21 JANUARY 1882, Page 23

The Prince and the Pauper. By Mark Twain (Samuel L.

Clemens). (Chatto and Windus.)—Mr. Clemens' "Tale for Young People of all Ages " is an ingenious idea, which has been well worked out. Edward, Prince of Wales, afterwards Edward Vi., makes acquaintance with a certain ragged lad, Tom Canty, who is peeping in through the bars of the gateway. Tho two are very much alike ; they change clothes. Tom makes a passably good prince, though ho perplexes all about him by the habits of a changeling. The Prince has a more valuable experience, for he sees something of the life of the people as it really is. The ceremonial which surrounds the pseudo-Prince (somewhat exaggerated, we fancy, for it is more like Spanish than English etiquette), and the miseries which the pseudo- beggar encounters, make a contrast both humorous and pathetic, and consequently very effective. There is an abundance of illustra- tions, spirited enough, though in a somewhat conventional way.