18 DECEMBER 1915

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Sir John French has, in our opinion, shown great good

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sense and patriotism in asking to be relieved before his work suffered from the tremendous strain to which he has been exposed. The most difficult thing in the world is to know...

The writer of a very interesting communication from the front

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published in Thursday's Morning Post adds a curious piece of information. It is that the Germans in high command in France and Flanders have won so few laurels that they are...

There is little or no news to record from the

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French front, except that the weather conditions could not be worse, and that our men in the rain in waterlogged trenches are in a position of extreme discomfort. No doubt...

PosmAwm ABROAD lin. On Thursday the War Office announced that

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General Sir Douglas Haig has been appointed to succeed Sir John French in command of the Army in France and Flanders. Sir John French has felt the " sixteen months of severe and...

From the Eastern Russian line there is little or nothing

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to report, and the same must be said of Bessarabia. The reasons for this in the two cases named are, however, very different. Things are quiet on the main Eastern line because...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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O UR first duty this week is to offer our most hearty congratu- lations to Lord Derby. He has done the nation a great service, and done it in the best possible way; that is,...

In writing as we have just written it must not

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be supposed that we imagine that the success of his scheme has been so great as to warrant the assumption that there will be no need to fall back upon compulsion No one at the...

While congratulating Lord Derby we must also, as he would

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be the first to demand, congratulate the nation. Compulsionista as we am in ordinary times on the ground of national defence and national moral, we cannot refrain from...

We have dealt elsewhere with the situation in the Balkans,

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but may record hero that the French and English troops carried out their retreat without precipitation and without -serious loss, and are now holding a prepared position within...

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The Timm of last Saturday published a very interesting statement

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from M. Venezelos which was sent with the express sanction of King Constantine. M. Venezelos repeated his opinion that the Treaty with Serbia was binding on Greece in all...

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the

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Germans and Austrians want to be off to meet the Russian threat in the North, and that the Bulgarians do not like the idea rof being left alone to face the Allies at Salonika,...

We greatly regret that the Volunteer Hill, passed by the

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House of Lords some three weeks ago, has not yet been passed by the Commons, and that fears are entertained as to whether it will now become law. The Government. of course, can...

The State Department- at Washington has sent a strong Note

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to Austria about the sinking of the Ancona' and the killing of her passengers. It is pointed out that the ' Ancona' had stopped after her first effort to escape, and was...

The Creek situation remains exceedingly complicated. In the first place,

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the Greeks have obligingly cleared the greater part of their troops out of Salonika, an area which is left for us to • deal with as we like. But though the Greek Government have...

In the Reichstag on Thursday week Herr von Bethmann Iffellweg

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reviewed the military situation at length, and answered an interpellation on the subject of peace. Curiosity as to how he would deal with the peace question had been very keen,...

All this prepared the way for the Chancellor's statements about

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peace. The stories crediting Prince Billow in Switzerland, Dr. Sod at the Hague, Prince Maximilian of linden at Stockholm, and Cardinal Hartmann at Rome with peace missions were...

At present it was Greece's turn. The original request of

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• Venezelos that French and British troops should be landed at Salonika had been withdrawn, and the subsequent notions ref the Entente had been entirely arbitrary. In fact, the...

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In the House of Commons on Thursday week Sir Henry

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Dalziel asked that the terms of the agreement between the British Government and the Merchants' Guild of Copenhagen, and the Industrial Association of Denmark, should be...

Owing, however, to a series of technical points, most of

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them due to that dread of taking any responsibility which marks the War Office, and also to the soldier's instinctive shyness of employing men who have not received full...

On Tuesday a notice was issued stating that, though the

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King had largely got over his accident, his convalescence was not complete, that he had lost seriously in weight, and that in view of this fact his medical advisers had insisted...

Lord Robert Cecil absolutely refused to reveal the terms of

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the agreement, but said that he regarded it as an excellent arrangement. We cannot ourselves regard what is known of the agreement as at all satisfactory. Or rather we should...

We mean to treat the Plural Voting Bill and the

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party intrigues with which it is surrounded with the contempt they merit. Therefore we shall say nothing, now on this score. We meet, however, even at the risk of drawing near...

It is hardly necessary to say that the King's temporary

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use of alcohol on doctors' orders does not in the very slightest degree interfere with the foroe of his example, or weaken the influence of his pledge in the public interest....

And hero we should like to note a point of

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special importance. We are not partioular admirers of our party system, and have always insisted that the antiseptio of party is the willingness of men to leave the party on...

Bank Rate, 5 per cent., changed from 6 p.c. Aug.

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8th, 1914..

In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Asquith said

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that the Government did not propose a reduction of Ministerial and parliamentary salaries. Mr. Birrell, who had suggested reduc- tion, had spoken for himself. Mr. McKenna...

