The Play - actress. By S. R. Crockett. (T. Fisher Unwin.)—The "Antonym
Library" goes on well, and promises to excel its pre- decessor, the "Pseudonym," excellent as that was. After all, it is better to call a book by its author's name rather than by one that is not his. This story reminds one of a well-known episode in literary history,—the production of the tragedy of Douglas, by the Rev. Mr. Herne, a Presbyterian minister, and the storm that followed thereupon. Mr. Crockett introduces a "great preacher," and shows how he is taught a more excellent way by a "play- actress." The girl is the sister of a wretched woman whom the preacher's son has married, and watches over her with a tender- ness and self-sacrifice which show to the minister depths of love which he had not before sounded. The tale is admirably worked out, its tragedy being relieved by the tender touches of descrip- tion which tell us of the child Ailie Rutherford, and by the humour of that worthy youth, "Master Johnny." We must own ourselves unable to undtrstand about the "house in Vale Street." It was a Hall of Ebb, no doubt, but scarcely more real.
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