11 AUGUST 1900

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The news of the week from China is of rather

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doubtful import. A telegram has, it is true, been received from Sir Claude Macdonald dated August 5th, which assures us that on that date all the Ambassadors except the German...

The actual march to Pekin has begun. An army of

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twelve thousand Indians, Japanese, and Americans, under the com. mand of three Generals, started on the 4th inst. from Tientsin, and on Sunday cleared away a Chinese force at...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HE war news during the week has been both good and bad. In our last issue, while announcing General Hunter's great haul of over four thousand prisoners and nearly four...

One must of course await further details before pro- nouncing

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any opinion on the incident—remembering always that in nothing do people exaggerate more than in regard to the details of alleged plots—but priml, facie there is nothing very...

Friday afternoon's papers and the Daily News in its ordinary

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morning edition publish a Renter's telegram giving an account of a plot that has been discovered at Pretoria, made for the purpose of murdering the British officers in the town...

* The Editors cannot undertake to return Manuscript, in any

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case.

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There is reason to believe that the fancy which has

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spread through all Europe as to the weakness of the new King of Italy is based on a mistake. He is said by those who know him to be a man of firm will and clear understanding,...

King Alexander of Servia was married on Sunday to Madame

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Maschin with the stateliest ceremonial possible in Belgrade. To the surprise of the Courts the Czar approved the marriage, and even sent a representative to be the King's best...

In the course of Wednesday's discussion Mr. Chamberlain was also

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attacked by Mr. Lloyd-George because "the Report of the War Office Contracts Committee showed that favouritism had been shown to a Birmingham firm." To this Mr. Chamberlain...

The force now advancing on Pekin has no officer in

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general command, but it appears that the German Emperor has appointed Marshal Count von Waldersee, the head of his Staff, to command the ten thousand Germans now afloat, and...

Mr. Bryan, the candidate of the Democrats for the American

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Presidency, evidently thinks that Anti-Imperialism is the surest card to Way. He refuses to conceal his personal conviction that silver ought to be made by law exchange- able...

Parliament was prorogued on Wednesday. Before, how- ever, the House

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separated, there was a scene of some violence in regard to the letters alleged to have been written by Members of Parliament which were found at Pretoria. Sir Wilfrid Lawson...

The murder of King Humbert, followed by the attempt on

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Thursday week to murder the Shah, has revived the Con- tinental suspicion that the Anarchists of the world again contemplate action, this time the murder of every reigning...

On the Motion for the second reading of the Appropria-

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tion Bill on Monday, Mr. Burdett-Coutts repeated his regrets that the South African Commission had not been given compulsory powers, and charged Mr. Balfour and the Government...

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We are delighted to learn that Mr. Arnold-Forster has been

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appointed to preside over a Departmental Committee of the Colonial Office—he has actually started for the Cape—to inquire into the best way of placing soldier-settlers on the...

A highly valued correspondent in Switzerland sends us an extract

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from the Gazette de Lausanne giving a very in- accurate and unfair account of Lord Roberts's removal of the Boer women from Pretoria. A large number of Boer women in the town...

The Report of the Select Committee of the House of

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Commons on War Office Contracts is not a very satisfac- tory document, for it shows that though the Committee could not put their hands on any very definite abuse, they were...

The Times publishes a remarkable letter to the Sultan from

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the Turkish Consul-General at Brussels. It appears that the Court of Constantinople has been fascinated by a project for constructing a railway from Damascus to Mecca, and in...

The Queen's Speech proroguing Parliament was of un- usual length.

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The passage dealing with South Africa announces that the Orange Free State has been annexed to the Empire, and states that the continued political independence of the two...

Bank Rate, 4 per cent. New Consols (21) were on

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Friday 97ii.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTRY. T HE end of the Session, possibly of the Parliament, affords a useful opportunity for considering the attitude of the country towards the...

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THE ADVANCE ON PEKIN.

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T HERE is nothing in the news of the week to dispel the impression that the conflict with China will involve, even for coalesced Europe, a most serious, possibly even an...

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CYCLIST RIFLEMEN AND THEIR PLACE IN A SCHEME OF NATIONAL

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DEFENCE. T HE experiment in the use of cyclist riflemen for pur- poses of national defence conducted by General Maurice last Saturday to Monday is well worth the attention not...

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THE SERVIAN MARRIAGE.

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WE do not quite understand the sudden change of opinion in this country about the Servian. marriage. It was at first universally condemned as the wilful act of a young man...

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"WALTER v. LANE."

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'NA TE should not have been surprised if the judgment of the House of Lords in "Walter v. Lane "had gone the other way. Substantial injustice would thus have been done, but that...

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MR. BALFOUR ON THE FUTURE OF THOUGHT.

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I T is much to be regretted that the greater English politi- cians, and especially those who, like Lord Salisbury, Mr. Balfour, and Mr. Goschen, have read much and reflected...