Mr. Bonar Law's speech bristles with wise things well said,

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but we shall only deal with one of them—that passage in which he pointed out that the Coalition Government does not exist if it means only that half-a-dozen Unionists are in the...

It is worth remembering that the Volunteers are now no

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untried body of whom it is possible for military men to say, that it remains to be seen whether they will be of use, and so on. All the soldiers who have seen the Volunteers at...

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE MILITARY SITUATION. I N writing last week of the military situation we ventured to take a line which then must have seemed a piece of impertinent optimism to many of our...

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THE INTERNAL CONDITION OF GERMANY.

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A N exceptionally informing series of articles on the . conditionof Germany by a Swede, who has just visited many German towns, has been appearing in the Times. The Swede, who...

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" THE TRADE'S " OPPORTUNITY.

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" the trade " are wise, they will seize the oppor- tunity to make terms with those who say that the country cannot afford to buy, transport, and consume liquor during . the...

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FINANCING THE WAR. T WO Bills which were discussed in the

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House of Com- mons in the course of the present week will help perhaps to bring home to the general public the immediate difficulty of financing the war. That difficulty...

OUR " DOWN GLASSES " POLICY.

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T HE country is, we are convinced, full of people who agree with the Spectator policy in regard to prohibi- tion during the war, and are deeply anxious that something , should...

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AWED BY RUMOUR.

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I F any one tried to account for the ebb and flow of confidence among anxious observers of the wa , he would find it almost impossible to do so. One week he is conscious that...

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THE RELIGION OF THE INARTICULATE.

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T HERE has been a great deal of talk since the war began of " the Church's opportunity." It is one of those vague phrases which are the delight of the man who has no responsi-...

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TALK IN A Y.M.C.A. HUT.

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" y ou seen Sergeant Clark's got killed 7—Cup of tea and some of them currant biscuits, please, Miss. Three a penny ? Hero's the tickets.—Yes, poor chap. Better'n ten Colonels...

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[TO rue EDITOR OF THB " BrzoTATon."] Sat,—I have been

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reading with great interest your recent publications in regard to the alcohol question. I am exceedingly pleased that a paper as widely read as the Spectator should advocate so...

DRINK AND ECONOMY.

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ere TM§ EDITOR OP THE " SPHOTATOE.1 Sat, — The, indulgent and courteous treatment extended to my letter of last week makes me reluctant to ask permission to trespass again on...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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FREDERIC THE GREAT ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATROCITIES. [To TUB uerrea OP TEN " SPECTATOR1 Sat,—It is to be presumed that in their infamies the Prussians imagine that they are...

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"DOWN GLASSES!"

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[TO THE EDITOR OP THIO " SPECTATOR.") SIR, —In your issue of November 27th you publish an article headed " Down Glasses I " and I must confess I am very much surprised at a...

[TO THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Strs—As one who

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has resided in a " public-house" from birth until the age of forty-five, during which period I have held a licence for twenty-five years, and for forty years been a total...

(To THE EDITOR OP TUB " SPECTATOR. ") Sin,---Coming from London

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a few days ago, I had occasion to stop at North Road Station for lunch. For many years it has been my habit to take a little alcoholio drink with my modest lunch. On this...

rro rut EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. ") Sin,—In your editorial remarks

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on the letter of Mr. C. Bailey entitled " Drink and Economy" in your issue of the 4th bast. you say : " Our answer to Mr. bailey's suggestion that the new restrictions' have not...

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MR. ALFRED BOOTH'S SPEECH.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR, —I fully agree that the speech which you published by- the Chairman of the Cunard Company is a most notable contri- bution to the...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:'] Srn,—Having read your

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article " How the Brewer's Dray Blocks the Ammunition-Wagon and the Wheat-Truck" in last week's issue of the Spectator with great interest, I am venturing to ask whether it...

AN AMERICAN PROFESSOR ON THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

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[To TILE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Srn,—A distinguished American, a Professor at a leading University in the United States, who knows England well, and who, with his wife,...

[TO THE EDITOR OE THE " SPECTATOR.")

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SEE, — I have never ceased to feel grateful to you for your article of November 6th on the drink question. A short time ago I was on a visit to a large Midland town where much...

TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.")

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Ent,—If you would press for the total prohibition of the sale . of spirits during war time, I believe you could carry the country with you. The case against the consumption of...

• THE KING'S EXAMPLE.

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[To THE EDITOR 01 THE " SPECTATOR.") Sur,—Even if the fine example set by the King has failed in producing a widespread teetotalism, it can hardly be doubted that, besides the...

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THE FIGHT FOR RIGHT MOVEMENT.

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ITo TEE ED1TOE 08 THII " BP8CTAT08.1 lira,—The first series of public meetings held under the auspices of the Fight for Right Movement having been brought to a successful...

