13 MARCH 1920

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Mr. J. H. Thomas, who presided, spoke with no uncertain

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voice, and was as convincing as he always is when he puts hesitation aside. Mr. Clynes was also extremely good with his penetrating phrase : " You declare a general strike and...

Now that the Direct Actionists are fairly and squarely beaten

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the time has come for all those who do not want fresh challenges to our well-proved methods of governing ourselves in content- ment and prosperity to band themselves together...

A memorable stage in the history of the Irish contro-

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versy was reached on Wednesday when the Ulster Unionist Council decided to give a qualified support to the Home Rule Bill. The discussion turned mainly upon the question whether...

The Council reaffirmed their belief that the best thing for

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Ireland and the whole Empire was the maintenance of the Union, but they added that in view of the fact that a substitute admittedly had to bo found for the Home Rule Act of...

NEWS OF THE WEEK

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• A S we go to press we learn the result of the voting at the Special Trade Union Congress summoner to decide " how" the Government should be forced to accept nationalization....

Such a League must not air sectional grievances, it must

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not tilt against carefully erected bogies which some people will never admit to be bogies at all. It must content itself with asserting the broadest principle of defending the...

Conceivably there are a few respectable political philosophers in, say,

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the middle class who arc willing to consider the possi- bility of Sovietism as a workable alternative to democracy, and yet these philosophers do not want anarchy, and would...

* * The Editor cannot accept responsibility for any cuticles

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or letters submitted to him, but when stamped and addressed envelopes are sent he will do his best to return contributions in case of rejection.

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President Wilson addressed a fresh Note to Great Britain and

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France last Saturday in regard to the Adriatic question. He said that he must adhere to the scheme of December 9th last, proposed by Great .Britain, France, and America, but...

Mr. Lloyd George, in reply to a question in the

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House on Monday, stated that the Armenians slaughtered by the Turks in and near Marash numbered 15,000, but not 18,000. The French garrison which was driven from the town,...

The ridiculous suggestion, attributed, rightly er wrongly, to an American

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politician, that we should repay our American debt in kind by ceding the West Indies was repudiated by the Prime Minister on Monday. The Government, he said, had not the...

Holland last week declined the Allies' request that she should

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reconsider her refusal to surrender the ex-Kaiser for trial. In view of the persistently pro-German attitude of the Dutch Court and Government throughout the war, no other...

The conflict between President Wilson and the majority of the

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Senate over the Covenant seems, as we write, to be approaohing a crisis. The Senate is again voting for reservations on much the same lines as before. On the other hand, the...

The six-county area, which contains for all practical purposes a

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homogeneous community of Unionists and Protestants, is a self-contained stronghold with such logical boundaries that it cannot be assailed by the preachers of...

Finally, we should like to point out that Sir Edward

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Carson's reception of a deputation of Southern Unionists proved both the depth aad the genuineness of his sympathy with those scattered Unionists whose outlook is terribly dark...

The Supreme Council of the Allies published on Wednesday an

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instructive memorandum on the economic crisis, emphasizing the need for national and individual thrift as the only means of regaining normal conditions. The Allies will continue...

What is that basis of logic ? Since the popular

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demand for self-determination has carried away the majority not only in Ireland but throughout Great Britain the safeguarding of Ulster Unionists and Protestants must be squared...

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Considering all the circumstances, we are bound to say that

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Mr. Diamond was punished lightly for the gravest offence that a journalist could commit. He had not even the excuse that might have been made for an excited Sinn Feiner in a...

Mr. Charles Diamond, proprietor of the Catholic Herald, was sentenced

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at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to six months' im- prisonment for writing and publishing an article entitled " Killing No Murder," in reference to the attompt.to assassinate Lord...

The by-election in the Horncaatle Division of Lincolnshire resulted in

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another success for the Coalition and another severe defeat for Labour. Captain Hotchkin, a Coalition Unionist, headed the poll with 8,140 votes. Alderman Pattinson, an...

When the bread subsidy was discussed in tho House on

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Tuesday, Mr. Swan, a Labour Member, declared that the Govern- ment's policy was " guaranteeing high prices to the British farmers at the expense of the people." That is the...

