2 FEBRUARY 1907, Page 22

The Ancient Bards of Britain. By D. Delta Evans. (Educational

Publishing Company, Merthyr Tydvil. 5s. net.)—Mr. Evans describes himself as seeking a middle term between Keltomaniacs andlleltophobiste, between "the malicious misrepresentations" of the latter and the "teaching of a few enthusiasts" among the former. We cannot follow him into what he says about the doctrine of the Bards. Of course, there is much that is interesting in it ; but what we want above all things is a bibliography, an equipment most useful in all subjects, but here absolutely essen- tial. Mr. Evans speaks, for instance, of the relations between the British Bards and Christianity. He does not believe that they offered any opposition to the introduction of primitive Christianity, for it was their belief that men should be left free to inquire for themselves. For all such statements we want authorities. And what is meant by "primitive Christianity "? Did it ever come here ? When we find it in its concrete form it is a long way from primitiveness.