THE DRINK QUESTION.

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[To TRH EYOTT011 08 TUX .° erecraeca.1 Bin,—May I trespass on your columns upon this important question ? The result of the Cleveland election was a foregone conclusion, but I...

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A NATIONAL HUMILIATION.

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[TO TIER EDITOR Or TER SFEOTATOR.1 SIR, —May I venture to congratulate you heartily as a regimental officer on your admirable article, " A National Humiliation " t I would...

BRITISH CLUB FOR BELGIAN SOLDIERS.

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[To mna EDITOR OF mm " firacreroa."] SIR, I should like to interest your readers in the British Club for Belgian Soldiers, now established at 12 Connaught Place, a house kindly...

[To TRIO EDITOR OF TDB " SPECTATOR. " ] Sift, — May I suggest

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a modification in your proposal of halt-pay for ex-Cabinet Ministers 1 The period of two years ' Cabinet service seems to me much too short to carry with it £2,000 year for life...

THE SHORTAGE OF DRUGS.

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[To TEM HMOS OP TIE11 SFROTATO8.1 SIR,—The owner of a Cornish garden would he glad to hear from an expert if there are any plants which could be grown in it of importance in...

PAYMENTS TO MINISTERS AND OTHERS.

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[To rna Enact OF Tan " SPECTATOR."' Srie—You might have reinforced your convincing article on the salary of Cabinet Ministers by recalling the scandal caused by the poverty of...

BAD MOVES IN WAR.

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To MR EDITOR OP Till " SPECTATOR :1 Sfea — None of the members of the Cabinet apparently are chess players. In chess it is of the utmost importance to acquire the art of...

THE HONOUR OF THE BRIGADE.

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[To TIIR EDITOR OF TRH " EIFECTA.TOR.1 Sin,—Snow-bound in a moorland camp, it is often difficult to got soldiers out for field work during winter. So we arc able to give men a...

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THE WORKING CLASSES AND THE WAR LOAN. [To TEE EDITOR

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OF THE " SPECTATOR. "] Snr,—As illustrating the attitude to the War Loan of a certain section of the working class, the following extract from a letter of one in close touch...

SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " BPEOTATOR.1 Sant, — Wi11 you kindly allow me to add the following names to the list of places at the end of your moat interesting article on "...

LORD DERBY'S SCHEME.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR. "] SIU„—On the occasion of Lord Derby's address to the members of the Stock Exchange, as reported in the Times, he stated that members of...

THE MEDITERRANEAN AND BALKAN FORCES: AN APPEAL.

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[TO THE mime OF TEE " SPECTATOR. " ] Sra,—I wish to make an earnest appeal for comforts for the forces in the Mediterranean and Balkans now under my husband General Sir Charles...

" WHAT OF THE SCHOOLMASTER ? " [To TEE EDITOR

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OP TEE " SPEOTATOR.1 Sra,—Who are these young schoolmesters who write so con- temptuously of ladies and old men ? For the former, they might most capably release many...

THE " TIMES " AND THE WAR.

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[To TEE EDITOR OP TEE SFECTATOR.1 Sant,—You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion of the effect of the Times articles on the war. Personally, malo errors cum " Wounded"...

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BOOKS.

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POLITICAL IDEALS.* Mn. DELISLE Besets reminds us that there are severe!. different ways .of writing history. There is, in the . first place, what he calls the "Date-and-Fact"...

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...

THE . CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER TRAINING CORPS.

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PRESIDENT : LORD DESBOROUGH. Hos. SECRETARY : PERCY A. HARRIS, Esq. HEAD OFFICES : Judges' Quadrangle, Royal Courts of Justice (Carey Street entrance). The aims and objects of...

POETRY.

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MAURUPT. IN the seven. times. taken and retaken town Peace ! The mind stops : sense argues against sense. The August sun is ghostly in the street As; if the silence of a...

The Editor cannot undertake to return Manuscript in any case.

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AN AMERICAN VIEW OF THE WAR.*

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Mn. FREDERIC'S PALMER, the well-known American correspon- dent, has written a book which every English reader will enjoy, not only for the sparkling quality of the writing, but...

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IVORY APES AND PEACOCKS.*

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MIME is a magazine published in the United States which vaunt; as the speciality of its criticism the predominance of the " red corpuscle." This claim May be fairly put forward...

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SOME WAR. BOOKS.*

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Is attention were not. distracted b ., too many engrossing events, it is certain that the story of what has happened in South Africa —the suppression of the Dutch rebellion and...

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GIFT-BOOKS.

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FAIRY.TALES, CHILDREN'S. ANNUALS, AND PICTURE. BOOKS.* MR. CHARLES BAYNE, the editor of Little Folks, has given. us a good selection of fairy-stories , in My Book of Best Fairy...

