NURSAIRY RIMES.*
PARODIES of nursery rhymes are as a rule detestable. They are generally sophisticated, they are apt to rely for effect upon a double meaning, and they almost always miss the directness, the inconsequence, and, as it were, the nonchalance which make up the charm of the genuine article. Major Hume's rhymes are, however, for the most part delightful, and possess both naivete and verve. For example, the following :—
" No. 1, No. 1, show the leg do, A squad of defaulters is waiting for you, The C.O. is testy, the ratings are slow, It's Monday and raining and you're duty 0."
"Three Blind Mice" is good, but perhaps smacks of sophiati- cation. Nursery rhymes should be practical jokes in print :— " Three new subs, Three new subs, They fancied themselves when their kit came home, And spoke with contempt of the raging foam, But saluted the man at the Hippodrome, Tao new subs."
" Hushaby Baby" has a certain grimness :— " Flyaby Archie, Up in the air, When the wind drops The Zep will appear; When the gun speaks The Zeppqin will fall, And down will come Archie And airship and all."
• Nursairy Rims. By tuttoLD. 0. H. Hume, R.A.Y. Illustrated by U. H. Millar. London; The and General Publishing Co. [2s. 6cl. netj
The alphabet at the end possesses ingenuity of the right kind :— " Eager Edward eased his engine early.
Full out Freddy finished oft a Fokker. . Heppy Henry -11131ped a Hun to—Heaven. . • Mouldy Maurice mashed the mud in Mudros. . Priceless Percy piled up pups on purpose. . . Zaecy zoomed from azimuth to zenith.'
The illustrations are quite good, but unfortunately the outside of the book is not very successful. Cover designers ought to remember that they are in effect providing the book with afaoe, and that their task is a very important one.
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