19 OCTOBER 1918, Page 19

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has started' under the

editorship of Mr. a Johnson and Mr. J. P. Whitney, a modest but very useful series of sixpenny pamphlets, Helps for Students of History. In the first four numbers- Mr. R. C. Fowler deals with " Episcopal Registers," Professor Hearnshaw with " Municipal Records," Dr. R. L. Poole with " Mediaeval Reckonings of Time," and Mr. Johnson with " The Public Record Office." Within the narrow limits of space, nothing could be better for the historical student, young or cad, than these practical essays. Dr. Poole's brief exposition of the eccentricities of the mediaeval calendar is especially good. It helps to explain why the experts are still debating whether Alfred the Great died in 899, 900, or 901, and why a strong case may be made out for each of the three dates.