More Horses
Penny Farthing, with illustrations by Mr. G. D. Armour at his best, is a racing story, in which human character does not count for much, though the people are adequately recognizable; but the story of the foal Penny Farthing is highly gratifying. Persuaded by his stud groom to draft the foal, Sir Hubert Weir, whose chief desire in life is to breed the winner of a classic race, finally buys him back at a vast sum after a success at Ascot, in the hopes that he may win the Derby. In the meantime, the foal is bought by some Irish horse-topers, sold as a colt (cheap, and on a half-profit basis) to a young man who trains for his great-aunt, Lady Gulliver ; and is incident- ally the cause of true love running smooth, and of a timorous city man being won round to racing. An agreeable modest story, not without excitement, and a good deal of humour. One of the themes of the book is that ninety per cent. of racing is absolutely straight, an assurance we would gladly believe true. Racing people should like the book very much, and will no doubt buy the presentation edition at two guineas to give their friends as a Christmas present.
Hunting Pie is great fun, and deals with " the whole art (and craft) of fox-hunting." Mr. Watson obviously knows all about hunting, having been with his wife joint master of a pack for some years, and he chooses to write about it as the veriest dolt and ninny. It may not make you laugh aloud, but it will keep you on the chuckle; not to say giggle, nearly all the time. It is illustrated by admirable and humorous drawings by Mr.Paul Brown, and these add considerably to the effect. Moreover, as in all good comic works, there is a great deal to be learned from this book ; everybody, though highly amused, will rise from the reading of it with an increased sympathy for masters, field-masters, hunt secretaries, treasurers, huntsmen, whips and other misunderstood people. The book is full of types that we know.
Most hunting verse is apt to be too much of the galloping, dactylic kind, or of the tantivy-trot variety, but Rancher in Tally-ho Back uses a variety of metres to sing the joys of the chase, of the " ding-dong five and fifty minutes," of feeling yourself on the back of a. hOrSe; and so-on. Rancher is at his weakest when he aims at the " poetic," but when he sticks to hunting pure and simple, he writes vigorously and with a line swing. The book is illustrated by Mr. Lionel Edwards ; and if you want to make a handsome Christmas present, you may buy the presentation edition, signed, sealed, and delivered, for three guineas.
BON AMY BOBREE.
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