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GERMANY AND HEINE.

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"T HE Spirit of the World," said Matthew Arnold in his poem on "Ileine's Grave," "beholding the absurdi- ties of men," let for one brief moment a sardonic smile play on his...

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CORRESPONDENCE.

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HOW TO FORM A VILLAGE RIFLE CLUB. [TO THE EDITOR OF TOR "SPROTATOR."] SrE, — It may interest your reaqers to learn how I formed a village rifle club, for though the...

THE SHEPHERD OF THE DOWNS.

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I T was remarked a short time ago by a Wessex farmer to the writer that, though plenty of sheep may be reared nowadays, shepherds are dying out, and paradoxical as the statement...

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OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. [To THE EDITOR OP

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THE "SPECTATOR.") send you by this mail a copy of the Advertiser contain- ing a "Volunteer's Experience" of the "Seamy Side of War." This may appear to you a highly coloured and...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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THE SURRENDER OF MASON AND SLIDELL. [TO TEl .EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.") Srn,—I find in the Spectator of July 28th a letter from Lieutenant J. S. Trotter, R.N., relating to...

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A TRIAL OF BOER REBELS IN NATAL.

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[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, — The following extract from a private letter written by a resident in Zululand may interest your readers.—I am, "Eshowe, Zululand. We...

THE LACK OF CANDIDATES FOR HOLY ORDERS.

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[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, — I expressed the opinion that one of the causes of the failure of the young men who are best fitted to make good clergymen to take...

THE CHRISTIAN SOCIAL UNION.

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[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] Sra,—With reference to Canon Gore's complaint in your last issue of the reluctance of laymen to join the Christian Social Union, I venture...

SEVEN GARDENS AND A PALACE.

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- [To TEM EDITOR OP THE "SP5CPATOIL1 Sut,—In your issue of July 28th, in a review of "Seven Gardens and a Palace" occurs the following passage :—" In writing of beeches this...

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DIPLOMATISTS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, —I have received so many kindnesses from British diplomatists in different parts of the world that I hope you will kindly give me space...

RAILWAY STRIKES: HOW TO AVOID THEM.

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[TO THZ EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, —Could not strikes be avoided if the servants of railways and other companies during the time of their service were treated as...

THE WAR DEBATE.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—As one of the so-called Pro-Boers, I should like to thank you for the courtesy and fairness shown in your article to those who differ...

TO IMPROVE THE GARDENS OF SQUARES.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—May I venture to suggest that your contributor (Spectator, July 14th) who is so anxious to improve the London squares should look at...

A BIRD-STORY.

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[To THE EDITOR OF TILE "SPECTATOR."] SYR,—Here is another bird-story if you think it worth having. I have a raven which is kept in an enclosed yard. Into this yard a fox-terrier...

THE CONTEMPT OF ASIA FOR EUROPE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—I should like to offer some comments, from an Asiatic's point of view, on the article with the above title which ap- peared in your...

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POETRY. •

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THE EXILES.* WATCH how the South-bound swallows go I What manner of folk are they ? Out of the sky they came to you, Guests of a summer's day,— Born in your sheltering...

SLEEP AND DREAMS.

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[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SrscrATon."] Sra,—Whether dreams are the incessant accompaniment of sleep, or but its chance and fleeting visitors, is a question each dreamer must decide...

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BOOKS.

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JOHN DRYDEN.f JOHN DRYDEN, an admirable poet, an ingenious playwright, a critic with intervals of brilliant clairvoyance, wins our suffrages chiefly by his mastery of prose....

A LOVE LYRIC FROM THE GREEK.* THE FIRST' KISS.

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(AFTER STRATO.) Moipts ;se, :car iv ivrafropev &pp, ok old' ErrE craft:is erT' drop, icrydvaso ; ' Ha 7/ -yap Ta itAXCI pciA! Srpecicos Jvhcra xivtcliess }tot srpowilm,...

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lab., BRITAIN OF THE SOUTH.* Tins title, somewhat hackneyed by

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much use, has heretofore been tacitly accorded to the long chain of beautiful islands utterly misnamed geographically New Zealand. Misnamed, because in the first instance they...

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THE OVERCROWDING OF LONDON.*

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Tins is a volume that everybody should read, and not read only, but keep at hand for reference. In a series of papers, which first appeared in the Daily News, Mr. Haw sets forth...

THE TRANSITION PERIOD.*

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THE fifteenth century is not distinguished by any original literature which can be said to belong to the very foremost rank. Malory's great work, undoubtedly the greatest that...

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THE HISTORY OF BRADFIELD COLLEGE.* THE value of the history

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of an institution is not principally dependent on the antiquity of the foundation. Many of the schools which sprang up like mushrooms about the middle of the...

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NOVELS OF THE WEEK.* IN houses where the war has

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left a vacant room, Mrs. Anstruther's war-stories should be strictly tabooed. To read them when suffering from an intimate personal loss would be to turn a knife in a raw wound,...

