Wroxby College ; or, the Luscombe Prize. By the Rev.
H. C. Adams. (Routledge and Sons.)—We do not think it was necessary for Mr. Adams to request his critics not to treat this book as obviously sug- gested by "Tom Brown's School-days." Both the faults and the merits of Wroxby College prevent us from drawing any such comparison. The school to which we are introduced in its pages has none of the charac- teristics of a regular public school of the type of Rugby, and the boys naturally enough take their colour from their surroundings. In the moreof sffined atmosphere of such a school as is here described there is room for much pettiness of feeling, for little rivalries and jealousies, for little admirations and enthusiasms which are impossible in a larger circle. The boys of a small school are sure to pitch upon one of their number as being perfect, and in this respect Mr. Adams follows their example. It is one of the weaknesses of this story that a boy is repre- sented as able to excel in everything, from athletics to Greek prose, to baffle an unknown trick in wrestling, and to distance all other com- petitors for a scholarship. However, as Mr. Adams writes for boys, he may safely count on their accepting such a concession to their own prejudices, and ho gives them much interesting matter which they will be sure to appreciate.
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