5 SEPTEMBER 1952, Page 4

Longevity sometimes startles. The notice of the death of Canon

W. L. Grane in the course of the past week had that effect on me, for I remembered well a volume, The Passing of War, by W. L. Grane, which made a considerable impression before 1914; it was actually first-published in 1912. Its author was then well past middle age, and it is surprising to discover that he was still alive a week ago. His age was 97. (War, incidentally, has not yet passed.)