Cape Cod Folks. By Sally Pratt McLean. (Griffith and Farran.)
—In this book (which, though bearing the name of an English pub- lishing house, has in every respect an American aspect), we bear bow a young lady set forth to keep school at Sandy Creek, near Cape Cod, and what experiences she met with. We understand that the book has made some stir, the Cape Cod folk thinking that they have been too exactly photographed. For our part, not having the resource of comparing the pictures with the originals, we have found Miss McLean's descriptions just a little tedious. It is a curious fact that oue reads without weariness about people who, in real life, are somewhat tiresome ; but then we must know the tiresome people. Still, there are touches both of humour and of pathos in these chapters. Perhaps the most laughter-moving passage that we have come across is this : the teacher is " expatiating on the vastness and superiority of the spiritual life, compared with the earthly and carnal," and pro. ceeds, " ' Now, Sophronia, you have an immortal soul ?' There WRS evidence of some faint hankering in Sophronia's face, as she mentally ran over the list of her possessions. ' No'm,' said she, 'I hain't ; but I've got a corny copia.' "
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