Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/525

 us. viii, DEC. 27, ma] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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it is also the most expensive, of its line. Very few are the names of notable persons which one, may reasonably expect to find here and will search for in vain. "Before it takes its stand upon the shelf of reference books, as a mere convenience, it is not unworthy to be treated for a casual hour as a real book. It is rather pleasant to survey so huge and solid a phalanx of individuals who, in one way or another, count to ascertain by what claims each is of the company and to observe among them sundry amusing evidences of " human nature." These last come out most markedly in the entries under ' Recreation,' where, to mention but two instances we noted, we have a distinguished man, now, we hope, not entirely deprived of leisure, confiding to the world the truly melancholy fact that, from the age of 14 to that of 27 years, he worked eighteen hours a day without "any holidays ; and a lady whose work attacks the profoundest subjects, opening up to us the illuminating fact that her recreations are " reading, gardening, walking, and talking to cats."

Who 's Who Year -Bool-, 4914-15. (A. & C.

Black.)

THE object of this book, first and foremost^ is to be a supplement to ' Who 's Who ' itself. The Prefatory Note states : "No one who does not spend an extra shilling on the lesser book can reap the full advantage of the greater one." But those who do not possess the larger work will find this full of information ready to hand. It contains an Alphabetical Index, and the leading Church dignitaries, Government officials, M.P.'s, Ambassadors, Governors of Colonies, &c., can be found at once. There is also a table of Head Masters of Public Schools, and another of Uni- versity Professors, with the date of their appoint- ment.

As showing the full information given, we quote the reference to Eton College : Head Master, Rev. Hon. E. Lyttelton, situated in Bucks, number of scholars 1,000, founded 1441, average cost of tuition with board 200L Under University Degrees is a description of the various hoods.

Englishteoman's Year -Bool; M14. (A. & C.

Black.)

Miss G. E. MiTTON, the careful editor of this Year-Book, is quite right in saying that " no woman who takes any part in Public or Social life can afford to do without it." The plan of the work is excellent, and is so arranged that any subject upon which information is sought can l>e found at once. Each is treated by an expert, and these number forty-seven, all being women with the exception of the writer of the article ' Catholic Information,' this being by Mgr. .Tackman. There are eight sections treating of Kducation, Professions, and Social Life, and eight devoted to Philanthropic and Social Work. Each subject is fairly treated, although a little anger is shown under Law with respect to the failure of women to obtain admission to that profession, and reference is made to the annual meeting of the L5ar, when Mr. Holford Knight moved a resolu- t ion approving the admission of women to membership of the Bar : " It was lost by an over- whelming majority, only some thirty or forty votes being recorded in its favour. So much for barristers." The article then shows the position

of the question in other countries. Miss Marta Bjornbom is the first woman barrister to practise in Sweden, she having started in the present year,

The Writers' and Artists' Year-Book. (A. & C,

Black.)

THIS is also edited by Miss Mitton, and compiled with her usual care, and will be found very helpful. The work has been enlarged, and includes fresh and exclusive matter. We do not agree with what is said about some papers not giving full informa- tion as to their terms of payment to contributors : " A large number of papers prefer to use the vague phrases ' payment varies,' or ' payment according to merit,' instead of stating terms. It would be well for the amateur to avoid these papers, and approach in preference those who state their terms plainly. It is to be noted that, as a rule, American editors are more definite and businesslike on this point than British ones." To have a fixed scale for contributors is impossible for papers in which special articles are inserted. Scientific articles or literary articles requiring research must command a higher price than those on general subjects, where the information is at hand.

The Antiquary for December (Elliot Stock) has among its contents the conclusion of Lieut.-Col. Cavenagh's articles on the South Foreland Lighthouses. He states that " the lighthouses built by Sir John Meldrum were probably of timber and plaster, on the top a lantern in which was [sic] stuck a few candles ; and the first lighthouse- keeper of whom we know the name is Edward Beane, who writes to the Navy Commissioners in 1652-3 that he will observe their orders as to the keeping the lights, as formerly, for the ad- vantage of the fleet." Dr. Cox writes on Gaird- ner's ' Lollardy and the Reformation in England.' ' Were European Palaeoliths sometimes Ground ? ' forms the subject of an illustrated article by Dr. Nut-tall. The Rev. J. B. McGovern con- cludes his historical investigation on ' The Popes of Dante's " Divina Commedia." ! Mr. Mc- Govern believes that Dante made puppets of such historical personages as suited his poetical designs. " Hence he had no need of those whom he had consciously omitted ; no scruple would have deterred him from conferring additional notoriety upon them had the need existed. And those he did limn upon his mighty canvas he painted with no doubtful colouring, although in some instances the mixing of his pigments was not wrought with that careful adherence to dis- crimination and truthfulness which literature, equally with painting, demands of a skilful and impartial artist."

IN The Imprint for November 27th Mr. J. IT. Mason has an article on ' Type Sizes : No. 1. The Old British Bodies,' many illustrations of specimens being given. Mr. Goodwin writes on ' Technical Instruction in Printing and the Costing Educational Campaign,' and the result is given of the competition for a suitable heading for the firm of Self ridge & Co. The illustra- tions in the number include three colour re- productions by the Curwen Press ' Spring in Paris,' drawn and lithographed by the late T. R. Way ; ' The Great Hall, Hampton Court,' drawn by Ella Coates ; and ' Book to Camden Town,' a figure of a parrot, drawn by S. T. C. Wrecks