Literary By-hours. By H. A. Page. (Marshall Japp and Co.)
—Mr. Page has republished, with additions, an essay which he con- tributed some time ago to the British Quarterly Review, on " Vera de Societe and Parodies," adding to it some shorter and less important papers. Of the chief essay, which occupies more than half the volume, we may repeat what we said at its first appearance,—that it gives a good insight into the real nature of parody. Most of us know a good parody when we see it, but it is not every one who can say what makes it good. Of the others, we may mention "Scientific Cruelty." It is well to keep in mind, and make the public keep in mind, what the doctors really mean and say. In the use of saws- thetics in vivisection, said Dr. Klein, "I have no regard at all for the sufferings of the animals !" He would, he explained, use chloroform to a cat, because it might scratch, to a big dog because it might bite him; but he had no time to care for anything but personal safety. Any knowledge gained at such a price, the price of feelings so brutalised, is, we take it, too dearly bought.
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