The Story of _Architecture. By P. L. Waterhouse. (G. Newnea.
ls.)—As far as regards the past of architecture one could not, it is probable, find better information in a small compass than is to be found in this volume, one of the "Library of 'Useful Stories," a series which we have had occasion more than once to commend to our readers. But it might have been well to say a little more about the architecture of the present. To this some- thing less than five pages of print is allotted with one illustration. Mr. Waterhouse has, it is clear, a mean opinion of modern archi- tecture, though he allows that there is now an advance. Yet surely the nineteenth century saw the erection in London—not to go further—of some memorable work. Any one who, having known London in 1850, lived to compare it with London in 1900, must have seen a vast improvement. In 1850 the new Cannon Street was an achievement ; how dwarfed it is now 1 And of single buildings surely Smirke's British Museum is a fine work, while the Irvingite Church in Gordon Square may be ranked not far behind the best medinival work.
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