REVIEWS. 311 



The Story of a Piece of Coal : What it is, Whence it 

 comes, and Whither it goes. By Edward A. Martin. Fcap. Svo, pp. 179. 

 (London: G. Newnes. 1896.) Price l/- 



This volume of the " Library of Useful Stories" brings together the prin- 

 cipal facts and wonders connected with a piece of coal into the focus of a few 

 pages, where side by side will be found the record of its vegetable and mineral 

 liistory, its discovery and early use, its bearings on the great Fog problem, and 

 its useful illuminating gas and oils. These little books are deserving of much 

 praise. 



The Story of Electricity. By John Munro. Fcap. Svo, 

 pp. 194. (London : George Newnes. 1896.) 



This is another volume of Sir George Newnes' very capital " Library of 

 Useful Stories." It describes in very plain language the Electricity of Friction, 

 of Chemistry, of Heat, and of Magnetism ; Electrolysis ; the Telegraph and 

 Telephone ; Electric Light and Heat : Electric Power ; and the Minor Uses 

 of Electricity. There are 100 illustrations. A useful list of books relating to 

 Electricity, with the published price of each, is given. We trust this series of 

 story-books may be greatly extended. 



The Photographic Reference-Book : Hints, Information, 

 and Methods concerning all kinds of Photographic Work and Recreation. 

 Compiled by W. A. Watts, M.A., under the direction of Henry Sturmey, 

 editor of Photography. 8vo, pp. 300. (London : Iliffe and Son.) 



A very large amount of information is contained in the 300 pages of this 

 book, which is essentially a worker's handbook, the keynote of the volume 

 being hotv to do everything in connection with photography. 



The Year-Book of Photography and Amateur's Holiday 

 Guide for 1896. Cr. Svo, pp. (about) 400, or counting Advertisements 628. 

 (London : The Photographic News.) Price l/- 



The various sections into which this book is divided treat of Progress and 

 Practice, Facts and Formula;, The Amateur's Holiday Guide, Lanterns and 

 their Accessories, and Novelties of the Year. It is a thoroughly good shilling's 

 worth, well illustrated by plates and smaller illustrations. 



The Gospel of Buddha according to Old Records, told by 

 Paul Carus. Fourth edition. Cr. 8vo, pp. xvi. — 275. (Chicago : The Open 

 Court Publishing Co. 1896.) 



Dr. Carus tells us that the bulk of the contents of this book is derived from 

 the old Buddhist canon. Most of the passages are literally copied from tran- 

 slations of the original texts. Buddhism appears to be split up into innumer- 

 able sects, but the present book follows none of the sectarian doctrines. It 

 takes an ideal position, upon which all true Buddhists may stand as upon 

 common ground. 



Black's Guide to the English Lakes. Edited by A. R. 



Hope Moncrieff. Crown 8vo, pp. x. — 223. (London : A. and C. Black. 

 1896.) Price 3/6. 



This edition (the twenty-second) will be found to be practically a new work, 

 it having been re-written and re-cast. It is divided into the following sections, 

 viz. — Windermere, Ullswater, Central, Keswick, and Coast sections. There is 

 a large map of the Lake District in pocket at the end of the book ; also, a 

 number' of Section and District maps. 



