14 JULY 1900

Page 1

NEWS OF THE : WEEK.

The Spectator

T HE note of the week has been bewilderment. Bulletin after bulletin has poured into London with " re- assuring " intelligence from China, has produced an effect even on the...

Every now and then an Admiral or other European authority

The Spectator

is taken in, Americans, we notice, being especially liable to be- lieve what is told them. Ournaval second-in-command, Admiral Bruce, for example, telegraphed on July 7th that...

It is impossible, in face of the cool d4mentis now

The Spectator

being published, to be sure of details as to the negotiations with Japan, but we fancy the following will not be found far from the truth. The Admirals asked Japan to send a...

The foolish desire of the Russian Government to preserve an

The Spectator

impenetrable secrecy has, as usual, prOduced a needless distrust of her policy in China. It was actually believed in this country for a moment that she might have instigated the...

AU this while the siege of Tientsin is being fiercely

The Spectator

pressed. The Chinese hold the native city, and on the 5th inst. they attacked the railway station, advancing with great courage under shelter from the fire of eleven pieces of...

The incidents of this siege, which are fairly well known,

The Spectator

are evidently alarming the allied Powers. All their con- tingents are being increased. The British are sending 15,000 Sikhs and native troops from Madras and Bombay ; the German...

a.* The Editors cannot undertake to return Manuscript, in any

The Spectator

case.

Page 2

Of course this disagreeable incident can make no possible difference

The Spectator

to the final result of the campaign, but it shows how much more dangerous it is in the case of the Boers to sit still than to act boldly on the offensive. As long as we are...

The Daily Telegraph of Wednesday states that the Govern- ment

The Spectator

have decided to divide the dual office of High Com- missioner of South Africa and Governor of the Cape. The Governorship will be offered to Sir George Goldie, while Sir Alfred...

To balance Nitral's Nek Lord Roberts was able to state

The Spectator

that on Wednesday Smith-Dorrien had a successful engage- ment with the enemy at Krugersdorp and inflicted heavy loss on them, and Buller also reports driving off the Boers who...

The Times of Monday contains a critical summary of the

The Spectator

"planks" adopted by the Democratic Convention which nomi- nated Mr. Bryan as its candidate for the Presidency. The chief point at which issue is joined with the Republicans is...

The news from the seat of war is deeply disappointing.

The Spectator

To rail it serious would be to exaggerate, but it naturally pro- duces a feeling of intense aggravation to hear at this stage of the war, as we did on Friday morning, that the...

The latest return of killed, wounded, and prisoners during the

The Spectator

war makes the killed in action 2,666, and the " died of wounds" 695, while the "died of disease" are 4,535, the wounded 11,576, and the prisoners 1,986. Thus the deaths are in...

The French Chambers were prorogued on Tuesday, and the Waldeck-Rousseau

The Spectator

Cabinet may, therefore, be considered safe till November. It has been engaged for eighteen months in a silent but continuous contest with the Army, and it has on the whole...

Friday's Times contains a telegram from Paris which gives what

The Spectator

may turn out to be very serious news in regard to the friction between the French and Moorish troops on the disputed frontier with Morocco, near Figig and Igli, while telegrams...

Page 3

We are 'glad to learn that Mr. Watts's scheme for

The Spectator

per- manently recording deeds of heroism in humble life is an accomplished fact. The cloister in the " Postman's Park,' Aldersgate Street, has now been built, and four memorial...

The foreign proposals are vague, though aggressive in tone. "

The Spectator

No American people shall ever be held in unwilling subjec- tion to European authority." If that is meant as a threat to us in regard to Canada, we need feel no concern, as we...

Mr. Prevost Battersby, writing to the Morning Post of Tuesday

The Spectator

from Germiston, describes a picturesque incident that occurred on the eve of the occupation of that town at the end of May. In the course of an isolated attempt by a. body of...

The Australian Federation Bill received the Queen's Assent on Monday,

The Spectator

and Mr. Barton will take back with him to Australia not merely the statute signed in duplicate by the Queen, but the table, inkstand, and pen at and with which was accomplished...

Sir Frederic Hodgson's attempt to break out of Coomassie has

The Spectator

succeeded, and on July 11th he arrived at Cape Coast Castle. He brought away Lady Hodgson with him, and most of the Europeans, including the missionaries, leaving only two or...

In the House of Commons on Wednesday the Queen's Garden

The Spectator

Party gave rise to an absurd little scene. The Agricultural Holdings Bill was under discussion, but when Mr. Fletcher Moulton's turn came to propose an amendment standing in his...

