20 FEBRUARY 1897, Page 22

Rugby Football. By B. Fletcher Robinson. (A. D. Innes and

Co.)—This is the first volume of a proposed "Isthmian Library" which Mr. Max Pemberton is to edit. The chapter given to the k Past " is brief. This is probably prudent. The clientele of Isthmian and Badminton Libraries do not care much about this part of the subject, though not a little that is interesting might be written about it. More than once in history Governments have felt themselves compelled to forbid the game in the interest A the public peace. In Brittany it seemed likely to blaze out into civil war, and not long ago the Japanese forbad their Corean immigrants to play it. Of Mr. Robinson's treatment of the " Present " we will only say that it is lively and entertaining.