21 MARCH 1925, Page 34

The most laughable book that we have received for some

time is The Greater Revelation, by Baroness von Klennerf an American spiritualist (Siebel Pub. Corp.). It is an obviously honest and fervent record of messages received by automatic

writing. The letters are signed by " Joshua Reynolds, Bart.," "Beerbohm Tree, Bart," Tolstoy, Socrates, Xantippe, Voltaire, Wagner, St. Boniface, Calvin, Omar Khayyam, and a hundred other famous people. They all write thorough nonsense, and are almost illiterate ; but the good Baroness swears to the

authenticity of the signatures. Tom Moore writes in the spoof Anglo-Irish idiom of the late nineteenth century : "It's to the ones who have the classic mind that you'll be after turning for advice, I'm thinking." A respectable American poet,•William

Culler Bryant, has sadly degenerated in the tomb ; he expresses himself as follows : -

" Your Mother kind and true Has also told me some Of the great work you will do In the not distant time to come.

The forces over here

Are all for taking part They wish to make it clear Their interest is in Art."

But perhaps the most mournful case is Eugene Sue's ; he writes :— " L'esprit etemel mon grand livre et que est maintenant eerit dans Mutes les langues ne pas plus grand que votre serai et ne. pas plus populaire. Je desire de fait un petit d'inspiration pour cette livre . . . Votre c011eague, EugMe Sue."