THE SUN IN SPLENDOUR. By Thomas Burke. nstable. 7s. 6d.)—The
Sun in Splendour is the name of an ngton public-house. Its owner, David Scollard, is at heart dreamer and a musician, and Beethoven and Mozart are yed by a small orchestra in his saloon. In a neighbouring ev there lives with her aunt, who maltreats her, a small girl, nie Giltspur, who, standing frequently outside the public- use, is fascinated by the strains that proceed from it. Later becomes acquainted with Scollard's musical son, ristopher. But Mr. Burke denies us the obvious happy ing. Christopher does not become a great composer, but rely a popular writer of rag-time, while Connie marries rrinchief, Christopher's " discoverer " and agent. These meters, and a variety of minor ones, are wonderfully wn, and the life of the meaner London streets is painted h that mingled realism and tenderness which have made the hor famous. Yet, on the whole, the book, while thoroughly .e and interesting, fails to achieve distinction, and we feel t, in turning from autobiography and the short. story to the -el, Mr. Burke is deserting the field of his unique talent for at many writers can do equally well.
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