1 MAY 1920

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The Danish General Election on Monday completely justified the King's

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recent dismissal of the Radical-Socialist Ministry of Dr. Zahle, on the ground that it had ceased to represent the majority. The Radicals lost half their numbers, and as the...

The Allied Premiers, in the course of the past week,

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completed their provisional settlement of the Near Eastern question. They gave a mandate to Great Britain for Mesopotamia and for Palestine, and confirmed Mr. Ba1four's...

The Council of the League of Nations has shown for

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the first time that it is an independent body by publishing in Wednesday's * *Ines its Armenian Memorandum, which the Allies had for- bidden it to disclose. We had only been...

The French Senate, sitting as a High Court of Justice,

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brought its long trial of M. Caillaux to an end on Friday week. It found the ex-Premier guilty of "correspondence with agents of the enemy, so that information was furnished to...

_NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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• a joint declaration in which they declined to consider Germany's demand for an army of two hundred thousand men, instead of half that number, until she had begun to carry out...

The Labour Party has sent a number of delegates to

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inquire into the condition of Bolshevik Russia. We trust that they will be more fortunate than the deputation of Russian Co-operators living abroad which went in February and...

On Monday in the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil

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described the appalling state of Ireland on a motion for the adjournment. The maintenance of the law, he said, was what distinguished the imperfect civilization of the Middle...

* * I' The Editor eannat 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.

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What word shall we apply to the grievances of those

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heroic policemen who in carrying out their duty tramp along lonely roads with a certain expectation of sooner or later being shot from behind a hedge ? What word shall we apply...

In any case it seems to rut that the complaints

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of those whose houses have been raided by the Government are quite dispropor- tionate to the injury done. We have 'read in the Daily News, for example, articles by Mr. Erskine...

After criticizing the vacillation of the Government in the treatment

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of the Mountjoy prisoners, Lord Robert Cecil expressed the belief that the raids on houses of those who were suspected of rebellion had been most unwisely cionceived and...

When the House of Lords considered the Matrimonial Cameo Bill

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in Committee on Tuesday, attempts were made to reduce the number of grounds on which divorce might be granted. The House insisted on "incurable insanity" as a ground for divorce...

Lord Robert Cecil summed up his criticisms by expressing his

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belief that the enforcement of the ordinary criminal law would be quite enough if it really was enforced. In his view, there was "no need for exceptional powers." He did not...

The House of Lords on Friday week rejected, by a

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majority of one, Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Bill to prevent "dumping." The Government, whose own Bill on somewhat similar lines was abandoned last Session, withheld their...

The House of Commons on Friday week, by a majority

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of six, gave a second reading to Mr. A. M. Samuel's Trade Union Ballot Bill, which would permit—but not compel—any_ Union to take an independent and secret ballot of its members...

Meanwhile the scenes outside Mountjoy Prison a fortnight ago are

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being reproduced at Wormwood Scrubs, where several Irish prisoners are interned. Irishmen resident in England and no doubt others who sympathize with Shut Fein and what it...

The papers this week have contained forecasts of the recom-

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mendations of the Speaker's Conference on Federal Devolution. The letter from the Speaker to the Prime Minister will contain two separate schemes as well as various reservations...

In many districts not only was the criminal law in

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abeyance but the civil law also. Sinn Fein Courts had been set up. One or two towns were wholly in the hands of self-chosen Committees, which ruled despotically and would not...

The question was again raised in the House on Wednesday

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when Mr. T. P. O'Connor, on a motion for the adjournment, sought to justify the impudent threat of some Irish dock labourers at Liverpool and Glasgow to hold up British shipping...

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On Tuesday was celebrated the centenary of Herbert Spencer, who

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was born at Derby on April 27th, 1820. We note that about the same time two small houses, in one of which Herbert Spencer was born, were knocked down at a sale for £280. To our...

So far as Mr. Kipling's statement goes we cannot but

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agree with it. The present writer has seen some of the great military cemeteries in America, and it would be impossible to conceive anything more massive or more restful than...

