5 DECEMBER 1908, Page 9

The Lost Column. By Captain Charles Gilson. (H. Frowde and

Hodder and Stoughton. 6s.)—This "Tale of the Boxer Rebellion" is a very spirited bit of work. The subject is well chosen; there are few things in our history that should interest us more than the campaign which had its central point in the Peking Legations, so full was it of incident, and so much did it mean. It soon becomes clear to the reader that Captain Gilson is quite at home in all that concerns the circumstances of his story. His Chinese, chief among them "Mr. Wang," are quite admirable studies. No scene could be better than that in which Gerald, under Mr. Wang's instruction, disguises himself as a peasant from Kansu. Other scenes characteristic of the country and the people are introduced, and of course there is plenty of stirring action.