Nebo the Nailer. By S. Baring-Gould. (Cassell and Co. 6s.)—
Mr. Baring-Gould; seeking, after his habit, fresh woods and pas- tures new, finds his way into the land of nail-making. He is too fond of settling grave economical questions by his obiter dicta, and he is not free from the fault here. On the other hand, he does good service to the cause of common-sense by his exhibiting in a practical shape the difficulties of Socialism. Nebo is a quite admirable person, with his enthusiasms and aspirations, and he and his doings are described with a sympathy which does not, however, blunt the keenness of the novelist's observation. The faineant gentleman, Fred Folly, is a good study ; moral con- versions have seldom a convincing look in fiction, but his case is an exception. The story, as a whole, is distinctly good; still, we cannot but think that it would have been improved if there had been some little attempt at shading in the study of Adonijah Sanct. Surely even Fred Folly should not have been allowed to ask Cui boar ? when he meant to ask what was the use of a proposed plan.
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