SPECIMENS OF

B O O K A N N O T A T I ON S

TO ACCOMPANY

DR. BOSTWICK'S OUTLINE

OP LECTURES.

ST. LOUIS LIBRARY SCHOOL.

1918.

X A M P L E S 0 F R E P 0 R T S, W I T H C 0 M M E N T S.

FAVORABLE REPORTS: SATISFACTORILY WRITTEN.

Smith, M. E. In Bethany House.

Experiments of a deaconess in a social settlement. Occasionally rises above the commonplace in its incidents, but the characters are candied in sugar and saintliness. The cover will attract a class of readers who will sincere]

De Meneval, Baron. Empress Josephine.

This is of course an attempt at white-washing. The new letters are not very significant, and the rest pretty old. It is interesting, however, and will of ctrurse find plenty of readers among sentimentalists.

Howard, Arthur. The man who bucked up.

Said to be the true story of a man, who is first a spendthrift and then a bankrupt, but starts life anew at thirty-eight in a small city as a struggling newspaper publisher. After a fine display of courage and many hard knocks he makes good as a political reformer. Stirringly told, full of incident and humor, but weakening slightly at the end* part at least sounds like fiction.

Belaaco, David. Return of Peter Grimm.

Novelized play - creaking mechanism. Dull, but very much in demand.

Gorky, M. The lower depths.

Convincing and depressing pictures of the dregs of life in a Russian rooming house. The squalor and degradation of it all are emphasized by the potential nobility of a few of the characters.

Bindloss, Harold. Vane of the Timberland.

A very interesting story of British Columbia. The characters are common-place except the hero who is a very good type of an up-to-date "westerner". The principle charm of the book lies in its freshness rather than any perfection of detail. Compares very favorably with the rest of Bindloss' works.

Brady, C. T. Chalice of courage.

A good, wholesome, Western story, in which a young and wealthy eastern girl goes into the heart of the Colorado Mountains* meets a "real man" and decides to stay. The peculiar situation into which her adventures lead her is cleverly con­ceived and interesti: out.

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Lee, Alice. Cap'n. Jo's sister.

A story which pictures the life of the Maine fishing folk on Muskegus Island. Characters are humorously drawn. Love element between Maria, Cap' n Jo's sister, and Aaron Bristol is a small but pleasant part of the plot, which deals chiefly with the frustation of a plan to forge Aaron's name and draw his money from the bank. Atmosphere of the story has the fresh tang of the sea.

Dreiser,Theodore. Jennie Gerhardt.

Wonderfully written but relentless in its realism. Not fit for open shelves, but should be in the library.

Chester, G. R. Five thousand an hour.

Gaily improbable story, full of slang and showing signs of haste; but the characters are healthy and amusing, and the story has "go". Of no intrinsic merit, but sure to be popular.

Moore, C. H. The mediaeval church architecture of England.

Characterises Gothic architecture in England, tracing its growth and influence from the Norman style and compares it with the French Gothic. The book is well illustrated, bath by photographs and drawings. showing many interesting details. Indexed.

Hollick, Frederick. Origin of life.

This book seems to be written in the right spirit by an author who has tried to revise his ideas in the light of present knowledge. It is really not a book, but a collection of books, a kind of little encyclopedia, Popular ignorance is so frightful and so destructive that some little sacrifice in matters of taste can surely be made for the sake of knowledge. So far as the book might lead a man to think he can be his own physician, it is open to a serious objection. But, on the whole, if the circulation is confined to adults, I believe it will pro­mote understanding of a subject on which ignorance is often fatal.

UNFAVORABLE REPORTS. SATISFACTORILY WRITTEN.

Bjorkman, E. Is there anything new under the sun?

Seven essays; - Philosophy; psychology; and literary criticism. Good, but available in back volumes of magazines, in­dexed in Reader's Guide.

Would not recommend purchase, unless there is a demand at Central. Demand at Cabanne has died out.

Hill, G. F. Truth about old King Cole.

Nonsense verses for children in imitation of Lear. Points in favor; - Intensely interesting colored illustrations by L. Brooke. Piquancy of verse* Drawbacks; - Has not used subject matter suited to mind of a child of picture book age. Author de­cidedly has grown person's point of view* Thoroughly British.

3 *

Halifax, Robert. Whistling woman.

A love story. Not much plo, but the main thread is . good. Most of the characters are improbable. Their actions and speeches never fit the kind, of persons they are supposed to be. It is very mediocre, but in spite of that, it holds the reader's interest.

Freeman, R. A. Vanishing man.

A very average detective story. Scientific in treat­ment and lacking the usual excitement which the ordinary mystery story contains.

