A very true and sensible utterance of "nurse," as most
fathers, if not most mothers, will allow. " R. Andre " (for we know not whether we should say " Mr." or " Miss") has carried out Mrs. Ewing's ideas in a most satisfactory manner.—Some little books which make up together " The Holly Series," drawings by Ida Waugh (Griffith and Farran), are pleasing. The drawings are distinctly good, and the verses smooth and flowing. We have three numbers before us, Horatio Hamilton Harris, Little May, and The Christmas Carol ; and there are three others.—The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by T. Pym (Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co.), comes with an introduction which ensures a welcome. The illustrations, too, though not equal in merit, are not unworthy of the letterpress. The little girl on p. 17 is excellent, while the three figures on p. 21 are somewhat stiff.—Perseus and the Gorgon- slayer. Illustrated by T. R. Spence, the Tale told in English by W. J. Gordon. (Sampson Low and Co.)—The tale opens badly, with a false quantity, "Upon the cliffs of Seriphos," a blunder which is repeated more than once. The verse, indeed, is of the poorest quality, and would with great advantage have been exchanged for prose. The illastrations, though sometimes showing a certain pretti- ness, want dignity, and are more suitable for the "Red Riding Hood " order of story-book than for a classical tale. "Andromeda Chained to the Rock" is perhaps the worst. The boat on p. 2 is hardly the Adpvat in which Danae and her child were exposed. As to the verse, one specimen will suffice :- " The tooth and eye were passing when Perseus seized them tight, And all the three gray Sisters deprived of wits and sight."
-We have also received Play-time, Sayings and Doings of Baby- land, by Edward Stanford. (Chatto and Windus.)-In The Boats of the World, described and depicted by " One of the Craft" (Sampson Low and Co.), the sailing are better represented than the rowing- boats. Where is the "consummate flower" of rowing-boats, the University eight-oar ? Generally, too, the rowers do not seem to be rowing.
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