308 The National Geographic Magazine 



such an extent that they are scarcely 

 more than "labored ingenuities." 

 Many of them are utterly beyond the 

 capacity of children of the age of those 

 who are expected to study this book. 

 So far as the publishers' part goes, the 

 maps are of the best workmanship, ex- 

 cept that the contrast of colors in the 

 physical ones is not so marked as it 

 should be. 



But in spite of these weaknesses there 

 is hardly a volume the equal of this 

 for developing the thinking powers of 

 the pupils, and hence is the best this re- 

 viewer knows of. C. M. 



The United States of America. By 



Edwin E. Sparks. 2 volumes, maps. 

 Pp. xi 4- 425 ; vii -f- 385. Illustrated. 

 New York : G. R. Putnam's Sons. 

 1904. 



This is a most welcome and valuable 

 addition to The Story of Nations' series. 

 It commences with the treaties of peace 

 in 1783 and traces the evolutionary 

 stages through which the United States 

 passed, from a confederacy of republics 

 to its present status as a powerful na- 

 tion, clothed with all powers needful 

 for its progress and preservation. 



Perhaps the most interesting chapters 

 are those outlining the fundamental 

 bases on which centralization has been 

 effected. Therein Prof. Sparks clearly 

 indicates the most potent lines of action 

 and their specific effects. The Jeffer- 

 sonian ordinance of 1784 with unquali- 

 fied suffrage, the erection of the back 

 lands into equal independent states, 

 the home-making public-land system, 

 the light-house and post-route policies, 

 the assumption of the states' debts, the 

 entrustment of the militia to executive 

 control, the appropriations for scientific 

 purposes, the adoption of excise and 

 tariff measures, and the construction of 

 the general welfare clause of the Consti- 

 tution are given due weight and con- 

 sideration. 



As to the later phases of our national 

 history, the chapter on profit-sharing 

 and paternalism, on abolitionism and 



colonization, and the passing of strict 

 constitutional construction throw in- 

 structive side lights on the march of 

 events. 



National industrial development is 

 too currant and political a topic for 

 purely historical treatment, and from 

 the nature of the case cannot be uni- 

 versally accepted. 



Altogether, the literary style, subject- 

 matter, and method of treatment are 

 excellent. There is not a dull chapter 

 in either volume. A. W. G. 



Grundriss der Handelsgfeographie. von 



Dr Max Eckert (Privatdozenten der 

 Erdkunde an der Universitat Kiel). 

 Pp. xv + 517. 9x6 inches. Leip- 

 zig : G. J. Goschen'sche Verlags- 

 handlung. 1905. 



This is a very comprehensive sum- 

 mary of facts rigidly based on the great 

 causal notions of geographic develop- 

 ment. Following a simple and uniform 

 plan, our author treats the continents 

 and then the countries of the world, 

 first giving a brief view of the land and 

 the people of each, then the natural re- 

 sources, then the industries and occu- 

 pations, and, finally, communication 

 and trade. The three great divisions 

 of the material world, plants, animals, 

 and minerals, are in each case described, 

 with the next section pointing out the 

 industries that have sprung up in that 

 country, but he leaves the student to 

 supply the links of connection ; and 

 that brings up one serious defect of the 

 work. It is a frightfully dry compila- 

 tion of names and figures, unrelieved 

 by any graces of expression or interest- 

 ing incidents. It is difficult to see what 

 place it would fill in education, as it is 

 too heavy for American students, and 

 many of the statements are annually 

 superseded by almanacs or hand-books. 

 It is not sufficiently scientific to be ac- 

 cepted as an authority in itself, since 

 the sources of information are not often 

 given. For general style and interest 

 it is much inferior to the International 

 Geography. C. M. 



