10 SEPTEMBER 1927, Page 19

The world of Punch—and that must be very nearly the

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whole world—will like to possess in one volume Parrot Pie (Harrap, OS.)—a collection of Mr. W. K. Seymour's pleasant parodies of some fifty writers of the day. With so rich a bagful of sweets it . is unwise to browse wholesale and embarrassing to be invited to choose, but we particularly like "Johnny Ludlow," after Mr. A. E. Housman :—

"When first I came to Ludlow My heart was young and free ; I wore my Sunday breeches . . .

and commend the pseudo Mr. Michael Arlen's suggestion in The Green Spat for a light supper on " ortolans, collops, truffles, oysters, caviare, larks' tongues, and aspidistra shoots "; while Sir Henry Newbolt is made to sing at the Round Pond :—

" Yamder dip the white gulls, yarnder go the prams Wi' nursemaids wheeling babies home to tea."

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