i SEE that the Glasgow Herald has followed the lead
of the Manchester Guardian in rescuing some of its best writing from the usual oblivion into which daily journalism disappears. As with the 'Bedside Guardian,' the Glasgow Herald's 'Casual Columns' (George Outram, 12s. 6d.) proves that a great deal of matter written against the clock, and sometimes indeed against the ledge in a telephone box, stands up very well indeed in a permanent home between hard covers. There is a lot of good writing on this and that in the Herald's miscellany, but I should like to make special mention of the paragraphs from the 'London Letter' which are dotted through the book. The anonymous author of this excellent column wanders about London, registering the unusual and the unexpected with sharp ears and 'eyes and recording it in sentences which greatly add to the gaiety of life. I like especially the remorselessly clear- eyed description of a poetry reading at the Institute of Contem- porary Arts where the poet's supporters, disgruntled at their hero's style, began from the back of the hall, 'hi loud and muzzy tones,' to make their wishes known. 'Sing it' and 'Speak it in a fantastic way!' and 'Speak it just to me! With all the genius, all the passion that's in it! For me!' It is good to think that this and many other small episodes of equal curiosity have not been lost to the world.
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