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MORE CHILDREN'S BOOKS..

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Things ° is such a queer title for a story-book that as soon as we have seen it we want to find out what it means, and when we have read the book we shall be constantly reminded...

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BOYS' STORIES.

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Two hooks aro here that are on the border-line between novels and boys' stories. The King's Double, by E. E. Cowper (S.P.C.K., 2s. 6c1.), is a tale of Charles IL in hiding after...

LULLABIES OF THE FOUR NATIONS.* Tun " four nations "

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of this book are England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and a delightful collection of little poems has here • Lullabies of the Four Nationa a Coronal of Song, aid Renderinai...

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MYTHS.

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Tire appearance at this time of seven substantial volumes devoted to myths and legends does not impress one with any sense of war economy practised by publishers or expected of...

The Conquest of the Sea. By Cyril Hall. (Blackie and

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Son. 3s. 6d.)—The sea itself and all things in it or upon it are the subjects of this work. The first chapters trace the early develop- ment of shipping, and lead on to the...

Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys. By A. N. Hal

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(T. Werner Laurie Os. net.)—This is for young people who want - to use their fingers to some purpose. It teaches how to make out of paper and cardboard various toys or...

The Dreamer of Dreams. By the Queen. of Roumania. (Hodder

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and Stoughton. 43s. net.)—Again we welcome a hand- some volume by a. British Princess, who can write with care, . • thought, and skill. Her story is of a beautiful young...

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Corners of Grey Old Gardens. (T. N. Foulis. Ss. 6d.

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net.)— The sentimental title of this small book is indicative of its prettiness : but there is not much grey in Miss Waterfleld's illustrations. The letterpress consists of...

FICTION.

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"GOOD OLD ANNA." * Mn. BELLOO-LOWNDES'S new story is a novel of the war, but it falls into the same category as Mr. Bradby's "For This She Had Borne Him," noticed recently in...

The Book of Sundials and their Mottoes. (T. N. Foulis.

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Se. 6d. net.)—" True as a dial to the sun " is a Saying as old as Hudibras. Nowadays sundials are not set up as emblems of honesty or to do the service of clocks, but as...

The Orient Pearls. By Shovona Devi. (Macmillan and Co. 2s.

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6c1. net.)—This is a collection of fairy-stories, fables, and folk-.ore which may take a good place among the numerous books of this kind that now come to us from India. If the...

NEw Enrrrons.—Among new editions suitable for boys' gift-books are Stevenson's

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Treasure Island and The Black Arrow (Cassell and Co., 3s. 6d. each). They are illustrated in colour and bound in a garish manner that may attract boys as effectually as it...

The Village Church. By the Rev. P. H. Ditohfield. (Methuen

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and Co. bs. net.)—Mr. Ditchfield is not a deep writer upon his subject, but a very pleasant and discursive one. His is just the kind of book that will open the eyes of a blind...

Fairy Tales that Mother Told. (T. Nelson and Sons. 2s.)

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—An anonymous compiler gives us here fifteen quite well- chosen fairy-stories, including some old friends from Grimm and some less-known tales of French origin. Their manner is...

The Rebel Lady. By John Barnett. (Nisbet and Co. 6s.)—,

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Mr. Barnett, within the limits of fiction, ranges over a wide field of subjects. He has written, and we have read, an admirable school story, a moderately interesting modern...

READABLE NOVELS.—The Queen's Net. By Harold Begbie (Hodder and Stoughton.

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6s.)—Theso tales of some women who have been helped by the Queen's Work for Women Fund do not claim to be typical ; they are genuine, original, and treated, for the most part,...

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We commend upon its own merits and for the excellent

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;goal of any profits—namely, the Belgian Relief Fund—Professor Knight's second collection of poems on war, Pro Patria et liege (Century Press, 2s. 6d. net). Of the older...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice In Vat column does not necessarily preclude subsequent review.] Five Little Booklets for Officers and Other., by Arthur Mercer, are not new. Those before us belong to...

David Lloyd .George. By Herbert du Perin. (George Novenae. re.

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6d. net.e.---In their series of " Popular. Biographies .ofLeading Statesmen " Messrs. George Newnes have now included a short Life of Mn.. Lloyd George, founded on Mr. du...

The Daily Mail Year Rook, 1918 (Carmelite Rouse, E.0, 6d.)

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gives a great deal of information on a variety of sub- jects. the majority of which, of course, deal with the war. Among the special articles are " Why Turkey Joined Germany,"...

Italian Leaders of To-Day. By Helen Zimmerli. (Williams and Norgate.

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5s. not.)—Italy of to-day and the men who are shaping her destinies, says Miss Zimmorn in her " Foreword," are too little known to the English, and there is no doubt much truth...