A- Book of Ballads and Etchings. By Alice Sargent and
William Strang .(Elkin Mathews, 15s.)—Mr. Strang's etchings are always worth study, not only because he is an accomplished etcher, but by reason of his great originality. Even if-the limbs are sometimes wooden and the people lumpy of build, there. is a redeeming quality of poetry about them. In the present work the beat etching is the one illustrating the ballad called " Jessie of Ardrossan." The group of mourning figures at the maiden's feet have great dignity and beauty. This ballad, too, is a good example of tragic incident treated with the restraint and direct- ness of the old-ballads. It would-be rash to say that the perfect bloom,. of the old traditional poetry when at its best has ever been recovered in mcsiern times. The present instance, though different from the real thing, is still a by no means unworthy attempt to de the impossible.
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