24 JULY 1897, Page 26

Chun - Ti - Kung. By Claude A. Rees. (W. Heinemann.)—This is a photographic

kind of drawing of Chinese life. The attitude of the average Chinaman of the educated class to the "outer barbarians." the view taken by the more enlightened among them, the social morality of the people, the system of official promotion, are described by one who evidently knows his subject well. Then we have such episodes as an expedition against the pirates. Perhaps the most important incident in Chun-Ti-Kung's life, as far as English readers are concerned, is that he comes over to England as an interpreter in the suite of the Chinese Ambassadors, and marries an English girl. Women are capable of such follies in this matter, and are so unteachable, that the terrible example of Nellie Serjeant would probably be of no avail.

Some thirty-seven years ago Charles Kingsley wrote a preface to an edition of the Pilgrim's Progress, which had been illustrated by Mr. Charles Bennett. In this he pointed out Bunyan's power of drawing character, and went on to say," The man who translates them out of the pages of Bunyan into human forms and countenances, will have done good service by increasing our knowledge of types of humanity which are permanent, however partial." This edition, with the illustrations, has now been re- produced by Messrs. Gibbings and Co. Mr. Bennett was, perhaps, stronger in representing the iticrxp6e than the KaX6v, but his drawings are remarkably vigorous and interesting.