REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 183 



round him. The result is this charming volume containing (i) Quelques 

 Legends ; (ii) La Mendicite Au T'oumet ; (iii) Chez Les Paiens ; (iv) 

 Neophytes ; (v) Scenes De Mon Village. We are introduced to the 

 ordinary life of the ordinary people and through these scenes we may 

 spend some time in their company. The text and illustrations are all 

 well done. Having given the titles of the Five Parts into which the 

 volume is divided, the scope is sufficiently indicated. 



M. 



Hand-book of New Terms and Newspaper Chinese. By Mrs. 

 A. H. Mateer. Paper covers, $2.50. Cloth, $3.00. Mission 

 Book Company, Shanghai. 



Mrs. Mateer makes another useful contribution to the supply of 

 books which attempt to deal with the fascinating subject of New 

 Terms, or old terms with new contents, now being used by the news- 

 paper-reading people of China. Her previous work New Terms for 

 New Ideas was reviewed in the 1914 Journal. We are told that the 

 present hand-book is not exclusively compiled from the former work^ 

 as some terms have already been superseded and are therefore omitted, 

 while other newer terms have been added. The Author wisely cautions 

 that "this little book it not designed as a dictionary of the Chinese 

 language, or even to supply a complete definition of the words in- 

 cluded. It is simply designed to give the newer forms of expression 

 of certain ideas, the form most commonly occurring in the newspapers. 

 It is impossible to predict which or how many of these terms will 

 survive." 



The "Hand-book" is of a very convenient size, well printed on 

 good paper. It contains two parts, English-Chinese, and Chinese- 

 English, which is an arrangement of much convenience to the student. 

 The list of terms given is quite comprehensive and representative. 

 We have found the book helpful in actual use, and can recommend it 

 as deserving a place on the study table. 



In a work of this size, brevity must be considered, so in the main 

 only one equivalent to a term is given. In general such equivalents are 

 excellent : but the young student should beware of supposing that 

 any given term is the only available one, or even necessarily the best. 

 The definitions will at any rate provide a valuable clue to the finding 

 of what may be the best term for any particular requirement. 



A few terms have been abbreviated so much as to be incomplete 

 and misleading, and of some others we have doubts if they really 

 convey the meaning claimed for them. For example : — 



