12 AUGUST 1911, Page 23

Origins and Meanings of Popular Phrases and Names. By Basil

Hargrave. (T. Werner Laurie. 6s.)—Mr. Hargrave has collected a great mass of curious information. He has used discretion in his choice ; limits himself, for the most part, to things that are worth the space which they occupy, and does not yield to the temptation which so besets the collector of curiosities to be diffuse. A little more correction, especially in Latin and Greek words, would have improved the book. " Agoreno " is probably a misprint for " Agoreuo " (allegory) ; but " glupto " for " glupho " (hieroglyphics) cannot be so accounted for ;nor can the derivation of Pedagogue "from the Greek paidos, a boy, and agogos, leading." The "1" in " mouseois" (mosaic) may have been misplaced by accident. These criticisms occupy, it may be, a disproportionate space when we consider the general merit of the book, but such mistakes certainly give offence disproportionate to their impor. tance.