The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-26

cellent list of kitchen utensils to pura
chase when going into housekeeping;
complete directions for the care and re-
novation OF all articles found in "A WELL
appointed house; and chapters on oils.
stains, varnishes. and woods that will
be OF great service in this new depart
ure OF fashionable housekeeping. The
book also gives an outline of what liz
needed TO make a comfortable house,
valuable chapter on food; and offers
compendium OF the best and latset
methods of laundry work and house
cleaning. For sale by Preston &
Rounds. Price $3.50.
Charles NJ. SINNERS essays, soothing
and convincing. are always welcome,
Here is a volume OF them called do
Nothing Days" 81. B. Lippincott COM
pany, publisher), occasionally and very
daintily illustrated Mr.. Skinner pro-
nounces the doctrine that do nothing
days may be the busiest ones" I'm that
they are the days In which we absorb,
while all the others of IA busy life are
devoted 10 giving up-in exchange for
bread and butter or to increase wealth.
Every man feels the need of even more
frequent renewals of the absorbing
process. In the course of his business
days he comes To discover that he is
giving out more than he Us taking in,
and that his store is likely To be ex-
hausted unless somehow IL is replen-
ished. III he quits the giving out pro-
cess i'm time he can go TO the country
or seashore or somewhere off the daily
path; If he waits too long he may go 10
the grave or the insane asylum. Mr..
SINNERS delightful book furnishes sug
gestion of ways to absorb, how to man
age 10 take day off more frequently
than most of las would think possible,
and, besides, the book of itself is
rest and refreshment. Mr.. skinner
encourages us TO be lazy. and he is
probably correct in his estimate that
few OF his fellow citizens will be i'll any
danger of getting disastrously lazy;
but, even so. he would probably en-
courage us to believe that To die of
idleness would he on the whole no worse
for a fellow than ia die of overwork.
But examples OF the former fate are
exceedingly rare, even If any can be
slow down and be lazy as often as pos
sible, take frequent doses OF do Moth
ing Days" need have no terrors, but, on
the contrary, is 10 be taken as a body
and soul saver for this hustling age.
In the admirable story OF the West"
Series, edited by Mr.. Ripley Hitchcock,
ID. Appleton & Co. have just published
"rhe Story of the Railroad" by Cy
w dEnldn, poet Oh anu
track. Mr.. Warman's STORY" pictures
the building OF the earlier transconti-
mental lines across the true West. II
tells the story OF the engineer who
found the way and who was the pio-
neer of permanent civilization among
the Indians and buffalo of the plains
and in the mountains. Historically, the
book is valuable because 1t gives a
comprehensive sketch OF a great sub
ject in a brief compass. and. further
more, the strange and picturesque
phases of life which are depicted are
full of immediate interest. An actual
war, now forgotten. for the possession
OF "A canon in Colorado. is vividly de-
scribed by the author. who has shared
in the work Of the railroad men, and
who made a special journey through
the West to gather fresh material for
this valuable and entertaining book.
For sale by Gregory. Price $3.50.
No one can fail to be amused and
instructed by the geometrical demon
stration Of conversation possibilities
and embarrassments found In the
chapter Some problems for a Leader"
in a cosy and suggestive work entitled
"Our Conversational Circle" by Agnes
III. Morton. (The Century Co. For sale
by Preston q Rounds. Price s1.25) The
little volume suggests the art of good
talking various chapters discuss
the necessary elements in all good con-
versation, such as the choice of topics,
the essentials of an agreeable style,
leadership, mastery, sincerity and po-
likeness, criticism, and the education
of an adept in conversation. They
abound in apt and neat apothegms, such
as the proposition that sincerity, being,
literally, without wax. should be hon
eyed; and the profound observation
which closes the statement, The dis
Greet selection OF the specific truth for
the occasion is the secret OF combining
sincerity and politeness" The final sem
tence OF the book is most suggestive
1T is a significant fact that the most
enlightened nations, in the settlement
of differences. are learning to avoid
war by timely arbitration; and what is
arbitration but "A colossal conversa-
tion?" Mr.. Hamilton w. Mabie. who
writes the introduction, says that"Good
talking never comes by nature; IL de-
mands too much. not only of the intel
ligence. but OF those finer perceptions
which are made sensitive and keen only
by habitual breathing in of the social
atmosphere and habitua' insight into
the temperament and thought of 9TH
ers" 1t Is due TO an effort to stimulate
good talking" and to show the pit
falls to be avoided, that Our Conver-
sational Circle" owes It's origin.
'"The Earth and the Sky Is the new
est issue i'm Appleton's Home Reading
Books, that remarkable series of popu-
lar study books for young folks. The
new one is a primer OF astronomy. 1t
is written by Edward s. Holden, and
is designed as the first of a set In tho
astronomical department of the Home
Reading" series. The price OF this cap
ital little book is % cents, which, wa
believe, is low water mark for even
these amazingly inexpensive volumes.
which average only about 90 cents q
piece For sale by Gregory.
Another volume for popular study,
which might easily be one Of the Home
Reading Books" although IL is not so
classified is Philips Experiments. or
Physical Science at Home" by John
T'rowbridge. The work treats of almost
every department OF physical science.
and is arranged as though father of
only such attainments as are found in
many "a we'll regulated man of unprofes-