Sunlight and Shadow ; or, Gleanings from My Life - Work. By
John B. Gough. (Hodder and Stoughton.) —Mr. Gough would not be pleased,
if we were to recommend that this volume should be read, even where it deals with the question of total abstinence. What we mean is, that the total-abstinence argument, though forcibly stated, is not the best, as it is not the characteristic part of the book. This is to be found in all that brings before us Mr. Gough's own vigorous and remarkable personality,—in his judgments on mon and things, is the experiences which he has gathered in the course of a long and active life. We see a sensible, kindly, humorous man, whom we respect, though wo differ from him, and find ourselves getting pretty bard blows for dif- fering. The chapter headed, " Some of My Experiences with Brazen- faced People," to take an instance, is remarkably entertaining. The chief of the brazen-faced are interviewers and beggars, of which latter
class we get some amusing specimens ; "You talk of serving the Lord. You will serve him by helping me. I want $1,000 to got a borne." (Mr. Gough's experience of charitable money-lending is lamentable. Fifty thousand dollars lout, and only four or five cases of money repaid.) Among the "brazen-faced" must be reckoned a lady who sought Mr. Gough's help in getting married. Her candour, however, should be put down to her credit. Here is her portrait, drawn by herself :—" Very unprepossessing in appearance, having a dark complexion, plain, sad features ; only 4 ft. 10 in. in height ; weight, 90 lb. to 98 lb." Of a more serious kind are Mr. Gough's very interesting account of his experiences as a speaker, his occa- sional nervousness, his ways of conjuring-np passing impressions and remarks, &c.
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