We ended last month (page 202) with No. 93 and No. 94 of our little quarto, in order to give two samples of the playful wit of the distinguished Judge who had just passed away, Baron Fitzgerald. The answer to the first is "slip-slop" with the subsidiary lights," scissors," "laurel," "Io," and "peep." For two of these the unclassical reader may consult Lempriere or Dr. William Smith's Dictionaries. The Baron supposes us to be familiar also with our Thackeray in his reference to a slip-slop style. In all this C. T. W. has succeeded perfectly; but he has failed utterly in solving No. 94, which, according to Mr. Reeves, -who was practically the secretary of this Acrostic Club-divides. wean into we and an, the lights being "Wamba Wamba" ("Ivanhoe ") and "even." J. W. A. succeeded here, greatly to his credit.

We now go back to the early pages of our little quarto. The first three we have solved at present; and the fourth is Judge O'Hagan's famous " Jack and Jill," which we analysed before as a typical example. We therefore leave Nos. 5 and 6 to the ingenuity of our readers. The initials stand for Mr. Thomas Harris, Q.C., and Miss Alice O'Brien.

VOL. XXV.

No. 5.

When long ago I said my prayers,
An infant, at my mother's knee,

If temper I displayed, or airs,

She with my first admonished me.

At school when I and other boys

With popguns gave the birds a fright,
And gaily laughed to hear the noise,
My second was our prime delight.

But now a swell, 1 have a soul

Above both first and second raised,
And oft I loudly cry my whole,

Whilst sober people think me crazed.

1. This prefix marks inferiority.

2. My tenants hailed my coming home with glee.
3. I look for franchise to the Parliament.

4. In Ireland I'm the boy that pays the rent.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.

1. "A Handful" and Other Stories. By Frances Maitland. (London: Catholic Truth Society, 21 Westminster Bridge Road, S.E.)

This is another of the delightful collections of Tales which we owe to the Author of "Ursel." There is not one of the masters of the Kail-yard School" of Fiction that excels Miss Maitland in the vivid realism with which she reproduces the thoughts, feelings and language of certain of the country-folk in Scotland. The story singled out by name on the title-page of this new volume takes up almost the same space exactly as the remaining five stories. The skill with which the story-teller makes her characters talk in the most natural manner possible was never more finely exemplified, yet not a word is spoken for the mere sake of talking but to help forward the story. An extremely interesting story it is, and it could not be better told. The five shorter stories of course do not admit of so much elaboration of The plot and character, but each of them is admirable in its kind. publishers have secured for the book such excellent printing and binding that one would expect the price to be twice what it is.

2. Purcell's "Manning" Refuted. Life of Cardinal Manning with a Critical Examination of E. S. Purcell's Vistakes. By Francis de Pressensé, a French Protestant Translated by Francis T. Furey, A.M. (Philadelphia: John Jos. McVey).

We have transcribed in full this very explanatory title of the American translation of a work which has attracted a great deal of notice. The substance of it appeared originally in the Reveu des Deux Mondes of May 1 and May 15, 1896, in two articles devoted respectively to the great Convert's Protestant and Catholic career. The American titlepage has already emphasised the noteworthy circumstance, that a French Protestant is the author of this eloquent vindication of the English Cardinal from the false interpretation put forward by his Catholic biographer. Mr. Furey has performed very well his difficult duty. There is a short useful index, and the get-up of the volume is in good taste.

3. The History of the Irish Wolf Dog. By the Rev. Edmund Hogan, S.J., F.R.U.I., M.R.I.A. (Dublin: Sealey, Bryers & Walker).

It is less than the truth to say that this is by far the most complete and authentic account that has yet appeared of the famous hound hich holds in the Natural History of Ireland the place occupied by

Round Towers in another department of Archæology. With

immense industry and patient research Father Hogan has collected every allusion to the Irish greyhound, often occurring in original. documents so difficult of access and so difficult to interpret that half a sentence may sometimes represent many toilsome hours. His painstaking accuracy is guaranteed by his minute references, so unlike the vague, slipshod quotations that irritate the conscientious student in many other authors of note. Father Hogan pursues his survey carefully step by step, especially from the tenth century onwards, though indeed his earliest date is A.D. 391. Ten excellent illustrations are scattered through the 160 pages, which are printed in bold, pleasant type. Blessed Edinund Campion, S.J., was the first to give a minute description of the noble theme of this History; the Martyr's Irish namesake and confrére has spoken the last word on the subject.

4. Chats about the Rosary; or, the Rosary familiarly explained to Children. By Margaret Plues (London: R. Washbourne).

This is the third edition of quite a large, thick book about the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with each of which a story is linked. It is meant for young readers, and this is the reason why the type selected is the largest and most readable that could be used for the purpose. It is pleasantly written, and clever in its way, besides being very pious and edifying; though I have doubts about the attempt made to reproduce the ungrammatical observations of the uneducated children to whom Aunt Margaret tells her stories.

5. St. Patrick: His Life, his Heroic Virtues, his Labours, and the Fruits of his Labours. By the Very Rev. Dean Kinane, V.P., V.G. (London: R. Washbourne).

