SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have reserved for review in other forms.] not bee"
Then and Now. By Dean Hole. (Hutchinson and Co. 16s. net) —Dean Hole is always instructive and always entertaining. Now the one, now the other characteristic predominates. This time it is the turn of instruction, as, indeed, might be expected when an octogenarian compares the world as be found it in his youth with what he sees in his old age. He is severe on the mothers who do not nurse their own children, a practice that is bound to grow with the growing employment of women, on perambulators, and on modern ways of rearing children. But he sees improvement in the methods and aims of education. Society, too, has advanced. It behaves better and is better; its standards are.more reasonable. What he has to say about women is compounded of praise and blame ; the horrida imago maxis does not please him. The sub- ject of the " Nurse" finds him thankful for great progress. As to cricket, he repeats the common opinion that the game is not what it was to wat ch, and that, now most of the counties buy their players, the local interest is greatly weakened. We regret to say that he is heretical on golf, though we concede that the game is not good to look at. On "Clergy and Laity " he has some sensible remarks, which we shall not attempt to epitomise; and on " P, eaching, and Speaking " he is not less worth listening to Readers acquainted with Dean jiole's writings will expect good stories. They do not abound, but here is a quaint specimen. A boy, given to violent fits of passion, kicked and spat at his father. Brought to a better mind, he confessed : " Father, the Devil told me to kick you; the spitting was my own idea."
Previous page
