THIS little collection of stories for children (hardly longer than a review article shows Mr. Oscar Wilde's genius at its best. The five tales have each a point, are admirably expressed, and show a genuine poetic feeling. What, for instance, could in its slight way be more neatly told than the story which gives the name to the book? The ' Happy Prince' is a great gold statue in the market-place of the town where he once lived and ruled, and since he has been set up on his pedestal he has seen all the woe and want of his city---for the first time. So one by one he parts with his sword-hilt jewels and his sapphire eyes to relieve his people, making a swallow his messenger, and then---but that should be left to the author. 
>>'The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer', said the mayor; 'in fact, he is little better than a beggar !'

But it is really wronging such delicate work to make extracts therefrom; the book should be read throughout. I can heartily recommend it as a good piece of literary craftsmanship.