TALES FROM THE TALMUD.
Tales from the Talmud. By E. R. Montague. (W. Blackwood and Sons. 6s.)—" A collection of tales which, sometimes quaint, sometimes marvellous, often of groat intrinsic beauty, and always illustrative of the inner lives and feelings of the Jewish people two thousand years ago, constitute in some respects one of the most interesting parts of the Talmud." This is Mr. Montague's modest definition of a very interesting and readable book which admirably reproduces many of the best characteristics of the Jewish people. It would not be too much, and not irreverent, to say that it is a collection of good stories arranged under such heads as " Early Biblical Legends," " Later Biblical Legends," "Demonology," and "Other Tales." It can be dipped into at intervals with pleasure and profit ; the reader will always rise from it with increased respect for the Rabbis. For the rest, it may be noted that while Milman regarded the Talmud as a monument of human industry, human intelligence, and human folly, Mr. Montague says :—" When that venerable grandmother the Talmud rests in some library corner, we shall not despise her for being old-fashioned and garrulous ; we shall not be ashamed of her if she talks sometimes of things which offend more refined ears ; if she may be at times tedious, now and again narrow or uncharitable, we shall remember that long ago she suffered much, and if we smile, shall smile very kindly."
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