17 AUGUST 1895

Page 1

°V The Editors cannot undertake to return Manuscript, in any

The Spectator

case.

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The Spectator

P ARLIAMENT met on Monday, and one Member of the House of Commons is even said to have reached the House by 6 a.m. Undoubtedly another really entered at half-past 6 o'clock,...

Mr. Gully, having thanked the proposer and seconder for the

The Spectator

kind terms in which they had spoken of him, said that to his mind the impartiality attributed to him was not only the first duty of a Speaker, but his easiest duty also. ." But...

The Queen's Speech, read only on Thursday after most of

The Spectator

the Members had been sworn in, was perfectly colour. less, as befits a Session of Parliament summoned only to provide the Administration with the means of put- ting money in its...

Lord Salisbury's speech was full of weight and of the

The Spectator

sense of high responsibility. After the announcement that the decision in regard to Chitral arrived at by the Govern- ment would be found to be supported by the papers which...

Lord Rosebery's speech on the Address was in his lightest

The Spectator

vein, and perhaps not in the best possible taste. His jibe that the Duke of Argyll's language about the late Govern- ment "was very strong even for a honeymoon," of course pro-...

Page 2

The Spaniards make no progress in putting down the Cuban

The Spectator

revolt, which is, indeed, slowly spreading. According to recent telegrams the Spanish troops are dying fast, and the- number of insurgents is increasing. The rebels not only...

We are glad to see that it is the intention

The Spectator

of the Govern- ment to appoint Mr. J. W. Lowther to the Chairmanship of Committees. That is an excellent choice, for Mr. Lowther is greatly liked and respected in the House and...

In the House of Commons, after very brief speeches from

The Spectator

Mr. Legh and Mr. T. H. Robertson, who moved and seconded the Address, Sir William Harcourt, in a very moderate speech, remarked that if it were true that Nature abhors a vacuum,...

There is little or no news as regards China and

The Spectator

the punish- ment of the men who committed the massacre on the mis- sionaries, except that Mr. Mansfield has proceeded to Kucheng, the place of massacre, to make inquiry, under...

The Government has announced its policy in regard to Chitral,

The Spectator

which is a sort of compromise between the views of the annexationists and those who were for retiring. Two native regiments, with two mountain guns and two Maxims, will hold...

On Tuesday the Times published an important article on the

The Spectator

subject of the Upper Mekong. The attempt to settle the respective claims of France and England by a joint commission on the spot has failed, and the negotiations will now have...

Mr. Scott then found that the French Commissioner, 1d. Pavie,

The Spectator

was inspired by the same spirit as the traders. The French official denied the very existence of the Shan State of Kiang Kheng, and declared Mongsin to be a part of the former...

Page 3

The Times of Thursday, in a very wise and statesmanlike

The Spectator

article, deals with the question of the Commander-in-Chief. After using language which shows that the talk of the Duke of Cambridge withdrawing his resignation is nonsense, and...

On Tuesday Renter's Agency published a very interesting interview with

The Spectator

Colonel Shervinton, who has just returned from Madagascar, where it will be remembered that he held the position of Commander-in-Chief. He resigned because the Hovas would not...

Prince Ferdinand returned to Sofia on Tuesday, and was received

The Spectator

by the notables of the capital. It was noticed, how- ever, that though the official decorations were magnificent, the crowd was almost silent. It is also stated that the alleged...

The French Press, headed curiously enough by M. Leroy- Beaulieu

The Spectator

in the Economists Franpais, is extremely anxious that France should order the Bey to denounce the Commercial Treaty between Italy and Tunis, which, according to the French,...

The Westminster Gazette accuses us of not looking facts in

The Spectator

the face as regards the figures of the General Election. Wo rather think that it is the Westminster Gazette which does not look facts in the face. We not only accepted, but laid...

Mr. Goldwin Smith wrote to last Saturday's Times from Toronto,

The Spectator

that the first use of victory should be to reorganise the House of Lords on an effective,—which he explains as meaning an elective,—basis. We cannot agree with him. In the...

Bank Rate, 2 per cent.

The Spectator

New Consols (21) were on Fri'lay, 1071-107a.

Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Spectator

THE BEWILDERMENT OF THE RADICALS. T HE Radicals are evidently bewildered, and very reasonably bewildered, by the result of the Elections. It is not only that they are amazed at...

THE HEAVY BURDEN OF EMPIRE.

The Spectator

I F a British Government were once to realise to the full the extent of its difficulties and responsibilities, it must sink under the weight. It is only because the weary Titan...

Page 6

SIR HENRY FOWLER AND THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM.

The Spectator

S IR HENRY FOWLER'S advice to the Gladstoniau party last Saturday, in Alderman Mander's grounds, was on the whole wise advice, but it would have been wiser still if he had taken...

