REVIEW.

Evening Star, Issue 4085, 30 March 1876, Page 4

REVIEW.

m Deoil’B Chain, "by Edward Jenkins, M.P., author of “Ginx’sßaby.” Strachan and Co.', London; Reith and Wilkie, and Wise and Co., Dunedin, Devil’s Chain ” is the sensational title given to a hook recently published in London, and dedicated to iSir Wilfred Lawson, Bart., M.P. The latter fact, in combination with the title, leads one, even prior to reading a chapter, to suspect the character of the book, and to expect it to have some bearing on the great question with which the name of Sir Wilfred Lawson is now so intimately associated, and which is agitating more or less intensely every civilized nation in the world. In this anticipation the reader is not mistaken. In his dedication the author says to Sir Wilfred:— I dedicate this book to you, not as a token of adhesion to all your opinions, bat as a tribute of sym-

pathy with you in your gallant fight with a terrible evil, and of admiration tor your pluck,*' The purpose of the author is also sot out in his dedication, m which he says—“Myaim is ... . to exhibit in rude, stern, truthful outlines the full features Ohd proportions of the abuses I would humbly help to remove. It is a great thing done if vrs can get people to think about the reality, bearings, and size of and evd; and, in spite of the exposures, through the Press, of the dismal fruits of the traffic in drink, I find men going about, and dining comfortably, aud voting steadily, in utter disregard of their fell, disastrous, and diabolical effects. 1 cannot acquit myself of having too long done the like. I have, therefore, tried to bring into one small picture a somewhat comprehensive view of these evils, in the hope of rousing some men of quiet digestion out of their apathy, and so of aiding your noble work.” Suck is the purpose of the author, and well has he.done his work. In keeping with the title of his book its divisions are not chapters, but “links.” Of these there are pjn& There is not muck of art or plot in the book, its varied incidents have but a remote bearing one on the other ; the object of the writer being, as stated in bis dedication, he has sought to give it effect by stringing together in a narrative form a number of terrible events such as may be found from time to time recorded in the public papers as the.ordinary occurrences of everyday life. The characters introduced are such as may any day be met with in society ; no special interest, centres in any of them, but the reader is almost spell-bound by the terrible events with, which they are associated. These, told with graphic power, follow each other in such rapid succession that the reader is hurried on from one dreadful incident to another, with hardly time to draw

bis breath from link the first,” in which he is “startled by a shriek which came from a window in the third floor of a house on the east side ” of St, Martin’s lane to the last, in which the “wail and outcry of I perishing mortality went up to Heaven through the storm, as the victims of the Drink .Demon (from a burning ship) were swallowed up in the yawning mouth of the ruthless ocean,” Between some of the events parrated short dialogues are introduced, or the author himself discusses briefly the bearing of the incidents related on society, its usages, its maxims, and its philosophy. Into these discussion? he throws that incisive sarcasm for which his -writings are so remarkable, and he makes his reasoning weighty with the “stern logic of facts,” Thus, after describing an inquest held at the “Wetted Whistle,” Mr Jenkins says : “ Will it ever strike the Legislature that there is something almost ludicrous iu this practice of holding inquests in public-houses ? Just consider a moment the indecency of the custom. Perhaps two-thirds of the deaths by violence or of a snspici ns .nature, are caused by drinking the liquors sold at public-houses. And the publican body, Which has already made money oat of the stuff by which the deceased was killed, is invited to take a second haul out of the ghastly proceedings consequent on its enterprise. The present coroner for Middlesex, who is not concerned iu this recital, would, like many of his predecessors and col- - leagues, be glad, 1 doubt not, to see some provision made, more conducive to the dignity of his Court and the gravity, of its inquiries. To witness this auomaly'from year to year, and never heed its im-

propriety, is.eminently British; but there are not wanting proofs enough under heaven to show that that may too often mean eminently stupid and brutal." In “link the fourth” we are introduced to the family of “Mr Bighopne, member of Parliament, and of the firm also of Bighome, Swill, Pewter, Ball, and Juniper, the eminent distillers. This family consist of father, mother, Miss Emily (aged twentyfour, who .is unmarried, and is said .to have opinions, a mind, and also a will of her own), and Mr Henry (a son,' about two years younger than his sister). When introduced to this family group, all except Mr Henry are gathered around the breakfast table, Mr . Brighome, “M.P., was “plodding through his * Times,’ with a doggedness indicative of “a sense of duty.” Miss Emily was “studying the * Liberal,’ a journal of unpronounced radical opinions. ’’. “ Papashe said suddenly, do you see that.” ’•What" “ Ani inquest; on whom, do you think ? On a daughter of Lord Newmarket! She must be an elder sister of your favorite aspirant—the Honorable Captain Conistoun. “ good heavens! Has i pKe turned up again ?” ■ »* Then you knew about her, papa ? And yet ■he paused. *' Knew what about her, my dear ? It was not much to know. She has been a great grief to her family; I know that." “ well, the captain bears it very well, and scarcely takes it to heart as seriously as he might. Do you know the reason of her misfortune ?”

