AUSTRALIAN (RATZEL).

The author claims no originality for the matter ofthis book for young readers on Strange Peoples. Hehas culled material where he could. His aim has beento present a series of sketches which may render themaps in the geography more interesting and give schoolchildren a broader and deeper sympathy with otherraces and peoples. Indebted to many books, he hasbeen under constant obligations to Verneau’s Les RacesHumaines and Ratzel’s Völkerkunde. Other books whichhave been helpful will be found listed at the close ofthis volume.

At first the author planned to use only original ornew illustrations. It has been, however, impossibleto carry out this plan. Less than one fourth of thepictures are really new; it is believed, however, thatall are authentic and will prove instructive.

It would have been easy to make the book moreinteresting by the introduction of descriptions, moredetailed, of the ridiculous or dreadful practices of someraces. The purpose has, however, not been to holdother peoples up to ridicule nor to teach morality bycontrast; there are, indeed, too many matters for criticismin our own mode of life to warrant such a treatment.Nor would it be possible in a book for children...