worth-while book that should be in the hands of every young woman contemplating a business career. She shows how women may enter the field of business and by tact, singleness of purpose and attention to modern methods achieve success in the way that men do; how they are achieving it now and even attaining high executive positions, thus putting to shame the old cry that real industrial triumph cannot be theirs. She believes that the transition from home to business benefits the woman and society generally. If she remains unmarried, she is better off than her old-fashioned sister; and if she does not, she brings a splendid experience into the partnership that should be invaluable in her home-keeping. Miss Gilbert sees no reason, however, why the woman should not go on with her outside work after marriage if she is fitted for it and interested in it. If she knows more about it than housework it would be better economy to hire some one to care for her home. Besides, there's the joy of independence. The chapters cover a wide range of activities and are replete with practical advice drawn from keen observation and experience. "The Office Field for Women," "The Woman Who Can Write," "Home and Marriage" and "How to Market Your Ability" are some of them. The last-named is a mine of good suggestions. "It is just as important to know how to sell your services well, as to have services to sell. You do yourself an injustice if you fail to get the best possible opportunity for your group of abilities," advises Miss Gilbert. There is a full bibliography of business books, courses, and references which should prove helpful, and a list of Liberal Arts colleges with business courses open to women. The chapter on "Special Missions," makes good reading for women who are interested in agriculture. STRAIGHT AMERICA. A CALL TO NATIONAL SERVICE By Frances A. Kellor. New York. The MacMillan Co. $0.50. The central idea of this little book is the Americanization of our foreign-born residents, and Miss Kellor marshals an appalling array of facts to show what we are not doing to accomplish this much desired thing. She points out that the native American in his smug satisfaction and assumption of superiority, his contempt for the immigrant and unwillingness to accept him as a social factor in the community in which he lives, is more unAmerican than the latter; and it is time, she thinks, that the native American woman, the social bulwark of her town, left off joining organizations and making hospital bandages, and paid a visit of friendliness to her immigrant sister "on the other side of the railroad." This is really getting at the bottom of the whole situation. Legislation may do a good deal but it cannot compel the friendly visit and it is precisely that which is most needed in the homes of our immigrant peoples. When by actual personal contact the sympathy and understanding are awakened, the native American will see his obligation to the immigrant, and public sentiment will be created strong enough to drive the machinery of the law to worthwhile effort in his behalf. Not every one will agree with Miss Kellor in her criticism of the presidential administration, but one need not be a close student of national affairs to see that the immigrant wrongs she sets forth are real. Those of the immigrant woman should make a particular appeal to women; for as Miss Kellor so aptly says; she "constitutes the greatest single backward factor in the progress of citizenship among women." "Straight America" will awaken thought and energize to action and that, perhaps, is the best thing that can be said of any book. THE INTELLIGENCE OF WOMAN By W. L. George. Little, Brown & Co. $1.00. Seven essays on varying phases of the woman question are included in this book. Mr. George is an avowed Feminist but he tries to get at the root of things and so does not hesitate to tell the truth as he sees it, whether or not it will provoke unfavorable comment. Most of the things he says have been said before, but he writes so cleverly and his point of view is so fresh that the general reader will find him delightfully stimulating. Such essays as those on the Break-up of Marriage, the Downfall of the Home and Uniforms for Women are likely to lead to a good deal of discussion, but any one who is not too hidebound will get enjoyment as well as food for thought from them. He tries to prove that marriage is a vastly over-rated institution and that it is much easier to live too separate than too close. "There really are couples who care for each other very well, who meet in a country house and say, 'What! You here. How jolly!'" As for the home the mass of untrue sentiment that has grown up about it has led to wholly erroneous ideas, he thinks. "It insists that it is home, sweet home, and there is no place like it, which is one comfort." He sees, as might be expected, in the community home the solution of many problems that now vex the housewife, and plans it out with mathematical accuracy that she may see it too. The way women dress annoys Mr. George. If they are ever to reach the plane of man they must have energy enough to divest themselves of frippery. Men escape the fashions and thereby save themselves much loss of energy and money. It is not only the fashions that matter, he argues, it is the cost of women's clothes. By their drafts upon wealth in this direction, women lead men nearer to poverty and many other evils. The remedy is a uniform and the few women who lead must make it fashionable. BIBLE STORIES TO READ AND TELL. Selected and arranged by Frances Jenkins Olcott. Houghton, Miffiin & Co. $2.00. Miss Olcott has made a very wise selection and has so eliminated "grown-up" material that the interest will be kept alive and inquiring. The stories include such favorite subjects as Pharaoh's dream, Moses and the burning bush, Pharaoh's horses cast into the sea, the grapes of Eshcol, the ark of gopher wood and the taking of the Castle of Zion. They are intended as preliminary readings to the Bible and not as a substitute for it, she explains. The illustrations in color by the Hungarian artist, Willy Pogany, are beautifully done and will make an instant appeal. Some of the subjects are Daniel in the Lions' Den, David and Goliath, the Finding of Moses, and Moses and the Tables of Stone. One can imagine these stories told in a children's church, a church with soft, green walls and lovely symbolic pictures, and pews and pews of happy listening faces. But they should make their way everywhere the young may be. There are too few books of the kind. THE HARVEST MOON By Josephine Preston Peabody. Houghton, Mifflin Co. $1.25. In point of vigor and intellectuality of structure Mrs. Marks' verse yields to none and through this noble vehicle of expression she speaks for the women of Europe upon whom the burden of war has fallen so heavily: "From her uncounted agony Through climbing ages all worn by, Could he not learn the way to die, Transfigured with some radiant Why? O fool and blind, and battled for Whose strength is this you spill in war, n all its glory and abundant riches: "Where love shall have its own And freemen of all breath shall gather in The harvest of the Sun." BOOKS RECEIVED PORTRAITS OF WOMEN. By Gamaliel Bradford. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Co. Price, $2.50. SELF RELIANCE. By Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Indianapolis: The BobbsMerrill Co. Price. $1.00. THE LAND OF THE BLUE FLOWER. By Frances H. Burnett. (Gift Book Edition.) The Holiday Publishing Co. New York. Price, 50 cents. BIBLE STORIES то READ AND THE AMBITIOUS WOMAN IN BUSI- THE INTELLIGENCE OF WOMAN. |