THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
375 
Plaster and Plastering; Mortars and Cements. How 
to Make and How to Use. Being a Complete 
Guide for the Plasterer in the Preparation and 
Application of all kinds of Plaster, Stucco, Port- 
land Cement, Hydraulic Cements, Lime of Tiel, 
Eosendale and Other Cements, with Useful and 
Practical Information on the Chemistry, Quali- 
ties and Uses of the various kinds of Limes and 
Cements. Together with Rules for Measuring, 
Computing and Valuing Plaster and Stucco 
Work. To which is appended an Illustrated Glos- 
sary of Terms used in Plastering, etc. Besides 
numerous Engravings in the Text, there are 
Three Plates, giving some forty figures of Ceil- 
ings, Centrepieces, Cornices, Panels and Soffits. 
By Fred. T. Hodgson. Industrial Publication 
Co., New York. Price (Cloth), $1.00. 
For amateurs who have occasion to make plaster 
casts of any kind, or who may have to use mortar 
or cements of any kind, this book will be found 
valuable, as it contains rules and directions for 
using plaster-of-Paris, cements and mortars for 
many purposes that the enterprising amateur will 
sometimes require. Indeed, every man who builds, 
• or has a house built for himself, would find this 
work a great help to him in understanding and 
appreciating the value and character of the plaster- 
ing and stucco work he may have done. To the 
operative plasterer the work will prove invaluable. 
HOLIDAY GIFT BOOKS. 
The holidays are at hand, the days on which con- 
gratulations are given and received, and on which 
are made those little gifts that do so much towards 
tightening the bonds of affection and love that 
should always exist between friends and relatives. 
Among these gifts, books always take a prominent 
place, and we therefore take this opportunity to 
give such information on this point as we may 
collect, so that intending purchasers may be able 
to choose their books with some idea of what they 
are to get. "VVe take pleasure, therefore, in sub- 
mitting the following notices of Holiday Gift Books, 
with prices, when convenient, titles, and such 
other remarks as we may deem necessary for the 
interests of our readers. Indeed, we positively 
will not name a book in these columns that con- 
tains between its covers anything that might be 
considered objectionable. 
The Kecollections of a Drummer Boy. By Henry 
M. Kieifer, late of the One Hundre'd and Fiftieth 
Eegiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Illus- 
trated. Jas. E. Osgood & Co., Boston. 
Here is a book that will please the boys if any- 
thing full of startling adventure, camp life, and 
funny escapades will. The book is full of interest- 
ing events and lively experiences. Eelating to a 
period when the tocsin of war resounded from 
one end of the land to the other, a fact which gave 
the author, who took part in the events of those 
days, an opportunity of tieing together an au- 
thentic account of a number of actual events that 
must prove instructive to young readers, as well 
as interesting. The author's style is pleasant and 
easy, and the tone of the work throughout is com- 
mendable and elevating. 
Three Vassar Girls in England. By Lizzie M. 
Champney, author of "Three Vassar Girls 
Abroad." Estes & Lauriet, Boston, Mass. Price 
$1.50. 
It is pleasant to meet again these Three Vassar 
Girls with whom we once before enjoyed such 
charming journeyings on the continent; and who, 
in the present volume, take us through some of 
the loveliest spots in the mother country. The 
story itself is pleasantly given, but serves merely 
as a connecting link for the series of sketches of 
notable places, buildings, etc., many of them well 
known in history and fiction. 
The yachting cruise in the Coal Scuttle gives 
us many pretty glimpses of the English coast with 
some of its legendary belongings. In the rambles 
taken through old towns and over country roads, 
one can almost see the old homesteads, ruined 
castles, and stately halls, and smell the violets and 
sweet brier hedge-rows. 
The book is brought out in most attractive form. 
The illustrations with which it is profusely en- 
riched are by such distinguished artists as Champ, 
and others equally well known. Many of the 
plates are full-page in size, and show us many re- 
nowned places, adding much to the value of the 
book. Both for the story itself and the pretty set- 
ting given it, the book is worthy a prominent 
place among the holiday volumes for the coming 
season.— C. A. H. 
The English Bodley Family. By Horace E. Scud- 
der. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Eiverside Press, 
Cambridge, Mass. 
An excellent Holiday Book, being the history of 
a tramp through England by a group of merry 
young people, who exchange their opinions re- 
garding historical places, personages, and events. 
When we say that several of the young people who 
are introduced to the reader are Americans, the 
fact will doubtless make our young readers more 
anxious to procure a copy. 
The work is handsomely illustrated with fine 
wood-cuts of historical places and events, which 
add very much to its value and instructive quality. 
The pleasing style and general cheeriness of the 
work, make it easy and attractive reading. 
j The American Girl's Home-Book of Work and Play. 
I By Helen Campbell. C. P. Putnam's Sons, New 
York. 
Here is a book that will be hailed with pleasure 
by the girls, as it is designed exclusively for their 
use. and for their amusement and instruction. Do 
