tyle and character
of these new bush bards which has given them such immediate popularity,
such wide vogue, among all classes of the rising native generation."

* "Australia has produced in Mr. A. B. Paterson a national poet
whose bush ballads are as distinctively characteristic of the country
as Burns's poetry is characteristic of Scotland."

* "A book like this . . . is worth a dozen of the aspiring,
idealistic sort, since it has a deal of rough laughter
and a dash of real tears in its composition."

* "These ballads . . . are full of such go that the mere reading of them
make the blood tingle. . . . But there are other things
in Mr. Paterson's book besides mere racing and chasing,
and each piece bears the mark of special local knowledge, feeling, and colour.
The poet has also a note of pathos, which is always wholesome."

* "He gallops along with a by no means doubtful music,
shouting his vigorous songs as he rides in pursuit of wild bush horses,
constraining us to listen and applaud by dint of his manly tones
and capital subjects . . . We turn to Mr. Paterson's roaring muse
with instantaneous gratitude."

RIO GRANDE'S LAST RACE, AND OTHER VERSES.

By A. B. Paterson.

* "There is no mistaking the vigour of Mr. Paterson's verse;
there is no difficulty in feeling the strong human interest
which moves in it."

* "Every way worthy of the man who ranks with the first of Australian poets."

* "At once naturalistic and imaginative, and racy without being slangy,
the poems have always a strong human interest of every-day life
to keep them going. They make a book which should give an equal pleasure
to simple and to fastidious readers."

* "Now and again a deeper theme, like an echo from the older,
more experienced land, leads him to more serious singing, and proves that
real poetry is, after all, universal. It is a hearty book."

* "Mr. Paterson has powerful and varied sympathies,
coupled with a genuine lyrical impulse, and some skill,
which makes his attempts always attractive and usually successful."

* "These are all entertaining, their rough and ready wit
and virility of expression making them highly acceptable,
while the dash of satire gives point to the humour."

* "He catches the bush in its most joyous moments, and writes of it
with the simple charm of an unaffected lover."

* "Will be welcome to that too select class at home who follow
the Australian endeavour to utter a f