The Daily Mail of Tuesday publishes a striking account of

The Spectator

the opening of the Cave in Mount Dicta, in Crete, the tradi- tional birthplace of Zeus. After blasting away the limestone blocks which obstructed the mouth of the cave, Mr....

Bank Rate, 3 per cent.

The Spectator

New Consols (21) were on Friday 98k.

Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Spectator

THE DANGER FROM JAPAN. I T is perfectly useless to discuss events in China until we know a little more accurately what has actually happened. At present the public mind is...

THE POLITICAL PROSPECTS IN CAPE COLONY. T HERE has been a

The Spectator

good deal of talk during the past week as to a great movement among the Dutch for boycotting British goods in Cape Colony. A huge Dutch company is to be formed with a vast...

Page 5

THE RESULTS OF A REVERSE IN CHINA.

The Spectator

W E all think, or rather assume without much think- ing, that this march of Europe and Japan upon Pekin 'will be a successful operation. As soon as fifty thousand men are...

Page 6

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AMERICA.

The Spectator

A S our readers know, we desire nothing so much as a continuation of the keen sympathy and interest which have marked the attitude of English public opinion towards America...

Page 7

SIBERIA NO MORE.

The Spectator

I T is six years short of a century since Mine. Cottin published "Elizabeth ; ou, Les Exiles de Siberie," and during all this time children have drawn from its pages their first...

Page 8

THE BISHOP OF LONDON ON CHARITY.'

The Spectator

T HE Bishop of London addressed on Monday a repre:i . - sentative " Conference " of persons engaged in charity in an excellent speech, which nevertheless, we think, will be read...

Page 9

LITERARY JUDGMENT.

The Spectator

T HERE is much sound sense contained in a little book on "Judgment in Literature," by Mr. W. Basil Worafold (J. M. Dent and Co.), which we have been perusing with pleasure. Mr....

Page 10

TO IMPROVE THE GARDENS OF SQUARES.

The Spectator

T HE gardens in London squares offer the fi nest chance in the world for making something pretty and delightful take the place of what at present gives very little pleasure to...

Page 11

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Spectator

THE PARIS EXHIBITION. (TO THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR.") Sri,—It is characteristic of France's vitality that at the very moment when she seems to be attempting political...

Page 12

LETTERS TO < THE EDITOR.

The Spectator

LORD DURHAM AND CANADIAN " RECONSTRUCTION. [To THE EDITOR OP as "SPECTAfi0/4.1 . a recent speech 3S;Ir. Aiainith referred, in passing, to Lord Durham's Report on the state of...

Page 13

A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE NAVY.

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.' SIR,—While I agree with the general contention of " Sober Fact," I confess he seems hardly to justify his pseudonym by some of his...

Page 14

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."

The Spectator

SIR,—If there is no fear of our being invaded, why all this talk about rifle clubs, and the Militia ballot, and defending the " heart of the Empire," and so forth ? Certainly...

THE NEW BATTLE OF DORKING. [To THE EDITOR OF THE

The Spectator

"SPECTATOR."] Sxn,—At a time when people speak, privately or in public, of a possible battle of Dorking, it is perhaps not out of place to acquaint your readers with the...

" GUNGA DIN."

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sra,—When the writer of the article on "Asiatic Courage" in the Spectator of June 30th spoke of Mr. Kipling's " Gunga Din" as " a nearly...

COUNT MO1JRAVIEFF AND ENGLAND.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—" Diplomaticus" is an able and a well-informed writer, but he shares the fallibility of human nature, and I am sure that further...

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

The Spectator

SIR,—Mr. William Crooke in the Spectator of July 7th has shown scientifically that "Gunga Din" is, at least, not "a nearly impossible name." May I add a piece of historical...

Page 15

VIGILANCE COMMITTEES.

The Spectator

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—All those who hope for the success of the "Army League" must feel grateful to the Spectator for the admirable article on " Vigilance...

THE DIMINUTION OF CANDIDATES FOR HOLY ORDERS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. " ] Sra,—Referring to your paragraph on the above subject in the Spectator of July 7th, I think facts should be taken into con- sideration....

THE CHURCH AND THE BAR.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sm,—You say that the prizes in the Church are as numerous and more valuable than those at the Bar. But is it so? Please to look at a few...

Page 16

POETRY.

The Spectator

_ A MAN UV PEACE. I Dr not hold with war myself, I think it's bad an' wrong, An' would not prod my frens to strife wi' fiery speech an' song, I'd sooner see 'em till the soil,...

MUSIC.

