A hundred years ago From the 'Spectator', 1 February 1868—Under
Two Flags. By Ouida. Three vols. (Chapman and Hall.)—This story is sometimes interesting, and often exciting; but it is simply absurd and im- possible. The rose-pink atmosphere of a Guards- man's life which pervades the first volume is utterly preposterous. Algerian adventures occupy the other two volumes, and are much over- strained; but they are preferable to the mawkish twaddle of the beginning. Ouida tells us in her or his preface that the story has already gained popu- larity in military circles. If gallant officers like to be represented as throwing away thousands which they have not got, as drinking liqueurs all day and yet developing magnificent muscle, as uniting cleverness and imbecility in a remarkable degree, they cannot do better than accept Ouida as their historiographer.
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