6 AUGUST 1898

Page 1

Few things in this world come up to one's expectations,

The Spectator

but this is never true of the German Emperor's telegrams. The one forwarded from Bergen to Prince Herbert Bismarck immediately on receipt of the news is an aumirable and most...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

T HERE is no war news, and very little but rumour in regard to peace. It seems probable, however, that M. Cambon has been authorised to accept the American terms (i.e., Spain to...

Thursday's and Friday's papers were full of rumours of a

The Spectator

crisis in the Far East, based on a Renter's telegram from Pekin describing a struggle between Sir Claude Macdonald and M. Pavloff—the Russian Minister—over the negotiations with...

We have dealt with Prince Bismarck's chief characteristics elsewhere, and

The Spectator

will only say here that though the man was often unscrupulous and tyrannical in his conduct, there was nothing base in him. He never did a wrongful act for petty or personal...

The Editors cannot undertake to return Manuscript, in any case.

The Spectator

Page 2

In the House of Lords on Monday Lord Kimberley asked

The Spectator

Lord Salisbury what steps the Government propose to take to safe- guard British interests as regards railways in the provinces bordering on the Yangtse. Our original policy of...

Though he does at present not propose to have recourse

The Spectator

to countervailing bounties, Mr. Chamberlain, we are sorry to say, harked back to the old controversy as to whether counter- vailing duties are, or are not, contrary to...

As we have noticed before, the Westminster Gazette is always

The Spectator

unearthing the curiosities of politics. It has discovered that in 1733 there was a scare that we were encouraging French trade to the ruin of our own Colonies. Unless Par-...

In the House of Commons on Friday, July 29th, there

The Spectator

was a long, but on the whole satisfactory, discussion raised by Mr. Tennant in regard to lead-poisoning and " phossy jaw." The two voices—one for protecting the workpeople (and...

In the House of Commons on Tuesday night Mr. Cham-

The Spectator

berlain unfolded his scheme for assisting the West Indies. In addition to the 2120,000 previously voted, he proposes :- (1) An Agricultural and Botanical Department under the...

Later on Tuesday the House of Commons entered upon heated

The Spectator

and not very profitable discussion of the Chinese ques- tion. Mr. Curzon, who spoke for the Government, was in earlier part of his speech not only confused in matter, but...

Lord Salisbury met this indictment of his policy, for such,

The Spectator

in fact, it was, with one of the most statesmanlike and sagacious speeches ever delivered by him on a foreign question. The Government, he said at once, would neither build nor...

Page 3

The Pope has addressed a letter to the Roman Catholic

The Spectator

Archbishops and Bishops of Scotland reviewing the position of the Roman Church in that country, and exhorting the faithful to make every effort for the conversion of "the...

The polling at Grimsby took place on Tuesday. The suit

The Spectator

was as follows :—Mr. G. Doughty (Liberal Unionist), 940; Mr. T. Wintringham (Radical), 3,189; Mr. R. Mel huish ndependent Conservative), 204; Mr. Doughty's majority, 751. In...

The by-election in the Launceston division of Cornwall has resulted

The Spectator

in the return of the Home-rule candidate. The figures are :—Mr. F. Moulton (Liberal), 3,951; Sir F. Willa (Unionist), 2,683; majority, 1,088. In 1895 the Home-rule majority was...

Lord Salisbury endorsed Lord Lister's arguments. 'Under certain circumstances and

The Spectator

in the presence of ertain delusions the action of power does not tend o obedience but to resistance.' He ended by warning he Peers that if they rejected the conscience clause he...

The Vaccination Bill came before the House of Lords on

The Spectator

Thursday. Contrary to expectation, Lord Lister supported the clause relieving the conscientious objector in a speech which was able and statesmanlike in a high degree. The...

The Cape elections are being prosecuted with a great deal

The Spectator

of vigonr, not to say acrimony, and sensational accusations are being sown broadcast. It is very difficult to get a clear view of the struggle, but we would most strongly...

Bank Rate, 21 per cent.

The Spectator

New Consols (21) were on Friday, 1101.

Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Spectator

LORD SALISBURY AND THE CHINESE QUESTION. INT EWSPAPERS and Members of Parliament are still in full cry against the Government because they will not try to play the game of dog...

Page 5

EUROPE AFTER THE WAR.