Belated telegrams from Toldo announce that the Japanese Diet was

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suddenly dissolved on February 26th, in the midst of a heated debate on the Opposition's demand for the extension of the franchise. The Government on the following day issued a...

We are glad to know that a British School of

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Archaeology, under Professor Garstang, is to be established in Jerusalem, and that the Prince of Wales has become its patron. British scholars, working through the Palestine...

Lord Sudcley initiated an instructivelittle debate in the House of

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Lords last week on the desirability of making greater use of the museums and art galleries. Lord Crawford, speaking for the Government, showed sympathy and knowledge, and the...

The House of Commons showed commendable spirit on Monday by

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refusing to consider a "guillotine" Closure moved by Mr. Bonar Law for the purpose of concluding all the financial business by March 25th. Major Hills proposed as an alternative...

Lord Buckmaster, in the House of Lords on Wednesday, moved

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the second reading of his Matrimonial. Causes Bill, em- bodying the recommendations of the majority of the Royal Commission on Divorce. Lord Braye and Lord Phillimore strongly...

The Prime Minister announced on Monday that the bread subsidy

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was costing the Exchequer ninety millions a year, and must be reduced by half. The wholesale price of flour would be raised next week by 19s. 3d. a sack, and the millers would...

Bank rate, 6 per cent.,changed from 5 per cent. Nov.

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6,1919. 5 per cent. War Loan was on Thursday, 88.i ; Thursday week, 88 ; a year ago, 95.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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LABOUR AND THE BOG. F VERY one who has watched industrial movements with a strategical eye must have noticed that Lab our was marching towards a position from which not its own...

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THE POSITION IN IRELAND.

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S IR EDWARD CARSON went straight to the heart of the matter in his speech to the Ulster Unionist Council on Friday week. We advise any one who takes an obsolete view of Sir...

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THE OUTLOOK FOR BRITISH WHEAT. T HE British farmer who is

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patriotic enough to grow wheat must be meditating sadly on the latest official decisions which affect his case. First of all, there is an increase in the price of flour. The...

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A C S NATION TT is notorious that to some

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temperaments the rainbow is always in the next field. Now this opinion con- cerning rainbows is tolerable; we might catch it in the next field if we only ran fast enough. What...

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THE BIBLE IN CHURCH: TRADITION AND REVISION..

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T HE practice of reading the Revised Version of the New Testament in church is becoming more and more prevalent. A good deal of controversy has taken place lately in the Times...

REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.

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W HEN the call came to the regiments of the British Army, five years and more ago, to emulate and outdo the greatest deeds of their pasts, their records were all too little...

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FINANCE—PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR "3. SIR,—Were it not for two important considerations, I should be inclined to write to you this week in somewhat optimistic vein. As regards...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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getters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.] MISCHIEVOUS ECONOMICS. [TO...

NATIONALIZATION AND WORKERS' CONTROL. (To THE EDITOR OF THE "

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SPECTATOR.") Sia,s—A section of the Labour Movement is demanding the control of nationalized industries by Workers' Committees. This is supposed to be the alternative to...

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THE DREAD OF A PROFIT.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.] Sia,—As a constant reader of the Spectator and the many thoughtful letters appearing in its columns on the present moral and financial...

THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "

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SPEDTATOR.'] SIR, I regret that Colonel Patterson has misconceived the object of my article. In common with many people, I sym- pathize with the wish of some Jews to make their...

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.] "im,—The three articles

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in your excellent paper under this heading, if I may say so, do not emphasize sufficiently the sharp distinction between profit-making that is beneficial and profit-taking that...

PROFIT—RATE PER CENT.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.) am sorry I missed Mr. Turnbull's letter which Mr. Goulding Cutts refers to in your issue of March 6th, but Mr. Goulding Cutts must see the...

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MONTENEGRO.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THII " SPECTATOR.") Sre,—In view of all the discussion as to the Serbian Yugo-Slav settlement and the so-called Adriatic question, does it not occur to you as...

THE SOUTH SLAVS AND ITALY.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—May I be allowed to raise my voice against a paragraph in your issue for January 31st, which I have only just seen ? You accuse the...

