578 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
infinite space, might well bring doubt and despair to the mind which contemplates 
that alone; but there is another line of discovery more beautiful, more wonderful 
still. * * Ji^ * * This little instrument, then, 
(the microscope) has wrought a noble work for God and truth in the world. Not 
only has it revealed to us many secrets which make life easier, which soften the 
pangs of disease and diminish the anguish of bereavement, but it has helped to 
silence the voice which was delivering its message of desolation to the world 
in denying the Fatherhood of God. Not only does it show us the marvelous pre- 
cision of inorganic nature, and the delicate adjustments of chemical, physical, 
and vital forces of organic, but it brings us into the very ante-chamber of that 
court where life holds its mysterious sway, almost into the presence of the subtle 
vital force which baffles analysis and laughs synthesis to scorn." 
The wonders of plant-life under the microscope are shown in every chapter 
and upon every page of the book, and while technicalities are avoided the explan- 
ations are clear and full. It is written in popular style, yet an amateur can find 
as much of precision and minuteness as is necessary for all his purposes, at the 
same time that he is attracted by the curious and interesting facts detailed. The 
chapter upon Insectivorous Plants in uncommonly interesting and cannot fail to 
give much information to most readers. 
The volume is very handsomely prepared and the illustrations are excellent. 
Bond and Free: By Grace Lintner. i2mo. , pp. 288. C. B. Ingraham, In- 
dianapolis, 1883. For sale by M. H. Dickinson. 
This is a tale of the South involving an account of life in the Southern States 
during the existence of slavery. It is well and earnestly written, and doubtless 
contains much truth, but whether it is best to revive the scenes of those days, 
even for the alleged purpose of perpetuating history, is questionable, especially 
when those scenes are portrayed under the veil of fiction. 
Plaster and Plastering : Mortars and Cements : By Fred T. Hodgson. 
i2mo., pp.' 108. Industrial Publication Co., New York; $1.00. 
This is intended by the author to be a complete guide for the plasterer in 
the preparation of all kinds of plaster, stucco, Portland cement, hydraulic ce- 
ments, lime of Tiel, Rosendale and other cements, with practical information on 
the chemistry, qualities and uses of the various kinds of limes and cements, to- 
gether with rules for measuring, computing and estimating plaster and stucco work. 
To this is added an illustrated glossary of terms used in plastering and a list of 
some of the best works on mortars, cements and plastering. 
Everything in this little work is practical and useful, and it will be found of 
value not only to the mechanic but to the property owner desiring to build or 
repair buildings. 
