New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-02
SPRING JUVENILI4.
Nc1c Books, to Amuse and to
Instruct.

INSTRUCT.
An octet of useful and instructive
books for the young, serviceable for the
coming season, for outdoors and indoors,
for fair weather and foul, is here under
consideration, with. at the far end Of the
shelf, a trio of stories.
To children an entirely new world UNI
folds itself with each new season that
finds their senses advanced another step
on that wondrous voyage of discovery
which childhood is. Not the least-nay,
if properly directed the most beautiful
of all their ventures into the unknown
is the discovery that they, with their
OWN little hands, can make 10 flower a
little patch of brown earth, a waste spot.
II is like living a fairy story. Two prac-
teal. simple books on gardening for the
young claim our divided allegiance this
spring. Both may be recommended
without reservation, for one reason es-
pecially among many, and that is 0et
it be whispered low because we grown
ups can learn so much from them re-
sarding the fundamental rules and proc
esses Of gardening, while giving the
youngsters the benefit of our assumed
superior wisdom and experience. Both
books eschew botanical nomenclature;
both carefully keep within the resources
and possibilities OF children. One of
them is Little Gardens for Boys and
Girls by Myrta Margaret Higgins
(the Houghton Miffiin Company; the
other, Frances Duncans When Mother
Lets Us Garden" (Mofat, Yard & Coz.
And both are helpfully illustrated.
Informing, interesting, scientifically
methodical and correct, Yet simple in It's
manner of communicating vast fund
of pathological knowledge, Charles r.
knights and Ella Hardcastle's Birds
OF the World for Young People" (the F.
a. Stokes Company cannot fail TO
make friends for the birds and friends
for its authors of all children that wan
der into its pages. 1t is an ideal book
for the service of youngsters within
reach Of the Bronx Geological Gardens,
but the forty colored photographic plates
that accompany the text will suffice for
those at too great a distance from the
bird house. Mr.. knights Introductory
chapter on the structure of birds and
!
/ q capital example of the popularization
Of a difficult scientific subject.
! In Mr.. Harry Delacombe's Boys Book
Of Airships" (the T. A. Stokes Com
pany) our boys viii find the fullest in
formation on the subject that is prob
ably nearer to- their ambition and in
terest than any other just now. Mr..
| Delacombe begins with the balloon, it's
history and uses, describing the feats
accomplished by balloonists and giving
particular attention to military balloon
ing Being an Englishman, he fakes
particular notice throughout Of Channel
crossings. He describes at length the
construction of the balloon, explains the
| lifting power of gases, variations of air
pressure. etc, and makes room for the
record OF balloOning as a sport. The
dirigible is taken up next, the names Of
SantOs-DHmOnt. Lebaudy and Zeppelin
I being most 10 the fore here. Finally the
aeroplane is reached, with exhaustive
and understandable explanations OF the
principles on which it's flight is based.
/ The different machines are described
and compared, the record of progress
/ ton meet at Rheims. very informing
book, which father will read with inter-
est after young hopeful has retired for
the night. The illustrations are very
helpful.
''Harper's Handy Book for Girls
! CHarper & Bros). edited by Anna
I Parmeley Paret. starts with the girls
own room, telling her what can be done
with walls and draperies and furniture,
and then instructs her how 10 adorn the
rest OF the house, with special reference
TO pottery and brasses, pictures and
| friezos. Homemade" is the keynote of
this crowded book. however. Arts and
crafts-wood carving, wirework, rug
weaving. lamp shade making, etc.-fol-
| low, while an entire section Is devoted
/ TO more strictly feminine crafts, such as
embroidery, dressmaking and millinery.
There are, further, directions for the
mounting of seaweeds and butterflies.
the making OF shell decorations. the
equipment Of aquaria, the setting Of
luncheon and dinner tables, and for the
construction Of stage for private the
atricals, with hints on scenery. lighting
and stage management.
Journeys Through Bookland" (Chicago:
The Thompson Publishing Company. by
| Charles II. Sylvester. Is the first OF a
series Of ten volumes designed to present
! TO children "the best literature In such
way that II Will appeal to their inasi-
nation, interest them and lead them 20
read FOR information, enjoyment and in
spiration." Mr. Sylvester informs US in