The Herbs of Medea. By Theophils, North. (E. Mathews. 2s.
6d. net.)—There is some very pretty writing in this book, not expended, we think, to tho very best effect, on the subjects which are dealt with. There is a slender thread of story,—a lady past her first youth ; an old lover who has married out of com- passion, and is now free ; a young beauty, god-child of the elder lady. We know how that situation works out; and we are not disappointed. What we do not like is the wholly irrelevant references to the Boer War, a far too serious question to be dis- posed of in a few irresponsible sentences. And we do not care about that esoteric philosopher, Colonel Anstruther, with his theosophy, Sm. "The masses are a problem; but the fact remains that God means each individual to be free, serene and joyful. Health springs from the centre; we must be able at any moment to unite ourselves with the Divine calm." That does not seem very helpful ; and when we go on and read that "we need far more of the Oriental attitude in regard to this," we can only say that the "Oriental attitude" has not always been a great success in practice.
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