Though this biography of our national Apostle is in its eighth edition, it is in this respect behind all the other books issued by the Dean of Cashel. But this is simply because it was published last and has not yet had time to overtake its predecessors. Thus the first of the series, "The Dove of the Tabernacle "- which was noticed in the first Number of THE IRISH MONTHLY in July, 1873-is now in its 32nd edition. The brief but very effective preface with which Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, recommended the "Life of St. Patrick" on its first appearance, is dated 1888; so that the editions have almost exactly kept pace with the years Dean Kinane's pages are full of facts and full of unction.

6. The Publisher of the two preceding volumes has sent us also three of his very numerous series of sixpenny dramas for children, "The Violet Sellers," "Whittington and his Cat," and "The One or the Other." They all bear the present year as the date of publication, but two of them we have seen before, and would it not have been to their credit to acknowledge that this is a new edition? And would

not "The Violet Sellers " be still more acceptable if the author, Miss Theodora M. L. Lane-Clarke, were recognized as Mrs. Bartle Teeling? This is a dramatic version of her pretty story, "Roman Violets."

7. In honour of the Mois de Marie let us name the sweetest MayBook of them all," Father Faber's May-Book" (London: Burns and Oates). The title-page only tells us that it was "compiled by an Oblate of Mary Immaculate." Father John Fitzpatrick, O.M.I., ought to have given his name in full. We venture to reveal that name now as a guarantee of the taste and piety that have made this selection from the prose and verse of the fascinating and holy Oratorian.

8. The names of M. H. Gill and Son, of Dublin, and the Art and Book Company of Leamington and London are joined on the paper cover of a "Popular History of the Life and Miracles of St. Antony of Padua," translated from the French by Father Ignatius Beale; but it has been produced at Bruges and bears many traces of its foreign origin. It breaks up into a vast number of separate articles all the facts connected with this very popular Saint, miracles wrought by him, holy words spoken by him, devout prayers addressed to him, and it has a very large number of well executed pictures of places and persons connected with Saint Antony, who might be said with all affectionate reverence to be at present the object of a devotional "boom."

9. The Ancient Irish Church as a Witness to Catholic Doctrine. By John Salmon, M.R.S.A.I. (Dublin: M. H. Gill and Son).

This paper-covered book of 230 pages, price two shillings, contains more solid learning, well set forth, than hundreds of your pretentious half-guinea octavos. The author has long been known in Ulster as a writer of great erudition and acumen, especially on historical and controversial subjects. His usual signature, "S. J.," which might seem to be of less innocuous import, is simply his initials reversed. He gives most satisfactory proofs from undisputed authorities that the distinctive doctrines of the Catholic faith were held from the first by Christian Ireland. His texts are cited with scrupulous care and given in the original languages in foot-notes. The painstaking researches of German scholars have been skilfully utilised by Mr. Salmon for the benefit of Ireland incuriosa suorum.' Many of our priests will be glad to possess this very meritorious work, and it is for this reason that we have descended to the prosaic detail of price.

10. The Gospel according to St. Luke. By the Rev. J. W. Darby, O.S.B., and the Rev. Sydney F. Smith, S.J. (London: Burns and Oates).

This is the second of the "Scripture Manuals for Catholic Schools

arranged with a view to the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations" which are appearing under the editorship of Father Sydney Smith. It is an admirable work which even priests will find very useful, though it is a mere school book. The notes are very full and clear, and form indeed an excellent commentary on the sacred text. The questions appended to each are drawn up with great skill and care. The only illustration is a map of Palestine as it was in the time of Our Lord. We desire and foretell for this series of Scriptural Manuals the fullest measure of success.

11. What Christ revealed. By the Rev. L. Jouin, S.J. (New York: St. John's College, Fordham).

We know no book that tells so well within a hundred pages what Christ has revealed about the Church that teaches, the Creed that is taught, and the Sacraments that sanctify. Solid argument is conveyed in the clearest and briefest terms. It is worthy of a very wide circulation, and the price (ten cents) is certainly not prohibitive.

12. No publisher's name is connected with a very elegant volume which has come to us from New York-"Historical Sketch of the Church of St. Antony of Padua, Brooklyn, N.Y., with an Account of the Rectorship of the Rev. P. F. O'Hare, published on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee, March 19, 1897." This "Souvenir Sketch" is the most sumptuous of the kind that we have ever seen-luxurious paper and printing, excellent photogravures not only of Father O'Hare but of many other priests and persons, and not only of St. Antony's Church as it is now but of many other sacred buildings, chapels, altars, and schools. The History itself is most interesting and of high literary worth, beginning with the Jubilee Ode of Miss Eleanor Donnelly and ending with some excellent addresses by the Pastor to whom this beautiful tribute has been paid.

13. The Sacrifice of the Mass worthily celebrated. From the French of the Reverend Father Chaignon, S.J. By the Right Rev. L. De Goesbriand, D.D., Bishop of Burlington. (Benziger Brothers: New York, Cincinnati, Chicago).

The names of the Author and of the Translator of this finely printed work guarantee its solidity and value, especially when we add that it is by no means a slight devotional tract but a stately octavo of more than three hundred pages by a French Jesuit of great experience in pastoral retreats and now published in English by an American bishop. May it in its present form assist very many priests in the due performance of the great Action-infra Actionem. I will honour another publication of the same Firm by mentioning it in the same paragraph with this holy work-"Short Instructions for every Sunday in the Year and for the Principal Feasts." This also is a