James Burn, the Beggar Boy : an Autobiography. (Hodder and
Stongbton.)—Mr. Burn began his life with some very curious ex- periences. His stepfather followed the occupation of a professional beggar. To this he added a private taste for drink and for theolo- gical argument, and he was a little hazy about the distinctions of property. No little trouble resulted, and the two "became acquainted in the space of two years with the inside of every gaol in the south of Scotland." Mr. Burn was afterwards employed as a cowherd and as a Cheap Jack's assistant. He enlisted in the Militia, manufactured hats, leased a tavern, kept a spirit cellar, returned to thehat business,. made a third trial in the tavern line, became a dock labourer, then,
turned to the bookselling trade, and finally seems to have alternated between making hats and making books, achieving more success, we gather, in the latter occupation. All this helps to make up a suffi- ciently readable book, which would, however, have been far better if Mr. Burn had asked the help of some friend bold and candid enough to wield an unsparing pair of scissors.
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