15 DECEMBER 1917

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Our Italian Allies are fighting resolutely in the foothills of

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the Alps to the north of Venice. They have been pushed back a little by the weight of superior numbers and heavier guns, but they have made the enemy pay dearly for the peaks...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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J ERUSALEDI was surrendered last Sunday to the British Army We have described elsewhers the stages of General Allenby's brief and brilliant campaign. Ile made his formal entry...

Although Although we are hard put to it to find

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space to record all the important events of the week, we must make room to pay a Well- deserved tribute to the frank, honest, and valuable speech made in London on Friday week...

The Admiralty return of merchantmen lost by mine or submarine

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shows that fourteen large vessels and seven small vessels were lost last week, as compared with sixteen large vessels and one small vessel in the previous week. This was the...

General Marshall, commanding in l■fesopotainia, pursued the advantage which he

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gained on December 4th in the Diala Valley, north-east of Baghdad, and drove the Turks northward Omagh the Jebel Hamrin range towards their advanced base at Kiln. The Russian...

In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. George Lambert

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attacked the Admiralty, and as his words were not reported in many papers, it is worth while to reproduce them. We take the following brief summary from the Daily Mail :— " The...

General Allenby's proclamation announcing that all the sacred places of

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the three religions would be protected according to their eustoms was read from the steps of the Citadel. Indian Moham- medan guards were placed round the Mosque of Omar. Guards...

The Germans have advertised so well their intention to undertake

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an offensive in the West that their immediate thoughts may run in a different direction. During this week their artillery has been very active between Arras and Cambrai. On...

Since our troops were withdrawn from Bourlon Wood on Wed-

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nesday week, the Cambrai front has seen no serious infantry fighting, though we improved our line north of La Vacquerie on Friday week. Both sides are busily engaged in digging...

THE PAPER SHORTAGE.—We trust that readers of the "Spectator" will

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give definite orders to their newsagents for a copy of the "Spectator" to be reserved for them each week till countermanded.

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General Kaleclin, the Hetrnan of the Don Cossacka, is reported

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by the Anarchists to have taken arms against them, in conjunction with General Komiloff, who recently escaped from prison. Another Cossack, General Dotal, has occupied Orenburg...

Affairs in Russia have gone from bad to worse. The

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Anarchist gang in Petrograd, styling themselves the "Commissioners of the People," threaten to abolish the Constituent Assembly if, as seems probable, the electors have not...

The conclusion of this remarkable speech did the utmost credit

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to one who represents Labour " Lot every one," he said, " subordinate personal considerations so the gene-4 intereete of the State. Let Capital realize its responsi- bility to...

We fear that it is impossible todeny Mr. Thomas's account

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of the situation. The trouble is that Cabinet government, as we used to know it, has disappeared, and few Ministers feel that they owe any loyalty to their brother-Ministers. In...

Mr. Asquith spoke at Birmingham on Tuesday for the National

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War Alms Committee. He recalled the anxious days of 1914 when he, as Prime Minister, had to decide between war and a shameful neutrality, and declared that he did not regret his...

In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Balfour stated

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that Germany had informed the British Government last September, through a neutral source, that she world be glad to make a com- munication relative to peace. The Government...

We are not fighting, continued Mr. Asquith, to annihilate Germany

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and the German people. We sought to destroy not a people but a system, "which has used as its instroment, first in Prussia, then in the rest of Germany, 'that two-handed engine...

One would be tempted to say that Lord Northcliffe was

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mainly rerponsible for this underestimate, were it not for the curious.fact, which an American correspondent brought to our notice the other day, that Lord Northcliffe tries to...

Mr. Thomas next dealt with the extraordinary contrast between the

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furious outcry which was raised before the war when a few millions were added to the national expenditure upon social reform, and the quiescence with which the nation now...

No peace, Mr. Asquith continued, would be worth the name

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if it permitted the continuance of a" veiled war." "A clean peace ! That is what the people of this country and all the Allied peoples desire." To attain it, and nothing less,...

Mr. Thomas went on to say that there had been

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a continual belittling of the saorifiece made by the British people. This also is absolutely true He found that the American people were astounded when he told them exactly what...

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M. Clemenceau has given clear proof of his determination to

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unravel the Pacifleist scandals in France by asking the Chamber, through General Dubai], the Military Governor of Paris, to suspend the Parliamentary immunity of M. Caillaux, so...

