29 DECEMBER 1900, Page 24

GIFT-Booits.—A Gordon H;ghlander, by E. Everett - Green (T. Nelson

and Sons, 2s. 6d.), is described by its title. We have said enough about stories of the war, and it is useless to say it again. Nonum prematur in annum. Facts we cannot have too soon, but fiction, to be worth anything, must be founded on settled facts.- —Under the Rebel's Reign, by Charles Neufeld (Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co., 6s.), is a tale of Egypt. Mr. Neufeld has been a part of these things, and knows what he is writing about. His story should find interested readers.---A Sea-King's 41fidshipman, by Arthur Lee Knight (J. Murray, 63.), takes us to another time and another continent, the South American cam- paign of Lord Cochrane. Mr. Knight's name is commendation enough to those who are learned in this kind of literature.—If any one wants true stories of what this country has done at sea, he cannot do better than go to Britain's Sea-Kings and Sea- Fights, by B. Fletcher Robinson and others (Cassell and Co., 7s. 6d.), containing stories of great battles on the sea, from Danish times downwards. rIt is a handsome volume, and well illustrated.—Another set of these stories we have in The Boy Lieutenant, and other Stories, by F. S. Bowley and others (S. H. Bousfield and Co., 35. 6d.) The range of place is very wide. It is a practical application of the old quae caret era cruore nostro P —From the same publishers we have a companion volume, For God and the King, and other True Stories of Heroic Women, by Sir E. Creasy and others (3s. 6d.)—The White Stone, by Herbert C. McDwaine (Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co., 6s.), takes us to Australia, with a change to England. It will be found a spirited story, with much variety of incident. —The Simpsons and We, by Alice F. Jackson (S. H. Bausfield and Co., Ss.), is an amusing story of home life. The friendship and the falling out of the two families, and their relations generally with their neighbours, are woven into an entertaining tale.—Messrs. Cassell send us a number of stories which we find it impossible to notice separately. These are Little Queen Mab, by L. C. Silke (1s.); A Pair of Prim- roses, by Sarah Pitt (1s.) ; Ella's Golden Year, by E. Searchfield (Is.) ; Their Road to Fortune, by Mrs. Houston (Is.) ; The Heiress of TVyvern Court, by E. Searchfield (1s.) ; Won by Gentleness, by Mrs. Herbert Martin (Is.) We may say of this last that it is an attractive story of the making-up of a family quarrel. Mrs. Martin can treat such subjects in a way that is sure to give both pleasure and profit.--The Book of King William and his Noble Knights, by Mary Macleod (Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co., 6s.), is sufficiently recommended by its title. It has some spirited illustrations.—The Magic Mist, and other Dartmoor Legends. By Eva C. Rogers. (A.. Melrose.)