C URRENT LITERAT URE.
THE LIFE OF A CENTURY.
The Life of a Century. By Edwin Hodder. (G. Newnes. 108.6d. net.)—This is one of the books, not inconsiderable in number, which must be reviewed either at great length, or very briefly. We must be content with the second alternative. The subject is the British Empire from 1800 to 1900, and this subject is treated with good taste, sound judgment, and a correct sense of propor- tion. We cannot bind ourselves to an approval of all Mr. Hodder's conclusions, yet readers of the Spectator will find themselves for the most part in sympathy with him. He is sound, for instance, about the Union and about South Africa. Among the many interesting things to be found in this Life we may mention the various riots which causes, popular or unpopular, have called forth, and the great diversity of treatment which was dealt out to offenders. Did any one suggest the punishment of the zealous Fel srmers who broke Tory windows in 1832 ? Why were things winked at, and even approved, in 1830-32 sternly repressed in 1846-48 ? It is still amusing to see how a party newspaper hints a hesitating censure on its own friends and denounces its enemies in its very shrillest or deepest tones for precisely the same things. Mr. Hodder seems to us to hold the balance fairly enough, but there are some who will think him a reactionary and others who will think him almost as bad as the "Red Spectre."
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