11 NOVEMBER 1916

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The news from Rumania is improving in quality. In the

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first place the Allied troops in the Dobrudja have not merely stopped retreating, but have turned round and resumed the offensive. On Thursday they were reported to be advancing...

But this does not exhaust the helpful part played by

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Rumania. It may have been bad strategy for her to penetrate deep into Transylvania rather than to guard the passes and wait to be attacked, but at any rate her action had some...

The latest returns of the Compulsory Service Referendum in Australia

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show that the majority against conscription for foreign service now stands at only 68,474. It is still just possible, therefore, though by no means likely, that the votes still...

Before leaving the Rumanian news we must once more express

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our surprise, though perhaps "amazement verging on consterna- tion" would be the better phrase, at the way in which the unfavourable Rumanian news was received here, even by...

We do not for a moment suggest that these difficulties

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are in- surmountable, for they are not. Nevertheless, they do prevent rapidity of action and generally render the war more laborious. Sir Douglas Haig, however, is not the man...

*** The Editor cannot undertake to return Manuscript in any

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case.

Could any fact be more amazing than that over a

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million men in a country so distant from the seat of war, a very large proportion of them men of military age, should vote in favour of a form of oom- pulsion which means that...

The Athens correspondent of the Times says in last Saturday's

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paper that M. Venizelos is satisfied with the decisions of the Boulogne Conference. M. Venizelos points out that formal recognition is a matter of indifference to him since the...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HERE is not very much to record in the way of war news. During the past week in the Western theatre the appalling weather has rendered military movements almost impossible....

Unless we are greatly mistaken, the "push at any price"

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has already ended in the Dobrudja in a tactical fiasco, and is going so to end in the Carpathians. If we are right, we wonder whether our pessimists will still have the...

If the weather now improves we should not be surprised

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to hear of the British taking up the attack and of big doings in our sector ; but the impatient public here must remember that everything depends upon the absence of rain and...

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We are glad to note that Lord French in his

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arduous inspections of the Volunteers continues to insist on the unquestionable need of maintaining and expanding the Volunteer movement. Furthen he insists that the grant of...

The Cairo correspondent of the Times says in last Saturday's

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paper that the pilgrims who have just returned from Mecca were highly satisfied with the improvement of the conditions there. Since the removal of Turkish ride. the Grand Sherif...

The destruction of two Greek ships by German submarines outside

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the Piraeus - has not caused 6 flutter of agitation in Royalist hearts at Athens. The explanation of this complaisance is that the vessels were taking Verizelists to join...

- In truth the whole thing is a storm in

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a teacup and ought never to have been raised. We shall -be told, no doubt, that we are indiscreet in writing. as we have done ; hut really when awl non- sense has been written...

We can assure Sir Edward Carson that he is entirely

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mistaken. We venture to say that if he would attend any of the meetings at which the " squaring " is alleged to take place--we have not the slightest doubt that he would be...

The Admiralty have announeed that one of our submarines oper-

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ating off the Danish coast "claims to have hit two Dreadnought battleships of the Raiser class." It is not known what damage was inflicted. The evidence grows from experience...

In the House of Lords on Tuesday there was a

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debate on the second reading of Lord Salisbury's Bill to set up an interim Register and to provide machinery for sailors and soldiers to vote. Lord Lansdowne said that the...

In the House of Commons -on Tuesday there was a

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curious little outburst Of jealousy in regard to the Priam For example, Mr. Sherwell complained that the Government had developed an in- creasing tendency to take certain...

The trade returns for the past montk are again very

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satisfactory, Imports increased by £13,318,970 to £81,135,376, exports by £12,746,283 to £44,715,248, and re-exports by £500,689 to £7,663;322, as compared with October, 1915....

A moment's reflection will show that there could be no

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"squaring." The Press is already fullymuzzled by the Defence of the Realm Act, the Censorship, and the-activities of the Press Bureau. To inserta bit of very dry biscuit into a...

But voting at the actual front is another matter altogether.

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Those in command, we understand, have expressed strong opinions against a trench election as likely to_bring with it distraction_and a moral atmosphere which cannot be analysed....

The Admiralty have announced the sinking of the P. and

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0. finer ` Arabia ' in the Mediterranean on Monday afternoon. She was torpedoed without warning while carrying four hundred and thirty-seven passengers, including one hundred...

