6 FEBRUARY 1909, Page 27

The Children of the Gutter. By Arthur Applin. (Grant Richards.

6s.)—This is a rather sordidly realistic novel of the career of a flower-girl and her relations. Like many students of the social evils of the present day, the author suggests no remedy, and merely Contents himself with comment- ing adversely on the state of civilisation which can produce anon evils. As is almost invariably the case, the fact that this is a novel with a purpose does not tend to improve the quality of the book as fiction. Ferguson, the artist, is a more or less impossible figure, and his frame of mind on imprisonment for perjury is nob very convincing. The story possesses a certain earnestness of style which makes it readable, but it cannot be said to be particularly well constructed.