Ile suggested to Sir Felix Pole, the General Manager of the Great Western Railway, that in starting the year 1927 it would be better to forget 1926. He then argued that though...

Last Saturday Mr. Ernest Bevin, speaking of a proposed industrial truce, said that it must be remembered that the Industrial Council set up by the Liberal Government before the...

NIeanwsvhile, the PowXsers have b)eell considering the Britiv h iMenorandlu-ii. 'I'lle Italian Government has aJ)parenltly sent a lavoural)le reply. The French Government has...

The Prime Minister's message to the country was :-- " lVe have left behind us a year of unhappy discord and industrial dlepression. Let our reso!ve for 1927 be to repair the...

*a * * *N On Tuesdasy a meletingf of the National Wiages Boardl for Railways prov'ide(l a pleasing examl)lc of determination to find points of agreement instcad of ransacking...

* * * $ If the yecar 192v7 snould not be llapl)ier for eecrybody than 1926, it will not be for want of good wishes and several efforts by men of all parties towardIs a better...

The Timies correspon(lelnt says that one of the major inflluen ces in the inl)rogrlio of Central America is the tremendous southwar(l thrust of American capital. The overflow...

T'hie Vliited States Goverinmenit has decided to send miarilles to the caplital of Nicaragua. It liial been stated unollieiallY that the Amneriecan seamIen who had been landed...

* * * * It is a great pleasulre to learn that Mi-. T. 1U. J'ark;llonl, of Ipswichl, has geencrousIv pres(ented( to t hie naitio Flatford M1ill and Willy Lott's Cottage, whlich...

* * * * ll'c regret to recordl the (Icath of M~r. Ambllrose MCar OV:\0, the well-known painter. Ife first became kn lown as one of the more accompl)lisled ImIp)rissionlists or...

The Report of the three Commissioners who were appointed last. July to supersede the W\est 11am Board of Guardians shows that success beyond all expectations has been obtained...

* $ * * Six; mlemlbers of a B3ritishl ski jarts Iost their Ii-c. on New Year's D)av through an avalanlic ill the Austriail Tyrol. Mr. lItiog Mlolrgan, %%'h is amIongII tile...

The New Year Ilonours List contained five new peerages. Sir James Craig, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, becomes a Viscount. He will no doubt be (lad of the opportunity...

The Labour Party is congratulating itself, as it well may, on the prosPect of a political alliance 'with the Co-operative Party. The Co-operators have at last been persuadled...

* * * * Certainly suchI questions oughlt to be answveredl. It would not be a difficult task, but it ought to be performed in a reasoning and not a contemptuous spirit. No...

The Church of St. Martin-i--tht-Fields has undcr tile 'vicarslhip) of Mtr. Sllep)pard taken so emOispnicioiis a place in the life of London(0 tlhat the ap)o)oiIttmnietit ol His...

The Education of the Adolescent Ij'IIF, permianent (onsi I Iltativ e (onmnilittee of the 1 3oar(d of E(dcation has just is~ued one of the most interestinig Reports wc have ever...

A Change of Opinion in the United States THE declaration of Mr. William Randolph Hearst in favour of an Anglo-American arrangement for common defence and for keeping the peace...

Rich Men in the Labour Party JI A not " a rich man in the Labour Parts "-unforI tunately. But I am in the Labour Party, and I am comfortable and middle-class instead of beinig...

Children and the Cinema N EARLY a decadc has passcd since the first inquiry in this colli t yV in o thc cinemia as a social fact and force. As a member of that Commission, I...

An Adventure with an Avalanche r" HE tragedy in the Throl, the soft valley winld, r the alarm of the local people and the guides, and the terrible character of the dust...

Can American Prosperity Last ? }1 U11ING a two nionthlis visit to the Ulnite(l States DJ (the sixltl I have made in twenty years) I have heLarId this (qluestion (liselisscd by...

[To the Editor of the SPECTrATOR.] SIR,-In reference to Mr. Allison's recent article on the League of Nations, I should much appreciate your giving me the benefit of your...

THE NUMBER SEVEN [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sni,--NWith regard to your issue of December 25th, and the " request for enlightenment as to the origin of the widespread...

TIHE LEAGUE AND PUBLICITY [To the Editor of the SPECTrATOR.] Sin, - Mr. Murray Allison, who, almost alone of " publicity " men (in the technical, advertising sense of the word)...

