Old Songs. With Drawings by Edwin A. Abbey and Alfred
Parsons. (Macmillan and Co.)—The songs have appeared from time to time in Harper's Magazine. There are seventeen songs given, among them the old favourites," The Leather Bottel," "Sally in our Alley," and "Kitty of Coleraine." The songs we have, and pretty drawings to go with them, but why not the music ?—which might surely have been added without much trouble, and which certainly would have made the book more useful. Mr. Abbey is, we sup- pose, responsible for the figures ; while Mr. Parsons has contri- buted the very pretty initial and tail-pieces. Mr. Abbey can draw a graceful and attractive shape and face, but does not always, it seems to us, take as much pains with his work as he might. "Sally," as we see her in her Sunday-best and in her working-day attire, is a charming creature ; but the artist is not always up to the mark. Nevertheless, draughtsmen and pub- lishers between them have produced a decidedly handsome volume.
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