The Budget resolutions were considered and approved on the Report

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stage in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Mr. Maclean, a Labour Member, proposed to omit the increased Tea Duty, as a protest against indirect taxation on the working classes....

Lord Rosebery, as Chancellor of the University of London, and

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the Lord Mayor send us an appeal for £20,000 to establish a Centre for Historical Research in London. The proposal has long been advocated by Professor Pollard, of University...

Lord Methuen made a strong protest in the Timm of

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Friday week against the selfish refusal of certain Trade Unions to permit discharged sailors and soldiers to earn an honest living in their trades. He instanced the Amalgamated...

Mr. Chamberlain announced in the House on Wednesday the issue

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of a new and attractive form of Government security, the proceeds of which will go to reduce the Floating Debt. Instead of depending solely on short-term Treasury Bills, the...

On Tuesday Mr. Rudyard Kipling, Sir Fabian Ware, and Mr.

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Churchill addressed a meeting of the Parliamentary Army Committee at the House of Commons on the work of the War Graves Commission. Mr. Kipling explained that the decision Of...

The Excess Profits Duty was warmly criticized in the House

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on Wednesday, but Mr. Terrell's proposal to abolish it was negatived without a division, and Sir F. Banbury's amendment to leave the tax at 40 per cent. instead of raising it to...

Bank rate,7 per cent. ,changed from 6 per cent.Apr. 15,1920.

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5 per cent. War Loan - was on Thursday, 83k; Thursday week, 86j; a year ago, 94,

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE STORM. rr iE experienced seaman when he notices unmis- takable signs of a coming storm always takes precautions. He shortens sail or makes ready to...

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MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S SUCCESS.

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- AIR. CHAMBERLAIN in rapidly securing the passage .1N1 of his Budget Resolutions has had a remarkable success, as we felt sure he would, for we can call to mind few instances...

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THE ALLIES AT SAN REMO.

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/THAT the Allied Premiers should have conferred together for ten days at San Remo and parted friends was a foregone conclusion. It cannot be attributed to the "new diplomacy."...

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ISE CINEMA IN EDUCATION.

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SIIORT time ago a correspondent wrote to us suggest- ing that we should air the question of the use of moving pictures in education. As he pointed out, the vhool cinema is now a...

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ADELINE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD: A CHARACTER STUDY. * " T

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T is as if a great light has gone out of the world." So 1 said an obscure worker on hearing of the death of Adeline Duchess of Bedford ; and these words will echo in countless...

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PUBLIC OPINION.

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W HEN we say that Public Opinion "will not stand" something we usually mean that that something is wrong. " If only the facts were known," we say with regard to some injustice...

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FINANCE—PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. ET0 THE tDITOR OF THE EIPECTITOE2] SIR,—In

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spite of the attacks which have been made from certain quarters upon the author of the Budget, I can assure you that the opinions of those who count for most in the City...

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Pro THE EDITOR OF THE " SPrZTATOB."]

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SIR,—Por more years than I care to count I have read the Spectator weekly and have always admired its fairness, patriotism, and absence of self-seeking. In particular I have...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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[Letters of the length of one of our leading par-agraphs arc. often more read, and therefore more effective, than those. which. fin treble the space.1 DIVORCE REFORM. [Tp THE...

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."J

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Sne—May I point out, in reply to the letter on the Divorce Bill in your issue of April 10th, that the mothers of England have a voice. in the matter ? They most of them have...

THE BUDGET.

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To MBE EDITOR. OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sue—May I venture (while approving with you Mr. Chamberlain's intention to start now to reduce Debt) to paint out that he has so far failed...

[TO THE EDITOR. or-zne " 8RECTATOR."1

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Sta,—You seem to approve of the Budget, and liken the Cur. poration Tax to the Super Tax imposed upon individuals. But surely there is a most obvious distinction between them....

