Joseph Shove. By Stephen Holhouse. (Dent. 4s. 6d. net.) —Like
Ferrovius, the redoubtable Christian in Mr. Shaw's play, Androcles and the Lion, Joseph &urge, the eminent Quaker of the " eighties," was troubled by a peppery temper which on occasion led him to betray his pacific principles. Unlike Fee- rovius, however, Sturge does not seem always to have recognized betrayal when it occurred. Asa boy, true to his Quaker teaching, he made a solemn resolution never to fight, and when his temper was unduly tried by other boys he explains, with apparent com- placence, that he "avoided direct boxing only by closing with my antagonist and throwing him to the ground." Joseph Sturge was always a fighter, but, except in these youthful instances, of a strictly pacific kind, and among the chief things for which he fought were abolition of slavery, franchise reform, temperance re- form, and international peace. Sturge was a thoroughly consistent advocate, and never hesitated to make sacrifices in a came if conviction demanded it. Thus, though a corn factor, and knowing his action must seriously affect his business, he did not scruple immediately Inc became a total abstainer to abandon the trade in grain directly concerned with the manufacture of alcohol ; and further, when the railway company of which he was a director decided upon Sunday travel, Sturge, whose conscience was against it,at once resigned his position on the Board. Mr. Hobhouse's frequent comments throughout the biography have a curious effect, and one which we feel sure he did not anticipate—the arraignment of Joseph Sturge and his fellow-Quakers on a charge of " limitation of vision." Measured by the ideal standard which he has set up for other idealists, he seems to reflect : "They were fine fellows, those Quakers, as far as they went ; but what a little way it was !"
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