London Side - Lights. By Clarence Rook. (Edward Arnold. 68 .)—These sketches are,
on the whole, of excellent quality. In tho first, "West to East," the author attempts to explore his subject geographically. Ho starts from Hanwell, and travels by conveyance after conveyance as far eastward as they go, till at Wanstead Flats, seeing houses still in front of him, he gives up tho task. Then he takes, one by one, various "side-lights "in this huge undefinable area. 110 tells us about the police ; he introduces us to a Police Court. Both these are particularly good chapters. Surely there never was a city which was so admirably served, both as to the protection of person and liberty and the administration of justice. The "hooliganism" at which we cry out is an occasional and local disturbance of a veritable Pax Britannica. With those mast be ranked "Visiting Day," an account of a hospital, and the "Fielders," in which we learn something about the Salvation Army, an agency which it is not easy for the ordinary, comfortable, well-conducted citizen to estunate properly. Then, of course, there is something about the ,re88, in its " Daily " aspect, in "A Day's Work at Fleet Street," ,ditorial Department," "Publishing Department," and so on. _ he Mother of Parliaments " is, perhaps, a little disappointing ; but that, we understand, is an experience not unknown to those vim visit the House of Commons.
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