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THE TRUTH ABOUT QUEBEC. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "

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SPECTATOH."3 8112,—Owing to absence from home through illness I have only just seen Sir Andrew Maephail's letter. It is indeed, as you say, an "eloquent and spirited" document....

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]

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SIR,—Sir A. Macphail's defence of the Quebeckers will vastly entertain all Anglo-Canadians. One might wonder whether even Englishmen will swallow it ! Possibly one of the...

Page 13

"CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR."

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Y011 were kind enough in last week's issue to notice very favourably Vol. II. (1916-17) of the Chronology of the War (Constable), which...

SHIAH MOSLEMS AND THE CALIPHATE.

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(To THE EDITOR OF 'THE "SPECTATOR."] Sia,—Agreeably breaking the monotony of the pressure which Islam has for months past been bringing relentlessly to bear upon the Allied...

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND LABOUR.

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Fro THE EDITOR OF THE " SPF.CTATOR."] SIR,—I am not disappointed in the anticipation I formed that my letter would result in further bitter invective against Trade Unionism and...

THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL SERVICE. (To THE EDITOR OP THE

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"SPECTATOR."] SI11,—My attention has been drawn to the review in your columns of the Report on The Church and Social Service. issued by the Archbishops' Committee to suggest...

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PISE, STRAW, AND BRICE.

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[To THE ED/TOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Permit me to correct a misprint of frequent occurrence in your printed reproduction of Mr. Somers Clarke's letter (March 17th)...

THE LATE SIR 'WILLIAM OSLER.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THZ " SPECTATOR."] • SIR,—At my request Dr. Harvey Cushing, of Harvard, will prepare a biography of Sir William Osler, and he will be most grateful to-any...

THE PLUMAGE BILL.

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[To IKE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—I did not see the Times correspondence of three weeks ago (quoted by Mr. Massingham in your issue of last Saturday), in Which the...

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]

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SIR,—In your issue of April 24th Mr. Massingliam denies the existence of egret farms in Sind. I can assure you that they do exist. Mr. Massingliam says that the farm birds are...

FIRST-AID TO WAR MEMORIAL COMMITTEES.

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ITO THE EDITOR OF THE " Sezoreroa."l Sta,—Referring to your article on " First-Aid to War Memorial Committees," may I be permitted to urge the idea of the Nursery School as the...

Page 15

THE PALESTINE CROCODILE.

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(To THE EDITOR OP VIZ " SPICTATOR."1 Sin,—Under the above heading a correspondent tells ns in the Spectator of March 20th about the Nile crocodile. He is very much mistaken in...

BOOKS.

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Ws have discussed the third volume which records the part played by Lord Kitchener in the Great War. The earlier volumes, which are of great interest though they reveal few...

A DOUBLE RESEMBLANCE.

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(To THE EDITOR OF TEM " SPECILTOIC"J SIIL—The letter from "B. V. R. P." re "A. Double Resemblance " made me think of a queer experience I had recently. Soon after entering the...

POETRY.

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MOMENTS. Ii we could save our moments, store them deep In cellars of the mind to choose at will, Not as the dream that drowns into a sleep, But as the taste of wine, laid...

ght *ptrtator

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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Including postage to any part of the Yearly. United Kingdom . £2 1 2 OVERSEAS POSTAGE. Inoluding postage to any of the British Dominions and Colonies and...

NOTIOE.—When " Correspondence " or Articles are signed with the

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writer's name 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...

Page 16

WILLIAM AND CATHERINE BOOTH.*

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REALLY, Barbara, you go on as if religion were a pleasant subject," says Lady Britomart in Mr. Shaw's play, epitomizing the half-hidden meaning of most of the arguments that...

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A PILGRIMAGE OF ROMANCE.* To most pilgrims, whether they are

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devout Moslems journeying to Mecca or Mr. Belloc on the path to Rome, a moment of supreme content and gratitude is granted when the sacred shrine comes into view. To Sir Martin...

