Goldfields and Chrysanthemums. Notes of Travel in Australia and Japan. By Cathering Bond., 8y0., 270 pp. Illustrated rth full-page photographs, Peadou Simp-kin, Marshall and Ca, 1898, This is quite'a pretty book. It has an engaging cover of coloured and gilded Japanese cloth, and is illustrated by some excellent photographs. In her preface, the authoress tells us that she has been urged by many friends to publish the account of her travels in Australia and the Enst, and this book. is the result of her amiable compliance with. what were no doubt equally athiable "suggestions, The letter-press is disappointing. "It comes as an, introduction to the illustrations, but the style betrays a lick of experience in composijn, and the tatter is wanting in, interest. The prevent tense is ased with praiseworthy: tut "rather" wearisome: perseverance; and occasional lapses in, grammar, such as "In the evening there isw concert on the third-class deck, which was very. much enjoyed," are apt to shock the purist. This sentence is a fair specimen of the writer's style and matter, Kut we must add that the tone is kindly, appreciative, and thoroughly good-humoured; and it is possible that those who are unacquainted with the'scenes described may find attractions in the book which escape a reader who is treading familiar ground. We hope that the friends who are responsible for publication have been gratified by receiving preieritation copies of this pretty book, and any who'are not too particular about the ality of the writing will be glad to possess the well selected illustrations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.