CURRENT LITERATURE.
South Africa: a Sketch-Book. By James Stanley Little. 2 vols. (W. Ewan Sonnenschein and Co.)—In these two volumes, Mr. Little has put together what may very well be described as an exhaustive account of South Africa. He tells us about the various races which make up its population, about its industries, sheep-farming, ostrich- rearing (a risky, but not unprofitable business, it would seem), wine- growing (which-might, by the exercise of ordinary care, be made to succeed much better than it does), distilling, mining, and other things too many to mention. On every subject Mr. Little speaks his mind in the most uncompromising manner. Sheep-farming may be made to pay if the man who tries it will buckle to his work. "He must be content," writes Mr. Little, "to live the life of a chrysalis, if he would wish to make money or become prosperous. But the worst of it is that the warm climate has an awkward tendency to develope the chrysalis into the moth. Thus many unfortunate Britishers, instead of attending to their farms, hie to boot and horse the first thing in the morning, and flicker round the garish flame of canteen and hotel until nightfall, when they return home pretty considerably fuddled. 'There is only one end to this kind of thing—utter ruin and collapse." The diamond market seems likely to be glutted if, as Mr. Little says, the South African fields produce in one day as much as all the other diamond-mines in the world produce in three months. "There are hundredweights of diamonds now knocking about Europe which cannot be offered for sale." But all minerals are to be found in the country ; indeed, our author thinks that mining will be the great feature of its industry in the future. Harbours, railways, bridges, and many other matters, receive attention from Mr. Little, and he has, of course, much to say about sundry political matters. Of the Boers, he has little good to say. They are absolutely averse to progress, hate all kinds of government, have no notion of duty towards the native races, whom they regard as the Israelites regarded the Gibeonites. In fact, Mr. Little's description of them reminds us of the Cyclops folk in "The Odyssey," dwelling in the midst of their flocks and herds, ruling each his own household, and without sense of law. Godless, however, they are not, as were the Cyclopes. The Bible is their only literature ; but as far as they shape their life by it, it is by the Old Testament, rather than the New. Such is Mr. Little's account, and, without committing ourselves, we are bound to say that his manner inspires confidence. He has all the air of one who knows his subject, and says out plainly what he knows. —Along with this book we may mention Town Life in Australta, by R. E. W. Twopeny (Elliot Stook). Hr. Twopeny makes us see what is a novelty to most English readors,—that there is much differ- ence between the various Australian colonies. Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide have each their own characteristics, which any one in- tending a visit or a sojourn should certainly know. The general characteristics, as distinguished from what we have in England, have, it is true, a great resemblance. Both differences and resem- blances are fully described in this volume. The account of the educa- tional work in the colonies is highly interesting. Mr. Twopeny has no doubt that its best development is to be found in Victoria. Of Trinity College, which is attached to the University of Melbourne, he has a particularly high opinion. It is deplorable, though scarcely surprising, to be told that the "provision for the secondary education of girls is miserably poor." Not more than twenty years ago the same might have been said of England. The "Indies' College" at Perth, in Western Australia, seems to be an exception; and there is a good high school at Adelaide. The chapter on literature is very brief. At present, indeed, the annual publications of Australia scarcely equal, if, indeed, they do equal, the London list of a week. There are some thriving newspapers, one or two of which have a reputation in this country. About domestic and social matters there is plenty to be learnt from this volume. The servant question is at least as difficult as it is here supposed to be. The writer gives his own experiences. As this is worth many generalisations, we will transcribe it. After trying the keeping of two servants with singular ill-success, he and his wife came down to one. Here is what happened :—" We gave oar maid-of-all-work fifteen shillings a week [close upon £40 per annum]. We thought we had found a real treasure, and for a month everything went upon wheels. But at the end of that time, just as she was getting accus- tomed to our ways and we to hers, Sarah gave a week's notice ; she had no fault to find with her mistress, but the place was too dull. We offered two shillings a week extra, but in vain. Our next stayed six weeks ; her reason for leaving was that she did not approve of the backyard. Number six stayed for three months ; she was very nearly leaving at the end of the first fortnight, but we won her heart by giving her young man free access to the kitchen from 9 o'clock to 10.30 every evening. Even then, however, she found the place too dill. Number eight stayed two mouths; she left avowedly because she did not care to stop long in one place. The ninth re- mained only a fortnight. She left us because we objected to her staying out after 11 at night, although we gave her three nights out a week after 8.30." We have evidently a lower deep yet to come to in England than has yet been reached. Mr. Twopeny speaks in favourable terms of the Australian wines. As far as the present writer's experience has gone, he does not say at all too much. Every one who is compelled to drink cheap wine can get his money's worth far better in Australian than in any other wine. This book is full of information pleasantly given.
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