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C URRENT LITERATURE.

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THE MINOR MAGAZINES. THE QuaurEntaxs.—The new number of the Political Science Quarterly indicates the variety of the activities of the Columbia University, under the editorship...

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THE REGISTER OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND.

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The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Edited by David Masson. Second Series, VoL I. (1625-27). (Her Majesty's General Register House, Edinburgh.)—Striking testimony to...

THE IDEA OF TRAGEDY IN ANCIENT AND MODERN DRAMA.

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The Idea of Tragedy in Ancient and Modern Drama. Three Lectures Delivered at the Royal Institution by W. L. Courtney. With a Prefatory Note by A. W. Pinero. (Constable and Co....

Tan Moammiss.-7-The Canadian Magazine is a credit to the Dominion

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and to the Ontario Publishing Company in Toronto which issues it. While it is equal to all but the beat of its enterprising British and New York contemporaries in the quality of...

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THE REDEMPTION OF EGYPT.

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The Redemption of Egypt. By W. Basil Worsfold. (George Allen. 25s.)—In this singularly handsome and beautifully illus- trated volume Mr. Worsfold gives the fruits of a visit to...

PORTUGUESE NYASSALAND.

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Portuguese Nyassaland. By W. Basil Worsfold. (Sampson Low , Marston, and Go. 12s.)—This, like so many books by the same author, is an admirable manual of the comparatively...

IN BIRD-LAND WITH FIELD-GLASS AND CAMERA.

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In Bird-Land with Field-Glass and Camera. By Oliver G. Pike. (T. Fisher Unwin. 6s.)—Several books very similar to the one before us have recently been published. Instead of...

THE ERSKINES.

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The Erskine& By A. R. llilacE wen. (Oliphant, Anderson, and Ferrier, Edinburgh. 28. 6d.)—This volume has had its "psycho- logical moment" ; it appears immediately after final...

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CANADIAN VERSE.

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A Treasury of Canadian Verse. Edited by T. H. Rand. (Dent and Co. 4e. 6d. net.)—The best poems in this anthology are those relating to scenery and the passing of the seasons,...

A. HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH, 1640-1660.

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A History of the English Church, 1640-1660. By William Shaw, Litt P. 2 vols. (Longmans and Co. 36s.)—Dr. Shaw's two volumes are full of highly important matter, but he probably...

Among the Birds in Northern Shires. By Charles Dixon. (Blackie

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and Son. 7s. 6d.)—Mr. Dixon's books on birds are already well known, and there is much sameness about them. This volume deals with bird life in the Northern parts of these...

Our Fleet To-Day. By Captain S. Eardley-Wilrnot, R.N. With Illustrations.

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(Seeley and Co. 5s.)—In this volume Captain Eardley-Wilmot has, by striking out all account of foreign navies and extending the history ok our own, changed "The Development of...

THE CAVALIER SOLDIERS' VADE MECUM.

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The Cavalier Soldiers' Vade Mecum. Edited by E. Almack, F.S.A. (Blades, East, and Blades. 4s. 6d.)—The real title of this interesting relic of the Great Rebellion is "Certain...

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The Life of Sir Janus Nicholas Douglass, F.R.S. By Thomas

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Williams (Lon gmans and Co. 3s. 6d.) —J. N. Douglass was the elder son - of Mr. Nicholas Doug,lase, 'who, after an unfortunate ex- perience in business (caused by the...

MiscslaAwsous.—History of the British Empire. By C. C. Green; M.A.

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-(J. M. Dent and Co.- as. 6d. net.)—Mr. Green puts battles as much as possible into the background (Sluys, Crecy, Peictiers. and .Agincourb have scarcely a page between them),...

THEOLOOL—Text-Book for the Three Creeds. By the Rev- Septimus Buss.

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(Rivingtons. 3s. 6d.) . —This is a useful little manual, containing the information wanted on most points, but not, we think, unsusceptible of improvement. We should like to...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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reizz r.w. heading we nottce such Books of the wee& as have not been for review in other forms.] The Life of Reklunara. By Percy E. Newberry. (A. Constable and Co....

The Constitution and Laws of Afghanistan. By Mir Mania! Sultan

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Mohammad Khan. (John Murray.)—It must be con, fessed that few Englishmen have regarded Afghanistan in the light of a constitutionally governed country. Nor does our author...

'Ka PS.—We are glad to see two more of Mr.

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John Murray's "Handy Classical Maps" (1s. net each). These are Palestine and Germania, both appearing under the editorial care of Mr. G. B. Grundy. The Palestine map illustrates...

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Nan , Eorriows.—In the " Library of English Classics "(Mac- millan

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and Co.) the latest volume is The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (3s. 6d. net). Mr. Pollard, under whose care these volumes are appearing, explains what he has been called upon...