“Has become, for the moment and with exceptions, dull.”

— +Nation. 81: 259. S. 28, ‘05. 200w.

“Is as good a collection of stories as its title promises, and as this vivacious, ingenious, and voluminous writer always can be depended upon to furnish at wonderfully short intervals of time.”

+ +N. Y. Times. 10: 636. S. 30, ‘05. 620w.

“The material and setting of each story are striking and original, the manner of narration attractive and ingenious, yet the general effect is disappointing and unsatisfactory.”

+ —Sat. R. 100: 441. S. 30, ‘05. 270w.

Couch, Arthur Thomas Quiller- (“Q.” pseud.). [Shining ferry.] [†]$1.50. Scribner.

John Rosewarne, a stern, proud old man, looking back upon a reckless youth, his son, who follows the Bible after reading into it his own desires, the gentle Peter Benny and his eleven children, a blind boy, and many others enter into this story of a sleepy little sea port town.

“In the last third or so of the book the interest, to our mind, suddenly filters away. The fault is one of structure. The interest of the novel dribbles out along several lines, none of which assumes a principal position and concentrates attention. And such is the reason why we are disappointed with what is in large measure a well-written book, with plenty of character and written in excellent English.”

+ —Acad. 68: 520. My. 13, ‘05. 460w.