Lively Recollections. By Canon Shearme. (John Lane. 5s. net.) —Canon
Shearmo's " recollections " make very pleasant reading. The book is not long and it is quite light. We are all often asked to recommend such a book in these days, and the name is well worth remembering. Canon Shearme was born in Cornwall, near to Morwenstow, and the celebrated Hawker was connected with him by marriage. In a good-natured way he and his parents disliked Mr. Hawker, and the reader will laugh very heartily over their reasons. The life of a country clergyman is, as a rule, not very eventful, but he has ample opportunity for the kindly study of human nature among great and small, and if he has humour ho can be excellent company—especially if he does not take his ecclesiastical dignity too seriously. Canon Shearmo represents. a type which is passing away. He speaks with indulgence, amusement, and true kindness of the poor, but he has evidently always lived among the rich. His point of view is quite different from that of the modern parson, who is sometimes a saint, and from that of the indifferent parish priest, who, wo fear, is still not as uncommon as he should be in the country, and can say nothing of interest to, or about, any one. It is the point of view of a scholar and a kindly, leisurely gentleman, who can talk to us very pleasantly about all sorts and conditions of people.
Previous page
