BOOK NOTICES.

THE RACE WITH DEATH, AND OTHER •BALLADS AND READINGS.

By Campbell Rak-Brown. Melbourne i Ward, Lock, and Co. Danedin: J. Braithwaite.

Few have not: heard of the sporting reolta* tlon entitled " Kissing Cup's Race," whioh in the hands of a oompettnt slooationlßt is » most spirited and accuraU description of tho Darby. Indeed, it is rather more than that. It stands high suj a literary effort, and deos not owe all lea effect to elocutionary «mballiehment. That such embellishment is an advantage non« will doubt, for elocutionary art oan oonfer sublimity upon nonsentt. Modjeska once charmed an audience with % tragic repetition of -the Polish numerals, and Edwin Booth once recited this Lord's Prayer to an audience composed of clergymen in auoh a way at to be a revelation of 'the possibilities open to the elocutionist. M«cr«ady used to make' tbe supernumaries' hair stand on end by the tone in whioh he uttered " Bid my lady attend me." Bat as musio is most sublime when " married to immortal veref ," so elocution is most ecgngitfg, When aided by snitßble-worda, and in- th«;partioalftr form of 1 narrative a referred to the writer has farniflhed reciters with many admirable pieces. The "Race with, Death," wbioh begins the present little volume, has power and pathos, while some of the pieoei, as tho " Ballad of a Bazaar," aie in a lighter vein. A prominent piece iv the book i« " Th« • Prince's Derby," in whioh the recent unexpected victory of Persimmon _ over S*;. Frusquin is spiritedly set forth, though it suffers by comparison with " Kissing Cup's Race," and is not' totally free from that tone usually adopted towards victorious princes. The present little collection may be recommendad to any who wish to add to th«lr ropettoirs aornftlhing nev» and at the SAnse tixusi meritorious.