17 NOVEMBER 1917, Page 9

Mr. Ernest Rhys has edited an attractive little book, The

Old Country (J. M. Dent and Sons, Is. 6d. net), in which are collected passages from many authors, living or dead, in praise of England, with numerous illustrations. Hakluyt's account of the last fight of the Revenge' ; a page or two from Boswell; the speech from Poole's Edward I. which contains the lines :

" 0 God, to Thee how highly ant I bound For setting me with these on English ground " ;

General Smuts on London as the bulwark of liberty; Mr. Arnold Bennett on the "Five Towns"; and Sir Roger do Coverl^y at the Abbey—these are among the extracts that wo noted in turning over the pages. Tim little book is specially intended for the use of the British and Overseas troops in the Y.M.C.A. huts. It will please civilians too.