SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not been reserved for reriew in other forms.] With the Scottish Yeomanry. By Thomas F. Dewar. (T. Brunie and Co., Arbroath.)—The writer of this book—a reprint of letters addressed to the Arbroath Guide—sailed from the Mersey on March 1st, 1900, reached Cape Town some seventeen days later, crossed the Vaal (at Fourteen Streams) on May 14th, and came under fire for the first time on July 20th. His descriptions are unpretending and clear, and for the realising of the scenes described much more effective than more ambitious literary efforts. Mr. Dewar bears the title of M.D., hence a certain speciality in his observations. We need not quote from his narrative, though we can commend it to our readers ; perhaps the most interesting passage in the book is the following. It is an analysis of a Volunteer regiment :—
" Out of the five hundred who comprise the Scottish Yeomanry there are of course men of very varied types, men who have come out for very varied reasons. Some fifty, namely, about ten per cent., are here to earn a livelihood,—saddlers, smiths, cooks, and grooms ; another fifty are here for no very obvious reason, simply, it would appear, because the chance of a foreign holiday offered itself; still another fifty are restless souls who must have a finger in every pie—men who have fought in Zululand and Matabeleland, climbed mountains in Chili, or washed gold in the Yukon ; and perhaps one half of the company have come out from a blend of motives, in which patriotism, ambition, and love of adventure had each a share. Yet another few have come for entirely different reasons, urged by their friends, who were anxious to be rid of them, or by their own anxiety to leaves home which they had made too warm for themselves."
—With this may be mentioned A Volunteer Brigade, by Filson Young (Sherratt and Hughes). Mr. Young describes a week's training in camp at Conway-, with an account of the manmuvres carried out, and some suggestions for the better utilising of these occasions. One of these suggestions seems to us excellent. Competent officers on leave might be employed In assisting in the management of these affairs, being, of course, paid for it. Many would be glad to have the money and the experience.
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