Book Reviews.

"Life," by James Platt, F. S. S., is a collection of essays on the problems and interests of our existence. The extent of the subject is shown by the great variety of the topics treated. The subject is not a new one and the method of treatment is already familiar to readers of Emerson, Arno d and Carlyle. The tone of all the essays is one of extreme optimisim and encouragement. The idea of the whole is well summed up in one of its first sentences-"I shlal treat life as we find it, see what has been and is made of it, and suggest what might be, must be, made of it if we really mean to remedy what we complain of in our journey through life."

[Life, by James Platt, F. S. S., authorized American editon. Pub. by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1889, 16 mo. pp. 317.]

"The Ladder of Journalism, and How to Climb It" is a small book by Mr. P. Campbell Copeland, treating, as its subject indicates, of the requirements and duties of newspaper work. The writer evidently has a complete practical knowledge of his subject and the book cannot but be of great value to anyone intending to enter the profession of journalism.

[The Ladder of Journalism, How to Climb It, by T. Campbell Copeland. Published by Allen Forman, New York, 1889, pp. 115.

The two volumes of "American War Ballads" make a valuable addition to the series of Knickerbocker Nuggets. The collection covers a period from the Indian wars of 1725 through the War of the Rebellion. It does not pretend to be complete, but representative, and to include especially the poems which had a marked influence at their time of publication. Many of these poems are nude in construction, but all are full of vigor. They are interesting also, as showing the development of popular feeling, especially in 1860-61. The book would not have been complete without the last four songs "John Brown's Body," "Marching Through Georgia," "The Battle Cry of Freedom," and "Tramp, Tramp," and the editor's apology for their insertion is not necessary.

[American War Ballads and Lyrics. Edited by George C. Eggleston. Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1889. 2 vols.]