19 NOVEMBER 1904, Page 8

David Chester's Motto, "Honour Bright." By H. Escott - Inman. (F. Warne

and Co. 3s. 6d.)—And a very good motto, too ; yet, perversely enough, we wonder whether two eases of conscience which occur in the story were settled in accordance with it. The hero's father is unjustly condemned. Ought he to have broken prison? Socrates explains in the Crito why a good citizen should refuse to do so. A villainous lawyer, again, is possessed of a compromising document to which a foolish lad has put his name. As long as he holds it the hands of the champions of right are tied. Accordingly an ex-pickpocket, now enlisted on the side of virtue, steals it from him. What would Socrates have said to that ? But there is plenty of other entertainment in the book besides cases of casuistry.