Barker's : a Chronicle. By E. H. Lacon Watson. (John
Murray. 6s.)—" Barker's" is a publishing house, a Church publishing house, situate in Holborn,—so does Mr. Watson throw U3 off the scent. When the story opens it is in low water. It has ceased to pay dividends to those who have an hereditary interest in it. One of the sufferers determines to revive it, and here we have the chronicle of his efforts. For it is a chronicle, not a romance, and a chronicle put together by a man of letters. Mr. Roscoe goes into the office, when the crisis is at its acutest point, to help a friend, the enterprising youth who was to make the old things new, and, not a little to his surprise, finds that he likes the work. Possibly it would he well if all authors, all, that is, worth counting, had such an experience. Anyhow, it is good to read about here, for the author manifestly knows something of the subject. We have also an excellent love story beginning, according to the wise woman's counsel, with a little aversion. Altogether, Barker's is a story to be read.
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