At Random. By L. F. Austin. (Ward, Lock, and Co.)—The
friend who advised Mr. Austin to write a preface would have done better had he counselled him not to publish at all. These, or some of these, sketches have appeared in the Speaker and the Sketch, and doubtless have amused the readers of these two journals. But then they appeared singly, a relief to graver matters. Here they are to be found in the mass, and they want a relief which they do not get. We do not arraign the good taste of readers who were entertained by these papers when we say that we have found them somewhat tedious. A wise journalist will imitate the wise preacher, and refuse to let his weekly efforts seek a more prolonged existence.—Boarding-House Reminiscences. By Juloc. (T. Fisher Unwin.)—Here is another volume of sketches. They are clever, and might entertain, if they were not so uniformly disagreeable. " The Pleasure of Living with Others" is the author's alternative title. That is unpleasantly cynical, and gives a not unfair idea of the book.
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