1 JUNE 1907, Page 19

Amelia. By Graham Hope. (Smith, Elder, and Co. Os.) — . Prince

August of Salzheim-Schlfisselburg has four daughters in stock, so to speak. The family is poor, but of the Royal caste, and one morning be receives a letter from a reigning Prince some- where in the Near East to the effect that, being unfortunately prevented from coming in person, he begs for photographs of the young ladies. Of Amelia there is no photograph except ono taken when she was four, but there is a water-colour sketch where the amateur hand has not been as truthful as the sun. So Amelia goes, more than half unwilling, but not without a certain curious interest in the affair. The Near East principality, with its very thin veneer of civilisation, its polities complicated with feuds of race and faith, makes a striking picture, brought out by contrast with the formalities of Schliisselburg. The Prince, too, is a fine study of character, and the drama of this State marriage with its developments is a good piece of work. The "Miss Mainwaring" episode seems to us a mistake.