SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK,
[Notice in this column sloes not necessarily prechnle subsequent missed
TIES DECIMBER MONTHLIES.—The Nineteenth Century opens with a thoughtful article by Lord Ernie on "The Revolt of Youth "—a " revolt " which he does not take too seriously. Mr. Austin Hopkinson commends "The Aristocratic Principle," that "the well-being of the many can be secured by the self- sacrifice of the few," and that the few should come forward. Sir John Jordan has an illuminating article on "Some Chinese I have Knovni," including Yuan Ski Kai and Li Hung Chang. Mr. Ormsby-Gore writes well on "Egypt and the Milner Pro- posals " ; he urges that the rights of the peasantry, the vast majority, should be safeguarded, but will this be possible if we abdicate our position in Egypt I A most instructive account of the Bolshevik despotism at Baku is given by Dr. Henry Spoer, who spent many months there as the agent of the American Relief Commission, and who, incidentally, saved the life of our Vice-Consul more than once. Dr. Spoor speaks of "The Mame of Bolshevism," and shows, by many examples of utterly irra- tional conduct, that it is a mental disease. Thus all the schools in Baku were closed ; "all could not be taught, therefore none should be privileged." "To rebuild you must first destroy" was the crazy doctrine which the Bolsheviks applied in every direction, with the result that all suffered. The " bourgeois " were robbed of their all, but the workmen were deprived of their employment. Even the children were infected with the disease. Dr. Speer clothed and fed an orphan child for a year ; when he asked the boy to help in the kitchen one morning, the boy ran off to the Labour Union to complain that he had not been paid for his work. A doctor was ordered by his hospital attendants to sweep the wards ; he obeyed, but when the time came for the day's operations he handed his instruments to the new masters, saying, "As I am now sweeper, you are of course the doctors " Dr. Speer laments the utter demoralization which the Bolshevik mania has brought about in Russia ; the strange thing is that Bolshevism should find a few admirers in sober Western countries. Miss Emily Hickey has a good article on The Making of English Blank Verse," Mr. J. Tarver writes on T. E. Brown of Clifton, and Mr. Side! discusses The Humour of Lord Byron." Bishop Mercer replies to Dr. Inge in The Weak Case of the Pessimists." Sir Frederick Chance gives a useful account of "Public-House Reform at Carlisle " ; the facts speak for themselves.— In the Fortnightly Sir Thomas Barclay writes on "France' Dilemma: the Way Out," pleading for reconciliation in Europe. Sir Malcolm McIlwraith discusses "The Egyptian Situation he questions whether other Powers will consent to the abolition of the Capitulations if British control is to disappear and foreigners are to be tried by native courts of very doubtful standing. Mr. Archibald Hurd has an article on "Naval Supremacy: Great Britain or the United States," showing that by 1924 the American Navy will surpass ours in size at any rate. Yet it would be sheer madness for the English-speaking peoples to build battleships against one another. " Politicus " illustrates by statistics "The Economic Predominance of the United States. • Major Battine's article on "The Wars of the Bolsheviks " oi a useful reminder that the Russian wars differ widely from t.he great war from which we have just emerged. Major Batelle does not believe that the Bolshevik armies, who are forced to serve, could do anything against" a serious army." Mr. Jclin Drinkwater has unearthed a forgotten seventeenth-century poet, John Collop, M.D., and prints some good selections from his Poems Rediviva, published in 1656. Miss Gwen John per- forms a similar service for " Ephelia," otherwise Miss Joan philips, who published her Female Poems on Several Occasions In 1679.—The Cordemporary Review has a valuable article by Sir Hugh Bell on "High Prices : their Cause and Effect." He shows that, contrary to the common belief, the average railway worker is still more highly paid than the average miner—the railwayman receiving £257 a year and the miner £219 13s. The wages bill of the North-Eastern Railway is four times as large as it was in 1912; the miners' wages have been trebled. Other trades have apparently profited to the same degree. Sir Hugh Bell's point is that these enormous increases can only be maintained by greater production and greater thrift, on the part of both Government and people, otherwise there will be nothing left in the shape of capital for maintaining and Improving the machinery of industry. Sir Hugh Bell does well to repeat these fundamental truths, which the Labour leaders continue to ignore. Mr. S. K. Ratcliffe writes from New York on "The Republican Triumph." Mr. J. D. Born-drier commends Mr. Alexander Stambolisky, the Bulgarian peasant Premier, as a friend of the Allies. Mr. Dawbarn discusses the work of "Lord Buxton in South Africa." Mr. Edward Storer explains In a useful article the present attitude of "Capital and Labour in Italy," pointing out that the nature of the " control " or " supervision " which the workmen are to exercise in the factories under Signor Giolitti's scheme is still undefined and that a reasonable compromise may yet be found. — In the National Review the Duke of Northumberland prints a striking lecture on "European Wars and their Lessons "- lessons which, he thinks, were ignored or misinterpreted in the late war. He condemns the Eastern " side-shows " unsparingly and without due consideration of the political and naval problems involved. "Our safety depends, and has always depended, on an effective alliance with those nations whose security is vital to our own." The peace of Europe depends upon us ; "are we going to turn from this ideal of national duty to follow the will-o'-the-wisp of internationalism ? " Mr. James Edmond, the former editor of the Sydney Bulletin, has an ironical article, "La Ireland Important ? " He hints that we exaggerate the Irish problem, and that Ireland would suffer far more by secession than we should. He describes the extravagant financial methods of Irish politicians in Australia, and declares that Australians would be glad if they could treat these troublesome Irishmen as aliens. Mr. J. 0. P. Bland, in" Shanghai Revisited," suggests that China has not changed as some of its young people, educated under foreign influences, are inclined to think. Mrs. Rettie describes "The South American Effort "—the effort, that i13, of the British residents in South and Central America who, to the number of 12,000, came home to fight for their country. Mr. Maxse's "Sidelights of the Great War," suggested by Colonel Repington's diary, is lively reading.—Bock-wood's contains an excellent article by Mr. W. B. Harris on "The 'Good Old Days' in Morocco," which reminds us of the abomin- able tyranny and corruption from which the Moors have been freed by the French. Mr. Harris recalls a visit that he paid to a Berber chief twenty years ago. His hosts persuaded him to delay his departure from day to day ; he found out at last that they valued his presence because it meant a truce in an interminable tribal feud. Morocco is now at last enjoying law, order, and peace. "A Study in Green," by " Saltire," is a narrative of an Irish police officer's daily experiences in these troubled times. Sir Spencer Ewart relates, from a manuscript memoir preserved in his family, the career of "Colonel Edward Hamilton, of the Honourable East India Company's Service." Hamilton was with that remarkable man, Major Hector Munro, at the victory of Buxar, in 1764—a victory which might have been as famous as Plessey had the conquerors instituted a relentless Pursuit of the Mogul's forces instead of halting to secure the plunder of his camp.
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