THE ROAD AND THE INN.
The Road and the Dm. By James John Ilissey. (Macmillan and Co. 10a. net.)—In hie-new book Mr. Iliasey describes a delightfully haphazard journey. " My plan of travel was to have no plan. Each day my destination was Anywhere ! " Starting from a point near the South Downs, he and his car rambled (he assures us that only once did he " open wide the throttle ") through lanes and byways, going east to Norfolk and Lincolnshire, north as far as the Dukeries, returning by Northampton and Warwick, touching Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and so to Kent and the coast, and home by Romney Marshes. Mr. Hissey's chief aim was the avoidance of high roads and big towns, and in this he succeeded admirably. His habit of turning up any by-road that looked attractive incidentally led him at times into fruitless excursions up lanes that ended in farmyards or the banks of some lonely and impassable stream, but incidentally also it led him to the discovery of pretty villages hidden in out-of -the-way corners, delectable and hospitable inns, picturesque manor houses, and interesting old churches. Tho book contains some excellent illustrations of churches, and Mr. Hissey also has some good stories to tell. Inquiring as to the damage suffered by a certain church, the clerk replied that Crom- well had done it. On being asked apparently if this were a feet,-he answered : "I babel historically sure, but it's safe to put it down to that old sinner." The ambitious sightseer will find little of interest in Mr. Hissey's record, but to any one who has experienced these leisurely cross-country rambles, or who loves the country. side even in its most homely and uneeneational aspect, it will give much enjoyment. It ia just the book to dip into during the winter evenings while speculating on the tour which is to be taken at the next happy opportunity.
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