13 APRIL 1895, Page 25

Pipe - Lights. By Harold T. Whitaker. (Digby and Long.)— There is

nothing particularly wise or clever in these essays. On the other hand, there is little that is objectionable, beyond an occasional remark savouring of a commonplace cynicism—as, e.g., " it is pretty certain that every individual, no matter where he is, would like to be somewhere else." But why publish? For the benefit of smokers, our author would answer, who want for pipe-lights "something that has been scribbled over." But does he not know that the experienced smoker finds a disagreeable flavour in printing-ink ? How much better, then, if he had given his manuscript for the use which he has imagined with so kindly a forethought.