Edginton, M. The adventures of Napoleon Prince.

Gives in minute detail the adventures of a "gentleman" criminal. There is a certain fascination in wondering what this daring thief will do next, but it is all so improbable and at the same time so repulsive, that it is hard to conceive of any person who would be benefitted in any way through the perusal of this book.

Douglas, H. The white black bird.

A tale of adventure, with an attempted thrill in each chapter.

Written in a style that is decidedly farced and un­interesting.

UNSATISFACTORY REPORTS,

Contain irrelevant material.

Hotchkiss, C. C. The red paper.

A modern detective story in which the search for a fortune involved in the red paper ends in a search for its owner a beautiful Texas girl. Neither characters nor plot are worth remembering although the story is interesting and entertaining throughout.

Gerry, M. S. As Caesar's wife.

An interesting love story, dealing with the feelings and emotions of a man's conscience. The plot is good, and the character drawing clear and forceful.

Vague

Smith, J. Theodore.

Probably would interest some readers. A story of unfavorable conditions bravely surmounted. Characters seem to be faithfully drawn.

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Plot in too great detail.

Jones, Paul. The ways of life.

A young man starts out to make his fortune. First he tramps about through various places, meeting with all sorts of adventures. Then he becomes a printer in a newspaper office. Here he meets a very attractive girl named Jennie - the im­pulsive type. He becomes engaged to her but afterward they quarrel and she jilts him. He is crazy with remorse and tries to kill himself. but at the fatal moment there is a reconcili­ation and they finally are married.

Three criticisms on the same book.

{The third is satisfactory on account of the last sentence.)

Barbour, R. H. Harbour of love.

I have not cut the leaves but have read enough to see that the book is adult fiction and a very simple love story at that.

A very sentimental love story that would be enjoyed only by a reader of very light fiction.

Simple and entirely clean love story. Author is popular with those who do not grow in taste beyond the age of twenty. Can use in place of Carey.

Short notes, valuable because the critic ia an expert.

Reed, C. A. Birds of Eastern North America.

A standard and very useful book.

Leuba, J. H. Psychological study of religion.

A valuable and interesting book by one of the best scholars in the subject.

Ogg, F. A. Social progress in contemporary Europe.

Scholarly and well worth while.

BULLETIN NOTES.

Informational.

Explains meaning of obscure title (never should be omitted).

Saunders, C. F. Indians of the terraced houses.

The present-day life of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and Arizona.

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Dunn, R. The shameless diary of an explorer.

Describes an unsuccessful attempt to reach the top of Mt. MeKinley.

Bartlett, D. W. The better country.

Social problems in the U. S.

Graham, H. Canned classics; and other verses.

Humorous abstracts in rhyme of old favorites like The prisoner of Zenda and Trilby, Excellent fooling.

DyBois, W. E. B. Quest of the silver fleece.

By the author of "The souls of black folk"* Presents the race problem from an inside point of view. The "silver fleece" is the cotton crop.

Butler. N. M. "Why should we change our form of government?" an address before the Commercial Club of St. Louis, Nov. 27, 1911.

President Butler speaks of the movement, now said to be definite and determined, to change our present representative republic to a socialist democracy*

Neihardt, J. G, The river and I.

A cheerful philosopher1s musings while running down the Missouri River for 2,000 mile's in motor boat and skiff*

Shields, T* E* Making and unmaking of a dullard*

Deals with the intellectual condition of such children as fall below what might be called the level of school intelli­gence*

States Author1s standpoint*

Richet, C* S* Pros and cons of vivisection*

The author is professor of physiology in the Faculty of Medicine. Paris* He favors vivisection*

Begbie, H. Other sheep; a missionary companion to "Twice-born men* "

Attacks the attitude of a great many ?/estern folk who say that Christianity is a religion for the West, and that Hindu­ism is the best religion for the Indians*

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:Noemo« Captain* Boy scout "bubble; a review of a great futility*

The author1 s unfavorable opinion of this movement is 'based upon the fact that Great Britain has religious organisations ithat were already successfully doing the work now undertaken by 'the Scout captain* This, of course* does not apply to .America.

Holmes, ?g. G, A* vlhat is and what might be; a study of education in general and elementary edu­cation in particular*

iviaintains that the prevalent school education unduly .emphasizes outward and visible results to the neglect of what is (inward and vital.

The state railway muddle in Australia*

A-plea for private ownership*

Supplements title by explaining or detailing contept^

Bppendorff, I** Handwork construction.

