18 APRIL 1896, Page 25

Old - World Japan : Legends of the Land of the Gods.

Retold by Frank Rusder. (George Allen.)—These legends are curious,— little like, we are inclined to say, what we should have expected from the place of their origin. They are full of a fanciful senti- ment which it is not easy to harmonise with the practical Japanese character. Tales, indeed, they can scarcely be called ; they are rather fancies. The "dawn and evening" theorists will welcome them as a confirmation of their theory. Mr T. H. Robinson's illustrations are decidedly good. He has been able to idealise Japanese traits without making them untrue to nature.