The Anarchist negotiations with the Germans for an armistice were

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to be resumed on Wednesday. Trotsky informed the Allies that he had found the enemy delegates evasive, that he would not sign an armistice unless the Germans agreed to evacuate...

The Franchise Bill was read a third time in the

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House of Commons on Friday week. Representatives of the British parties concurred in describing the Bill as a fair compromise, and in complimenting the Speaker, to whose tact in...

The Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Bill, which is designed to prevent

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the German metal syndicate from regaining its hold over our indus- tries, was read a second time in the House of Commons on Tuesday by a majority of 182 votes to 79. The Bill...

On Wednesday Mr. Boner Law introduced a new Vote of

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Credit for £550,000,000, to cover expenditure to the end of March. The total sum voted for the finaneialyear would be £2,450,000,000. The gross daily expenditure for the year up...

The city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was partly destroyed on

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Thurs- day week by the explosion of a ship laden with munitions, which collided in the harbour with a Belgian relief ship, took fire, and blew up. The force of the explosion was...

Cromwell's noble letter to his friend Colonel Walton, written three

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days after the battle of Marston Moor, was sold in the Morrison collection at Sotheby's on Tuesday for the sum of £300. Cromwell began with a brief account of the greet victory...

There was a revolution in Portugal last week, as the

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result of which the Unionist Opposition overthrew the Democratic Ministry, whose leaders were on their way home from the Allied Conference in Paris. The Lisbon garrison took...

The gallant Rumanian Army, which owed its early defeats to

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lack of support from the ex-Tsar's Government, has now been placed in a perilous position by the Russian Anarchist agitation for peace. The Russian commander on the Rumanian...

Bank rate, 5 per cent., changed from 51 per cent.

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April 5th,

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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A NATIONAL MINISTRY. A GOOD deal of despondency and anxiety has been visible in the Press and in the public mind during the past week. This despondency has come primarily from...

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THE NATIONAL SHIPYARDS.

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A LL that we have read and heard about the Government policy of building State shipyards causes us to take an even more serious view of the matter than we expressed when we...

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THE FALL OF JERUSALEM,

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- PROM every point of view—the historical, the moral, and the military—the fall of Jerusalem is an event to stir • the emotions of the world. General Allenby might have arrived...

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RELATIVE MAN-POWER.

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129,000,000 122,000,000 Looking at these figures by themselves, we are justified in IFILE Russian Revolution has, temporarily at any rate, 1. removed Russia from her...

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" KHAKI COURAGE."

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I T must be a staggering thing for a man to find himself possessed of a spiritual good the lack of which he has secretly bemoaned. A sudden access of faith, for instance, would...

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SUSSEX SOFT TOYS.

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A FEW months ago we started in our village a Women's Institute. For the sake of those who dwell in cities I must explain that a Women's Institute is "a group of women banded...

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THE NATIONAL SHIPYARDS.

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[To raz Emma or ran " flescurroa."1 Sm,—Your article on the policy of National Shipyards is full of interest. If there is one feature of the war which more than any other...

THE CLAIMS OF ITALY.

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[To me Emma OF sue " Srecrtarox.") Sm.—My letter you kindly published under the heading "The Claims of Italy" in your Mate Of November 10th was written on October 27th, when no...

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND HER SONS IN FRANCE. [To THE EDITOR

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OF Tut EPOLTATCM.'1 Sut,—You will be interested to see a copy of the admirable Christmas greeting which has gone on behalf of Columbia University to those Columbia men, some two...

MR. KIPLING ON THE HOLY WAR.

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(To ram EDITOR or ran SIRMS7011.") his—At a grave crisis when the country is threatened with de- pression it is everything that a man of note and genius should utter the right...

LETTERS' TO THE EDITOR.

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[Leiters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often snore read, and therefore snore effective, than those which fill treble the space.] A TIMELY MESSAGE. (To TIM...

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THE VATICAN AND TILE WAR.

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[To me Emma or Tan n Sereraos."] Sia,—Readers of The Letters of Queen Victoria will find a very instructive one from Mr. Odo Russell (afterwards Lord Ampthill) which was...

[To me Emma or ees " Sexeraros."1 Sta.—Your article on

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this subject was very interesting to flier and ProabIllablY to others, who have been longing to hear the thunder e Rome against the damnable conduct of Germany. But is it...

