25 MAY 1929, Page 30

More Books of the Week

(Continued from page 826.) The value of contemporary history is at last appreciated, Net even 'among ;this generation -there must be many who look askance at an attempt to focus the whole world in the record of the post,War years. Such a bold historian is Mr. C. Delisle Burns, Who, with his 1.918:1928A . Short History of the World (Victor_ • Golliniez,' 16s.ha's set memor- able example Of attachment to 7. facts and 'a"A etichment from fancies which could not be surpassed by the grubbings of posterity. among official records. Writing of the common man and for the common man (three-quarters oirinorecif each oneof us), he brings home to all of us that the -responsibilities of modern citizenship do not and cannot 4,13P at the borders of the State. There are 'Many' laymen Who from- lack of ,time, money, or facilities are' unable to appease :their- intelligent curiosity aS to _where We stand to.7day and why. Thia. book supplies-the- answer.: In Europe year by year we witness the transition by way of arbitral *methods from the policy of military ,pressure to that of economic restoration. In Asia and m'Africa' n 'great ri.ivrilreiling which is by no means confined to the YellOw and Ili:min:or black races, but is productive of good Ito:West no less,thanEast, if only those who hand on the torch of Western material civilization are, worthy, of . their trusteeship. If &ding, theme there be behind this trellis of facts, it is that little by little we are learning to think less which gichip of men-called in the traditional Mythology France, Germany, -Ragland, -to control the :ether, but how -human resources may best be pooled in order to control circum- stances -; and each political group, the State, is conceived more and more. in terms 9f public service, .net as an armed band. We can think- of no more illuminating book to recommend to electors who are dismayed,and disappointed at the failure of most candidates for Parliament to look beyond small details of brush-work to the whole canvas.

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