MEMORIALS OF CHARLES DIXON XIKBER.
Memorials of Charles Dixon Mather. By his Sister, Ada Thomson. (J. Nisbet and Co. 5s.)—Charles Ximber was a soldier of the " Hedley Vicars" and Havelock type. For the last ten years of his life religion was the dominant influence. He was in business as a solicitor, and enlisted early in 1900 in the Imperial Yeomanry (13th Battalion, or "Duke of Cambridge's Own," not to be confounded with the Middlesex regiment bearing that title). He was under fire for the first time at Lindley, where he was taken prisoner. This was on May 31st, 1900. After some weeks of captivity he escaped with a comrade (Corporal, now Captain, Hely), whose admirable narrative of the adventure is given on pp. 63-87. It is one of the best stories that we have seen in a considerable mass of war literature. The two, who started for what could not be less than a five days' journey with what would scarcely have equalled a single ration, were driven by hunger to a farmhouse. Corporal Hely gave the orders, "Halt!" and "Ex- tend and surround the house !" a manoeuvre which had to be executed by one man. All that we hear of Charles Kimber shows him as a capable and resourceful soldier; his good qualities were recognised by speedy promotion. He met his end (on July 17th, 1901) in an heroic attempt to rescue a wounded comrade who lay under fire. One of the most interesting incidents in the biography is his attempt to address a devotional meeting. He broke down, but this breaking down was so obviously the result of deep emotion that it touched the heart of one hearer at least more than any success could have done. This man was absolutely changed from that time,—a real "demonstration of the Spirit."
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