James Inwick, Ploughman and Elder. By P. Hay Hunter. (Oliphant,
Anderson, and Ferrier.)—Altogether, this is one of the cleverest and most successful stories written entirely, or almost entirely, in the Scottish dialect (Emeritus Professor Blackie would prefer us to say "language ") which has appeared for a very long time. Mr. Hay Hunter, who is joint author of that very clever story, " My Ducats and My Daughter," and who appears to be a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, cannot compare, and as a matter of fact does not seek comparison, with such writers as Mr. Barrie and Mr. Crockett. His book, in spite of its title, is not a study, at least of a genuine psychological kind, in Scottish character. It does, indeed, throw a good deal of light upon the " cannie," or rather selfish, side of Scotch peasant character, as represented by James Inwick, the ploughman and elder. But in essence it is a pamphlet or squib, written to indi- cate the sort of troubles that may be expected to arise in a Scotch country parish after the Disestablishment of the Church. The author of James Inwick does not disguise his own ecclersiastico- political predilections and prejudices, and the story is made to turn out well for the side to which he is attached. But he is essentially good-natured, and does not strain any points. The difficulties of a poor man who is forced to choose between his Church and his political creed, and what is worse, to indicate his choice by his action in the polling-booth, are brought out with an admirable and broad—but not too broad—humour. As a portrait of crude Scotch Radicalism—verging upon Socialism- An'ra Wabster is simply delicious. All things considered, indeed, Scotch fiction has, since the publication of "How I Won the Dreepdaily Burghs," given nothing of the same kind half so good as Tames inteiek.
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