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Worse followed. Workmen found in the streets were rounded up

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and driven to a certain spot. There they were sorted, and the stronger ones were sent to prepare a military position in another part of Belgium. They refused at first to do this...

In this context we desire to notice a very curious

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little pamphlet of the year 1803 which has fallen in our way. Its title is as follows : Serious Thoughts and Observations upon the Late Decision of Lord Ellenborough respecting...

The gallant commanding officer was much perturbed because Lord Ellenborough

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had given a decision at the Assizes in regard to the -right of a particular Volunteer to resign which was being widely accepted as conferring a general right on Volunteers to...

"It was a d—d near run thing, the nearest run

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thing that ever was." It was in some such words as these that the Duke of Wellington described the battle of Waterloo to Creevey. Similar words may well be applied to the...

That will not do for the Caesar of Batchacre Park

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:— " It has been said that a Point of Honour and their Patriot Zeal te Defend their Country was sufficient to insure their Loyalty : good God I how little do some People know...

The military authorities however want, and Volunteers, we think, ought

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unanimously to fall in with their wishes, to take away the right of resignation which now exists before embodi- ment. As a matter of fact, no Volunteer during war could, without...

The Times of Wednesday published information " of an abso-

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lutely trustworthy character" about an infamous system of servile labour which the Germans have established in the two provinces of Belgian Flanders. These provinces are in the...

News was received en Monday that Sir Reginald Wingate, Sirdar

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of the Egyptian Army and Governor-General of the Sudan, has been chosen to succeed Sir Henry IP Mahon as High Comm issioner of Egypt. The choice, we are confident, is a wire...

Bank Rate, 6 per cent., changed from 5 per cent.

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July 13th.

Mr. Whitworth then goes on to lay down some general

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propositions which sound amazingly familiar. Incidentally he speaks of the " classes men," or, as we should say, the men of the grou pa, not called up for service. These men, he...

And here we may point out that a good deal

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of confusion still seems to possess the minds of the public, and also of the Volunteers, and, strangely enough, even of the soldiers, in regard to this question of resignation....

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE ASYLUM PARTY. I N the House of Commons on Wednesday a serious and deliberate attack was made on the Coalition Govern- ment by a combination of Nationalists, disgruntled...

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THE KINGDOM OF POLAND. G ERMANY and Austria in creating what

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is cynically called an " independent " kingdom out of conquered Russian Poland have put an end once and for all to their hopes of detaching Russia from her Allies. Their act is...

HOW TO SHORTEN THE WAR.—I. PRISONERS. T HERE is no surer

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way of shortening the war than by putting Germans hors de combat. Again, there is no better way of putting them hors de combat than by taking them prisoners. Finally, there is...

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SHELTERING CORRUPTION. T HE debate in the House of Commons last

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week on the Prevention of Corruption Bill is most disappointing to those who had hoped that the present Government would make a real effort to root corruption out of public life...

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SERMONIZING.

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II 1THERTO religious revivals have always been accompanied— some people would even say produced—by a revival of preaching. Religious oratory, and a very general increase of...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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THE CHILDREN OF BELGIUM. (TO THE SOTTO% Or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—During my year uf office at the Mansion House nothing has impressed me more than the unflagging generosity...

"ARISING 511UT OF" CASSEL-SUR-MONT.

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A CITY that is set on a hill must be quite conspicuously dull if it is to avoid being a little picturesque and at least touched with romance. The same applies to Princes. Both...

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CORRUPTION.

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(To THE EDITOR or TUE " SPECTATOR."7 &a,—Your remarks on "The Sin of Public Corruption" en- -courage me to write to you asking whether the sin of private cor- ruption is not...

TEE CARDINAL PRINCIPLE OF ADMINISTRATION. (To THE EDITOR OE THE

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" SPIXTATOR."3 Sie, — Since 1902 I have treasured an article on "The Cardinal Principle of Administration," which appeared in your paper for March 22nd, 1902. I enclose the page...

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CIVIL SERVICE OFFICIALS.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOZ."3 Szn, — In last week's issue of the Spectator I find a reference to "the specious arguments used by some Government officials in favour of...

THE SIBYL'S BOOKKEEPING.

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(To THZ Faeroe or sax " Specreroa."1 Sra, — The suggestion that you put forward, that in making offers of peace to Germany we should follow the precedent of the Sibyl, is one...