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ALTITUDE AND HEALTH: *

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Tan advent of the ?nen of science, with his laboratory experi- ments and investigations, his calculations, and above all his statistics, cannot but appear at first to the large...

TWENTIETH-CENTURY FRENCH WRITERS.* Tirtanew boek on French literature by Mine.

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Duolaux has been awaiting publication since the summer of 1914. As it happens, the delay has been by no means unfortunate for those who know how to value this writer's clear...

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READABLE NOVELS.—Jewish Children. Translated by Hannah Berman from the Yiddish

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of "Shalom Aleichem." (Heinemann. 6s. net.)—A series of charming Jewish folk-tales, which have apparently lost little of their essential quality in the process of translation....

FICTION.

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THE TRIUMPHS OF SARA. - 1 - THIS is, in round numbers, Mr. NOITiS'S thirtieth novel, but the urbanity, the "perfect ease and grace," acknowledged by so fastidious a critic as...

POETS AND POETRY.,

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POEMS WRITTEN AT RUFILEBEN. * Norionv has ever been without an excuse for following in the footsteps of the young man at the French watering-place "who suddenly burst into...

INSCRIPTIONS FOR WAR MEMORIALS. * THOSE who have before them the

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difficult task of choosing suitable inscriptions for war memorials will welcome this little collection of sentences in prose and verse, which owes its origin to the recent War...

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The Political Significance of " Gullitxr's Travels." By C. H.

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Firth. (H. Milford for the British Academy. Is. 6d. net.)— Professor Firth is not the first to detect the political allusions in Swift's story, but his interpretation is novel...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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IlVolies in this column doss not nocusarily preclude subsequent reeinal The Treaty-Making Power in the United States. By John W. Davis. (H. Milford. Is. 6d. net.)—The American...

The American Oxonian (Concord, New Hampshire : W. W. Thayer)

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is written for American Rhodes Scholars, but the April number of Mi. Frank Aydelotte's breezy little quarterly will interest many Oxford men at home. There is a series of papers...

Old Tartar Trails. By A. S. Kent. (Shanghai : North

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China Daily News and Herald. $6.)—This well-written book, illus- trated with photographs, is the record of a long journey through Outer Mongolia in 1914. The author crossed the...

History, the quarterly organ of the Historical Association (Macmillan, 2s.

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net), contains some admirable articles in its April issue. We may mention Professor Terlinden's detailed history of the Schelde in modern times, Lord Robert Cecil's article...

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As the Lord Chancellor's Law of Property Bill, despite its

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great importance, is too technical to attract the attention of the newspapers, we may notice that the Law Quarterly Review for April contains an excellent exposition of the Bill...

Shakspere's Handwriting. By. Sir George Greenwood.

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(Lane. 2s. net.)—Sir George Greenwood, who seems, like Nash and Greene, to bear a grudge against the man Shakespeare, has written a pamphlet to explain, why he is unconvinced by...

Wonns op REFERENCE.—The Master Printers' Annual, 1920, edited by Mr.

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R. A. Austen-Leigh and Mr. Gerard T. Meynell (Spottiswoode, Ballantyne, 10s. net), is a handsome and useful book. As the shoemaker is proverbially reputed to be of all men the...

A . Prisoner in Turkey. By John StilL (Lane. 6d. net.)—

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Mr. Still was with the 6th East Yorks when they attacked the hill above Anafasta, inland from Suvia Bay, on August 9th, 1915. Thirty men reached the top ; five only got down...

A British Nurse in Bolshevik Russia. By Margaret IL Barber.

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(A. C. Fifield. Is. 6d. net.)—This little narrative does credit to the author's philanthropy. She worked from 1916 to 1919 as a Red Cross nurse in Russia, chiefly in the...

The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America. Vol . XIII.,

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Part IL (Chicago : University of Chicago Press ; and Cambridge University Press. $2.)—This pleasant volume, wholly unconnected.with politics, testifies in its quiet way to the...