Acrobats and Mountebanks. By H. le Roux and J. Gamier.
Translated from the French by A. P. Morton. (Chapman and Hall.)—The title-page adds, " with 233 illustrations," a matter so important in relation to the book that we call special attention to it. If the plan of our paper permitted, we would reproduce some specimens. Nothing would better commend the work to our readers. These must be content with the assurance that they are unusually interesting and effective. The letterpress is good, often sparkling and bright, though sometimes a little obscure, from the allusiveness of its style; and Mr. Morton has preserved with much skill its French vivacity. The first chapter describes the organisation of the profession of showman (if the word can be used) in France, England, and elsewhere, and its organs in the Press. Then we are told about great showmen. Mr. Barnum has the widest celebrity ; but there are others of note in their own spheres. We read about charmers of snakes and tamers of lions, about trainers of animals and the . animals they train (some of the stories are very pathetic), about dwarfs and equestrians, male and female, about equilibrists and acrobats. "I have now frequented the society of banquistes for many years, and am on confidential terms with them; I cannot express too often the very great esteem I feel for them." That is a pleasing testimony. If there is any final cause in the faculties which human beings possess, and if, as seems clearly the case, an acrobat has faculties as markedly distinctive as a poet or a preacher, some curious questions suggest themselves. Is there, for instance, any religions theory which has a place in its system for these occupations ? Yet some who follow them are not only well-conducted but devout. " She is pious, then ? " one of the authors' correspondents represents himself as asking about a certain Erminia, when he hears that she has taken a bouquet thrown to her the night before, to the Virgin's Chapel. " Cer- tainly," was the answer ; " it is only a fortnight since she received the communion ; she often communicates." Why not ? and yet the pictures of her have a somewhat incongruous look.
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