[To T11. EDITOI or SRL " BPLCIATOIL."3

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81g.—You asked certain questions in your " leader " of the 15t inst.—which I have only just noticed—and venture to ;submit replies, as I am in a position to respond with some...

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " EPPOTATOR.") you allow me

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a few comments on thia correspondence? W. A. S." has, through my own faulty expression, iniaappre- hendedi my meaning. No one whose main appeal is not constantly to...

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL IN FICTION.

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ITo THE Emma or vim " Stwarsvoa."1 Set,—The Loom of Youth appears to have fluttered the academic dovecotes! It is certainly not a " pretty " book, and, in spite of its...

(To THE EDITOR. OP rut " SPELTATOR."3 SIR.—I am somewhat

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surprised that the correspondence on this subject should be limited to schoolmasters. May I, as a parent of one of the masters and an old Public School boy, say a few words...

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TENNYSON'S RHYTHMS. Pro ran EDITOR or ran " Sezeravors."1

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Sm,—The alternative scansions suggested by Mr. Haines for the " Gareth " line- " Phosphar 1 is than I O r n :L IC ' s His 1 perils"— lack melody. The initial trochee would...

THE CONSCRIPTION OF CAPITAL.

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Pro Tar Emma or um grecuroa."1 Sra,—Is not the essential point in connexion with this proposal contained in the fable of "The Prudent Tiger " told by the writer who styled...

" SHEFFIELD IN A TRENCH."

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(To TUE EDITOR Or VII SPECTATOR."1 Sia.—Nothing gave my son greater pleasure when in France— until his leg was smashed, hopelessly, and he was invalided home —than to receive...

To T' Lin TRROO SHRUM°.

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It's an ill soul'd bird o't faals t' es.' nest. Not sooa mah lad wi' thee, Thu dusn't forget thi maker:and, Tho thart across the sea. The darksome pictur of oar tahn. Set in...

JOHN BRIGHT ON PEACE BY NEGOTIATION. (To taz Emma or

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rue Sescrarom"3 Suz,—The following quotations from letters written by John Bright at the time of the American Civil War seem to me so apposite at the present moment that I send...

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIVES IN FRANCE.

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(TO VIZ EDITOR OF TEL: •. Stovrrros.".1 Sra,—Owing to our somewhat erratic mail service English papers do not reach us with the regularity of pre-war days. The miracle is that...

(To Sumner, February 27th, 1862.) "I fear to hear of

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any surrender on the part of the South at present, fearing that men would-be an glad to have peace that they would admit the Slave States again in their fellowship, and that...

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" PLAY THE GAME" [To sae Erwroz or raz "

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Brizareroa."] Sur,—I doubt if any idea of games would have appealed to the Romans no we know and play them. On the other hand, races on sea or land were familiar to them, and I...

CAPTAIN BOWEN-COLTHIIRST.

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[To me Rums or see " flesurrox."1 SIR, — The Home Secretary is an equity lawyer, and may disdain baring recourse for his guidance to the Manual of Military. Lase. If, however,...

DEAFNESS.

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[To Tat EDITOR OP TED n SPECTITOR."] Sia,—Thank you for giving space to the discussion on this subject. As a man not yet thirty, who has not been deaf many years. I can say from...

POETRY.

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THE TWO MAGICIANS, LIFO was the Good Magician and the friend,. In happier days, while yet behind the- veil Was hid this Desolation without end. That broke the sequence of our...

A GIRL ON THE LAND.

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[To res Emma or rim "Sexcesroa."1 Sui,—Possibly the enclosed letter from a young girl relative, who has lately taken up work on the land, may interest some of your readers who...

BOOKS.

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A SUPER.CENTRAREDROPE.* Ties famous Peace Resolution of the German Reichstag- of July 19th trumpeted forth to all the world that the German people were anxious for a peace of...

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

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

MR. LANSING'S ADDRESS TO OFFICERS.

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Ws-are very glad-to be able to inform our readers that we-have received permission to reprint themoble Address by Mr. Lansing- whisk was, published in the Spectator of September...

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SIR ARTHUR HELPS.•

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THE books of Sir Arthur Helps are little read by this generation, though one of them, The Spanish Conquest in A meriecs, is still • standard work. But this collection of his...

