7 DECEMBER 1889, Page 38

Cut by the Mess. By Arthur Keyser. (Chatto and Windus.)—

The plot of this story is very simple. One of two messmates- they belong to a man-of-war—" shows the white-feather " in a row in which they foolishly involve themselves, and the other takes the blame upon himself, and bears the social penalty which follows. Doubtless this conduct is " heroic " in its way, as the author calls it, but it may well be doubted whether it was really right. However this may be, Mr. Keyser makes an affecting story out of it.