_Five Thousand Facts and Fancies. By William Henry P. Phyfe.
(G. P. Putnam's Sons. 21s.)—This book resembles the late Dr. Brewer's "Dictionary of Fact and Fable," and seems, as far as we have been able to examine it, to be the work of an adequately well informed person. Now and then we find some doubtful statement. A lady's-maid is commonly called " Abigail " in allusion to "the handmaiden that introduced herself to David." But "handmaiden" was a highly figurative expression. Abigail was the wife of a rich landed proprietor. We cannot allow that there was "connivance of the English Government in the ravages inflicted by the Alabama," though there was initial neglect or misjudgment. Is it a fact that whales live for five hundred years ? How did Mr. Mulhall (to whom the statement is attributed) find it out? He had a way of multiplying his figures. Among
Apostles" Ulphilas, "Apostle of the Goths," might have been included. But it would be unfair to dwell long on mistakes where so much is correct.
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