C URRENT LITERATURE.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Signs of the Times. By the Authors of " Wisdom While You Wait." Illustrated by George Morrow. (Alston Rivers. ls. net.) —Though the intimate connexion of one of the authors of this side-shaking book with the Spectator renders it inappropriate that we should notice Signs of the Times at the length which in reality it deserves, we cannot refrain from at least clearing the Spectator of the possible accusation of not being able to appreciate so excellent a piece of fun. If we passed it by altogether, those who did not understand the reason for our reticence might imagine that we had lost the power to appreciate sound and wholesome humour. The work is a torrent of sparkling chaff, and has been called into being by the Times book war,—a chaffing match conducted with all the poignancy and irresponsible humour to which its authors have accustomed the public. It is impossible to imagine any one possessed of the nerves and muscles which produce a laugh reading Signs of the Times without every now and then rolling in helpless mirth. We ourselves cannot help being very much tickled by the parody advertisement of the Spectator, in which the editorial sanctum is exhibited strewn with cats, dogs, and rifles, the whole presided over by what appears to be the bust of Mr. Cobden, surmounted by a black kitten ! The illustrations by Mr. George Morrow are exceedingly funny, and show once again that he has the rare gift of being able to express the comic in line and tone. He possesses something of the wonderful power which Charles Keene had so fully, of putting a hearty laugh into the ° hang " of a pair of trousers or the fall of a coat-tail. Very delightful is the picture of the combined dining and billiard table in which the eating and drinking and the cannons and making of pockets are all going on at once, while the butler marks, tray in hand,
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