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A VINDICATION OF LORD HALDANE.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Sm. — Have we not here a very close parallel to Emile 011ivier's L'Empire Libgral, except that the French lawyer-Minister pleaded his case in...

THE ROYAL ARMY CLOTHING DEPARTMENT. [To THE EDITOR OF THE

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"SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Some four weeks ago an article appeared in the Spectator based on an alleged statement made in Court that a document emanating from the Royal Army Clothing...

AN IRISH EIRENICON.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") Snt,—My song of' Father O'Flynn " has found so much favour as an Irish Eirenicon that I venture to hope you will give the sub- joined lyric,...

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sta, — Why not add

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to confiscation of enemy shipping the handing over of enemy railway rolling stock to France, Belgium, Russia, and Serbia? And this might be followed up by the removal of every...

PROLONGING THE WAR.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Some three months ago I wrote advocating not only the" ton- for-ton "claim on Germany's shipping, but a further indemnity of one-third...

IRELAND AND COMPULSORY SERVICE.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] a rather heated discussion with a West of Ireland man, he stated that the South and West had sent their full proportion of eligible men to...

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " Sncreron."]

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Sra,—May I suggest a slight alteration in the punctuation of a passage towards the end of the last paragraph but one of "Don't Worry "? Should we not read : "A sense of anxious...

OFFICERS' LETTERS TO THE FAMILIES OF FALLEN MEN.

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(To THZ EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."3 Sta,—Last week's contribution from "A Student in Arms" contains a beautiful reference to the affection felt by officers at the front for...

"DON'T WORRY."

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(To THZ EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."3 Sta,—The letter by "N. Y. Y." in your issue of October 28th. telling how, instead of an address of his own to a young men's class, he read...

" ABIDE WITH ME."

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(To 77E EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."I Srit,—A propos of Mr. Hankey's book, his untimely death, and your kindly reference to my sympathy with his writings, I may say that since...

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A CHANNEL TUNNEL.

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[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—A tunnel between England and Ireland—emphatically, yes. It will be an additional argument for having the same Govern- ment at both...

MUTUAL REGISTRATION OF ASSISTANCE.

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[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECIATOLL"] SIR,—May I call attention through your columns to the enclosed scheme, which has been widely welcomed by hardly pressed social workers,...

"PRINCESS MARIE-JOSE'S CHILDREN'S BOOK."

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(To THE EDITOR OF TEl " SPECTAT0112) beg you to permit me to draw attention to the publication of Princess Marie-Jose's Children's Book, issued last week in aid of the charity...

THE NATIONAL MISSION.

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(To sza Enrroe or rim "Ssecrssna."1 Sns,--It was too wet on Sunday morning for trench-digging, and my corps of Volunteers, some five hundred strong, attended service in the...

DR. SMITH'S CLASSICAL DICTIONARY.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'l SIR ,—I have just read a review in the Spectator of The Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, published by the Cambridge...

THE FEAR OF DEATH IN WAR.

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[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTETOR.'1 Ern,—An article under the above heading in your issue of October 28th contains the statement that "very few men believe in Hell." The...

WAR FUNDS.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Snt,—I am much puzzled these days to know the most desirable of the many War Funds to which to send donations. Hitherto I have sent them to...

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THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S SERBIAN HOSPITAL FUND. WE have received the

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following additional subscriptions to the above Fund :— a. d. £ d. Previously acknowledged 119 18 6 X .. 5 0 0 Major W. N. Pilkington 25 0 0 Mrs. Goodden .. £2 2 0...

THE POET GRAY.

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(To rna Einem or rim "Sreerseoa."3 gm—With reference to the correspondence in your columns, will you kindly permit me to point out that there is no monument dedicated to the...

NOTICE.—When "Correspondence" or Articles are signed with as writer's name

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or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked " Cornmeal- cated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the mode...

THE "SPECTATOR" AND BASE HOSPITALS ABROAD.

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Ws have received for the above Fund the sum of Ls from an Australian subscriber in Sydney.

THE BURNING OF WAR BONDS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sta,—No doubt there are large masses of our population who have not begun to learn to be thrifty, but there are also large numbers who are...

BIRDS OF PARADISE.

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(To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Si,—In reference to the letter from "D. C. L." (October 21st), may I say that on a previous appearance in "a great daily" of this...

and " his " refer to a naval officer.—! am,

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Sir, &o., H. C.

