11 SEPTEMBER 1920

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On Wednesday the Congress was permitted by its leaders to

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approach the coal question but not to discuss it. Mr. Hodges was given an opportunity of stating the miners' case, which be did very ably from his own point of view, and then...

NEWS OF THE WEEK

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T HE Trades Union Congress opened at Portsmouth on Monday. Mr. J. H. Thomas performed the feat of deliver. ing his presidential address without mentioning the word " coal." The...

As regards the Council of Action, Mr. Thomas admitted that

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its existence " definitely challenged the Constitution," but ho explained that in his opinion it was necessary to take a strong line and that the boldness had as a matter of...

When all has been said, we cannot help feeling that

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Mr. Thomas would be handsomely repaid if he came out boldly and told his followers that it is not only ridiculous but criminal, after having fought for generations for a wide...

The proceedings of the Congress on Tuesday were notable for

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an attack by Mr. Smillie on the method by which the Trade Union Parliamentary Committee is elected. The method is that the officials of the larger Unions, or groups of Unions,...

NOTICE.

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Owing to the Government having taken over our old premises, we have new removed to new offices, 13 York Street, Covent Garden, W.C. 2. where all communications should be addressed.

If Mr. Thomas, or any other Labour leader, would do

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as bold thing, his success would be certain, for the majority of manual workers already suspect the truth and only want the facts stated clearly. A characteristic passage in Mr....

*.* The Editor cannot accept responsibility for any articles or

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letters submitted to him, but when stamped and addressed envelopes are sent he will do his best to return contributions in case of rejection.

TO OUR READERS.

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Should our readers experience any difficulty in obtaining the SPECTATOR during the summer holidays from Newsagents or Railway Bookstalls, will they please communicate at once...

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Since the Miners' Federation issued its ultimatum to the Government

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on Thursday week we have had daily statements and counter-statements from the opposing sides, as we had during the war. President Wilson's advocacy of " open cove- nants openly...

The political strike threatened by the Miners' Federation is by

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no means the only dispute which is checking the revival of industry and the reduction of the cost of living. The engin- eering trades are again threatened with unemployment...

The dispute in the printing trade is also serious and

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shows no signs of ending. It arose out of the refusal of the Liverpool and Manchester branches of the Typographical Association to accept the national scale of increased wages...

Mr. Balfour last week acknowledged the withdrawal of the Bolshevik

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demand for a Polish " workers' militia " in a courteous and incisive Note. He told M. Tchitcherin that he was evidently jesting when he said that the establishment of this...

Sir Robert Horne on Saturday last elaborated his proposal that

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the miners' claim for wages should be referred to the Industrial Court. He was ready to add some coal-owners and miners' representatives to the Court under the permanent...

Mr. Hodges, who is Mr. Smillie's chief lieutenant in his

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revolutionary campaign, indicated on Tuesday that the Miners' Federation would like to know what Sir Robert Horne meant by his suggestions. Mr. Hodges' note was truculent in...

The Miners' Federation on Friday week also presented its case

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to the journalists, through Mr. Hodges, who argued that a reduction of 14s. 2d. in the price of " domestic " coal would lessen the cost of living. The rise of 14s. 2d. in May...

The Poles and the Bolsheviks have agreed to transfer the

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peace negotiations from Minsk to Riga. The chief Polish delegate will probably be the Polish Socialist leader, M. Daszinsky, whose existence the British Socialists apparently...

The Polish army pursuing the routed Bolsheviks towards the Niemen

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found a new enemy last week in the Lithuanians, who attacked them and occupied the Polish towns of Suvalki and Augustovo. The Allies had asked the Poles to stop at the " Curzon...

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The correspondent says that Budenny's cavalry corps worked in association

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with these fearful women. It was a regular prac- tice to out the throats of all the patients in Polish hospitals. Budenny's men stopped a Red Cross train and massacred Count...

