Highland Dress, Anna, and Ornament. By Lord Archibald Campbell. (Constable
and Co. 25s.)—Certain heroic, and still more, pathetic, incidents of the war in South Africa have directed attention once more to our Highland regiments. In that case such a book as this, which deals with the special characteristics of the class from which these regiments were originally drawn, will be certain to become popular. Lord Archibald Campbell, as it is hardly necessary to say at this time of day, is an enthusiast about everything relating to the Highlands, and, as a representa- tive of the most powerful of the clans, is entitled to speak with authority of and for them; and he has here compiled a volume on arms, dress, and ornaments which, enhanced as it is by the most admirable illustrations of the subject which have ever been given, is well worth reading. It can hardly be called a scientific treatise. It is not even compact, for Lord Archibald frequently allows his enthusiasms to run away with him into digressions, and he is far too prone to make lengthy quotations from other people, and especially from other authorities on his subject. In a sense, however, this fact renders the volume all the more readable,—at least, in the personal sense. At the very least, this is the book of the Highland sword; Rob Roy and his redoubtable weapons live again. But perhaps it is the Andrea Ferrara that receives the amplest justice ; one of the digressions to which we have alluded,." The Story of an Andrea Ferrara," lightens the volume marvellously. The discussions upon Celtic ornamenta. tion, if not absolutely convincing, are entertaining. Curious odds and ends in the way both of illustrations and of letter- press abound in these pages ; among the former is a representa- tion of the cup in which McIan of Glencoe is said to have pledged his murderous and treacherous visitors on the eve of the historical massacre.
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