CHINA. By Prof. R.K. Douglas, of the British Museum. Edited by Arthur Gilman, M.A. Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.50. This volume comes just at a time when there is a strong demand for something brief, exact and authoritative in the way of Chinese history. Current events have brought China before the world as one of the really great powers, and one which in time will be able not only to defend herself against the aggressions of other nations but will be perfectly able to take the offensive should occasion require. In the arts of diplomacy the Chinese are a match for the keenest statesman of Europe, and since the beginning of the present troubles with France they have developed a military talent which is perfectly surprising. With the growth of the military spirit it would not be strange if, in the course of the next generation China should hold as distinct and important a place among the warlike powers as France or England. The author of the volume before us had exceptional advantages for making such a book as just now the public demand and need. He was for several years a resident of China in an official capacity, and studied the people and their mode of life from actual observation. In preparing the book he also freely availed himself of the labors of others where they seemed capable of adding value to the narrative. In his preface he acknowledges his indebtedness to Doctor Legge's "Chinese Classics," Archdeacon Gray's work on "China," Doolittle's "Social Life of the Chinese," Denys's "Chinese Folklore," Mayers's "Chinese Reader's Manual," Sir John Davis's "Poetry of the Chinese," as well as to the important linguistic, religious and topographical writings of Doctor Edkins of Peking, and particularly to the late Professor S. Wells Williams, of Yale College, whose work on the _Middle Kingdom_ contains more information of value than any other single volume in our language. The various chapters of the work deal with the history of the empire in brief, its government, religions, its educational system, the nurture of the young, superstitions, funeral and wedding rites, the language, food and dress, honors, architecture, music, medicine and other subjects. It has been critically read by the young Chinese scholar, Mr. Yan Phou Lee, of Yale College, who has suggested a few notes. Its completeness is added to by an analytic table of contents and an index. IN THE WOODS AND OUT. By Pansy. Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.00. In the score or more of short stories which make up this volume Pansy is at her best. She never writes for the mere sake of filling up, but always, in the briefest of her sketches, she has something worth telling and worth remembering. There isn't a thing in the book which will not be read twice, and certain of the stones will be perennial favorites with the younger class of readers. * * * * * PHILOSOPHIAE QUAESTOR.