Recent Pastimes of Merrie England. Interpreted from ancient MSS. and
annotated by F. 0. Barnand ; with illustrations drawn from ye quick. by J. E. Rogers, Author of "Ridicule Rediviva." (Cassell and Co.)—Mr. Rogers' illustrations have all the brilliant and well-har- monised colouring and the excellent drawing which distinguished -" Ridicule Rediviva" and "Mores Ridiculi." There is remarkable ingenuity in the way in which he contrives to retain, under a certain superficial extravagance, a genuine truthfulness of attitude and expres- sion. The figures in "Cricket," for instance, could not have been more natural had they been intended for an illustration in a sporting magazine. The figures in "Billiards" are equally good, and the yacht in a "Boat- ing Boaster" is worthy of Mr. Hook. Mr. Bornand is, of course, fanny, but it is becoming very difficult to laugh at funny things. We must seriously object to the story of the "Angling Uncle," who throws his niece into the water for frightening away the fish :-
A splash! a dash! a muffled scream'
At sunset glowed the silent stream.
And then. . . . some hundred jack and pike Were eating what they seemed to like."
We do not think that it is good to joke about horrors.
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