Happy Days, and other Essays. By Marcus Southwell Dims- dale.
Edited by Elsboth Dimsdale. (Cambridge : Helen 7s. 6d. net.)—This little book contains ten pleasant essays, with a memoir of the author. a well-known and popular Fellow and Tutor of King's College, Cambridge, who died in 1919. The opening essay on " Happy Days " reveals Mr. Dimsdale's :theerfnl and kindly nature. He begins by quoting Goethe's remark that in the course of a long life he had enjoyed fourteen happy days. Mr. Dimsdale accounts himself very much more :ortunate than Goethe, and proceeds to recall some of his many happy days. Some of the essays were written for a projected book on Cambridge and its neighbourhood ; they show an inti- mate knowledge of the district. " The Land of the Girvii " slso deals with Cambridge and the Fens. " The Hurdler " lescribes a useful but little known art. " On Sharing with a Bradshaw " is an ingenious and entertaining essay in odd place- names. There is also an essay on Hampden, in which the old and discredited story is revived to the effect that Hampden was fatally wounded by the bursting of his pistol, and not, as Essex said. by a shot from the enemy. Mr. Dimsdale is remembered for his History of Latin Literature; his friends will find more of his personality in this light and agreeable little book.
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