THE PARSON'S OUTLOOK.
The Parson's Outlook. By W. G. Edwards, Bees. (Longmans and Co. 6s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Rees has acquired, or, what is more probable, has received by nature, the gift of the essayist's touch. He says things that are important in an easy and gracious way. His smile is never too broad, his satire never unkind, his charac- terisation is always delicate. Take the chapter on "The Parson's Children." To the daughters he gives praise almost unmixed ; as to the sons, he quotes the common estimate that they are "either saints or sinners." This he examines in a most sensible way, leaving us with the impression, which indeed is with us through- out the book, that he knows what he is talking about. Or take the clever passage which tells ns how an acute observer detected a parson in an unclerically habited stranger. He notices the "rather uncommon development of the maxillary muscles,"—this showed "a talker by profession." Then " clearness of enuncia- tion," not always a clerical characteristic, as our author is well aware ; fluent but not "cautiously hesitant " ; "easy of access to all and sundry." In a more serious vein we have "The Parson's Autocracy." Here our author touches a real mischief. The old figment of the "freehold"—how can a tenure that is on the guamdiu se bene gesserit be a freehold ?—is at the bottom of it. In the town parish there are counteracting influences ; in the country the real harm that it does is very serious indeed. Mr. Rees's book consists of " Colloquies " and "Profiles." Both are excellent; but perhaps the method of the latter makes them the snore pleasing of the two. No one, for instance, could see the " profile " of "The Archdeacon of Ebbfleet " without wishing to know that quite admirable ecclesiastic.
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