COMPULSORY GREEK.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR .") SIR,—One constantly reads the argument (not always from one side), " Abolish compulsory Greek and many fewer boys and girls will learn...

SPEAKING WITH TONGUES.

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fTo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.] SIR. – In a notice of a work on The Life and Letters of St. Paul, by Professor David Smith, you say :- " In connexion with the Corinthian...

NATIONALIZATION IN RUSSIA. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

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SIR,—The efforts of the Bolsheviks in Russia to nationalize indlistries are instructive. The miners' leaders tell us that they are opposed to bureaucracy, and Mr. J. H. Thomas,...

CLASSICS FOR THE AMATEUR.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR, —Your reviewer- (Spectator, February 28th) speaks of the high standard of Jowett's translation of Thucydides as " main- I tained" by...

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THE NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—As one interested in the prosperity of the Navy Records Society, I should like to have the opportunity of disposing of an erroneous...

"THE NURSERY SCHOOL."

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(TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR, It is from no desire, I hope, to recommend either my work, or my book, The Nursery School, that I ask the privilege of answering one...

CHARLES BOOTH MEMORIAL.

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(TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") Siu,—Charles Booth died in November, 1916. He was a man to whose fruitful labours in almost unexplored fields of social and industrial...

"APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY."

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(TO THE EDITOR CP THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—As Dr. Lay considers that his subliminal self's encounter with an alarm-clock was worth putting on record, and as your reviewer...

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THE TRAVELLERS' AID SOCIETY.

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—May I be allowed to appeal to your readers for their kind help in raising the sum of ..t3,000 for the purchase of the unexpired lease...

" PERSIAN TALES."

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 Sin,—We have read with much pleasure the kind and appreciative remarks about our collection of Persian tales which your reviewer made in the...

"CROSSHANDED."

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR,—In your recent article on " Naval Language " a use of " rescrub " for "repeat" was given which showed that the word had become merely a...

Massingham's brilliant articles in the Spectator on the feather traffic

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will find it difficult to understand why the Government of a so-called humane country does all in its power to hinder the passing of a Bill that would put an end to the most...

POPULAR WEEKLIES.

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ITo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sie, — In your review of Fleet Street and Downing Street you speak of Sir George Newnes with Tit - Bits in 1881 and Mr. Harmsworth with...

STATE PURCHASE OF THE LIQUOR TRADE. (To THE EDITOR OF

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THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Mr. Talbot shows that the " drunk " convictions in England and Wales, comparing 1914 with 1918, deoreased 84.50 per cont., and in Carlisle within the...

ght int t at ar

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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Including postage to any part of the United Kingdom .. . • " • • OVERSEAS POSTAGE. Including postage to any of the British Dominions and Colonies and...

NOTICE.—When " Correspondence" or Articles are signed with the writer's

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name or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked " Communicated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the...

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BOOKS.

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THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE WAR AT SEA.* THE first volume of Sir Julian Corbett's history of the war at sea, prepared from the Admiralty records for the Committee •...

THE THEATRE.

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"THE YOUNG VISITERS " AT THE COURT THEATRE. I HAVE little sympathy for the critic who went to see The Young Visiters and complained that ho (being among those who had not read...

POETRY.

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SUBMARINES. Tus firth lay like a dragon's tongue to-night Flaming to westward: with her smoke afire The far town rose beyond, a Viking's pyre; Then one by one those ranging...

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SPORTING REMINISCENCES.*

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HAS the reader been obliged by the war to give up hunting ? Has he begun to fear that intensive cultivation, high prices, and the necessity of working very much harder than he...

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BY NILE AND TIGRIS.* Trim Keeper of the Egyptian and

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Assyrian Antiquities at the British Museum has written a most instructive and entertaining book about his official journeys to the East in search of treasures for the Museum....

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THE PROBLEM OF NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.* Or all the complaints affecting

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modern man, nervous breakdown, with its numerous and diffuse symptoms, its reduction of those previously regarded as mentally and physically strong, men and women leaders of...

