BOOK NOTICES | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 27, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 48.

BOOK NOTICES.

“MORTON’S ADVANCED GEOGRAPHY.” Butler, Sheldon & Co., Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Boston. Price $1.20.

One of the most interesting studies to the generality of youth is geography, the study of the face of the earth on which we live. For the word “geography” comes from two Greek words,—ge, the earth, and grapho, to write. A geography is a writing about the earth, and, more exactly, about the face or surface of the earth. The study of the interior of the earth more properly belongs to geology; yet most of the geographies assume to teach more or less of geology, the most uncertain and contradictory teaching ever palmed off upon a credulous world as science.

Before us is the work named above, which aims to teach geography,—to tell the student facts concerning this earth and its surface, and to awaken within him desires and ambitions to know a great deal more.

Some of its special features of superiority are: (1) Its mechanical execution. Its binding and stock are excellent. Its illustrations, largely half-tones, many from actual photographs, are very fine. (2) Its maps are the best we have seen. They show the physical features of the country, yet clearly define all political boundaries. Names are not hidden underneath masses of color or mountain ranges. (3) It is strictly up to date, containing the latest information, even to the federation of the Australian colonies in the present year. (4) The treatment of the Dark Continent and the Philippine Archipelago is up to date. (5) The industrial and commercial features are of special value. Striking contrasts are furnished in the illustrations between the new and old. In short, it is the best-finished product by an enthusiastic teacher of large experience. It is helpful to the student, and suggestive in many ways to the live teacher. It is a good school-book; it is a good home book; it is a good book for the student who is getting his own education. May it have the abundant circulation it deserves.

“MORTON’S ELEMENTARY GEOGRAPHY.” By the same publishers. Price 55 cents.

In its grade it has all the excellences of the “Advanced Geography” noticed above. We could only wish that it were in every home where children are, and in every school. These geographies are both the freest from error and the fullest of facts of any published.

“THE NEW CENTURY HOME BOOK.” By Frank A. De Puy, A. M. Illustrated, 400 pp. Eaton & Mains, New York.

This little volume has the pre-eminent mission to be helpful, and it seems to us that it has made a goodly success. Its aim is to cover in clean, helpful suggestions all the varied phases of home life. Its first division, “Happiness in the Home,” pours out

upon us a veritable swarm of good home bees, as follows: “Be Cheerful, Be Considerate, Be Courteous, Be Patient, Be Helpful, Be Clean,” etc., etc. Other divisions are, “Study in the Home,” “Books in the Home,” “Conversation,” “Exercise,” “Fresh Air,” “Rest,” “Children,” “The Nursery,” “Mechanics,” “Dress,” “Sewing,” “Plants and Flowers,” “Birds and Fish,” “Pastimes,” “Illness,” etc., all in the home. “Furnishing the Home,” “Before the Doctor Comes,” “Learning Another Language,” are other subdivisions. Many interesting facts in science, invention, history, and commerce are given. The book would have been helped if it had left out some of its games and candy recipes.

“PITFALLS OF THE BALLROOM.” By George F. Hall, evangelist. Illustrated; 240 pp.; cloth-bound, price not given; paper covers, 25 cents. Laird & Lee, Chicago.

This book is a clear, strong, presentation of the evils of modern dancing. It is pure in tone, reasonable in argument, and convincing, to one who wishes to do right. It would do every father and mother good to read the book, who are training children. It speaks where many ministers dare not. It holds back nothing for fear of offending. It ought to have a wide circulation, and would do great good were its influence not nullified by a worldly church. But this makes the need of the book greater.

“THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.” Fourth series. By Arthur T. Pierson, D.D. Illustrated, 12mo., cloth, price 90 cents, net; postage, 11 cents. Paper binding, 30 cents, net; postage, 8 cents. New York and London. Funk & Wagnalls Company.

“The Miracles of Missions,” so-called, is a series of very brief narratives of facts, written with, as far as possible, absolute accuracy, which both demonstrate and illustrate the perpetual presence of the supernatural factor in all true mission work. The word “miracles” is designedly used in order to bring out the unmistakable divine working, and the great variety of facts presented, the triumphs of the Gospel in all lands, and among all classes of people, has the effects of strands braided into a rope. Any one narrative might be insufficient to be the basis of a safe induction; but when all this testimony is combined, a candid mind can not resist the evidence that the Gospel is more than human; it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. This volume is the fourth of Dr. Pierson’s valuable series. The preceding volumes are uniform in size and binding, and sell for $1.00 per volume in cloth binding, and 35 cents in paper. This fourth volume is issued under the rules of the American Publishers’ Association as a “net” book. The price, therefore, is lower than that of the preceding volumes, being 90 cents net in cloth binding, and 30 cents net in paper binding. Its scenes are laid in all parts of the earth.

“WHAT A YOUNG WIFE OUGHT TO KNOW.”—$1,000 prize book. By Mrs. Emma F. A. Drake, M.D. 288 pp. Vir Publishing Co., 1131 Real Estate Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa.

This is another useful, helpful volume of the Self and Sex series. It takes the subjects concerning which young women everywhere are so ignorant, and lifts them into the exalted place they must ever hold in the minds of the intelligent and pure. No other class are so entirely without information as most brides, young wives, and young mothers. Three thousand years ago the inspired writer declared, “the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” and the statement is still true to-day. This book to young wives and mothers should have been written centuries ago. It tells every young wife just what she needs to know, and saves from the blind, blundering, and sad mistakes which have wrecked so many lives. It equips the young wife to discharge intelligently the duties of her responsible and sacred relation. Its chapters are ennobling and uplifting; it places the whole subject in the realm of pure and sacred thought and contemplation. This is the eighth volume in this splendid series. For it the writer received a prize of $1,000. Yet the knowledge it contains is within the reach of every young woman.

“THE LIVER AND KIDNEYS, WITH A CHAPTER ON MALARIA,” by Susanna W. Dodds, M.D., is the title of a common-sense pamphlet of 50 pages, published by the Health Culture Company, 481 Fifth Avenue, New York. Price 25 cents.

The writer teaches that assisting nature by right living and careful diet of fruit and grains is better than all drug medication. Quinine is set down as an evil, and physicians are coming to know it.