Punch to Padam Aram. By Alfred T. Story. (Elliot Stock).—
This is a better book than the very silly title would lead one to expect. It is a volume of essays which show, now and then, traces of wit and wisdom. But there are sad blemishes in it. For instance, there is a decidedly foolish parody of a psalm. In this, lambkins are said to skip, and the author appends a note to the effect that he " has never seen lambkins skip," but thinks that it is the right sort of phrase to use. Why should he not have seen them ? Nothing could be more common. They are particularly playful little animals. The curious thing is that Mr. Story writes as if he loved and knew the country. Again, he writes, "I don't know what literature there is about turnpikes." Has he forgotten Mr. Weller's theories about turnpike men, and what we read about the turnpike-keeper in " Martin Chuzzlewit " ?
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