23 JUNE 1950, Page 5

I acquired the other day a copy of R. D.

B.'s Diary at a price Which I will not mention for fear of paining Mr. Blumenfeld's heirs and assigns, and among other things came on the note of an encounter (in 1887) with a leading shipbuilder who thought " the 10,000 tons of the Majestic' and Teutonic, ' now building, will be greatly exceeded, so that we may expect passenger ships of at least 20,000 tons, with a speed of twenty-one knots ; electric light throughout, and even lifts to carry passengers between decks. A visionary old gentleman." Old gentlemen, of course, do see visions.

JANUS.