I THE REBEL EARL AND OTHER STORIES. By lW'illiam Roughead. (Edinburgh. W. Green and Son. lOs. 6d. net.)-A new volume by Mr. Roughead is always welcome. His knowledge of...

Fiction BEN WATSON. By C. J. Cutelife--I-vnle. (CoUlltry Life. lOs. 6d.)-Some of Sir Conan Doyle's many admirers regret that his friend Watson has vanished from the latest...

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF TIE, LIVES AND ROBBERIES OF THE IMOST NOTORIOUS lHI(;IIhAYAlIYN, FOOTPADS, SHOPLIFTS, AND (CHEATS OF BOTh1 SEXES. By Captain Alexanler Smith. Edited by Mr....

GOOD-BETTER-BEST. By J. A. T. Lloyd. (IHolden. 7s. 6d.)-This book will not add to the writer's reputation. The story is tedious and bears no relation to human reality or to...

E EARLY TUDOR DRAMA: MED WALL, THE RASELLS, HEYWOOD ANrD THE MORE CIRCLE. By A. W. heed. (Methuen. lOs. 6d. net.}-Students of our early drama vill be grateful to Dr. Reed for...

[t THE JUDGES BY IRELAND, 1221-1921. By F. Elrington EBall. (John Murray. 2 vols. 32s. net.)-This learned work s. and will remain, the most complete record of the Anglorislh...

DUN-RAVEN CASTLE, GLAM11ORGAN: SOME NOTES ON ITS HISTORY AND ASSOCIATIONS. By the Earl of I Dunraven. (John Murray. 7s. 6d. net.)-Lord Dunraven's modest volume on the...

* $ * se Friends and admirers of Phsilip) Bulrke M~arston wvill lhe interested in a small privately printed mnemoir (Times Book Club, 2s. Gd.) by Mr. C. C. Osborne. Marston, in...

Ei-liteen vears tgo Mr. Alfred Noves wrote :i Ii (-tlt play on thre old folk-tale of Robin JH o(d. It has nlow I)Cen n)blished b) Alessrs. Blackwood (5i.) on thle e\e of, its...

I Our learned and ever-delightful contemporary, Nature, published a " Cavendish Laboratory Supplement " in its issue of December 18th which sonic of our readers would be sorry...

Mr. Anderson, who is responsible for Mr. Dion (layton ('althrop's Diary of an Fighlcenit Cenhtry Garden (Williams and Norgate, 7s. 6d.) h hesitates whether to put down ' the...

Tale D)ecemitber issue of The Fucl Ecowwt ist liis tie report of anl interesting l)residlentiakl address delivered by Sir Alfred Mond( to tile Institution of Fuel Teehliool(o ....

Alessrs. Barclav send us A History of Barclays Batik, Limited, a few copies of which are available at the price of t 2vs. a copy. The lbook is in many respects a financial...

I A cleverly illustrated booklet-rather in the manner of Aubrey Beardslev-with amiusing verses, comes from the Swan Press, BeHe Vttue Road, Leeds. The author-illustrator : is...

An implo)rtanlt niewv book of imiilitary history is The Honour- able Arlillery Company, 1537-1926, by 'Major G. Goold Walker, the learne(1 secretary of the Company (John lane....

This Week's Books -I. ROBERT Di. LAx Sizi-.ttN-N has written ani extreiizelv interesting and rather uncommon book on the Celebrities of the Italian Reiaissance (Brentano's...

* * * * Floreign Affairs (6d. mlonthlyl) appears in larger forml in its January number. The paper is the official organ of the Union of Democratic Control: it claims also to be...

Wr. Len (lialloner -wTites in Iat the 1 Vintners Sell (11eatli (ranton, 3s. 6d.) that a glass of sherr, ; or ev-en a glass of port, may pleasantly tide over the reluctant...

'TlHE NEW DEMOCRACY. 1 * Woodrow Wilson. Edit-d I Iwv Rav Stannard Baker and William E. D)odd. (Harper. I 2 Cols. 32s. net.)-Two more volumes of the late President Wilson's...

THE FRINGES OF EDINTBURGH. By John Geddie. Illustrated bv Arthur Wall. (Chlambers. 7s. 6d.)-Many I people who know Edinburgh do not realize that the citv's jurisdiction now...

K.A.R. An lUnofficial Account of the Origins an(l Activities of the King's African Rifles. By Al. Lloyd Jones. (Arrowsmith. ] 8s.)-MNajor Lloyd Jones has rendered a service by...

