Public - House Reform. By A. N. Cumming, M.A. (Swan Sonnenschein and
Co. 2s. 6d.)—Mr. Cumming writes on his title-page : "Public-Houses are Public Necessities." That maxim indicates the line which he takes. The "reformed public-house" is his ideal. It is idle to attempt to argue the question or to arbitrate between Sir Wilfrid Lawson aud Co. on the one side, and Lord Grey and Bishop Jayne on the other. That the former should get their way is, we believe, im- possible ; that the latter will succeed is, we think, desirable, though not certain. Meanwhile we may relate an anecdote which indicates the attitude of the "man in the street." A. and B, two friends of the writer of this notice, started for a long walk in summer. Early in the day A said, as they passed through a certain village : "Nice quiet place,—the owner will not have a public-house on his property." After twenty miles on a hot day they returned to the same place, but entering it by another way, did not at once recognise it. A, being very boti and thirsty, asked for the public-house. "None in the place, Sir," was the answer. "What monstrous tyranny !" Yes they are "public necessities."
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