Mr. " Max O'Rell " seems in danger of losing
his head in conse- quence of the success attained by his clever hit "John Bull and his Island." At all events, the sarcasm in The Dear Neighbours ! (Field and Tuer) is occasionally rather thin, and we should recommend him to try fresh fields and pastures now. At the same time, we should be only too delighted if international dislikes could be laughed out of exist- ence ; and it is really impossible to say whether British conceptions of France, or French conceptions of Great Britain, are the more absurd.
Quotations from newspapers are the most effective form of international criticism. Take, for example, "Lord Salisbury kissed hands on his appointment as leader of her Majesty's Opposition, in succession to the late Lord Beaconsfield." Mr. " Max O'Rell " is seen at hie boat when he is sketching a character that he really loves, such as Joseph Prudhomme, the French provincial, " whom the English are fond of
representing as a fighting-cock sighing constantly after glory and conquest, but who is a modest proprietor, peaceful, home-loving, steady-going, V1horn his father calls ' petit,' and his wife leads by the nose."
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