18 NOVEMBER 1899, Page 9

John Ames, Native Commissioner. By Bertram Milford. (F. V. White

and Co. 3s. 6d.) —This is a story of the " Matabele Rising," full of incident vigorously described, and not a little lurid in colour, a characteristic which will not be unexpected by those who are familiar with Mr. Mitford's work. The last scene, where the chief mischief-makers of the story come to a bad, a very bad, end, is as ghastly as it could well be. It is all the more im- pressive because it follows a very pretty scene of reconciliation and happiness. Most authors keep this kind of 'thing for the last, to leave, so to speak, a sweet taste in the mouth ; but that is not Mr. Mitford's way.