A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator', 10 July 1869—Of all the trash provided nowadays for the amusement of the public, we hope there is not much so irre- deemable as that in the book before us [Shoot- ing Stars, by A.D.]. Bad spelling and bad gram- mar occur so frequently and so conspicuously that the wretched quality of the writing is obvious at first starting, whilst the extravagant language and absurd similes indicate at once its sensational and superficial character. Eng- lish, French, Italian. and Latin quotations crop up on all sides, regardless of construction, point, or meaning; and there is, moreover, a general atmosphere of immorality that every one of the characters seems to breathe with satisfaction. We have been wondering who and what the writer is whose initials appear on the title-page of this work. It is the evident lack of education and ignorance of society at home together with a showy but spurious knowledge, and an apparent intimacy with wealth and extrava- gance, that surprise us so much, for we are not wont to see the combination of such traits either in an author or an authoress.
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