This Week's Books
GEORGE BORROW and Sir Hall Caine would have been of one mind over what Borrow styles " those disgraceful and brutalizing exhibitions called pugilistic combats." But unfortunately our mercurial George was only rarely of this opinion, and in many passages elsewhere he is loud in praise of boxing and the boxing-man—`• Let no one sneer at the bruisers of England." Few would—for many reasons, and certainly Mr. Bohun Lynch, who writes an introduction to Mr. Joe Palmer's Recollections of a Boxing Referee (Lane, 10s. 6d.), would be the last to do so. The ring-fan and also that curious nondescript, the general reader, will like to read this jolly-tempered book on the strength of Mr. Palmer's reputation and Mr. Lynch's introduction ; but it is rather sickening to hear that, in these days of fifty-thousand dollar contests and upwards, a strict referee is impracticable ; " you must have a man who is at least tolerant of the lesser villainies."
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