The Times of Tuesday published an admirable letter about the

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Lord Mayor of Cork from Mr. J. A. R. Marriott. Members of Parliament, he says, are at liberty, like other citizens, to petition the Crown, " but I hold strongly that it is not...

The Prime Minister, in an interview published by the Daily

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Chronicle on Wednesday, confirmed all that Mr. Boner Law had said in a letter to the Labour Party. Mr. MacSwiney com- manded a " brigade " which had been actively concerned in...

In Mesopotamia last week the Muntafik Arabs on the Shattel

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Hai rose at the bidding of the fanatical Shiah clergy of Kerbela and Nejef, who have preached a " Holy War " against the British army of occupation. The insurgents attacked...

The task of dealing with the plague has been entrusted

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by the League of Nations to the Red Cross Societies, with Sir David Henderson as Director-General. The Red Cross intends to establish twenty-four more quarantine stations and...

Mr. Balfour, on behalf of the Council of the League

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of Nations, has again asked the member-states to provide £250,000 at once for sanitary measures in Eastern Europe. It is not generally realized, even by Governments, that Europe...

We cannot think that people in this country who, out

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of humanity or sentiment—feelings which for their own sake we should all naturally wish to share—advocate the release of the Lord Mayor of Cork have sufficiently appreciated the...

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post in Monday's paper

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summarizes reports which have been sent from Poland of terrible barbarities committed against Polish prisoners by soldiers of the Bolshevik army. The correspondent states that...

We have dealt elsewhere with some of the general considera-

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tions that arise in regard to the attempted suicide on the part of the Lord Mayor of Cork. Here we want to say something about those who have been so unwise as to " aid, abet,...

Bank rate, 7 per cent., changed from 6 per cent.

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Apr. 15, 1920 ; 5 per cent. War Loan was on Thursday, 841; Thursday week, 841 ; a year ago, 95.

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REVOLUTION BY MINORITY. T HE fact that the revolutionaries are always

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and everywhere in a minority is a fact not only admitted by Lenin under pressure but stated with the utmost frankness, and should not merely be recognized but should be kept...

TOPICS OF THE DAY

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REALITIES IN THE COAL CRISIS. public still do not realize the true nature of the facts in the threatened coal strike and what it will mean to them if a false settlement is made...

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THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MINERS. T HE Prime Minister's unexpected return

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to London a day earlier than he had originally arranged naturally caused many surmises. There were two obvious reasons why he might have wished to hurry back to London. The...

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SUICIDE AND THE ABETTING OF SUICIDE.

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T HERE is nothing clearer in law than that suicide, whether active or passive, whether by poison or gunshot or by starvation or suffocation, is murder. Further, " any person who...

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POLAND, LITHUANIA, AND THE LEAGUE. A LTHOUGH the Russian Bolsheviks are

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apparently putting many impediments in the way, there seems to be a reasonable prospect that the Bolshevik and Polish Governments will come together at Riga to arrange peace. We...

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THE POWER OF ENJOYMENT.

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" I HOPE you have had a good holiday." This good wish is constantly in our ears at this time of year. It has become one of " the compliments of the season." Most holiday- makers...

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THE POLICEWOMAN OF THE FUTURE.

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A FTER a long and careful inquiry embracing Home Office officials, Chief Constables, Voluntary Organizations con- cerned with Police work for women, and Policewomen them-...

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FINANCE—PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

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THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE AND EUROPE'S NEEDS. Fre THE EDITOR. or THE " SPECTATOR."I Slit,—In the absence of unforeseen circumstances the International Economic Conference...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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[Letters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.] CHILDREN AND BOLSHEVISM. LTo...

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' Sin,—Really Mr. Anderson

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must learn to discriminate between rhetoric and truth if he desires his readers to take him seri- ously. A statement is not made a fact by vociferous assertion. Mr. Anderson...

(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR, —The Materialist Conception

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of History is the science which deals with human society. Just as Darwin discovered the law of development in organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of development in human...

