26 DECEMBER 1903, Page 26

Popular Ballads of the Olden Time. Selected and Edited by

Frank Sidgwick. First Series : "Ballads of Chivalry and Romance." (A. H. Bullen. 3s. 6d. net.)—" Of making selections of ballads," writes Mr. Sidgwick in his preface, " there is no end." His work is justified by his way of doing it. The intro- duction defines a "ballad," speculates on its growth, gives an account of former collections, and also supplies a useful dictionary, so to speak, of "ballad commonplaces,"—i.e., of such frequently recurring words as "briar," "pin," &c.