BOOK REVIEW 647

science department of the National Educational Association in any waythey should desire.The address of the morning was given by Mr. John L. AIger, Principal

of Rhode Island State Normal School, on "Physics as a Part of the &radeTeacher’s Equipment." This was a splendid paper, one which ought to beread by all seventh and eighth grade science teachers as well as secondaryteachers of science. It is hoped that this paper will be published in SCHOOLSCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS. The paper was ably discussed by severalmembers after its reading.The afternoon session was held at Wilson Hall, Brown University, the

address being given by Professor Carl Barus on "Interferometry and a NewInterferometer." This was a very helpful and interesting paper.The meeting closed with an inspection of the laboratories. S..

WEBSTER’S NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY,

There is nothing better in the dictionary line than this work. Peoplewho make daily use of books of this character know this to be a fact. TheWebster, published by the Merriam Company, has never been found wanting.How good it is when looking for information such as should be found in adictionary to find what one wants on the first trial. One is never disap-pointed when the M-erriam Webster is used. This book is an absolutely newcreation and contains everything that should be found in a dictionary. It isa book which is easy to use. A copy should be in use in every school roomof the country, as well as in every home and library. The dictionary isconsulted, perhaps, more frequently to ascertain the correct pronunciationof a word than for any other purpose. The pronunciations of words in thiswork are absolutely correct. It is therefore the greatest agent in the Eng-lish language which is working for the correct pronunciation of words, thusobliterating provincialisms and making our spoken English as pure in onepart of the country as another. This work is encyclopedic in character,containing all of the words in our language, giving correct and exact in-formation about them. Wherever one turns he finds splendid condensedtreatises, or tables, or illustrations. One cannot use the New Internationalwithout being impressed by the range and completeness of the informationfurnished. �������������

BOOK REVIEW.Elements of Algebra, T^y Arthur Schultse, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of

Mathematics, Unwersity of New York. Pp. 305. Price, $.85. 1910.The Macmillan Company.

In this book an attempt has been made to shorten the usual course inalgebra, and still give the pupils the requisite mastery of the essentials ofthe subject. To accomplish this purpose, (1) all unnecessary "cases" areomitted; (2) all parts of the theory which are beyond the comprehensionof the pupil or which are logically unsound are omitted; (3) the exercisesare somewhat simple; and (4) topics of .practical importance, asquadratic equations and graphs are placed early in the course.

There is little in this book to distinguish it from the older type of text-book except the graphical work. This, however, is all included in onechapter near the middle of the book. The author considers that the fieldof genuine applications of elementary algebra suitable for high school pupilsis rather small; hence, there is not a large number of problems of thattype. It is undoubtedly a clear and logical presentation of the subject andwill be approved by the teachers who have the same point of view as the-author. H. E. C.