Covers the woxk of first year students of normal art and manual training classes at Pratt Institute*

Kirehoff, G* and Tolman# W* H. Yard practice, walks and railings*

A publication of the American Museum of Safety, dealing with prevention of accidents to workers in the yards of great industrial plants; illustrations accompanied by explanatory text*

Jordan* D. S* Pishes*

Abridp&ent of his Guide to the study of fishes, retain­ing the untechnical material*

McDougall, W» Psychology; the study of behavior* (Home Uni­versity of modern knowledge* n*40)

It answers such questions as What is psychology? With what is it concerned? What are the questions it seeks to answer? How is it setting about the task? What are its methods? What progress has it made? Is it science in an advanced stage of de­velopment? Is it one merely beginning to find its feet, to take definite shape, and to map out clearly its program of work? Above all, what may we hope from it in the way of addition to our power of understanding human nature and of contributing to the welfare of mankind?

Davidson, G* Two hundred opera plots*

The plots are concisely given and are arranged by com­posers in one alphabet extending through the two volumes* There are comic as well as grand operas, and the older as well as the recent schools are represented* They have been drawn from Polish, Bohemian and Spanish sources in addition to the better known Italian, German and French*

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Supplements author1 s name*

Hoben* A. The minister and the boy; a handbook for churchmen engaged in boys1 work.

The author is Associate Professor of Homiletics in the University of Chicago*

Roemer, J# H. The causes and effects of a Public Utility Commission*

Author is chairman of the Wisconsin R*R# Commission.

Davison, H* , Copm* liusic during the Victorian era; fr. ilendelssohn to Wagneri memoirs of J* ¥• Davison*

James William Davison was a critic of music and musi­cians Who worked from about the year 1855 until within a week or two of his death* in 1885f For over thirty years of that time he was an active member of the Staff of the London Timest and came in close touch with many famous peogle* reminiscences of whom are to be found in these pages*

Johns$ Ct A. Howers of the field*

The artist, Grace Layton, obtained the Silver Plora medal of the Royal Horticultural Society for the drawings*

Morris, R* C* International arbitration and procedure*

The author was counsel for the u\ S* A* before the U« S# and Venezuelan Arbitration of 1905*

Arrhenius^ S* A. Theories of solutions.

Lectures delivered at Yale University in the spring of 1911 by the director of the Nobel Institute of the Royal Swedish Academyf Stockholm* Xndexes by authors and subjects*

Purpose explained*

Ransom, W* L. Majority rule and the judiciary; an examination Of current proposals for constitutional change affecting the relation of courts to legislation; with an introd. by 1\ Roosevelt*

Designed to show the legal and historical basis for the recall of judicial decisions*

Anthony* C. 0* Standard, forms of field notes for civil engineers*

To impress upon young surveyors the necessity and means of acquiring the ability to take neat and legible notes*

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Millert 0. A* How to make show cards*

The author who is an editor of the Spatula, intends this to be an aid to the retailer and his clerk*

Maude, J* N# Behind the night-light; the byword of a child of • three*

The author has undertaken to reproduce the incoherent, originalp yet universal, mystifying fancies that bubble up from after the child1s day**light experiences in the world of grown-ups*

Kelynack* T« N# Medical examination of schools and scholars*

Aims to provide a guide for school and medical officers, and to afford a reliable exposition of the methods and means at present available* The chapters are written mainly by English physicians and schoolmen*

CRITICAL

Ledyard, M» ]?• and Breckenfeld, B* H* Primary manual work*

The makers of this charming handbook have apparently meant to be only suggestive, not directive* Yet no teacher need feel ashamed if she recognises that she oan not easily improve on the smoothly advancing method and the happily chosen material that these two kindergarten supervisors have employed*

Wilmot, S* Bt Life of a tiger*

Exceptionally well written* and is free from those exaggerations, sentimentalities, and forced anthropomorphisms which not infrequently mar the efforts of those who seek to reveal the life of the wilds or to stimulate th6 reader1 s interest in natural history*

Seager, S* H* Canterbury cathedral*

The tables of "Dimensions of English Cathedrals, with the period of their erection11, and "Links in the development of architectural styles" aa found in the cathedral will be very helpful to the student and traveler*' There is a bibliography*

Strindberg, A* There are crimes and crimes; a comedy*

Tragi-comedy of Parisian life* Atmosphere of play is tainted with unreasonableness*

Bangs* J* K* Echoes of cheer*

Light graceful poems, touched with a tenderness not to be found in some of this author* s work*

Holbrook, F# Cave, mound, and lake dwellers*

Simply told and well illustrated*

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Rexford, E« 3* Amateur garden-craft*

A reliable guide, with especially good chapters on roses, the dahlia, the gladiolus and lilies.

