The Cowl People of PaVicx. By Colonies 1Stikszarth. With an
Introduction by Clifton Bingham. (Dean and Son.)—Let none be deluded by the handsome appearance of this volume into classing it with the "gift-book" species. It has a very handsome extsrior, plentiful and effective illustrations, and sumptuous paper. But the matter ! The "Good People" is an ironical appellation. These Hungarian villagers are, quite possibly, not worse than others, but their vices, their crimes, their superstitions, are photographed by their countryman—for such the writer is—with - an unsparing fidelity. Most of our readers will be acquainted with "A Village Tragedy." That would make a quiet, cheerful story among the horrors which we have collected here. It is not all gloom, we allow; there is the story of "Little Boots," for instance, which leaves, for a wonder, a pleasant taste behind it. But such relief is rare. It is the fashion for English tale-writers just now to affect the dismal ; but for consistent wretchedness, give us something Scandinavian, or Hungarian, or perhaps, beat- er worst—of all, Russian.
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