Lame Dogs. By William Bullock-Barber. (Bliss, Sands, and Poster.)—This tale
is, we are told by its title.page, an "impres- sionist study." Impressionism in art means, we know, neglect of detail ; impressionism in literature would seem to mean neglect of grammar. The Judge who addressed the criminal with " Pri- soner at the bar, Providence has blessed you with health and strength ; instead of that you go about the country stealing ducks," was an impressionist. Mr. Bullock-Barber might have modelled his style by this fragment of judicial eloquence. So we read of some one as "a woman with the grey head that comes so slowly to those who have ever possessed a mass of golden hair ; " so also of this lady's husband, that "with age he had not only lost the little polish that was once to be called his, but had also become absolutely boorish,' the whole baying a most depressing Influence on the wife." As for the story, it is naught. The author finds himself with two dissatisfied couples. How are they to be disposed of ? Are there to be two elopements ? Not so. Husband No. 1 drives wife No. 2 in a dogcart with a frisky horse ; both are killed ; the field is then cleared for the legitimate union of husband No. 2 with wife No. 1. We hope to have no more "impressionist studies."
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