The King's Baby. By E. M. Rutherford. (Gay and Bird
)— This is a very agreeable story of a Royal child of more than average intelligence, and with a gift of humour of the sort that appeals specially to children, because it is exhibited chiefly in the making of oddly wise remarks. It may be objected that Prince Henri, the Royal baby, has, in addition to his King father, his Queen mother, his venerable tutor, and his kitten, rather too many friends around him with very old heads on very young shoulders, such as the one who writes such verses on "The Shrimps
and Destiny " as-
" For every man and every shrimp There reigns a righteous Destiny— To live for fame, to be boil'd pink, Is offer'd by her great decree."
The young disputants of the story, also, are a little too prone to speaking in and using italics. And finally life is represented in perhaps too bright colours. When all this is allowed, however, let it be said to the credit of Miss Rutherford that she has pro- duced a story which is at once modern and old-fashioned in the best sense. It is agreeable to meet old friends in a new dress, like Christmas, New Year, St. Valentine's Day, mermaids and fairies.
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