A POLICY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TOWARDS LABOUR.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' Sia,—The evil results of Mr. Lloyd George's feeble handling of Irish and domestic affairs are becoming more and more apparent as time goes...

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ACTION SHOULD BE MET BY ACTION. (To THE EDITOR Or

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THE " SPECTATOR."1 SIR,—All law-abiding citizens will agree with your leaders in your issues of August 21st and September 4th. In your issue of August 21st you say that " the...

THE LORD MAYOR OF CORK AND MARTYRDOM. [To THE EWTOR

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or THE " SPECTATOR."1 Sin,—The ancient Irish Church distinguished three kinds of martyrdom—the Red, the White, and the Green. If the Mayor dies to witness to his faith in an...

THE ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY.

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[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."] Sia,—Your readers are aware of the magnificent stand for law and order that is being made by the loyal Royal Irish Con- stabulary, and I am...

THE BOYS' VOTE.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."3 SIR,-1 venture to suggest that the boy vote outcry in connexion with the miners' ballot is being overdone. The impracticability of the...

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TAXATION AND THE OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.

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[To THIS EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sne—Nationalization in relation to the future of agriculture is only a matter of public expediency. But no one competent to examine it...

THE PROPOSED LEAGUE OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. [To THE EDITOR OF

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THE " SPECTATOR."] am much obliged to you for inserting my last letter on the above subject, and also for your comments thereon, with which I am entirely in accord, especially...

TRADE UNIONS AND BRITISH CITIZENSHIP. [To THE EDITOR 01 THE

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SPECTATOR. " ] SIR , —The letters in your issue of last Saturday from " A Coal Miner," and from members of " the Middle Classes Union " and of a " League of British...

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THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Elnk—The article on the Lambeth Conference in the Spectator of August 28th has only just reached me, as I happened -to be abroad where posts...

To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR"] Ste,—In your excellent

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article on the Lambeth Conference in your issue of August 28th you say that between " the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church . . . re-union has not yet been...

THE BISHOP OF ZANZIBAR.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your issue of July 3rd last is an interesting article on Tillotson—indeed, very interesting; but it is marred at its close by a very...

THE BRAIN OF ANCIENT AND MODERN MAN. [To THE EDITOR

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OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIN.,—Permit me to correct an oversight in your article "Progress and Education" referring to the paper by me on " Progresa" which was published a month...

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BOOKS.

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THE RISING TIDE OF COLOUR.* [FIrsT NOTICE.] MANY people will regard this book as highly dangerous and provocative. This verdict, though it might at first sight seem just, would...

POETRY.

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INCUBUS. ASLEEP, amazed, with lolling head, Arms in supplication spread, Body shudders dumb with fear . . There lifts the moon, but who am I Cloaked in shadow wavering by,...

ije *ptrtatur

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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Including postage to any part of the Yearly. United Kingdom .. £2 3 4 OVERSEAS POSTAGE. Including postage to any of the British Dominions and Colonies...

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

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

SOME PLAYS WORTH SEEING.

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HAYMARKET.—Mary Rose .• • • • • 8.30-2.30 [Tear-stained stalls.] LITTLE (John Street).—London's" Grand Guignol" 8.30-2.30 [Melodrama. Notice later.] .ALDWYCH.—The Unknown...

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A HISTORY OF PERSIAN LITERATURE UNDER TARTAR DOMINION.*

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PROFESSOR BROWNE, in producing this history of Persia and Persian literature from A.D. 1205 to A.D. 1502, has performed a task the difficulties of which it is hard for any but...

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THE NATIONALIZATION OF INDUSTRIES.* EVERYBODY who is looking for a

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lucid and readable exposition of the case against nationalization should read this essay. It is fair, it is humane in spirit—for Lord Emmott is a genuine friend of the manual...

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THROUGH BOLSHEVIK RUSSIA.*

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Tax Soviet form of government " does not work in Russia." This is the opinion, not of any " bourgeois " or capitalist, but of Mrs. Snowden, the well-known Socialist, who...

