13 AUGUST 1904, Page 23

National Humour. By David Macrae. (Alex. Gardner, Paisley. 3s. 6d.)—Mr.

Macrae has collected into a volume sundry publica- tions treating of the humour of certain peoples or sections of peoples, adding a new chapter on Welsh humour, and enriching the others with new specimens. Scottish humour has two divisions, Highland and Lowland, and in English there is the sub-variety of Cockney. There are good stories in it in plenty, and, as far as we are able to judge, they are reasonably fresh. Why, we may ask, quote the " Phairshon " ballad from "Bon Gaultier " without acknowledgment ? As it is still in copyright— one of the joint-authors being . happily alive—such acknowledg- ment was all the more necessary.