23 JANUARY 1926, Page 24

WITH admirable, but we believe, mistaken, industry, Mr. Albert Mordell

has traced and gathered more reviews and articles contributed by Lafcadio Hearn to newspapers, during his years of struggle in Cincinnati and New Orleans ; and as a definitive first edition this book should interest collectors. The articles are surprisingly varied in interest, and range from

science and speculation to realistic sketches which disclose the rather morbid elements in Hearn's nature. But is it really necessary to disclose the anonymous or pseudonymic articles by which a writer who slowly achieved a highly personal and fastidious style gained literary experience or bread ?