THE MAGAZINES .

THE first article in the Nineteenth Centurm is signed by two Frenchmen—M. Andre and M. Adrien Paulian. "Is France

making for a dictatorship ? " they ask. A responsible portion of the French Press declare that she is, and "looking at it generally the picture of France in this year, 1926, presents-much 'analogy with that of 1799." Nevertheless our authors would not have us "take things tragically."

usurpatory dictatorship" is not in their opinion likely. A constitutional settlement is still possible. Among other

not improbable _expedients is _suggested the pressing. of the

Presidential power to its -ultimate limit, thus producing a virtual dictatorship within constitutional bounds. In

"Rival Land Policies" Sir Henry Rew declares that "the vision of an agreed agricultural policy . would appear to have receded" of late years, the thread of its development having been broken by the War. The position at the moment presents great difficulties. The diminishing area of productive land in this country, amounting to less than three-quarters of an acre per head of the population, is, Sir Henry Rew points out, largely occupied by those who are indifferent to its economic possibilities. The principle that the occupa- tion of agricultural land should be conditional on its being put to proper use has been condemned by Conservatives as Socialistic. The writer does not agree that it is rightly so-called, and pleads for an attempt to consider the matter without party bitterness and to see whether enough common ground does not exist between agriculturists on both sides of the House upon which to -found "An Agreed Policy." "A Reading Clergy," by Mr. W. J. Fermr, and "The Plight of Rural Schools" arc well informed articles such as should interest all those who care about rural conditions and the religious life of the countryside.

"George Bernard Shaw Self-revealed is the title of the first article in The Fortnightly Review. It is written by Mr.

Archibald Henderson, takes the form of a sort of dialogue or interview, and is described as Part I. Whether the words put into Mr. Shaw's mouth are to be regarded as actually spoken by him or whether the whole thing is imaginary is not indicated. If the conversation actually took place it will interest Mr. Shaw's immense public. But if it is not

true it is not a striking invention. M. Emile Cammaerts contributes a eulogy of Cardinal Mercier, and succeeds, unlike so many eulogists, not only in calling forth a con- ventional response from his readers but in touching and charming their hearts.

In this month's Blackwood Mr. Louis Magmth King adds some striking pictures to his gallery . of "Modern Chinese Portraits," and Mr. David Hannay draws in sad colours a picture of "Francis Xavier." He strips the saint of his courtesy title and his adventures of all supernatural element.

Much that is interesting remains, but in his determination to be severely rational Mr. Hannay fails to account of the charm and magnetism of the Apostle of India.

Mr. Charles Masterman contributes to the Contemporary a rather despairing article on ." Coal." He analyses the report of the Coal Commission which "as a diagnosis of the condition of the British coal industry" can, he thinks, "hardly be bettered," but which has "made no sane or con- sistent reeonimendation " applicable to the present dilemma.

Dr. G. P. Gooch writes as a historian of "The Revelations of Colonel-House?' His article is exceedingly interesting, and unlike Most critics he regards the story of the personal alliance. bet-Wien' President Wilson and his " silent partner" as proving not inilY the 'statesmanship of the latter, but ‘" the bold. eonstritetive thinking of the President." In The National Review Mr. L. J. Masse, writing on "The. Intimacies of Some Indiscretions of Colonel House" adOpts' a wholly Contrary point of -view. The book thidwk,-he. thinks; much i light upon ".The White House and it hench- men" showing that in the eyes of the American Government "Europe was primarily a political stage on which kudos might be acquired by the Democratic • Party in general and the President in particular." The result of the indiscretions is, he thinks, "to chip pieces off the reputatilins of most people who appear in its pages while incidentally increasing the stature of the Deus ex machina of those eventful years—Colonel House -himself."

-In he Empire Review Lord Dawson Of Penn --discusses

"Medical Practice by the. Unqualified," and Mr. Frank Hodges writes-upon "The Coal Problem." The upshot of the latter- article is much the same as that menToileti abiFnie by Mr: Afasterrnan on the same subject—i.e., the-Veport of the Coal Commission is a -marvellous exposition Of economic facts but makes no recommendations calculated to solve present problems.

Mr. Vernon Kellogg, the biologist, "writes in The World To-Day of "Some Things Science Doesn't Know." It does not • explain ultimate causes. It does not know, he maintains, what conscience. is nor even what consciousness is, neither can it tell us anything on the question of immortality—in fact, to his mind, it leaves ample room for religion and is in no essential point inimical to it.

The Bermondsey Book contains a paper on" English Novelists of To-Day," by M. Andre Maurois which is well worth con- sideration though it may cause some readers to wince and protest.

Those who are not Feminists' and who would like to be amused should read a witty and not ill-natured article in The English Review called "The Collapse of Feminism," by Mr. R. F. Rynd.

- In the Socialist Review, which is an important organ of the Independent Labour Party, there are articles by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Mr. J. Walton Newbold and Mr. Arthur Greenwood on the Report of the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry. Mr. Greenwood makes a positive and hopeful comparison between the proposals of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain and the actual recommendations of the Commission.