and fully deserves to be recommended and to become popular, as it is not merely a biography of a great man, but embodies a well written, most readable history of Germany during the last half of the nineteenth century. What makes this work, however, particularly attractive, is its pictorial feature. No less than 650 excellent illustrations, many of them in beautiful color work, adorn this really sumptuous, large folio volume, which, artistically bound and printed in large, clear type on extra fine paper, will be an ornament to any parlor or library. In view of its rich get up, the price of $3.90, at which it is offered (the publisher's price being $8.00), is an astonishingly low one and makes it accessible to everybody.

Still another Bismarck-Book, of an entirely different character than the afore mentioned two, yet no less interesting is, "The Real Bismarck, " (*) by Jules Hoche, translated from the French by Mrs. Charles R. Rogers. (Authorized edition, published by R. F. Fenno & Co., New York.) Coming from a French author, many may be inclined to view it with suspicion, yet it must be said that M. Hoche treated his subject with commendable impartiality and justice, presenting an exceedingly interesting picture of Bismarck's private life. These last two words signify at once the char

acter of the book. It is principally his private life and personal charac

(*) The Real Bismarck. By Jules Hoche. Translated from the French by Mrs. Charles R. Rogers. Illustrated. 8vo. cloth. Price $1.50. By mail $1.70.

ter, and not so much his political career, which we are made familiar with. And as an interesting supplement to the many works on Bismarck, the statesman, it treats of Bismarck the man, while of course, his official character and his historical deeds are not entirely overlooked. That the book is written from a French point of view, adds only to its intrinsic interest and value, as almost everything we read about Bismarck comes from German sources. Quite a special charm lies. in the style in which it is written; it is that inimitable chatty, gossipy and at once graceful style, so characteristic of the French, which makes it attractive and entertaining and will not fail to make it appreciated by many. The book is beautifully printed on heavy paper and illustrated with over fifty interesting pictures, many of which were never before published. This, to no small extent, further enhances the value of the book, and would, as the publishers are fully justified in proclaiming, in itself constitute a sufficient raison d'être for the publication, were the text as indifferent as it is admirable.

any remark which might be offensive to any country, abstaining from any criticism, we feel that the pic ture is drawn by a man who is a competent judge of what he saw, and that he is a guide whom we can trust and whom we really enjoy following. He tells us his observations in an attractive and easy narrative which must interest and please even the simplest layman. General Miles, who was during his European trip the object of most flattering and courteous attentions, had unusual opportunities to view and study the armies, armaments and military conditions of Europe, having been a witness of the great autumn manœuvres of the Russian, German, French and Italian armies. The text alone is interesting enough, but it is also copiously and finely illustrated, which makes it altogether an unusually attractive and beautiful volume.

In the August number we reviewed a book by Lieut. Lucien Young, U. S. N., entitled The Boston at Hawaii. (1) In the September number we spoke of the ex-queen's, Liliuokalani's,own Story of Hawaii. (2) Both of these works, diametrical in their political aspect, yet both interesting and valuable as contributions to a modern history of Hawaii, treat more of the political conditions of the Island, the causes of the overthrow of the throne and the question of annexation, than of a description of the country, though both

(1) The Boston at Hawaii. By Lieut. Lucien Young, U. S. N. 12mo. cloth. Price $1.50. By mail $1.60.

(2) Hawaii's Story. By ex-Queen Liliuokalani. 8vo. cloth. Illustrated. Price $2.00. By mail $2.20.

contain much interesting information about Hawaiian customs and social conditions. To-day we wish to draw our readers' attention to an excellent new book, entitled "Hawaii and a Revolution," (*) which, though not omitting the historical and political side of it and giving an eye witness's graphic account of the Revolution, presents largely an authentic and interesting picture of the Island as it is.

