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writer, who by the way is anonymous, takes for a motto • • Life is love, and love is the beginning," but the book deals mostly with ideas on death rather than love, though it finally leads up to it. The story begins and ends in a graveyard, even the declaration of love being made there. The author is extremely fond of queer words. •' Resilience," "nescience," " unaxiomatically," are among the most unusual, but " unmitigable" is the favorite which occurs at least twenty times, " re lentless " evidently being too simple for the author's style. The book is interesting as a literary curiosity. Dr. Fridtjof Nansen's Farthest North * is a work which, in addition to its popular interest, has a scientific value beyond that to be found in other records of Arctic exploration. The expedition was not a mere feat. In physical geography, in biology, meteorology, the results obtained will mark a new departure in the various sciences concerned. The continuous observations made during three years on the meteorology of the Arctic regions, when combined with other observations, will be of the highest practical importance in relation to the climatology of Europe and North America. In 840 4' north, this intrepid explorer, finding his vessel, the Frani, solidly frozen in the ice, started with one companion, Johansen, for the unknown regions of the North Pole. They left their vessel, equipped with three sledges, two kayaks, and twenty-eight dogs, with provisions for the dogs for thirty days, and for themselves for one hundred days. When this stock was exhausted, they lived on seal, walrus and bear meat, when they could get it. The account of the months these two hardy men spent in the polar regions, even in such fragmen tary statements, is most thrilling. When a dog died or fell by the way, he was served as food by the survivors. Nor were the chances of death by starva tion the only dangers they had to face. Yet the experiences of peril were mere incidents, breaking the monotony of Nansen's scientific observations, during those many months of hardships and privations, the results of which are of incalculable value to the scientific world. Many of his observations were taken in latitude 860 14' north. 4 FARTHEST NORTH. Brothers, New York.

By Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.

Harper &

NEW LAW-BOOKS. THE LAW RELATING то PRIVATE TRUSTS AND TRUS TEES. By ARTHUR UNDERHILL, M.A., LL.D., of Lincolns Inn. Fourth Edition enlarged and revised. First American Edition by F. A. WISI.EZENUS and ADOLPH WISLEZENUS of the St. Louis Bar. F. H. Thomas Law- Hook Co., St. Louis, 1896. Law sheep. $5.00 net. This work, so far as we have been able to examine it, seems to us admirably adapted to the needs of both practitioner and student. Mr. Underbill's treatise has been most favorably received in England, and with the full and exhaustive American notes

added by the editors it should be heartily welcomed here.

MORTUARY LAW. By SIDNEY PERLEY. George B. Read, Boston, 1896. Law sheep. $3.00. This little volume sets forth in a most interesting and exhaustive manner the general principles which underlie all law concerning dead human bodies. The subject is one of importance in these times of osten tation and lavish expenditure over the remains of the departed. That even after "we have shuffled off this mortal coil" we still are liable to be the subject of litigation is evidenced by the fact that the author cites some seven hundred authorities to support his propositions. The work covers almost every point likely to arise from the last sickness, death and burial. THE LAW OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS IN MASSACHU SETTS. By G. HAY, Jr. Little, Brown & Co., Boston, 1897. Law sheep. $4.50 net. Mr. Hay's treatise, although based upon Massachu setts decisions, covers the question of the liability of Railway Corporations in case of accidents so thorough ly, that the work will prove exceedingly useful to the profession at large. It is evidently prepared with great care, and is an exhaustive resume of the law upon the subject.

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE LAW OF RECEIVERS, with extended consideration of Receivers of Corporations. By CHARLES FISK BEACH, Jr., of the New York Bar. Second Edition, with elaborate additions to the text and notes, and material changes therein, by WILLIAM A. ALDERSON of the St. Louis Bar. Baker, Voorhis & Co., New York, 1897. Law sheep. $6.00, net. Probably no subject, recognized by the law, has developed such a rapid growth as that covered by the treatise before us. It is sad that it is so, but, such being the fact; a thorough and reliable work upon the Law of Receivers cannot but be welcomed by the profession. The original treatise by Mr. Beach we have already spoken favorably of. This new edition contains many additions and alterations judiciously made by Mr. Alderson, and in its present form the volume is a clear presentation of the law governing receivers, and brought fully down to date. We cheerfully commend it to our readers. THE CRIMINAL LAW. By JOHN G. HAWLEV and MALCOLM MCGREGOR. The Collector Publishing Co., Detroit, 1896. Law sheep. This volume does not purport to give anything more than a mere outline of the principles of criminal law, and is useful only as an elementary work for law students. For this purpose it seems admirably adapted, and we commend it to the consideration of our law teachers.