New-York tribune., 1911-11-25
AIRsHlPs, MOTOR CARS AND SUCH.

Jules Verne predicted the coming IF
the heavier than air flying machine in
one Of his wonder stories and told Of 4
trip 10 the moon. Why. then. should
not Garrett T. Serviss invent "A Colum-
bus of Space" %. Appleton & Coz, and
take him by means of inter atomic en-
ergy" to the planet Venus? The fic-
tion of its inhabitants. their civilization
and worship of the earth is interminglel
with good deal of information con
cerning the knowledge our astronomers
have gained of the planet through the
telescope Within the bounds of pres
ent scientific possibilities is f.. Lowell
Coombss Young CrusOcs of the Sky"
(The Century Company. a trio Of boys
borrow a captive balloon at the To-
ronto fair in order to get a bird's-eyc
view Of a military parade; the balloon
breaks loose and carries them off into
space. There are some genuine thrills
in their early adventures. They land on
captured, make the narrowest of escapes
by the air route and finally land on
mountain plateau I'm Mexico, where they
are confronted by very much the same
primitive problems of existence that
Robinson Crusoe solved. a good tale
of Scientific fact, not iic-
ton. may be found in THE Second Boys
Book of Model Aeroplanes' CThe Cen
tury Company. Mr.. Collins's first book
on the subject won the unqualified ap-
proval Of those competent to judge.
Since it was published, however, the
science of model aeroplane construction
has advanced so much that IAN entirely
new and more detailed treatment of the
subject seems to be justified The new
book requires familiarity with the con-
tents OF its predecessor.
Model aeroplanes, auto -airships. wire
less telegraphy and moving pictures are
among the practical plans for work and
play, with many ideas for earning mon
ey." given by A. Nicely Hall in "Handi-
craft for Handy Boys" Boston: The
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Company. There
are other suggestions and directions for
the making of furniture. toys, boats,
wagons, dog and bird houses, rabbit
hutches and what not, for outdoor as
well as indoor occupation, the book keep
ing closely in touch with the studies Of
the modern grammar and high schools.
The directions are thoroughly practical,
having been tested by the author him
self. \ book of yaregated and useful
entertainment.-The name Of Dan c.
Beard on the title page of Boat Build
ing and Boating" (Charles Scribner's
sons is sufficient guarantee Of the prac-
ticability Of its contents II begins with
the simplest Of crafts. made Of slabs or
logs. works up TO scows, housebOats,
skffs. canoes and small sailboats and
ends with motor boats. Many of the
models are Mr.. Boards own inventions,
others adaptations of his of well known.
need not be a boy to find the book use
ful-ln simple, attractive form Rupert
$. Holland tells the story of Historic
Inventions" Philadelpha: George w.
Jacobs q Coz. Of Gutenbcrg's printing
press, Galleo's work on the telescope,
Watt and the steam engine, ArkwriSht
and the spinning jenny, Whitney and
the cotton gin, Fulton and the steam
boat Stephenson and the locomotive the
record reaching all the way 10 the telc-
graph the sewing machine, the reaper.
the telephone, electric light wireless
telccraphy and the aeroplane, and their
inventors \ welcome holiday book.