"We would wish for this little volume an attentive perusal on the part of
all to whom inclination or duty, or both, give an interest in the moral,
the social, and the religious condition of their fellow-men: above all,
we should wish to see it in the hands of bishops, and other
ecclesiastical dignitaries--of metropolitan rectors and fashionable
preachers--of statesmen and legislators--and of that most mischievous
class of men, well-meaning philanthropists. The picture of life in
London, of its manifold pitfalls of temptation and corruption, which are
here presented to the reader's eye, is truly appalling. No one can rise
from it without a deep conviction that something must be done, ay, and
that soon, if the metropolis of the British Empire is not to become a
modern Sodom and Gomorrah. What that something is to be the writer does
not indeed indicate--that is not his object; what he aims at is, to let
one part of the world of London know how another part of the same world
spends its days, ay, and its nights. The disease is laid bare by him, it
is for others to devise the remedy."--_John Bull_.
"Mr. Ritchie is favourably known to us; nor do we think this little
volume will detract from his reputation."--_Daily News_.
"Not ill done in parts, it is not done in a fast spirit or affectedly;
and the moral tone throughout is healthy enough."--_Illustrated London
News_.
"Mr. Ritchie's sketches are lively and graphic in style, and convey
truthful pictures of some of the dark phases of London life. His book
may be regarded as supplementary to the Hand-books and Guides of the
Metropolis, which lightly touch upon topics which are here specially
described and vigorously commented on."--_Literary Gazette_.
"We have derived considerable amusement, as well as some information,
from a perusal of this volume, whose somewhat fanciful title is, however,
very suggestive of its contents. These comprise the haunts chiefly of
our night-roving population. . . . All that is known in the shape of
haunts and habits is here delineated with an unexaggerated fidelity we
must bear testimony to. In effect, the whole is a very gloomy and
forcible piece of word painting--literal, true, and graphic. We accept
this little volume cordially, and recommend it as warmly to the attention
of our readers."--_Weekly Dispatch_.
"The idea is excellent."--_Tait_.
"This book is elegantly written; the style is even simple, and is
occasionally the vehicle of a manly pathos, somewhat stern, indeed, but
all the more real, perhaps, on that account. This book will be read with
pleasure and profit."--_Weekly Times_.
"In the 'Night Side of London,' Mr. J. Ewing Ritchie draws a most
painful, but, we have reason to believe, not an over-coloured picture of
the fearful temptations which abound in our great metropolis. The evils
which seduce many a young man from the path of duty, and keep down the
poor in their poverty and degradation, are traced to the love of
intoxicating liquors, and the abundant facilities which are afforded for
the gratification of that fatal passion. Mr. Ritchie writes in an
earnest manner, and his book contains information which demands the
careful consideration of the moralist and the social
reformer."--_Inquirer_.
"Almost every line bears the stamp of truth, and the rising generation
would do well to take great heed to its revelations. Of old, Rome had
its public censor of manners, and London needs such an officer as much as
ever did that ancient mistress of the world. Mr. Ritchie has performed
this office for us, and the community owes him its best
thanks."--_People_.
"There is a matter-of-fact reality about the sketches, but they are
chiefly remarkable for the moral tone of the reflections. Generally
speaking, painters of these subjects rather throw a purple light over the
actual scenes, and say nothing of the consequences to which they lead;
Mr. Ritchie is ever stripping off the mask of the mock gaiety before him,
and pointing the end to which it must finally come."--_Spectator_.
"Mr. Ritchie contents himself with a graphic and not over-drawn
description."--_Economist_.
"It is written in a sketchy and dashing style, and is a most readable
work."--_Sunday Times_.
"The book is a good book, and carefully written; so much so, that
notwithstanding the title and repulsive nature of the subject, it may be
perused by all classes without fear of offence. A knowledge of what goes
on in this huge metropolis, whether for good or evil, is desirable for
all who inhabit or frequent our Modern Babylon. And, as regards the dark
side of the picture, Mr. Ritchie deserves great credit for the tact and
delicacy with which he has embodied the information which this book
conveys."--_Indian News_.
"Mr. Ritchie has long been known as a clever writer in some of the
newspapers. . . . Mr. Ritchie possesses a fluent and clear style."--_The
Weekly Chronicle_.
"These graphic and powerful sketches, the result of keen, extensive
observation and high literary talent."--_Alliance Weekly News_.
"We hail Mr. Ritchie as a social reformer, and trust he will not merely
rest satisfied with exposing, but will seek at the same time, by personal
effort, to illume, 'The Night Side of London.'"--_The Weekly Journal of
the Scottish Temperance League_.
"We have kept Mr. Ritchie's book lying on our table, hoping that we might
find an opportunity for making it the basis of an article on the fearful
evils which it discloses. We must be satisfied, however, for the
present, with recommending all our readers who are anxious to promote the
social and moral regeneration of our great cities to read it carefully;
and to remember, while they read, that London does not stand alone, but
that, all our larger towns are cursed with abominations, such as those
which Mr. Ritchie has so vigorously and effectually
described."--_Eclectic Review_.
"It sketches and spreads out before us many of the Night Scenes of London
with great vividness and truth."--_The Christian News_.
"It is a book of off-hand sketches, but they afford the reader many truly
instructive glimpses of those apples of Sodom and grapes of Gomorrah--the
amusements that are furnished for the metropolitan public by the vendors
of intoxicating liquors."--_Evangelical Repository_.
"Anything of their sort more striking and vivacious cannot be conceived;
the more complete descriptions are as buoyant and racy as the briefer; a
few strokes of the pen place a scene clearly before the mental vision,
and in very few instances can it be reasonably charged upon the writer
that he is sacrificing fact to fancy, the literal to the ideal. Then
comes the caution, wisely insinuated, the moral reading of the gay
illusion, the exhibition of the interior corruption of the fruit, fair
and fascinating to behold. So suggestively, yet so skilfully, is this
done, that we should not be surprised to hear that the perusal of this
volume had drawn away many votaries of vice from its debasing follies.
Certain we are that the author's dramatic style is used with wonderful
effect, and in a manner that we hope to see long employed on kindred
subjects and for kindred ends."--_Weekly Record_.
* * * * *