The Spectator

TCHAIKOVSKY'S INFLUENCE. IN the Reminiscences of Liszt by his compatriot, Mme. Janke Virohl, published shortly after his death in 1886, the author records at considerable...

Page 17

B-0 ORS

The Spectator

THE DECLINE AND FALL.* ON the day, or rather night, of June 27th, 17$7, between the hours of eleven and twelve, Gibbon wrote the last lines of his monumental history in a...

Page 18

INTERPRETATIONS OF POETRY AND RELIGION.* THIS collection of essays is

The Spectator

written by a Catholic sceptic of Spanish origin, now a Professor at Harvard. A volume of poems by the same author was very favourably reviewed some months ago in this journal....

Page 19

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ARMY DOCTOR.* Sin JOSEPH FAYEEE'S book would

The Spectator

be welcome at any time, for he has seen many men and cities; just now, with its many experiences of military medicine, it is particularly seasonable. The sea was Joseph Fayrer's...

Page 20

THE FUTURE OF THE FAR EAST.* Asia at this moment

The Spectator

means China, and the word " ram- tion " applies more significantly to China than to Siberia or • Japan. Siberia is being developed more than renovated; and even the expressive...

Page 21

NOVELS OF THE WEEK.* WHEN " John Oliver Hobbes "

The Spectator

published vo School for Saints in the autumn of 1897, she promised.ua a continuation, , and in Robert Orange that promise is redeemed,.and, what is more, redeemed with _a...

Page 22

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Spectator

THE MINOR MAGAZINES. The July Macmillan is an average number, but nothing more. The most readable paper is the Baroness Martinengo-Cesaresco's " Conversations with Gonnod." It...

Page 23

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not been reserved for reriew in other forms.] The Life of Dwight L. Moody. By his Son. (Morgan and Scott. 10s....

The Anglo-Saxon. (John Lane. 21s.)—The new number of the Anglo-Saxon

The Spectator

is as gorgeous as ever,—the binding this time being red in colour instead of dark green. It is wonderful how well the literary character of the magazine is maintained, for, as...

THE FINAL VOLUME OF THE " DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY."

The Spectator

Dictionary of National Biography. Edited by Sidney Lee. (Smith, Elder, and Co. 15s. net.)—Perhaps the three most interest- ing names in the final volume of the Dictionary of...

Page 24

Robert Browning. • By A. Waugh. (Kogan Paul, Trench, and

The Spectator

Co. 2s. 6d. net)--This is a volume of the " Westminster Biographies," and is in every way an excellent piece of Work. The two personalities of Robert Browning and his wife are...

POSTCARDS. —We have received from Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons, Limited,

The Spectator

a series of picture-postcards foi hbme and abroad. They are calculated to suit all.tastes, naval and militash topographical and artistic. We may specially recommend. the really...

The. Oxford English Dictionary, July, edited by Dr. James A.

The Spectator

H. Murray (Clarendon Press, 3s. 6d. per part), contains part of Vol. V. " Inferable—Inpushing." There are 1,628 words in all, among them being such suggestive subjects as...

The Supremacy of Man. By John Pulsford. (A. Melrose. 2s.

The Spectator

64.)—This volume contains some interesting papers, partly devotional in character, partly philosophical. The author starts with the strong assertion of the personality of God....

MAPS.—We have three maps of China before us, brought out

The Spectator

with a commendable despatch and enterprise, and all instructive. These are Bacon's New Large Print Map of China (G. W. Bacon and Co., is., and 2s. ad. mounted), with inset maps...

Memcries of Some Oxford Pete. Collected by Mrs. Wallace. (B.

The Spectator

H. Blackwell, Oxford. 3e.)—This is a delightful book, fittingly commended to the reader by Mr. Warde Fowler's admirable preface. Dogs, of course, occupy, so to speak, the...

Before Good - Night. By George H. R. Dabbs, M.D. (C. W.

The Spectator

Deacon and Co.)—Nina was a waif of the streets, who made such a living as she could by selling flowers, in the arrange- ment of which she had a special gift. A lad, who is...

CLASS-BOOKS.—In "Blackwood'a Classical Teats" we have O: id Metamorphoses :

The Spectator

Selections, edited by J. H. Finer, M.A. (W. Blackwood and Sons). Mr. Viner's introduction touches on a subject which is new in classical school books,—comparative folk-lore....

Notes on . a Century of Typography at the University Press,

The Spectator

arfurd, 1693 - 1794. By Horace Hart, Hon. M.A. (At the Clarendon Press.) —Mr. Hart prints here, with various notes and emplane- tiens, eight " specimens " issued from the...