The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

5/6 The Highland Monthly.
NOTES.
Mr Maclean Sinclair has published a further instahnent of his
"Gaelic Bards." This time he includes the bards between 17 15
and 1765. There are many pieces here published for the first
time; and all are annotated with historical, biographical, and linguistic
notes. The little closely-printed volume extends to 260
pages, and is very valuable to the Gaelic student.
Mr D. W. Kemp has published a short and neat work detailing
the life of "John Laurie, an Eccentric Sutherland Dominie"
(Norman Macleod, of North Bank Street, Edinburgh). John
Laurie was in Sutherlandshire as a dominie a generation or two
ago, and jjublished a Tourist's Guide to the County. He was
born in 1800, and died in 1872. His story is very interesting.
Messrs Bryce & Son, Glasgow, issue a series of books which
they entitle the " Spare Minute" series. They are dainty little
volumes, tastefully got up and cheap. The one before us is by
Mr Clouston, the well-known folk-lorist, and is entitled " Persian
Tales." There are eight tales altogether, translated from the
original Persian by Mr Clouston and the late Edward Behatsck.
The stories are told with great vigour, and the oriental imagery
has been prudently " plume-plucked." The booklet is a valuable
one to the folk-lorist, and it ought to be interesting to the public.
Mr Nutt contributes to Folklore of September a report on the
last two years' research in " Celtic Myth and Saga." The report
is clear and full ; Mr Nutt presents the various views of writers
like Rhys and Zimmer in a concise manner, and passes a running
commentary thereupon. We know of none more capable than
Mr Nutt to pass an opinion on matters of Celtic mythology ; and
we are sorry to see that the subject is now in a good deal of chaos.
But light seems to be breaking in upon it.
Mr D. Nairne, of the Chronicle, has published (privately and in
the Invertiess Gaelic Society s Transactions) a brochure on " Highland
Woods, Ancient and Modern." The work has been
exceedingly favourably received, even getting the honour of
quotation and comment in the leader columns of the Times
newspaper.