Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/75

Rh sition of each mineral, its locality and its uses. In the case of the more im- portant ones, he adds the method of manipulating and fashioning them for commercial purposes: Often he quotes from well written, popular accounts of these processes. As he gives the tech- nical as well as common names, a per- son of average intelligence can readily appreciate what is said. His scheme of classification provides for 14 great groups, as carbonates, sulphates, nitrates , etc. Illustrations abound, specimens in the National Museum being freely called into service. Brief select bibliog- raphies are found where needed. A good index ends the volume. C. M.

Dodge's Elementary Geography* By Richard Elwood Dodge. Illustrated. Pp. 231. 8 by 10 inches. Chicago, New York, London: Rand, McNally & Co. 1904. $0.75. A splendid conception is this volume based upon, that of starting with what the child knows the most about, and gradually proceeding to other and larger notions, until the whole world is in- cluded. The young learner here begins with his home, and passes from that to the village, the town, government, land surface, water, atmosphere, transporta- tion, and maps. Then he is led into a general description of the different por- tions of the globe. It is all told in a simple language, and most abundantly and beautifully illustrated. But it is to be feared that, being a university pro- fessor who prepared it, he has shot over the youthful heads. Certainly some of the maps, such as those on pages 66, 67, 129, must be too detailed for this grade of pupils. There is also too much reliance in the text on mere memory, very little of connected idea being ap- parent in the way of cause and effect. There is much confusion of thought on pages 68 and 69 on "heat belts" and "the hot belt." Figure 366 is Japa- nese, not Chinese. Yokohoma is not a fine harbor as that phrase is understood. Of course the maps are well done, and the suggestions are first class in many instances. C. M.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING THE annual meeting of the National Geographic Society will be held at Hubbard Memorial Hall, corner Six- teenth and M streets, Washington, D.C., January 13, 1905, at 8 p. m. Eight members of the Board of Managers are to be elected to fill vacancies caused by the expiration of the term of office of the class of i902-'4, as indicated in the list of Board of Managers published on another page of this Magazine. Nomi- nations for these positions will be pre- sented by a committee on nominations named by the Acting President, but ad- ditional nominations may be presented at the annual meeting by members of the Society. The annual report of the Secretary will be presented, summariz- ing the work of the Society during the year 1904 A lecture by Mrs W. H. Norton, wife of the United States Consul to Harput,on ' ' Travels in Asia Minor, ' ' will be given, taking the place of the usual annual address by the President. The Board of Managers expresses the hope that members of the Society will attend and participate in this annual meeting. The following amendment to the By-laws, which has been approved by the Board of Managers, will be pre- sented for action by the Society : Article IV (Officers), section 1. Omit the sentence " Of the eight members elected at each annual meeting, not less than four nor more than six shall be residents of the District of Columbia."

The section will then read :

Section i. The administration of the So- ciety shall be entrusted to a Board of Managers composed of twenty-four members, eight of whom shall be elected by the Society at each annual meeting, to serve for three years, or until their successors are elected. A majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for elec- tion. O. P. Austin, Secretary.