The Spectator

I T certainly looks as if peace were near, but for all that we are by no means certain that the war is going to end as quickly as some of the foreign correspondents believe....

Page 6

THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM.

The Spectator

TAO the recent victories of the Liberal party at various elections really connote a serious, intelligent revival of honest Liberal or Radical opinion in the country ? Of course,...

Page 7

PRINCE BISMARCK.

The Spectator

I N the excellent biography of Prince Bismarck which appeared in the Times of Monday we read that he "was pious in his fashion, and might have grown into a Puritan but for the...

Page 8

THE SITUATION IN ITALY.

The Spectator

I T is difficult to understand the point of view of the new Italian Ministry, which is supposed to be Liberal and which is also supposed to have a pacifying mission to fulfil....

Page 9

SECONDARY EDUCATION REFORM BY INSTALMENTS. T HERE is a good deal

The Spectator

to be said for the plan of intro- ducing a Bill dealing with a complicated subject at the end of one Session, with a view to proceeding with it seriously in the next. But while...

Page 10

PRINCIPAL CAIRD.

The Spectator

W HILE the civilised world resounds with the news of the death of Bismarck, the passing away almost at the same time of Principal Caird is comparatively unnoticed, and yet it...

Page 11

PUNISHMENT.

The Spectator

T HE reports of the paradoxical discussion at the Hardwicke Society on the motion that "the criminal should not be punished" are hardly full enough to make it worth while to...

Page 12

CHILDREN'S GARDENS.

The Spectator

T O plant a garden is a natural impulse with children. It is the form which their first impulse takes to do their duty on earth, and an unconscious rehearsal of their future...

Page 13

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Spectator

MORE "BULLS" FROM IRISH PASTURES. [To THR EDITOR OF THE " SPICCTATOR."] SIR,—The propensity of the Irish people to make " bulls " is undoubtedly a deep-rooted national...

Page 14

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Spectator

SACERDOTALISM. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Your correspondent, "Old Soldier," is logical and honest in suggesting a revision of the Prayer-book as the proper...

PRAYER-BOOK REFORM.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Your correspondent, "Old Soldier," declares that sacerdotalism is driving young men into scepticism, ath young ladies into superstition....

PONTEFRACT CASTLE AND KING RICHARD IL

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, — On the occasion of a visit some time ago to Pontefract Castle, I was surprised to see that nothing is done to locate- the historic...

Page 15

THE CONDITION OF ITALY.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR...I SIR, — Having been away from Rome, I did not see the Spectator of July 23rd in time to send these few lines for last week's issue. For the...

WOLVES IN ENGLAND.

The Spectator

THIL EDITOR OD THE "SPECTATOR."] SIB, — In connection with your article in the Spectator of July 30th on "The Past and Future of British Mammals," it is interesting to note...

BOOKS,

The Spectator

THE WORKERS.* THE history and purpose of Mr. Walter Wyckoff's slender little volume may, perhaps, be best explained in Mr. Wyckoff's own words, which we take from the preface...

A GHOST-STORY FROM ABU- HAMED.

The Spectator

[To TES EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR." Sin,—The enclosed extract from a letter written by an officer now serving in the Soudan may interest your readers :— " When Major Sidney...

THE COMMANDER OF THE GLOUCESTER.'

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—I send you the enclosed extract from a private letter, thinking that perhaps it may be of interest to your readers :— " Some of our...

EQUIVOCATION AND LYING.

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."] Sin, — You sum up your extremely interesting article on the above subject, in the Spectator of July 23rd, by laying down the law that "the...

THE TRANSVAAL.

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Your correspondent "M. C. S." contends that the South African Republic ceased to exist with the annexation in 1877, and that all...

Page 17

THE WEST INDIES TO-DAY.*

The Spectator

Mn. JAMES H. STARK in his series of histories of and guides to the West Indies has assumed the role of a modern Hakluyt to intending voyagers to the islands. He gives a clear...

Page 18

BUDDHISM IN BURMAH.*

The Spectator

BUDDHISM has spread far and wide in Eastern lands since that great day when its founder made the Great Renuncia- tion and entered on the path which led to the Great Peace. In...

Page 19

THE TROUT.* The Trout, written by Lord Granby and others,

The Spectator

is the latest addition to the "Fur, Feather, and Fin" series, edited by Alfred E. T. Watson. Of this series each volume is devoted to one of the birds, beasts, and fishes which...