0 GLNAL TR, z np r I gAIT IS. By Thomas Shotter Boys, 1842. A reissue with Notes bv E. Beresford Chancellor. (Architectural Press. 30s.).-London is always changing. It would...

Current Literature A CITY COUNCI, F11OM1 WITHIN. Bv E. D. Simon. WVithi a l r(eace biv P~rofessor (raliani WValiSs. (Longmans. ,s. 6d. net.)- -Mr. Simon has written a...

TILE MARKETING PROBLEM. Bv E. J. Elbourne. I (Longmans. lOs.)-This is an interesting and well-arranged book on business methods in the United States. We are all familiar with...

OLD GLASS: EUROPE AN AND AMERICAN. By H. I Hudson Moore. (lIodder and Stoughton. £2 2s.)-This book is I renwrl-able for the beauty of some-not all-of the objects dlepicted in...

The Psyche and the Self Modern Psychology and the Validity of Christian Experience. Bv C. H. Valentine. (S.P.C.K. 7s. 6d.) Psychology Applied to Education. BIy Jamnes Ward]....

* * * * P AIRI NG BIRDS . It is not too soon before the coming of the close season to emphasize a native habit of " the best game-bird that flies." The partridge pairs early or...

Country Life and Sport VILLAGE REGISTERS. May I niake a suggestion for the consideration of those local historians who are beginning to trouble themselves over the qjuestio(n...

WHY1 Oxi.Y SWpITZIERI.AND ? Every -ear more British people. we are told. seek a winter holiday in iiSwitzerland, eagrer to wallow in both sun and snow. No one. who has tasted...

Two KINDS OF GOLFER. It will be to the general social good if the recent example of a number of golf links in organizing artisan clubs is widely followed. It will also improve...

The Theatre [" ,li.10',, Y F'In:rNCZ MIO.N-Al, ArT null DuKiE Oi- Yol0K'S 'TiHEATRE.l Tel.- programmeiiic of Liliom, recently revived at the Duke of York's Theatre, informls...

The Magazines TIm Fortnighily Opel)S with a poeCn by NIr. Thomas Hardy, which the great novelist has entitled " A Philosophical Fantasy." *Walter )Aageliot's saying that '...

Osman Digna Osman Digna. By H. C. Jackson. (!Metliuen. 12s. 6d. not.) Am. who recollect, as does the preseult writer, the wars of thle cighties in general and in particular...

Some Sailing Books The Sailing Ship. By Romola and R. C. Anderson. (Hadrrap. 1Os. Md. ) Close Hauled. By K. Adlard Coles. (Seeley, Service. 1OI. 6(1.) Sailing Ships and...

LITERARY PARALLELS ['To Ite I'lditor of the SPiCTA'T.01roi.1 Sin,-- The Westminster Play remiinds me that a cuiri')us )aralh(l to one of' the most characteristic and striking,...

A FORGOTTEN BATTLEFIELD lTo the Editor of t1h SI'E.CTATOR.] Sir,-In his interesting letter on " A Iorgotten Battlefield " in your isstue of DIcember 1IIth, " N. W. II. " states...

DO ANIMALS ENJOY CAPTIVITY ? [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,--IMr. Graham Renshaw writes: 'The caged bird, being well fed, does not miss freedom-and why should it ? A...

DOG HOMERS [To the EdIitor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin.-I am wvondering if the anecdote which I append and for the complete truth of which I am willing to vouch, would be of...

THE IRISH LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS [To the Editor of the SIEcrATOR.] SiR,---Your Dublin Correspondent, though otherwise wvell informen(, has gone astray with reference to the...

Poetry The Old Love B"mIN again ! " I-us eager gaze Is fixed upon my face ; in vain I change the tale, he always says, 'Begin again!" A hundred times we must have slain The...

THE ROMAN INDEX [To the Editor of the SPE.:CTATOR.] SIR, -That was an exceptionally interesting article in your *Januzary 1st issue, on the "Index of Prohibited Books." I...

A LESSON FROM HOLLAND To the Editor of the SPEC'1'A'TTORl.] Siii,-Tlhc system of issuing stamps at an enlameed va!uc for the lbenefit of charities is not, as your...

TIHE CANGDIAN FLAG [To the Editor of the Sol c'.vIol.j SIR,-Thc article " The South African Flag " in you r isstIc of D)eeember 18th is excellent, an(l even coulrageous, hlia...

