30 OCTOBER 1920, Page 20

Crossing the Line with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. (Sydney;

Angus and Robertson.)—The time-honoured ceremonies custo- mary on every British warship when she crosses the Equator were performed with special care in the ` Renown ' on April 16th and 17th last. A full account of them, with many photographs, is given in this amusing little book. No question whether the heir to any other monarchy but our own, or even the son of any elected President, would have taken his part in the horseplay with the good grace shown by the Prince of Wales, in common with several hundred other " novices " who had never before crossed the Line. A foreigner would probably fail to understand or appreciate the elaborate jest, which to an Englishman seems natural enough.