More Tramps Abroad. By Mark Twain. (Chatto and Windus.) —Among
the Pudd'nhead maxims, with which Mark Twain heads his chapters, there is one to the effect that " it is more trouble to make a maxim than it is to do right,"—a sentiment which is further illustrated by what purports to be a page from the author's note-book, covered with heart-breaking failures at epigrammatic wit. The maxim and its illustration are sadly in keeping with the result of More Tramps Abroad. It is evidently a good deal more difficult to be funny for five hundred Pages than to write a simple and straightforward book of travel. The pity of it is that the easier task would, if performed, have given far more pleasure to his readers. Mark Twain is an
excellent observer, and one would have gladly heard his opinion, both as an American and as a citizen of the world, upon India and our Colonies. Every now and then we get a scrap of serious description and a shrewd remark or two that raises our hopes of some reasonable and valuable criticism, but the author invariably dashes them again by hastily resuming his collar and grinning through it once more. If the fooling were good, there would not be eo much reason to complain ; but unfortunately the signs of the author's labour are only too evident, and it is often as tiresome to read as it must have been to write. Mark Twain seems to have visited Australia, India, and the Cape upon a lecturing tour, and now passes them successively in review. It is really too much trouble to separate the wheat of his earnest from his over-abundant chaff. To be just, however, there are good chapters here and there, and a few pages of very fair fun ; and though the book is not likely to add to the author's reputation, it is readable and sometimes entertaining.
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