New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

American Science Series New-York Henry ho'
Co IL mo-. Ply. 490
This is the most useful volume when mas yet
been contributed to this valuable series OF science
handbooks for American readers. 1t Is the NOS.
useful because there is the greatest need 1or IL "
hcnce its merits can he recognized without any us
paragement to the four excellent nah"oooAo VIZ
astronomy botany, zoology and the human oooS
which have already been issued. III thoso "ep",
ments of science Americans have no characteristic
wortsto Iva supplied. Works that would be su'
.bortative in principle and practical in application.
or,lsrly in arrangement and comprehensive IN
scope. progressive in tendency and embodying the
fr,sh,st information and the newest generaliza-
tons might not be more acceptable TO American
than to ELclish OF French readers. But In political
economy Americans have needed this volume
which Is not much treatise Ill ITSELF as IL Is
thorough digest Of all previous treatses On the SUD-
ject illustrated by facts statistics and parallels
with which they are familiar and peculiarly adapV-
ed to national requirements. 1t is not voiume
which viii be accepted unrcservediy by radlcai
school. of economic thought and this is one of its
chief merits. 1t is digest of information, arga-
ment and generalization derived from all sources
and -impartial!y presented and discussed Every
question Is openly approached and critically exam
not n youmc to excite controversy but it Will ell
tighten the pablo in reference to econ mic ques
lions that are invariably discussed with narrowness
and intolerance.
Professor Walker has three Of the essential ell
dowInents of successful writer on economies ITO
has an orderly mind precise style ana a Juuieo"'
temper The Arrangement of topics III thls Voiu'uo
10 as logical as it is compact and comprehensive Tue
natural divisions of production, exchange d's'r'-
button and consumption being preceded by pro-
limnary survey of the character and method OF the
science. and supplemented by special Applications
of economic principles to usury, banking, coopera-
ton trades unions, ti-metallism, pauperism' rev.
enue. taxation and other questions. which Ameri-
cans are accustomed to discuss with superficial
kuo wledge So orderly is the arrangement That
zach chapter ~ a wsli-deine1 treatise ny i.sei1.
and the reader as he advances leaves behind MIN
the ground which he has previously tTaverSed' anu
does not constantly returh to 1t, as IN many worKs
on political economy The authors style Is always
perspicaous even when he is illustrating tho most
abstract principles, restatng the most coihoieA
formulas of the science. Naturally be displays inc
greatest facility of expression In branches OF stuCy
of which he has acquired an absolute mastery sucn
IA the wages question and money. but his pages are
never deficient in clearness and precision. Inc
manner in which he discusses the aspects OF pro-
lection and free trade or he prefers to define the
ouestjon protection and freedom of production, Is
asyual proof of the judcious temper in which no
deals with controversial themes Perhaps there Is
10 section in this volume more admirable In e2e-
cution than that in which he considers the reacton
of exchange upon production and the losses which
must inevitably be involved even under an era OF
free exchange among all nations. These losses
seldom enter into the calculations OF freetraoe pro-
fessory yet they are fluctuations which woulo DO
distributed throughout the entire producing Dooy
If the nations were knit together in the bonds OF
free exchange -,
This volume. may he heartily recommended to all
re.5ers and students who aim to instruct them
selves in the Fundamental principles of this great
est of the modern sciences. II 1T could be intro
duced into our colleges a book of reference for
classes in political eco iomv. 1t would give breadth
of range to classroom study. now conspicuous foI
narrowness and partisanshIp. 1t Is thoroughly
useful work. which ought naturally to raise eco
nomc discussion In the United States to higher
level of intelligence.
A DICTIONARY OF ELECTRICITY. BY Henry
Tribune Building
fAIr. Greer assisted by Mr.. Allison. has prepared
q little handbook of compact and convenient size
which is intended to give definitions OF electrical
and technical terms and brief descriptions OF re-
cent inv entions iii electricity and magnetism. Inc
utility of such book is apparent NOW that some
of our streets and many of our buildings are lighted
by electricity. while we talk with our friends
through telephones. summon servants, messengers
and policemen by electric calls. have the comfort OF
storing electricity III small boxes, aud have the
promise of soon riding behind electric locomotives,
1t certainly behooves us to know whereof wespeak'
Mr. Greer has afforded means of so doing in bis
little book, which contains much condensed lhlor-
nation given in popular language and sufficiently
exact TO satisfy the popular need which requires