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THE REIGN OF QUEEN AN\E.* MR. MORGAN, an American historian,

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offers a new reading of the character of Queen Anne, as the result of a good deal of research in the private papers which have been made accessible in our day. The accepted view...

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THREE PLAYS.* THE Abbey Theatre has always had at least

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one merit. It has been a fount whence have welled an enormous number both of plays and productions. "How pleasant to know Mr. Lear, Who has written such masses of stuff!"...

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READABLE NOVELS.—Sweet Aloes. By Elizabeth Stirling. (Stanley Paul. 7s. 6d.

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net.)—An Anglo-Indian story in which the heroine is an attractive figure.—Behind Bed Curtains. By Mansfield Scott. (Nash. 7s. 6d. net.)—An autobiographical story told by an...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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',Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent review.) The London Mercury for September has a charming little poem, never before printed, by R. L. Stevenson....

The Landmark, the monthly magazine issued by the English Speaking

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Union at Trafalgar Buildings, Charing Cross (2s. net), has made its September issue a very attractive " Pilgrims' Tercentenary Number." Lord Charnwood pays tribute to the...

FICTION.

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PENNY PLAIN.* Miss Dotrous's new book in two ways partakes of a quality little short of the miraculous. It is a post-war story without a trace of war-weariness or bitterness ;...

POETS AND POETRY.

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A BOOK OF COUNTRY POETRY.? Ma. BLmcDEN seems so far—the present volume is, we believe, his first—to bo one of those poets who succeed largely by reason • Penny Plain. By 0....

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Shakespeare's Fight with the Pirates. By Alfred W. Pollard. (Cambridge

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University Press. 7s. 6d. net.).—Mr. Pollard has reissued his remarkable Sandars Lectures in a revised form, with a new introduction, as the first of a series of little books...

The new University of Dacca, in Bengal, of which we

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have received a prospectus, is a noteworthy experiment for India, inasmuch as it is to be a residential and teaching university as distinguished from an examining board with...

100 Pay Cartoons. (Hutchinson. Is. 6d.)--He would be a dull

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man who could. not laugh over " Poy's " ingenious cartoons in the Evening News, a hundred of which have been reprinted in this book. " Poy " has invented whimsical characters...

How Women Can Help in Political Work. By Constance Williams.

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(Melrose. 2s. net.)—This little book is intended for women who wish to take an active part in politics but do not know how to begin. The author writes clearly and is evidently...

The committee of trade union leaders and Labour politicians which

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held an inquiry into the cost of living has issued an Interim Report on Money and Prices (Co-operative Printing Society, for the Trades Union Congress). It is odd to find Mr....

Our comment last week on a copy of Beardmore News,

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to the effect that many large firms had neglected this method of promoting community of sentiment among employers and employed, has caused a. correspondent to send us Our Log,...

The Anglo-French Review for September has an instructive article by

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Lord Charnwood on " America, the Entente, and the League," pointing out that " while the other Powers concerned would accept much in the Reservations and consider all, the...

Income Tax Up to Date. By H. J. Gully. (Financial

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News. 9d. )—Income Tax payers will find it to their interest to read this revised edition of Mr. Gully's useful little handbook, as it em- bodies the important changes and...

Laughter in Court, collected by Richard Knight (Jarrolds' 2s. net),

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is a very badly clothed little book which nevertheless contains some very funny legal stories, for the most part well told. " An Irishman saw a gravestone which bore the legend...

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The National History of France : The Seventeenth Century. By

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Jacques Boulenger. (W. Heinemann. 12s. 6d. net.)— This new volume of the excellent series, which contains M. Louis Madelin's. French, Revolution, is a brilliant study of the...

The " Royal Mail" War Book. By H. W. Leslie.

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(W. Heinemann. 10s. (3d. net.)—We can never hear too much of the part played by the Merchant Service during the war. Mr. Leslie's attractive book gives an account of the...