30 APRIL 1892, Page 11

Clouds of Black and Gold. By E. de Siraint. (Digby

and Long.) —There are some good points in this story, notably a sense of humour ; but it is lamentably foolish, badly written, even vulgar in parts, and much confused as to tenses. That snare of the unskilful, the " historical present," is the bane of the authoress. When will the thoughtless people who flood the world with trash learn to leave it alone ; and if they must write, write what they have to say simply ?