Tchekhov, A# P, Two plays; The seagull; The cherry orchard*

Both reveal that which is the chief characteristics of Tchekhov*s work, a certain artistic subtlety abd delicacy, as of a man who refuses to look at life or humanity from any conven­tional standpoint, and desires, above allt to give a truly balanced picture of the character.

Autobiography of an ex~eolored man*.

One of the most significant books on certain phases of the race question that has appeared of late* Well written and of absorbing interest*

Author and Contents»

Fisher, D* (G») A Mantessori Mother.

The author was called to help in the translation of "The i;ontessori method'1* studied in the llontessori schools, and was in close personal touch with Dr» Montessori and her most im­portant associates* A simple account of what the Montessori apparatus is, the method of its application, possible American substitutes or additions to it, and"the principles underlying its use*

Contents and criticisms* +mm <mmmm„, n ill. ,. — i a.1 HHiii-»».11,—wi-..*— si .»i HIJ m i " ii • 11 if '" 1 "l 1 ' »

Richards, R* H% and others* A text book of ore dressing*

Condensed from Prof* Richard* s great 4 vol* reference work "Ore dressing^ In its present form it is the only authori­tative te:$t~book on the principles and practice of ore dressing*

Authors Contents and Purpose*

Raper, C# L* Railway transportation; a hist, of its economics and if its relation to the state*

The author is Professor of Economics and Dean of the Graduate School of the University 6f Horth Carolina* He is the author of. Principles of Wealth and Welfare, etc,

A critical History of the vital aspects of the manage­ment and regulation of railways in Great Britain, Prance, Italy, Germany and the United States. Based upo*i Hadleyfs "nailroad transportation11, which it brings up to date and thus supersedes* Designed for the general reader as well as for the special student.

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SPECIMENS OF THINGS TO B3 AVOIDED.

Too much criticism for Bulletin

Muensterbergf H* Psychology and life*

An exceedingly able and interesting book*«.# The vigor and epograramatic -force of his sentences are often quite remarkable. *«* Although I sympathize heartily with the main purpose of the book* I feel convinced that neither science nor philosophy can accept its conclusions*

Molmenti* P* Venice; its individual growth fr* the earliest beginnings to the fall of the republic• ?t*3; The decadence* 2.Vt

Lovers of Venice already owe a large debt of gratitude * to iir» Horatio Brown, and it is increased by his translation of the valuable book* ••« The straightforward tale of the old Venetians# the most interesting community in Europe, is told with a frank simplicity, and yet with every detail that can be desired by a careful student. *•• Every page in the book is full of curious knowledge* communicated without the slightest affectation or air of teaching anybody anything* «*# Important and delightful book.

Allaben# F* John Watts de Feyster.

The historian will revel in the array of authentic documents, dates* and references with which these volumes are so richly equipped* But the General's school days, his pony, the "bread and water table" of punishment to Y/hich idle scholars were condemned, his early travels in France,, will appeal to the minds of all* We see revealed the old aristocratic life of New York when No* 3 Broadway, his birthplace, was in a wealthy residential quarter*

Burroughs, J* Leaf and tendril.

A book of essays of which are nature sketches symbolized by the "leaf !,t and a part nature sermons in which Mr* Burroughs teaches the trimming and high-culture gospel 6f the vine-dresser. The opening easay on The art of seeing things imparts to the reader some of the secrets of observation inherent in the Meye and ear, yea* in the mind and soulH and presided over by a great love of nature*

INVOLVED OR TECHNICAL NOTBS*

Unnecessary repetition of title*

KacDonald, G. W. Historical papers on modern explosives.

An invaluable contribution to the history of the wonder­ful advance that has been made in explosives during the latter half of the nineteenth century*

Morris, ¥• 0*0$ Present Irish questions*

Valuable as a handbook of present-day Irish questions*

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Unnecessary critical adjectives or phrases*

Beebe, C* W* The bird; its form and function*

Untechnical and interesting study of the physical life of the bird, its ancestry and the structural anatomy which adapts it to its environments 371 illustrations, mainly from photographs*

Burritt, M* G. Apple growing*

A go6d» practical work, based on the author11 s own experience in a western New York fam*

Hine^ C« B# Modern organization; an exposition of the unit system*

A timely and interesting book composed of articles in Engineering Magazine (1912)f on business management of railroads, government department and corporations*

EXERCISES TO BE WRITTEN

A favorable report on a novel*

« « ,f » fl book of travel*

An unfavorable report on a novel*

« » « n n technical "book*

An informational notice on a novel - on a history,

A critical notice on a novel * on a sociological work*

A notice that simply expends or explains a too brief or a misleading title*