Attic Nights. By Charles Mills. (Chatto and Windus.)—It was a
somewhat strange idea to revive the dramatis persona of the Noctes Ambrosia?: ce, "the Shepherd," and Tickler, and North, and even to bring out again into the light of day the punch-bowl, and all the convivial apparatus of the Noctes, The lapse of years, it is true, has had its effect on the speakers ; their capacity for liquor seems to be loss, their appetite less heroic, and their language about those who have not the good-fortune to agree with them is considerably moderated, and if we may say as much, improved. With these changes for the better, something of the old vigour is gone. In fact, the Attic Nights is like other revivals, and challenges a comparison to which it is scarcely equal. Yet it is a readable book, with no little thought and criticism in it of the right sort. After all, it is difficult for a writer who fools that be has something to say on a number of subjects not closely connected to invent some way of stringing them together ; and it is at least 'possible that the recollection of the Nodes may do at least as much g ood as harm to these Nights. The difficulty for an essay-writer is to get a first hearing: and if Mr. Mills succeeds by recalling the sound of a familiar name, who is to blame him ?
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