520
NOTES AND QUERIES. [* s. n. BW. a*.
of folk-lore is finer than Mr. Frazer's explanation of
the incarnation in the King of the Groves of the
worship of the earth spirit. Macaulay's lines in
'The Battle of Lake Regillus' are quoted afresh,
with those pictures of the lake on the Alban Hills
that sleeps
Beneath Aricia's trees
Those trees in whose dim shadow The ghostly priest doth reign,
The priest that slew the slayer,
And shall himself be slain.
From the point given Mr. Clodd illustrates fully such questions as superstitions concerning iron, the gullible devil, magic (through tangible and intangible things), taboo, words of power, and the name and the soul. To those who dp not possess a know- ledge of Frazer's epoch-marking booK and the works of writers such as Robertson Smith and Tylor, with, it may be added, Herbert Spencer, Mr. Clodd's book may well come as a revelation. To those, even, who have studied primitive faith, and what Mr. Clodd calls savage philosophy, it has value, since we know not where else an account more succinct and admirable can be obtained of those superstitions which are at the root of all religion, from the most savage to the most civilized. It is impossible for us to dwell upon, or even enumerate, all the matters of interest with which Mr. Clodd deals. It is, of course, a mere coincidence that scientists, as a matter of precaution against pulmonary disease, are counselling a disposition of the saliva such as some savage tribes observed, for fear of allowing the saliva to come into the possession of those by whom damage to the original proprietor might be wrought. Reticence concerning the mention of names is a matter on which Mr. Clodd has much to say. His book is, indeed, to be warmly commended. Those familiar with anthropology and folk-lore know him as a leading authority. For those who have such familiarity yet to acquire his work con- stitutes an admirable handbook. It opens a pleasant portal into a land prodigal of remuneration and delight.
Among my Books. With a Preface by H. D. Traill,
D.C.L. (Stock.)
IT is a curious idea to give to these causeries on literary subjects reprinted from Literature a title previously used by Lowell all the more curious since 'Among our Books/ besides avoiding the difficulty, would have been more accurately de- scriptive. The papers of which the volume is com- posed are naturally of different degrees of merit, the editor's estimate of their value being, appa- rently, indicated by the order in which they are placed. Mr. Augustine Birrell opens the ball. He is always amusing. We do not like such a phrase, however, as "Books are liberally besmattered [sic] with praise." Besmear we know, and bespatter ; but " oesmatter" ! It is not in the ' H.E.D.,' nor is there such a word as smatter in the sense in which it is used. " To differ with his neighbour." again, smells of the butterwoman's cart or the laundry. Mr. Lang, in ' History as it is Written,' deals, as a good Scotchman, with the imputations on Mary, Queen of Scots, and has something to say concern- ing her historians Tytler and Froude. Among others who contribute are Austin Dobson, Leslie Stephen, Stanley Lane Poole, and D. H. Madden. The volume may, likely enough, be the first of a series*
The International Directory of Booksellers. By
James Clegg. (Rochdale, Clegg ; London, Stock.)
FROM small beginnings Clegg's ' Directory of Book-
sellers ' has sprung into a useful institution, and
it now extends to over four hundred pages, all
occupied with matters concerning the sale of books
at home and abroad. It is not yet complete. We
do not find among publishers the name of B.
Dobell, of Charing Cross Road, who has published
many books, or that of Pearson, who reprinted
Mrs. Behn, Mrs. Centlivre, &c. While writing these
words the catalogue of a firm of London booksellers
whose name does not appear (Hankinson & Co.) has
been delivered by post. Still a vast amount of in-
formation concerning books and dealers in them at
home and abroad is supplied, and the work, which
has only been in existence a dozen years, will soon
be perfect. It is specially full in regard to
Americans. Among the information supplied M r e
find particulars concerning public and municipal
libraries.
Parlour and Playground Games, by A. B. Gomme (Bell & Sons), is a contribution to trie literature of children's games by Mrs. Alice Bertha Gomme, one of the best of living authorities on the subject. It is intended to be of practical utility in helping to brighten the lives of children, and is founded upon the collections of Halliwell and Chambers, but in a greater degree upon the author's own dictionary of ' The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland.'
MR. JONATHAN BOUCHIER has printed privately a few copies of A Waverley Mosaic, in the shape of an imaginary letter to Dandie Dinmont written by the Laird of Dumbiedikes. It is a marvel of skill in the use of Scottish phraseology on the part of a Southron, and is a very pleasing literary curiosity. It may be read in a few minutes, is printed by Warren & Son, of Winchester, and will greatly commend itself to lovers of Sir Walter.
gfotkea tor
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THEODORE REYNOLDS, Monson, Mass. ('Paul Jones'). We are obliged by your copy of the poem. A version, differing somewhat, was, nowever, given ante, p. 353.
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