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THE TURKISH EMPIRE.*

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Loan EvEnstny has written a highly interesting book on the rise and fall of the Ottoman Turks.' It is the most picturesque, and also the most discreditable, chapter of European...

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ON THE • EAVES OF THE WORLD.* WE can find

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it in our hearts to be envious of Mr. Reginald Ferrer and of his companion Mr. Purdom. All through that summer of 1914, during which we passed from the shadow of war to the...

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• laxensescx Novsx.s.—The Road to Matutlalay : a Tale of

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Burma By B. M. Croker. (Carmen and Co. Os.)—The Burmese miseen- sane is the most interesting part of this modern story, the account of the native puppet plays being specially...

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF MATHEMATICS.

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A BOOK on mathematica does not, at first sight, appear an attractive Christmas gift. Even enthusiastic mathematicians who agree with " Lewis Carroll" that "ouch a theorem as the...

FICTION.

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HIS LAST BOW.. THE reports of Sherlock Holmes's death which gained currency. some years ago proved to be "greatly exaggerated," and we are further reassured, on the...

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G I F BOOKS.

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MORE CHILDREN'S BOOKS.* THE title-page of Arthur Mee's (ftft - Book I. tells us that this is for "Boys and Girls who Love the Flag," and that "every purchase of this book is a...

German Problem* and Personalities. By Charles &mien. (Ghetto and Windus.

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15s. net.)—The most interesting of Dr. Sarolos's cc. printed articles on Germany are his predictions, written in 1906 and 1912, of the war arising out of tho Balkan and Baghdad...

Two Summers irt the lee-Wilde of Eastern Karalconsm : the

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Es-plow:lien of 1,90 . 0 Square Miles of Mountain and Glacier. By Fanny Bullock Workman and William Hunter Workman. With 3 Maps and 141 Illustrations by the Authors. (T. Maher...

By the Wayside. Illustrated and Translated by Una Hook from

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the Danish of Vigo Stuokenberg. (Chatto and Windus. 6.s. tld. net.) —These " little tales and legends " are well translated, and the style fits the subject admirably. Tho...

Little Brother and Little Sister, with other taloa from Grimm

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(Conetable and Co., 75. Od. net), Is an attractive reprint, with many charming coloured plates by Mr. Arthur Rackhatn.—The Banos publishers reissue Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales...

SOME BOOKS OF THE VirMK.

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(Baits to Si. atom does nor mama , * preclude subsequent reetso] bausirial iftwed. By Sir William Chance. (P. S. King. Is. not.) —In this valuable little pamphlet, published for...

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. The Determination of Farming Carts, ByC.S. Orwin. (Clarendon Press.

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5s. net.)—It is often said that farmers keep no accounts, the implication being that business methods cannot he applied to agriculture. Mr. Orwin's book, produced for the Oxford...

To their excellent " Everyman's Library" Messrs. Dent have added

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seven interesting volumes (Is. 6d. net each). The Selected Papers on Philosophy by the late William James will be welcomed by many readers. It includes excerpts from his leading...

Messrs. Stanford have issued an excellent and timely map of

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Palestine (2s. 6d.), on a scale of eight miles to the inch, with an inset map of the country round Jerusalem, now occupied by General Allenby's troops. The map does nob show any...

Out of Their Own If otdhs. (D. Appleton and Co.

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58. net.)—This well. arranged collection of the " utterances of German rulers, statesinen, savants, publicists, journalists, poets, business men, party leaders, and soldiers"...

Political Portraits. By Charles Whibley. (Macmillan and Co. 7s. Od.

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net.)—Mr. Whibley includes in his portrait-gallery Wolsey. Shakespeare as "patriot and Tory "—a designation which is both unhistorical and fantastic—Clarendon, Burnet,...

Everybody's Husband : a Play. By Gilbert Cannon. (Martin Seeker.

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2s. net.)—Mr. Cannon's play is in reality a little tract on marriage, which amounts to something in the nature of an "awful warning" to those women about to marry. But it is a...

The Yearbook of the Universities of the Empire, 1916 and

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1917 (H. Jenkins, 70. 6d. net), has been published for the Universities Bureau of the British Empire after an interval of two years in order, as we may say, to keep the...

The British Training School for Women Patrols and Police has

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sent us a copy of its Arinua/ Report, which shows that the school has already trained and found poets for twenty-three qualified women in provincial towns and national...