* * * * It would be a churlish soul
that did not enjoy some part at least of the Duchess of Sermoneta's bright, fresh memories. Born a Colonna—a family whose history is the history of Middle Age and Renaissance Rome—she has also a strong dash of English blood in her veins and was married to an Italian prince. So her Things Past (Hutchinson, 21s.) deal largely with Roman life—Papal, artistic, diplomatic and social, while her English descent and upbringing brought her to know many persons of interest and distinction in England. We meet them in the tripping pages of her book : her " illus- trious friend " (the epithet makes one laugh a little) Alfred Austin, the Poet Laureate ; the novelist Marion Crawford ; Edward VII. with the "grand manner of Louis XIV." and the " diamond Order of the Garter glittering on his shapely leg " ; the Asquiths, Shackleton, Lord Kitchener, her grand-aunt the Empress Eugenie, and hosts more. In her own country Duse and d'Annunzio were her intimate friends, but Mussolini is discreetly left alone with the sole remark that his is " powerful brain." The book, however, contains rather a large supply of stuff which savours of the Court Circular.
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