An "I.D.B." in South Africa. By Louise Vescelius-Sheldon. (Trubner and
Co.)—If we are to believe the writer, a somewhat An "I.D.B." in South Africa. By Louise Vescelius-Sheldon. (Trubner and Co.)—If we are to believe the writer, a somewhat
low state of morals prevails at the Cape,—at least, this is the impression we get on perusing this account of the widespread evil of illicit diamond-buying. True, the book is a novel, but there is hardly a single character who is not an "I.D.B." or an accom- plice. The plot consists of an intended elopement and the escape of the sinning woman's husband from detection as an " I.D.B."
The poor man, who at least has some good points about him, is,
however, unceremoniously packed off with a previously unheard- of wife, and the story ends somewhat foolishly. An "I.D.B." in South Africa is not a satisfactory book ; a want of taste is shown, and sometimes also of savoir-faire,—the quarrel between the doctor and the major is a case in point. Still, it is readable, and will please honest diamond-buyers.
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