Among the many books about Russia that are being pub-
lished we may select for a brief mention Soldiers of the Tsar, by Mr. Julius West (The Iris Publishing Co., 2s. 6d. net). It contains a number of separate sketches (some of them con- nected with the war, others of a more general character) which give unusually entertaining impressions of everyday life in Russia. Among others is an essay upon the primitive songs sung so frequently in Siberia by convicts and vagabonds. Mr. West gives translations of some of them, reproducing the irregularities of rhyme and rhythm shown by the originals. We may quote this chorus t- " Oh, tender-hearted little fathers,
Oh, tender-hearted little mothers, Help us unfortunate little men, A deal of sorrows we have seen!
You will get a crown of gold In the next xvorld. And we'll think of you in this one, Dear people, when ye're back in prison."
It is characteristic of the Russians that in Siberia the convicts are always spoken of as "the unfortunate ones."
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