REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 229 



extract all she can, and more than others thought they should, may be 

 justified in the end. The character invites such a method as the one 

 suggested : they seem to command such an attempt. I believe theolo- 

 gical professors, men of a serious bent, often suggest to their students 

 the studv, of the suggestive pictures of Hebrew words. Fertile ideas 

 are wrapped within, — and sermons may be found in roots as well as 

 stones. Feeling some interest in the translation of Chinese poetry we 

 wish these authors well on the voyage they have embarked on ; and 

 trust they will land somewhere with an argosy full of valuable 

 merchandise. 



They hope that the verses libres will solve this difficulty of rendering 

 Chinese poetry. We have read a most illuminating defence of the 

 method by Miss Lowell. It is very suggestive and throws much light 

 on this theme. Still being inexperienced it would be difficult to 

 criticise it. And one of the chief mazes would come as to when it was 

 time to turn back. What is the end of one line, and where the 

 beginning of the next? The cadences arising from suitable and 

 harmonious combination of words are not always apparent. It 

 requires a strong hand and a firm mind to deal with such tempting mis- 

 adventures as might ensue in these circumstances. As Dr. Johnson says, 

 "he is too apt to lose his way in quest of mistaken beauties." Of course 

 the Chinese protests vigorously against such a treatment. Itself being 

 under rigid rules, and governed by inexorable laws it seems to object 

 at every pore at the idea of being carried too many feet, or, being left 

 as a short measure. At present we are neutral and stand by to wait 

 and see. All neutrals are we confess, a bad lot, but for the time being 

 necessity is laid upon us. M. 



Letters to a Missionary. By E. F. Johnston. (Watts & Co.). 



The well-known author of "From Peking to Mandalav," and 

 "Buddhist China," in this book has entered on another field of 

 literature — controversial theology. 



The occasion for this departure is explained in his introduction. 

 The author sympathized with the Rev. Stanley P. Smith in the dispute 

 with the directors of the China Inland Mission over the question of 

 the duration of future punishment, and entered upon a correspondence 

 with him in regard to that subject. 



From the fact that only the author's letters are published and not 

 those of Mr. Stanley Smith, we surmise that Mr. Johnston's object was 

 to give us a clear statement of his own views on certain theological 

 questions connected with the Christian Religion. 



The book is exceedingly interesting, and contains evidence of wide 

 reading and continuous thought on the subject of religion. As the 



