The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1. No. 23, April 15, 1897 | Page 9

of beautiful designs for embroidery, and a case full of queer little Japanese garments, but unfortunately they, too, were made of coarse materials, and looked ugly and uninteresting.
Russia sent Russian lace, and a number of photographs of school children learning to sew. They also sent some lovely Russian embroidery, but no plain sewing.
Mexico had a case full of wonderful drawn work; France some wonderful designs for dresses, and some beautifully finished dress-waists, but the little under-garments were as coarse as those of Switzerland. This was a disappointment, because we always suppose that France sets the fashion for daintiness.
Two very interesting pieces of work had been loaned for the occasion: one, a sofa cushion worked by Martha Washington; and the other a map of England and Wales, done in Berlin wools by George Washington's aunt.
The map was beautifully worked, and was a marvel of neatness, with the counties all outlined in different colors, and their names worked in with very fine stitches.
Of Martha Washington's handiwork it is hard to speak. It was the ugliest sofa cushion you can imagine, worked in browns so that it should not show the dirt, and with such irregular stitches that either Madam Washington must have been losing her sight when she worked it, or else she was a very poor needle-woman.
The American exhibit had one wonderful case of work done by the blind. It consisted of patches with specimens of sewing and running on them, a great many very fairly done buttonholes, and several little dolls' aprons very neatly hemmed, and gathered with fine, even gathers.
It seemed impossible to believe that the hands that did this work had no eyes to guide them. The buttonholes were so well made that they looked like the work of some careful, clever young children.
What a wonderful age we live in! Fancy bringing the art of teaching to such perfection that the blind can be taught to sew! Our young folks ought to be very thankful that they are growing up at a time when teachers endeavor to make learning a pleasure as well as a profit. G.H.R.

BOOK REVIEWS.
We publish the following letter about the "Carved Cartoon":
This book deserves every word of praise given to it by our correspondent. It is one of the most delightful stories written. It treats of the adventures of Grinling Gibson, the famous carver in wood, who carved flowers so delicately that they could absolutely move on their stems. EDITOR.
_To the Editor:_
DEAR SIR.--Every year the cry for books increases. "Tell us what to read," is the constantly repeated demand, and parents, teachers, and publishers are often at a loss to keep the active brains of our young people supplied with sound, wholesome, and interesting literature.
Science, art, history, and zoology are presented to the little ones in varied and attractive forms, and now THE GREAT ROUND WORLD has come forward to fill a long-felt want by giving the boys and girls clean, healthy, and concise accounts of what is taking place in their own and other countries.
It has always seemed strange to me that so few parents place in their children's hands that beautiful story entitled the "Carved Cartoon." It is a book of breathless interest, containing the adventures of a young artist and a boy musician during the great London plague and fire.
The story is founded on fact, and the author's pen holds the reader entranced as it vividly pictures the stirring scenes of those thrilling years.
The noble character and brilliant talents of the young hero shine star-like through the surrounding darkness of greed, avarice, and poverty.
Trusting that no boy or girl will let an opportunity to read this fascinating book slip by, I am very cordially your interested reader,
ELEANOR MAUD C----.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DEAR MR. EDITOR:
Would you kindly tell me what books to read? I am eleven years old, and the books I like best are Miss Alcott's "Little Men," "Jack and Jill," "Eight Cousins," and "Under the Lilacs," and Miss Sydney's "Five Little Peppers," and I like books of that style. I remain,
Your devoted reader, WALTER L.S.
P.S.--I read "Jack and Jill" six times.
NEW YORK, March 20, 1897.
"Beautiful Joe: the Autobiography of a Dog," by Marshall Saunders; "Black Beauty," by Sewell; "The Wonder-Book" and "Tanglewood Tales," by Hawthorne; "Greek Heroes and Greek Fairy Tales," by Kingsley; "Jackanapes," by Mrs. Ewing; "Ten Boys Who Lived on the Road from Long Ago," by Jane Andrews.
This list has been made for you by two very nice little girls named Clare and Eleanor. They have read and liked all the books in the list.
EDITOR.
DEAR EDITOR:
I like THE GREAT ROUND WORLD very much, and have just finished reading it. I would like to ask a few questions.
Do you think that Cuba will ever be free?
Do you think that the United States will help Cuba?
I was very much interested