12 OCTOBER 1895, Page 10

Sorrow and Song. By Coulson Kernahan. (Ward, Lock, and Bowden.)—Mr.

Kernahan's first paper is on Heinrich Heine, and he rightly describes it as " A Problem in Personality." He deals with Heine with no little severity ; " in his writings, as in his life, Heine habitually followed inclination rather than conscience." If he could make brilliant copy out of indecency, profanity, treachery to friendship, in fact, by violating "the highest feel- ings of the heart," he did not scruple to do so. Yet the feelings were there. That is the essence of the problem. "A Note on Rossetti" follows. Here, too, we find a just but sympathetic criticism. " A Binger from over Seas" is a paper on the American poetess, Louise Chandler Moulton. We agree with much that is said in it, but must remark that our own experience of the poems is that, like most minor verse, they are wanting in interest. The volume is completed by two more papers, " Robertson of Brighton," and " Philip Marston, the Blind Poet."