*• No, nor do I want to know. It is a painful and disagreeable subject, my dear, especially for you to discuss," For me to discuss, indeed!" said Miss Emily, tossing her bead. My dear father, why do you treat women like children? If you corn'd you would have kept my mind in long clothes while my body was growing to womanhood." Then comes a brief account of the circumstances brought out at the inquest. On hearing these Mr Bighorn exclaimed, “ Mercy on me! Did you ever hear of such a thing ? How horrible." Isn’t it ? said Miss Emily, very quietly, but with the faintest tone of sarcasm, “ especially in a family of diatinctkm; and the whole story is out, all about their early life, and her fall, and that sort of thing: and do you know what did it all ? ” " I haven’t the least idea,” said Mr Bighorne shyly, and not quite truthfully, for he was afraid of what was coming. ** Well, father, it was brandy! ” replied Miss Emily, with rude emphasis, and looking at her father with a flashed face. "Brandy, and then . gin. What do you think of that, father ? " This is followed by a conversation by no means agreeable or complimentary to the great distiller and member of Parliament, who ultimately says; “ Let us drop the subject." “ Oh! father," said Emily, solemnly, as he drew her to him to close the controversy with a kiss, “ unhappily, the subject won’t drop for any of ns; and here it comes," she added, in a quick, low tone, “ on two legs, and late for breakfast." V Why, Henry," she cried, looking at him, " what is the matter with you ? Are you ill ?" “ No," be replied, disengaging himself and kis■ing his mother. “It is nothing. I have had a bad night." "So you bqve, dear. Ih- ard you pass my room .door ot three o’clock," replied his sister with affectionate cruelty. Muster Henry endeavoured to appear occupied with bread and batter. A bar room in a manufacturing district and whaf occurred there on a Saturday night are described and commented on in the following manner ' The room was arranged by low wooden partitions into bays, where eight or ten men could sit together and rest their pewters and glasses on the narrow tables between. Each bay had its company, though the lowness of the partitions enabled the men to interchange freely foul stories, oaths, threats, chal-

lanpes, sometnn’cs clouts, and other convivial recog* nitrons. Morit of them were smoking short black .pipe# ; some,.with dvery semblance of reason "one from their faces, were sitting up and drinking steadily, their friend# Supplying them. Some had fallen asleep with thpir pipes m> their mouths, or with heads drooping table, or partition, or bench. Itese were the subject of rude practical jokes. I will relate one. One man, tteeing his friend's face hanging oVer the partition, with his dark matted beard turned sideways, lit a match,,and, winking to hls comrades note the splendid joke, set firo to the hair, it flamed up/ scorching the skin of the unconecious 'W wretch, who woke in the morning nyirked foV. jife. ycV’yvftAjmn Tijnfri«yndi» wnfoypd ihn fnri implniianly V buttkmw-mornings afterwards the joker was fcfCtrd . 3 ■ itreet wsh hjs head wßaabedio with » W v : - ■ ,1. k.;j... ,

hammer; and later Mr Calcraft, then-in office; hanged a man, halt of whose face looked red and skinless. This little drunken joke cost the country two strong men, aud over Lfr ‘0; * ’ If this joke be ino> edible to yon read the account of another, perpetrated by four such men on an old Irishman whom, in pore alcoholic fun, they dragged odt of bed, and gouging his eyes out filled tuem with quick-lime. It must be unpleasant to brewers, distillers, publicans, deans and chapters with public-house property, and lords and gentlemen who have voted against Sunday-closing and in favor of longer hours for the sale of this playful inspiration, to read of such cases; wherefore I forbear filling up this book, as I could easily do, with more of them. But I charge, distinctly that every man who (from a Home Secretary down to the lowest pu'lican) encourages the increase of this traffic, and delays or hinders its decrease, assumes directly a share of the responsibility for such incidents os these,” [The italics are the author’s.] (To be continued. )