Simon Holmes, the Carpenter of Aspendale. By J. Jackson Wray.
(James Nisbet and Co).—This tale, consisting of 350 pages, is of the exaggerated " religions " type. Its spirit is represented in the following extract :—" At every house the pions old carpenter was a welcome guest. There was something contagious in his firm and fervent faith ; and long after the doctor bral given an adverse opinion in some cases of serious illness, the simple villagers would ask if Simon had given 'ern up.' Methinks it is a pity that faith like this, power with God like this, holy influence with men like this, is so rare a thing among Christian people. Were it otherwise, we might hope to see signs and wonders, wonders of healing, wonders of deliverance, wonders of reformation and conver- sion, wonders of rapid evangelisation, which now we only dream of and so very seldom see." Probably the least that may be looked for in an illustration is that it should correspond with the letterpress. In p. 135, it is said of "the tawny bandit" that among "the most note- worthy distinctions of his features were an immense breadth of jet- black beard and whisker, cut closely, so as not to be inconvenient." They are " cut " so " closely " in the illustration as to have dis- appeared altogether.
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