The Real Issue. By William Allen White. (Way and Williams,.
Chicago.)—We learn from this "Book of Kansas Stories" the truth about the State of Kansas. "Eastern Kansas is a finished community like New York or Pennsylvania. Central Kansas is finished, but not quite paid for, and Western Kansas, the only place where there is any suffering from dearth, or crop failures, is a new country,—old only in the pluck which is slowly conquer- ing the desert." It is in Western Kansas that the scene of the most powerful of these stories is laid. They are a record of hope- less struggle against a cruel climate. Mr. White's style is not without a certain affectation, but he can describe with force.
Allan Ramsey. By Oliphant Smeaton. (Oliphant, Anderson, and Ferrier.)—This is another of the "Famous Scots Series; ' indeed, it is earlier than some volumes that have been already noticed in these columns. Every one has heard of "The Gentle Shepherd," though probably few have read it, at least on this side of the Border. Ramsay's other poems are scarcely known by' name, except to a few enthusiastic admirers of all things Cale- donian. Still the story of his life and criticism of his work are welcome. He had a genuine gift of verse. Possibly a small volume of selections might save his fame, for much that he wrote —" Tartana," for instance, which was intended to bring the- silken plaid into fashion—was of the occasional kind. "The Gentle Shepherd" appeared in 1725, and ran through three editions in that and the following year. In 1750 it reached a tenth edition.. This was a rare success. Few poems have found so many admirers. Personally Ramsay seems to have had but little of the poetic temperament. He was a practical and successful man of business.
Not the least proof of his sagacity is the fact that he was seriously indisposed in the 1745, when the Prince intimated his desire to bestow some distinction upon him.
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