My Devonshire Book. By J. Henry Harris. (The Western Morning
Newi. 3s: 6d. net.)—These sketches of Devonshire life and manners are very slight and in no sense connected by any common thread of travel' or purpose,' being merely detached impressions of places with occasional dialogues and dialect and the more famous local anecdotes ; what is best deicribed' as a commonplace book. But 'a reader who dips into it will get to know something of the Devon man and his speech, and be reminded of her great names and the shrines worthy of pilgrimages. We recognise, we think, the hand of "Jan Steer" in the story of the her:se-race told in dialect. Mr. Harris says strangers are in too much of a hurry to catch the humour of the Devonshire folk. Bo that as it may, humour is not a prominent characteristic of them. One is struck by their shrewdness, their commercial instincts, their . hospitality when roused, and their ckieeLifeteduess. Their.reserve is noticeable, also their temper and pugnacity. As to good leaks . and .complexions, Mr. Harris says " one forgives the freckles of the men for their fair skins—and blue eyes." We must confess to be more struck with the men than the women of Devon. Moreover, the countryman strikes us as having physical abilities that place him at a great advantage when compared with men of other counties. The air of Devon is certainly in Mr. Harris's pages, and we can recommend it to those. who wish to realise the life and atmosphere of • the county.
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