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CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. Edited by Andrew C. McLaughlin and Albert Bushneil Hart. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1914. Large 8vo.; 732 pp. The need of a Cyclopedia of American Government has been made plain to the editors of this work by their own experience as students and teachers; they have often found trouble in readily obtaining brief and specific discussions of many aspects of the field. New political methods, new phrases, new facts and principles of social activity, as well as new governmental forms, are constantly coming into existence, and of many of these it is impossible to find mention in the ordinary handbook. The literature of the subject is large, but there is not in any convenient form a systematic and fairly comprehensive treatise of the whole field. The large general cyclopedias, though containing articles of considerable length, have little to say about the details of government and almost nothing about governmental practices, or the activities of what might be called unwritten and extra-legal government. The editors are confident that this work will in considerable measure supply the need for a usable, succinct and comprehensive presentation of practical, actual and theoretical government in America. The subject has been treated in a very large way, and the present volume takes us down part way through the letter F. It should be found in every library. THE AMERICA'S CUP RACES. By Herbert L. Stone, Editor of Yachting. New York: Outing Publishing Company. 48 illustrations. 327 pp., 53 x 8. So full of incidents and detail is the history of the ''America's" cup, that to write an adequate book on this subject within a reasonable compass calls for no little discrimination and patience. The work before us contains all the essential facts of this long struggle for the premier yachting trophy of the world; at the same time it is enriched with the essential human element which makes the story decidedly fascinating, not merely to the technically instructed yachtsman, but to the average lay reader. The author has both the technical and literary qualifications for the task, and the work has been exceedingly well done. A feature which will be appreciated is the reproduction of the sheer plan, midship section, and deck plan of all the challenging and cup-defending yachts up to the time of the "Valkyrie"-"Defender" races. Unfortunately in the plans, this history of the cup, like others which have preceded it, stops at this point; probably for the reason that the designers of the yachts covering the Iipton period of challenges have been unwilling to make public such details. Another illustrated feature which will be greatly appreciated is the series of half-tones in sepia tint with which the volume is enriched. The plates measure four by five and one half inches, and they form in themselves a handsome and illuminating collection of views, many of which are new to us. The work opens with a description of the formation and early days and best known members of the New York Yacht Club, particularly those who were interested in the original "America.". The "America's" race around the Isle of Wight, in which she won her cup, is described; and thereafter the successive chapters deal in their order with the successive challenges and the deciding races of each series. Two pages of the work give, in tabulated form, the sailing lengths, the courses, the time allowed, the elapsed and the winning time for every one of the races sailed for the "America" cup. THE TRAINING OF A FORESTER. By Gifford Pinchot, with 8 illustrations. Philadelphia and London: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1914. Size 5 x 7M 157 pp. Price, $1 net. The name of the author of this useful and decidedly interesting volume is a guarantee that its contents are illuminating on the subject treated of, for Mr. Pinchot for several years was the Chief Forester of the United States. In his preface the author says; "To the young man who is attracted to forestry, and begins, to consider it a possible profession, certain questions present themselves. What is forestry? If he takes it up, what will his work be, and where? Does it, in fact, offer the satisfying type of outdoor life which it appears to offer? What chance does it present for a successful career, for a career of general usefulness, and what is the chance to make a living? Is he fitted for it in character, mind and body? If so, what training does he need? To answer these questions, Mr. Pinchot has drawn from his extensive knowledge and embodied the material in the volume before us. The work is illustrated with some excellent halftone engravings, full of the atmosphere of the forester's life, and we take it that the work will not only prove very useful to the young man who is thinking of taking up forestry, but it will be decidedly attractive to the average layman who loves the forests and the hills. FAMILY EXPENSE ACCOUNT. By T. A. Brookman. Cloth. Boston: D. C. Heath & Co., 1914. 112 pp. Price, 60 cents. Through the somewhat novel and ingenious plan of tracing the financial history of a newly married couple for a series of years, pupils are taught the value of money, how to keep household accounts, the necessity of planning in order to make their income meet the necessities and at the same time leave any sum of permanent saving. Arithmetic, domestic economy, household accounting, the writing of checks and other business papers, the placing of insurance, etc., are made very real. While learning these matters, young people are also taught certain of the fundamental facts of economic and social life. The book is to be commended because of the service it will render society, and it is to be hoped that many schools will find a place for it.
