SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
(Notice in this collagen does not necessarily preelnde sobsequent rests:n.1 THE SEPTEMBER MONTRLIES.—The Nineteenth Century contains an instructive article on " The Russian Problem " by Mr. Aylmer Maude, Tolstoy's biographer, who has lately returned from Russia. Mr. Maude is firmly convinced that the Allies ought to crush the Bolsheviks and set up a Constitutional Republic ; our withdrawal, he thinks, would leave the Germans a free hand, as the Bolsheviks are near the end of their tether. Sir Elliot Colvin deprecates the haste with which Mr. Montagu would " reform " India, and points out that the most reckless concessions will not satisfy the agitators, whereas the silent masses are perfectly contented. Mr. W. S. Lilly, whose death we regret to have to record, states some "Capital Facts about Ireland," including the much-neglected fact that England in her own interest cannot allow Ireland to assert her independence. Mr. Moreton Frewen gives some remarkable facts and figures to illustrate the rapid development of " Canada's Fertile Northland " ; we are glad to find that Mr. Moreton Frewen, who has studied Canada closely for many years, takes so optimistic a view of her immediate future. In a postscript he rejoices over the rapid rise in the price of silver as a "colossal stimulus to all our exports to Asia and much of Africa." M. Emile Cammaerts explains clearly the Belgian demand for the freedom of the Schelde which Holland is stubbornly resisting. Mr. H. M. Hyndman exposes in a forcible article " The Scandal of Our Milk Supply," and shows how Denmark dealt with a similar scandal. Dr. Lyttelton, writing on The Cricket Pitch," thinks that the modern groundsman has achieved an undue
perfection. The finest thing in cricket was the dramatic variety of every over." " The one change which ensured dullness was the excessive smoothing of the pitch, stereotyping a deadly uniformity of boWling ; consequently a deadly uniformity of batting, and an encouragement of everything artificial and mechanical in the game."—In the Fortnightly " A Skilled Labourer," writing on " A Policy for Labour," indulges in free criticism of Trade Unions, the Labour Members, and of the Labour Press, which, he says, has failed through its narrowness and insincerity. He goes on to accuse the public Press of being unfair or indifferent to Labour—a curious charge to bring in these days when the newspapers devote so much space to the strike fever—and to add that the working classes have learned to distrust the Press. His indictment is far too sweeping; ho is thinking, we suppose, of a section of the Press which changes its views like a weathercock, but the political vagaries of the Daily Mail, for example, have not affected the accuracy of its reports of Labour disputes. A candid and gloomy article, " On the Road to Ruin," is given first place ; the anonymous writer concludes that people will not learn that they must work hard until they have had an experience of hard times. Mr. H. Charles Woods describes clearly and sympathetically " The Position of Roumania." Mr. Julius M. Price reminds us how deeply Italy resents the uncertainty about the fate of Fiume, so that for the first time in many years the British Government are being attacked by the Italian Press. We can only hope that this unfortunate controversy will - soon be ended ; the British public cherishes the warmest sympathy for Italy, and would be distressed beyond measure if Italy were left with a grievance. Professor Augustin Hamon's article on " War and the French Socialists " is informing. Mr. John McGrath, under the title of " United Ireland: a Plea for Partition," urges that Ulster, or North-East Ulster, should be given " self- determination," on the ground that the Ulstermen would soon clamour for reunion. It is a pleasant surprise to find a Nationalist admitting by implication that Ulster cannot be coerced, but we fear that Mr. McGrath speaks only for himself.
n the Contemporary Mr. William Brace, the miners' leader, has a thoughtful and temperate article on " Industrial Unrest." He thinks that the coal industry needs a thorough reorganiza- tion ; he believes that this cannot be done without State ownership, but he will not say that no -improvement is possible other than through nationalization. High prices are, he says, the fundamental cause of unrest, and the remedy is not to be sought in higher wages. Mr. Brace, like many other wise men, holds that " the majority of British workers would prefer to be paid by results," provided always that they were protected against the unfair rate-cutting which some foolish employers practised before the war. He says that when he worked in a mine he preferred the piece rate to day wages, " because it Wised to preserve one's individuality and manhood." Dr. Giovanni Pioli gives a very grave account of Italy's Economic Crisis." " Indicus," who is not an official, discusses a difficult question in his article on " Indian Reforms and the Station Club " ; namely, how far native Indians can be admitted to the British club which is the cent:e of social life at every station in India. He recognizes the difficulty, and sees that official pressure could not be used to break down the hairier, but he thinks that a beginning might be made.The National Review reprints the Duke of Northumberland's trenchant address on " The Real Meaning of Nationalization," in which he described Mr. Smillie as "a dangerous revolutionary who has been, and is now, fomenting revolution and sedition " ; the address was delivered on July 24th at Liverpool in.resPonse to Mr. Smillie's challenge to the Duke to repeat what he had said under privi- leged conditions in the House of Lords. Yet Mr. Smillie has not so far made any attempt to meet the charge, and so long as he fails to do so he is bound to suffer in credit. M. Briantchaninoff, the President of the Russian National Committee in London, declares that the alternatives for the Allies in Russia are to help Admiral Koitchak to crush the Bolsheviks or to let Germany arrange a peace in Russia for her own purposes. Mr. Maxse, under the title of " What Every German Doesn't Know," examines the British reply to the Papal Peace Note of August, 1917, which he regards as a blunder from the consequences of which we were saved by the ineptitude of the German General Staff.—Blackwood's is a very readable number, mostly concerned with the war, but containing also an amusing forecast of the flying boats which ten years hence may take snails and passengers to New York in fifteen hours.
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