From the mouth of the Congo to Stanley Falls is about fifteen hundred miles, and the basin of this immense river contains more than a million and a half square miles; that is, a territory nearly one-half as large as that of the United States.  The opening of this great country to the commerce of the world is one of the greatest events of the nineteenth, indeed of any, century.  By the agreement of the sovereigns of Europe, no European power is ever to be permitted to seize the sea-coasts of the continent, or to levy differential customs and high tariffs upon the commerce of the world such as our New England and Middle States now levy upon the West and South.  Forever hereafter a merchant or producer dwelling in the Congo can dispose of his ivory and ebony, or any other product whatsoever, in whatever market it will yield him the most money, and buy his shovel and hoe, his gunpowder, and the like, where he can buy them the best and the cheapest.  It is, perhaps, not too much to affirm that the founding of such an empire on such a basis will make in time as great a change in commercial affairs as the establishment of the American Republic has made in political affairs and in the relation of men to governments.  The work of Mr. Stanley is destined to have a large influence.  It is the most important book on Africa that has ever been written at any period of time or in any language.  And yet no record of good deeds grandly done could savor of more modesty and unpretentiousness than does the narrative in these two noble volumes.

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Miss Anna Laurens Dawes, the daughter of Senator Dawes, of Massachusetts, has undertaken “an explanation of the Constitution and government of the United States,” in her book entitled How We are Governed.[5] Believing, as we do, that a knowledge of politics is an essential part of education, we hail this work as one of the hopeful signs of the times, and commend it especially to young people, because the author has so accurately and comprehensively accomplished her task as to make it worthy of confidence.  Simplicity in writing is the first needed qualification of one who undertakes to instruct youth.  Miss Dawes exhibits this quality, and takes nothing for granted as to the previous knowledge of her readers.  Her plan follows the order of the Constitution, and that document is quoted in full, and in its several parts under the division of “The Legislature,” “The Executive,” “The Citizen,” and “The States.”

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It is the practical nature of the contents of The Hunter’s Handbook[6] which will commend it to all readers, and which stamps it as an indispensable work for all persons who “go camping out.”  This is just the season for such healthful recreation and resting among the hills or along shore.  It is just the season, too, when, unless he knows exactly how to manage, the camper-out is subjected to a great