The author went to the island as war correspondent for a newspaper soon after the outbreak of the recent revolution, and the journey was undertaken in the face of many obstacles and at much personal risk and inconvenience. She had unusual facilities for obtaining information as to the political condition of the country, and her knowledge is shared with the reader in a pleasant and informal way. Many will be quite as much interested in the writer's personal experiences during her residence in that far-away island of the Pacific, as in her account of the struggles of its unhappy people. The description of the country and its people is vivid and interesting. Of the Hawaiian natives Miss Krout has no great opinion. In the preface she says, that "when she visited the islands first, in 1893, she went prejudiced in favor of the natives, deeply sympathizing with them, because they had been dispossessed of their lawful possessions. A careful

(*) Hawaii and a Revolution. The Personal Experiences of a Correspondent in the Sandwich Islands During the Crisis of 1893 and Subsequently. By Mary H. Krout. 8vo. cloth. Illustrated. Price $1.50. By mail $1.65.

The

and conscientious study of the situation on the spot led her to change her views absolutely, and she perceived that whatever had been done, had been done of necessity and with wisdom and forbearance." author holds that much misplaced sympathy has been wasted on them, "on the part of those who know nothing of Hawaiian affairs, or who are at best merely superficial and not wholly disinterested observers."

She says, that the Hawaiian "is improvident and has a passion for gambling. He is apparently devoid of forethought, and deficient in judgment to an astonishing degree. It has been these last two traits, with his improvidence, that have made him unfit to exercise authority or to

administer public affairs with any of the abilities requisite to leadership."

According to Miss Krout, "Anglicizing is slowly doing its work, apart from the gin and restraining clothing, which are held partially responsible for the decay of the race. They are losing their joyousness by slow degrees. Most of the customs are passing away which gave a picturesqueness to Hawaiian life. The pretty native costumes are being put aside. "

There is no doubt that victorious civilization will eventually do away with much of the sympathetic naivety, and the poetical charm of Hawaiian life and customs, of which the author gives us some pretty pic

tures.

"Hawaii is a veritable land of the lotus eater. Flowers, music, ease, enough to eat these seem to be the essentials of life among the Hawaiians. It requires very little to support life here. There is no winter that demands outlay for fuel, heavy clothing and meat, which are so expensive and so necessary in colder climates. Cotton trousers and shirt and a straw hat constitute the ordinary attire of the working men, while the women consider consider themselves sufficiently well clad in a chemise with a single petticoat and a koluku. "

Quite interesting is her description of a "luau," a native feast.

"The floor was thickly strewn with ferns, with a broad band of crimson pandanus leaves down the centre of this green-carpeted space. On this were arranged bowls of poi of all sizes and conditions. There was no tablecloth, ferns being the substitute. Over the ferns were scattered young onions and heaps of watermelons, a delicious, juicy fruit, which outwardly resembles a small gourd. No plates were used. The

pork, taro, chicken, and mullets were cut up and wrapped in young taro leaves, with a covering of banana and outer wrapping of ti leaf. The latter was given a deft twist, which left the long stem as a sort of handle. This food had been cooked for many hours, a hole being dug in the ground and lined with heated stones. This primitive oven then filled with taro leaves, in which the fish, pork, and chicken were placed; a little water was added, then the whole was covered with

was

Dr. Hunter, a naturalist, after traveling for many years returns to his old home at Orchard Farm, with his daughter Olive, aged 17, and Mammy Bun, an old colored nurse and cook. He invited Nat and Dodo, his nephew and niece, who had always lived in the city, to spend the summer with him, so that they might learn about outdoor things, and told them the story of the birds. Mr. and Mrs. Blake, their parents, came for the children in the autumn, and they expected to return to the city to school, but Dr. Hunter who was always making delightful surprises, arranged for the whole family to spend the winter at the farm. What they did and how they became acquainted with the Fourfooted Americans, is told in one of the most charming natural history books, that we know of. It is entitled "Fourfooted Americans," (*) by

(*) Fourfooted Americans and their Kin. By Mabe Osgood Wright. Edited by Frank M. Chapman. Illustrated by Ernest Seton Thompson. 8vo. cloth. Price $1.40. By mail $1.50.