AN IMPROMPTU.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."I Sit,—My father once heard Canon Ainger say this to a widow lady, who had upset some pickles at supper :— "She's spilt all her pickles, And...

POETRY.

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A SONG OF THE VOLOGDA. [The following poem is a specimen of a folk-song which the Russian peasantry sing while dancing the Chorovod In the province of Voiogda, North - East of...

BOOKS.

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TILE AGONY OF SERBIA.* THERE is a marked difference in the feelings entertained by the man of the British public towards the Germans and the Austrians respect- ively. In the...

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THE RETREAT FROM MONS.* Is we were asked how to

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get the best idea of the early fighting by our small but immortal Expeditionary Force, we would say : Read Lord Ernest Hamilton's book, The First Seven Division., for the facts,...

A VISION OF EMPIRE.* IN these days only to think

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is to be full of visions. We cannot help dreaming dreams about the rebuilding of this broken world. But our visions must be questioned closely, for they will shape our action...

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PLATO AND CHRISTIANITY.* Mn. TEMPLE'S volume of lectures displays the

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clearness of thought and gift for interpretation, as well as the breadth of sympathy, which have made his previous books popular among that large and increasing number of...

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE.*

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THERE are probably few subjects upon which more nonsense is talked or more ignorance displayed than high finance, and we welcome Mr. Withers's successful effort to make such...

THE MAGAZINES.

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Is the new Nineteenth Century the Bishop of Carlisle writes with sympathy and insight on "The Now Education." An old champion of the ladder of learning, and a supporter of tho...

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FICTION.

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THE LION'S SHARE.* ACCORDING to the publishers' announcement, Mr. Arnold Bennett's new novel is a blend of the realism of his Five Towns stories with the more genial manner of...

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The Diary of Ananda Range Pillai. Edited by H. Dodwell.

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Vol. IV. (Madras : Government Press. 4s. 6d.)—Ranga Pillai, the chief native agent of Dupleix, kept a very full diary covering the period 1736-1701. This remarkable document is...

&Melo on Education : a Translation of the " De Pueris

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Reck Insti- htendis." By E. T. Campagnao and K. Forbes. (Oxford University Press, 7s. 6d. net.)—Sadoloto, Bishop of Carpentraa, Cardinal and friend of Erasmus, was one of the...

READABLE NOVELS.-1914. By John Oxenham. (Methuen and Co. 5s. net.)—The

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subject of this book announces itself in the title. The members of two families—next-door neighbours—have exciting adventures, and the story is good reading throughout. —The...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice in this CON'S* sloes not necessarily loveluile subsequent review.] Imperial Germany. By Prince von Billow. (Cassell and Co. 6s. net.) —This is a new edition of the...

Essays in Brief for War-Time. By W. Warde Fowler. (Oxford

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: B. H. Blackwell. 2s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Warde Fowler says that he wrote these charming little essays during the early stress of the battle at Verdun, and that they helped to carry...

Suasion and Nomad. By E. Nelson Fell. (Duckworth and Co.

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7s. 6d. net.)—The author of these interesting sketches of Siberian life is an American engineer, who for some years managed a group of mines in the Kirghiz steppes of...

Loretts, Par Henri Rene. (Paris : Perrin. 3 fr. 50

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e.)—This is a vivid account in detached notes, as if torn from a diary, of the twelve months' straggle on the plateau of Notre Dame do Loretto, which ended in the capture by the...

Sir Horace Plunkett and hit Place in the Irish Nation.

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By Edward E. Lysaght. (Maunael and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)—This little book is concerned more with Irish politics than with Sir Horace Plunkett, but it is temper- ately written, from...

Westralia Gift Book. (Perth, W. A.: V. K. Jones. 2s.

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6d.)—The writers and artists of Western Australia are to be congratulated on this attractive book; the proceeds of which go to the Y.M.C.A. and the Returned Nurses' Fund. Some...

From the Heart of the Veld. By Madeline Alston. (John

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Lane. 38. 6d. not.)—This book gives an educated Englishwoman's impressions of life on the veld—apparently in the Eastern Transvaal—far away from a town or railway. Other...

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Notre Dame de Belgique. Par Lea Laurent. (Iris Publishing Co.

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3 fr. 50 c.)—This is a warmly appreciative sketch of the Queen of the Belgians. Queen Elizabeth is by birth a Bavarian Princess, but she has adopted her new country with...