When the Open Air Boy by the Rev. G. M.
A. Hewett (Wykeham Press, 6s.) was first published—almost a generation ago—it was greeted as a new species of book. A school- master, of so ancient a foundation as Winchester, dared to throw dignity to the winds, to be wholly natural, to tell boys how to be boys indeed, creatures who kicked their heels and used their senses with gusto. The book, now reissned, as some sort of memorial to Mr. Hewett's memory, keeps much of its original zest. One reason is that in every page you feel what a delightful companion the author must have been. Boys may still enjoy the book and schoolmasters take profit from it, but both will enjoy it more if they are naturalists or fishermen, as in notable degree was the publisher who persuaded Mr. Hewett to become the author.
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