A POET'S PROSE.* Ten lives of Rupert Brooke and Charles

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Hamilton Sorley afford an interesting, if obvious, contrast and comparison. There is so much to say about Rupert Brooke and comparatively so little about his poetry. His life...

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THE SACRED BEETLE.* M. FABRE'S books are the delight of

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expert and lay reader alike. Although the discovery concerning the Sacred Beetle and his wonderful little pellet, which is the main feature of this the latest of M. Fabre's...

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FICTION.•

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JULIET.* Tins is not an easy novel to review. A bald summary of the plot might repel fastidious readers, or those who are governed by the old views as to what is fit or unfit...

GREECE IN INDIA.*

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No reviewer wishes to begin his pleasant task of appreciation by dwelling on the mint, anise, and cummin of literature. Yet a work pretending to be a scholarly production should...

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" Hunkutty hinkutty hunkutty hie, Killutty quickutty kffi, quick," cries

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the half-Aristophanic, mocking chorus in Sir Ronald Ross's " The Marsh." The poem has caught the authentic magic of " Christabel," but in addition the Marsh creatures have a...

POEMS WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.—Black Marigolds. By E. Powys Mathers. (Oxford

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: B. H. Blackwell. Is. 6d. net.)— A feverish Eastern love poem.—Poems. By Beatrice Mayor. (Allen and Unwin. 2s. 6d. net.)—Poems : Second Boole. By Edith Anne Stewart. (The...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Natio* in this column doss not necessarily prealude subsequent review.] The London Mercury for March has a lively article by .Ma Max Beerbohm, " On Servants " :— " When the...

READABLE NOVELS.—Two Men. By Alfred 011ivant. (Allen and Unwin. 7s.

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net.)—This novel announces itself as the first volume of a long romance, and as such it is very difficult to judge of its success. The studies of the hero and his mother are...

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Nationalisation of the Mines. By Frank Hodges. (Leonard Parsons. 4s.

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6d. net.)—In this little book the Secretary of the Miners' Federation puts the case for the scheme of " national ownership " under which Parliament is to finance the coal...

A Brazilian Mystic. By R. B. Cunninghame-Graham. (Heinemann. 15s. net.)—Anything

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that Mr. Cunninghamo- Graham writes about South America is attractive because he knows the country and likes the people. His new book is the dramatic story of Antonio...

A Short History of the Great War. By A. F.

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Pollard. (Methuen. 10s. lid. net.)—Professor Pollard's lucid narrative and caustic comments are highly interesting. Ho writes as one who remem- bers that there have been other...

Cambridge Readings in Italian Literature. Edited by Edward Bullough. (Cambridge

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University Press. 8s. net. )—Mr. Bullough's book is the very thing that many English people have long needed; namely, a guide to the best Italian authors of the nine- teenth...

The Principles of Citizenship. By Sir Henry Jones. (Mac- millan.

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35. 6d. net.)—This very wise little book, which but for an oversight should have been mentioned sooner, ought to be widely read. Sir Henry Jones has a firm grasp of moral...

In the Anglo-French Review for March Lord Charnwood has a

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second article " Concerning Abraham Lincoln." In reply to an American critic who thought that he had underestimated the hostility of British public opinion to the cause of the...

The Press in War-Time. By Sir Edward Cook. (Macmillan. 7s.

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6d. net.)—The late Sir Edward Cook did much by his tact and experience to allay the friction caused by the Press Bureau, or, to speak more accurately, by the various Departments...

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WORK OF REFERBNCE.—The Year's Art, 1920, compiled by A. C.

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R. Carter (Hutchinson, 75. 6d. net), is the forty-first annual Witte of a most useful book. The editor in his Preface regrets that our sculptors have not distinguished...

Mr. George Bourne in William Smith,Potteraral Farmer (Chatto and Windus,

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6s. net) has compiled from the conversation of an old uncle and aunt a charming account of country life between 1790 and 1858. His spectacles are only pleasantly rose-coloured,...

In Assisi (Macmillan, 42s.) Sir William Richmond has pro- duced

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a charming volume, part picture-book, part guide-book, describing the town of Assisi and life in the Franciscan monas- tery there. Tho water-colours with which it is illustrated...