Boys of the Bible. By Lady Magnus. Illustrated by John
Langton and Henry Rylands. (Raphael Tuck and Sons.)—The illustrations are of what we may call the "romantic" as opposed to the realistic style. The figures are well drawn and pic- turesque, and the colouring, where oolour is used, is effective. Still it cannot be supposed that they represent, with any degree of probability, the personages for whom they stand. As for the narratives, it is needless to say much about them. The "coat of many colours " was probably not distinguished by its colours, but by its shape,—its two full sleeves, as worn by high-born lads. The "boys of the Bible" are Isaac, Jacob, and Esau (we may remark that the two last were not boys, but middle-aged men, when the incident of the sold birthright took place), Joseph, Moses, David, and Jonathan—the last two must have been beyond boyhood when they figure in Hebrew history—Joash and Daniel (surely Daniel must have been in middle-ago when Darius was on the throne). Finally, we have Samson,—why, it is im- possible to say.
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