CURRENT LITERATURE.
'Tween Gloamin' and the Mirk. By Sir Hugh Gilzean-Reid. (Alexander Gardner.)—Most of the sketches in this volume, its author tells us, were written more than a quarter of a century ago. It is probable, to say the least of it, that the collection and republication of them in volume form are to be attributed to the present " boom" in studies of Scotch life, which shows no symptoms of decay. It will hardly be pretended that Sir Hugh Gilzean-Reid competes with Mr. Barrie, Mr. Crockett, and "Ian Maclaren " on their own ground; some of his sketches, more particularly his half-historical studies, are readable ; but his stories have a rather old-fashioned flavour, such as " From Plough to Pulpit," which tells simply and prettily beyond doubt, but yet rather conven- tionally, how a young Scotch ploughman can by industry and ability find his way into a pulpit, and take the girl of his early choice home to a comfortable manse. Sir Hugh Reid is really, however, in his element when, under the title of "Unaccredited Heroes," be describes the work done in and for Scotland by men who have not been awarded, perhaps, quite the amount of honour they should have received, like the Brothers Bethune, who wrote of the Scottish peasantry, Robert Nicoll, the poet-journalist, and others or when, in " A Northern University," he tells of the work done for the higher education in Scotland. A more pathetic strain is touched in " Oscar,' the Faithful Dog," which certainly recalls " gab and his Friends " more readily than any other story that has recently been published. Altogether, 'Tween G/oamin' and the Mirk is a volume into which many Scotchmen will dip at odd times with pleasure, and which even Englishmen may read with profit.
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