I THE EASTER ISLAND STATUES [To the Editor of the SPE'CTATOR.] SIR,--I am sure that there are many who, like myself, would be glad to know what the information can be that "...

Motoring Notes The Invicta Car TiIE Dewar Trophy is the most coveted distinction which a car can gain. The 1926 award is to Miss Violette ('orderv of (oblham, Surrev-, and she...

THIE PROBLEM OF TIHE FAMILY [To t/le Edilor of the S;I'Ec-l - roIt.] SIR,-Thc articles by Mr. F. A. .Mackenzic which have h)cen appearing in your columns arc a comprehensive...

L etters -to the Editor CO-PARTNERSHIP [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR .] Sin,-One is constantly hearing of the success of various forms of co-partnership and of businesses,...

GOOD WILL IN INDUSTRY [To the Editor of th/e SI'I.:Ci'.vIrIt.] Snit,-It is rood to have a man of Sir Robert lHa(llield's calibre '( mling out into the open as lie Iiais dome...

Financial Notes COVE'INlXMENT AN'D O-riixii LOANS. As I anticipated, the New Year has not proceeded far before the announcement of a number of important loan flotations. First...

* * * * So.^71. ()riii~it IssuZ~s. Of other capital flotations since the beginning of the year the ofrer of about £1,400,000 in shares by the Drapery Trust, Ltd., met with a...

N1\ LIIF. ASSulANCE. BUSINESS. With the turn of the year have conie the usual announcements by a number of Insurance Companies of results for the past year. The National...

The Cinema [-; FAUtST."] TuE singing of a large an(l robust choir at the Albert Hall all this week as part of the musical accompaniment to the Faust filn )eing shown there...

Correspondence [A thl Editor o ttohe (1 c vi'o\V.] I T'o thec Editor of the 9'l'1V''}. Suuii--1Nc lhve a cold snap, after a very long spell of mild Weather. In the country...

The Soviet has cleverly cstal)lisllc(l rclationis which are anti-British in their effects with Tuirkey and 'ersia and Afghanistan, and now it is thwarting the obviously sincere...

$** * * On )Ioil(lhV- iiighlit th- (Chine'se (Chief of P olice hasiralnm (^(l the mob, and it was agreed to 11d1(1 a p)arlecy onl Fuies&av morningr. At the p)arley it seemis to...

News of the Week THE position at Ilankow when wc write is ominous. It is a terribly ironic sequel to the a(ldmirable effort of the British Government to convince the ('hillcsc...

The reception of the British Alcmorandlini throughout China has beeni very (lisap)poilting. The Cantonese profess to see in the Men'emorandntm notllnwr but a subtle sehen-ec...

A Long Life and a Merry One Outwitting Middle Age. By Dr. Carl Ranus. (George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. 7s. 6d.) Tills entertaining book has for its theme the pronouncement that...

'the Detection of Crime Fifty-Two Years a Policeman. By Sir William Nott-Bower. (Arnold. 18s.) Scotland Yard-Its History and Associations. Bv George Dilnot. (Bles. 16s.)...

Architecture-Past Present and Future Theory and Elements of Architecture. Bv Robert Atkiiison .all.I HIlop IBagtlnal. (BSenn. 30~s. ) The Substance of Architecture. IIX- A....

Good Grain and Middlings IhosenEssays. Biy Eiward Thioinas. (The ('1-'egviog Press..) The Little Angel. By Rob}ert Lyni. (G.ta s . noSbt. ,? The Bookmark. ]3v 'C. E. M....

In the Fish River Bush THE Fish River Bush was once a place of sinister name, for in its wellnigh untrackable fastnesses hlrked the marauding Amaxosa Kafir. Time and again the...

Finance Public and Private The National - Revenue and an Industrial Revival TiE opening of the New Year has been accompanied by tile usual New Year optimism, and especially in...

Personalia Chit-chat. 13v Lady AuguAa Fanll. (Buttelvor ii. 2 Is. ) Certain People of Importance. By A. (:. Cardiner. (Cape. 12s. 6d.) Tmiisi. books shall conic in ain...

Russia-Yesterday and To-morrow A History of Russia, Vol. 4. By V. 0. KIhtwevskv. (.T. Mr. Den'lt. I (is.) A History of Russia. By Sir Ber-nard Paer. Professor of Russian...