25 MARCH 1893, Page 24

Stories and Interludes. By Barry Pain. (Henry and Co.)—Mr. Barry

Pain is a humourist of a pessimistic kind, such as seems to be eminently acceptable to this generation. • A goodly list of periodicals who are thanked for permission to reprint is given in a note. This is proof enough of popular favour ; we can but say that these things are not to our taste. " Jadis," for instance, would be thought very clever ; but what is it but a cynical, un- savoury suggestion of wickedness ?