The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-21
Other Books.

A useful and practical handbook that
appeals to every one who goes into the
country is Our Trees, How to Know
Them" by DR.. Clarence NJ. Weed, with
illustrations from photographs by Arthur
I. Emerson ID. R. Lippincott Company.
Nearly one hundred and fifty Of the COM
monest trees are described, each in a single
page Of text, in plain, comprehensive
language. The uses and Importance are
explained, the history and the limits within
which each is to be found are told and the
tree Is described botanically. Possibly a
little more information might be put into
each page with no loss Of simplicity. OPP
posite the text in every case is an %illustra-
ton Of the leaves, seeds, fruit, and or a
smaller scale but perfectly distinct, Of the
tree itself. With this help il would be diff
cult not to identify il at once.
In a way a scientific method has been
followed in the compilation Of Quaker and
Courtier. The Life and Work Of william
Penn by Mrs. Colquhoun Grant IL. P.
Dutton and Company, Authorities have
been consulted. some slight new bits OF
information have been obtained, and the
material il treated ~judiciously. At the
same time the author still quotes extern
sively from Pepys in the Lord Brabourne
edition. regardless Of the " more accurate
and full recent editions, and she has a
iaunty way Of discussing difficulties as
being Of little interest. She has two useful
genealogical tables, The book Is a pleasant,
readable account Of Penn, from the English
side, which will hardly supersede earlier
biographies.
II only Mr.. Frederick A. Ober would
leave those Spanish conquerors alone.
Here ia a whole volume on Juan Ponce
de Leon CHarpers) and his search for
Bimini and the fountain Of youth. The
material is very meagre. Mr.. Ober ekes
il out with the story Of another Ponce
de Leon, who he admits had nothing
10 do with the Governor Of Porto Rico,
and as all historians must, with accounts
Of what might and probably did go on in
the Spanish settlements.
A remarkably fair account OF The InqIi-
sition' from the Catholic point Of view is
presented by Z. Vacandard and has been
translated by Bertrand l.. Conway long
mans, Green and Company. The book
bears the imprimdiu~ Of Archbishop Farley.
The author traces the attitude Of the Church
in ooercing those within it's fold from the
beginnings through the time Of the Albigsn-
sian troubles and touches on the later
period. He shows how the Inquisition was
established and how it developed. He eI-
~tenuates nothing, he condemns abuses
heartily and makes less use than he might
Of the argument that each age should be
Judged from its own point Of view. He
shows in what degree Church and State
share the blame for penalties inflicted. A
matter Of high interest is treated with great
fulness and absolute fairness in a small
space,
Another admirable manual has been
prepared by a United States officer that
interests many outside Of his profession.
Lieut.. H. c. Dinger, U. S. Ms Handbook
for the Care and Operation Ct Naval Ma
| ohinery' ID. Van Nostrand Company will
be of use to all engineers and will help also
any one that has to do with nautical matters.
| The explanations and definitions are 80
plain that ave in a few cases the layman
can take up the book and by reading the
section he is interested in car understand
the point at n Some parts, Of course,
deal only with the usage in United States
vessels. A glance at the book will show
the infinite number Of things that must
be attended TO by the engineer, who nova
days is the main factor In the ships welfare
The seventh volume OF the handsome
edition Of "The Writings Of James Madi-
son." edited by Gaillsrd Hunt and pub
lished by @. P. Putnam's Sons, covers the
period from January, 1903, TO the end Of
1907. Madison was then Secretary Of State
and the papers included are almost en-
tirely official communications with United
States ENJOYS and other State papers.
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Docks Received.