Old. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 2s.
726. Daring and Doing. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 2s.
727. On Honour’s Roll. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 3s. 6d.
728. Heroism and Adventure. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 3s. 6d.
729. Sea Fights and Land Battles. By L. Valentine. (Warne) 3s. 6d.
Noble deeds, true and inspiring, such as should go to the heart of brave lads.
730. A Book of Golden Deeds. By C. M. Yonge. (Macmillan) 4s. 6d. Selection, 1s.
Heroic actions in all ages.
731. Heroes of the Arctic and their Adventures. By Whymper. (S.P.C.K.) 3s. 6d.
732. Across the Pampas. By Sir F. Head. (Murray) 2s.
One of those spirited and delightful books that never grow stale.
733. Anson’s Voyages. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
Compressed, and ever interesting.
734. Wanderings in South America. By Charles Waterton. (Macmillan) 6s. or 6d.
The most delightful of true travellers’ wonders.
735. Lady Brassey’s Voyage in the ‘Sunbeam.’ (Longmans) 6d.
Later aspects of the world.
736. Ride to Khiva. By Col. Fred. Burnaby. (Cassell) 1s. 6d.
Highly interesting in the present state of things. Where there is a set of readers open to the interest of books of travels, a watch had better be kept on Mudie’s second-hand list.
737. Around and About Old England. By C. L. Matéaux. (Cassell) 3s. 6d.
738. Huc’s Life and Travels in Tartary. (Nelson) 1s.
The adventures of the two Jesuit missionaries made a great sensation at the time of publication, and are most amusing.
739. Egypt and Nubia. By J. St. John. (Chapman & Hall)
A book with much reading in it, and likely to be very much read if still in print.
740. Two Years in the Region of Icebergs. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
