Scottish Border Life. By James C. Dibdin. (Methuen and Co.)
—Although the sketches which compose this book are "original," they will be found rather disappointing, especially by such readers as hoped a good deal from the author's "Cleekim Inn." For one thing, they suggest that drunkenness of the most sodden description is of the very essence of Border humour, if not of Border life. Thus the hero of the first story, Timothy Mony- flower, is tipsy from the beginning till he is found "drowned in his own wash-tub and surrounded by his sleeping servants, who were too drunk at the time of his falling into it to save their master from such a dismal fate." Then there are few, if any, characters in the book which can be said to be distinctive of the Border region of Scotland. At the same time, it may be allowed that Mr. Dibdin writes carefully, and that in the story of Lady Grizzle there is a little of the pathos which is in the very air of the enchanted land of Scott and Hogg.
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