There is no lack of textbooks telling the amateur carpenter with mathematical exactness just how to make a dovetail joint or a mortise and tenon connection. The beginner has no difficulty in finding ample instruction as to the theory of carpentry, and may read at great length precisely how to hold the hammer or manipulate a plane. With this phase of the subject the present volume has no concern. It is not expected that those to whom the book is addressed aim to become professional carpenters. The object of the volume is 'merely to present as clearly as possible an interesting 'and practical field to the young craftsman, and this is sufficient for the reason that if the work is made 'interesting he will soon find out all he needs to know about tools, and if the results are of practical value he will not lack encouragement.

By presenting a great variety of articles ranging from the simplest to those in the construction of which some little assistance may be required, it is hoped that the book will be of interest to young and old, experienced and unexperienced alike.

In the fore part will be found the more simple articles. As these are the pieces the young carpenter will attempt, the drawings have been prepared accordingly. Here the customary working drawings of the assembled article, with their numerous dimension lines, have been omitted. Each piece of wood, however, is delineated separately on a series of squares, which not only display the necessary measurements, but show the relation of the various lines all at a glance. The idea of proportion is thus accentuated and in a way would be impossible were the dimensional data displayed numerically instead of graphically.

As the more elaborate articles are taken up, however, this method is not only impracticable on account of the number of pieces involved, but is unnecessary; to the more advanced workers. But even here the-test may appear-too detailed to those having training in Woodworking, but the amateur will do well to follow the instructions closely, as the successful completion of a piece of furniture will largely depend on 'the order of preparing the various parts.

Many of the structural details involved are not, of course, such as would generally be practiced in a factory where all manner of woodworking machinery is at hand, but are planned so that the beginner, with ordinary tools in good condition, will encounter as little difficulty as possible.