14 APRIL 1888, Page 23

present day are getting more and more done for them,

and have less and less left for them to do for themselves. They have a number of we know not how many thousand thoughts to choose from, com-

mentaries without number are at band to interpret for them ; and here are 6,330 anecdotes alphabetically arranged under headings, from " Abasement " to " Zion, Love of." The "plat- form" as well as the " pulpit " has been thought of by the editor, who has ranged far for his extracts. We must own our- selves unable to give any general estimate of such a volume. There are some anecdotes in it which we should not like to use, and should not care to hear ; but that is a matter of taste ; nor can we pretend to prescribe for the varying circumstances in which a speaker may find himself. It will be safe to take refuge in statistics and descrip- tion. The number of am cdotea has been already given ; let us add that there are more than six hundred and fifty double-columned pages of the largest, or very nearly the largest, octavo size.