Page 20

RECENT NOVELS"

The Spectator

Jr is always a good sign when a young writer of talent tries his strength in different directions. Mr. Maugham began with a picture of life in Lambeth, whose repulsive realism...

Page 21

THE MAGAZINES.

The Spectator

THE Nineteenth Century publishes several most readable papers this month, besides Sir Wemyss Reid's eulogium on Mr. Gladstone, which is interesting from its writer's enthu-...

Page 24

SCHOOL-BOOKS.

The Spectator

The Medea of Euripides. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Clinton E. S. Headlam. (Cambridge University Press.)—The Prolegomena are brief but sufficient. It is need- less...

King Arthur and the Table Round : Tales chiefly after

The Spectator

the OlI French of Crestien of Troyes. With an Introduction and Notes. By W. W. Newell. (Houghton, Mifflin, and Co., Boston, U.S.A. 16s.)— We know very little about Crestien...

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Spectator

The Edinburgh Review opens with one of those papers which give a real value to the quarterlies. The numerous class of people who are not quite sure what a young Czech is, and...

Page 25

The Music Dramas of Richard Wagner. By Albert Lavignac. Translated

The Spectator

from the French by Esther Singleton. (Service and Paton. 10s. 6d.)—This book has the clearness of plan, and con- sistency of aim, which make French works of this kind so satis-...

hiIISIO&L BOOKS.

The Spectator

What is Good Music ? By W. J. Henderson. (John Murray.)— This little book of American origin should be read by every one who regards music as a great and serious art, but who...

Der Ring des Nibelungen. Described by R. Farquharson Sharp. With

The Spectator

Illustrations by Reginald Savage. (Marshall, Russell, and Co.)—This description of Wagner's great work, or rather of its plot, is reprinted from Atalanta, and, though slight,...

Page 26

DEATHS.

The Spectator

Caunca.—On Jane 17th, Richard Arnold, aged 28, and George Edward, aged 26, sons of Alfred John and Charlotte Isabella Church, of The Wilderness, Olevedon, drowned in fording the...

The Fringe of an Art : Appreciations in Music. By

The Spectator

Vernon Blackburn. (The Unicorn Press.)—The author writes charm- ingly of Berlioz, Rossini, Don Giovanni, Parsifal, and other musical matters. Perhaps the most interesting study...

An Analysis of Mendelssohn's Organ Works. By J. W. G.

The Spectator

Hathaway. (W. Reeves.)—Though small in size, this book is full of detailed analysis, both of the organ sonatas and of the three preludes and fugues. Organ-players who are...

A Handbook of Bible and Church Music. By the Bev.

The Spectator

J. Aston Whitlock. (S.P.C.K.)—It is a_ melancholy fact that any attempt to realise ancient music ends in failure. Music, more than the other arts, depends on tradition. Give...

Richard Wagner's Prose Works — Vol. VI.: Religion and Art. Translated by

The Spectator

W. Ashton Ellis. (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co. 12s. 6d.)—In this volume of prose fragments, many of which were hardly worth preserving, there are some good things to be found....

Interludes. Seven Lectures delivered between the years 1891 and 1897

The Spectator

by the late Henry Charles Bannister. (Bell and Sons.) —The author was a musician of great learning and of conserva- tive instincts. He seemed to regard greatness in music as...

The Growth and Influence of Music in Relation to Civilisation.

The Spectator

By H. Tipper. (Elliot Stock.)—The first half of this book deals with antiquarian music, Greek, Chinese, and Mediceval. The latter half is devoted to the great composers from...

Applications for Copies of the SPECTATOR, and Communizations upon matters

The Spectator

of business, should NOT be addressed to the EDITOR, but to the PUBLISHER, 1 Wellington Street, Strand, W.C.

The Spectator

PUBLICATIONS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

Adventures of a French Sergeant in Italy, Spain, &c., 1805-1823 (Hutohinson) 6/0 Assyrian Deeds and Documents, copied, collated, &D., by C. H. W. Johns, Vol. I., 8vo (Bell) 21/0...

MAGAZINES AND SERIAL PUBLICATIONS. — We have received the following for August

The Spectator

: — The Century, the Peal Mall Magazine, St. Nicholas, Macmillan's Magazine, the Review of Reviews, the Quarterly Review, the Carnhil/ Magazine, the Church Quarterly Review, the...