The civilians, soldiers, and sailors who are deemed worthy of
the accolade in one form or another number between thirty and forty. Of these we can only say with Emerson : "In the press of knights not every brow can receive the laurel"—of special mention and description. We note, however, that Mr. Percy Bunting, editor of the Contemporary, becomes Sir Percy, and that Mr. Joseph Joel Duveen is also made a Knight Bachelor. Mr. Duveen, it will be remembered, has done a real public service by undertaking to build the new Turner Gallery at Millbank. We are pleased to see among the new Service K.C.B.'s the name of Sir Reginald Custance, and among the civilians Mr. Babington. Smith, Secretary to the Post Office, and another distinguished Civil servant, Mr. Llewellyn Smith. General Mackinnon, Director-General of the Territorial Force, also receives a well-merited K.C.B. To enumerate the new C.B.'s, C.S.L's, C.M.G.'s, C.I.E.'s, C.V.O.'s, and "Companions of the Imperial Service Order" would almost be beyond the typographical resources of the Spectator. But though we cannot name the recipients of these honours, we do not doubt that among them there are men whose merit is as great as, or greater than, those who have obtained distinctions more grandiloquent. It might indeed be said that it is on the " Companions " that the foundations of Empire are laid. Here are to be found the men who obscurely toil late and early, in sickness and in sorrow, in .4.rctic cold or Tropic heat, to maintain the might, majesty, and dominion of Britain. Alas! their death-roll is well-nigh as large as their roll of honour. Morituri te salutant ! might almost be their device.
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