Page 7

MR. GLADSTONE AND SECOND CHAMBERS.

The Spectator

.W E have more than once, probably, pointed out the very common misconception that exists with regard to Mr. Gladstone's use of language. He is often supposed to be a careless...

Page 8

THE NEW BISHOP OF ROCHESTER.

The Spectator

TN a major key the popular voice in England, in 1 minor tones, but with quite equal confidence, that of Leeds, has applauded Lord Salisbury's selection of Dr. Talbot to succeed...

Page 9

CHINA AND THE MISSIONARIES.

The Spectator

A GREAT deal of nonsense is being talked about China and the missionaries. People are beginning to ask the old questions, whether missionaries do any good after all, and to...

Page 10

COVENT GARDEN IN THE EARLY MORNING.

The Spectator

M OST of us know that the flower-market at Covent Garden opens at 5 o'clock in the morning, and is a very beautiful sight to see. Also that at the same time the fruit and...

Page 11

CHAGRIN.

The Spectator

p ROBABLY there is no uncomfortable condition of mind which is just now so predominant in England as chagrin,—in other words, that chafing kind of disappointment which results...

Page 12

THE BRITISH GENTLEMAN.

The Spectator

S OME one—we believe it was the Daily Chronicle — called the late Mr. Thomson, the African explorer, an English gentleman. The remark, if not very original, was, one would...

Page 13

A NEW SPORT.

The Spectator

M MAREY, in his greatest work, the " Vol des Oiseaux," • analysed the movements of the beating wing by an ingenious instrument which he called the photographic gun. In it was...

Page 14

THE VIRTUE OF INITIALS.

The Spectator

T HE Queen has recently rewarded the heroes of Chitral with various grades of honour, and to one man has fallen the coveted Victoria Cross ; Surgeon-Major Whit- church's name...

Page 15

FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin, In the Spectator of August 3rd a most able article appeared, entitled "France and England." The writer seems to have assumed that the...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Spectator

HOME-RULE AND THE VERDICT OF THE ELECTORATE. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Having had opportunities, in some respects possibly unique, of studying the state of...

Page 16

ABSENT-MINDEDNESS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OP TER "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Your article on "Absent-Mindedness," in the Spectator of August 10th, with its incident of the Welshmen's recep- tion of Sir William...

A DOG-STORY.

The Spectator

[To TRB EDITOR OP THE " EPECTATOR."1 SIR,—May I send you another dog-story? My dog, a half- retriever, half-setter, has been with me for six years since I rescued him as a...

THE QUALIFICATION OF BISHOPS.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—There is one point in your article in the Spectator of August 10th on "The Qualifications of a Bishop," on which you have perhaps not...

ANIMALS IN CARICATURE.

The Spectator

[To TRY EDITOR 07 THE " SPICTATOR."] SIR,—The writer of the interesting article in the Spectator of• August 10th, on "Animals and Caricature," in referring to the clever "...

SIR CHARLES D1LKE ON EGYPT.

The Spectator

[To TIM EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—Admiral Maxse has written to you, in the Spectator of August 10th, to complain of my having, in a long article in Le Malin on the...

Page 17

BOOKS.

The Spectator

THE CHINESE AT HOME.* THE author of An Australian in China accomplished no small feat in making what he calls a quiet journey across China to British Burmah. To quote his own...

A CAT-STORY.

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR. "] am induced to send you an account of a remarkable instance of feline sagacity which occurred in my house last week. About a fortnight ago...

POETRY.

The Spectator

AT PARTING. So, with a last Good-bye, In this grey hour you die ']o us, as we to yon ; rafting is dying too, And distance, heart to heart despairing saith, Is but a name for...

A FELINE MOURNER..

The Spectator

[TO mila EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR."] Sin,—I read with much interest the stories of animals, especiallycats, which appear from time to time in the Spectator. May I add one...

" HONOURABLE."

The Spectator

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,, —Your anecdote about the "Abominable Mrs. S.," in the Spectator of August 10th, recalls an incident which occurred to a kinswoman of...

Page 18

THE ORIGIN OF "PUNCH."*

The Spectator

WE have set out in full the long and argumentative title of Mr. Athol Mayhew's volume, because it is the key and explana- tion of a very argumentative little book. It seems that...

Page 20

AMONG THE SAMOYEDS.*

The Spectator

IN the course of a pleasant little book called Polar Gleams published last year, the author, Miss Helen Peel, made men- tion of a fellow-traveller, who accompanied her party as...

Page 21

THE RECOLLECTIONS OF A VIRGINIAN.*

The Spectator

IF there are any men who may be excused for writing auto- biographies, they are certainly those only who preserve a cheerful and kindly view of life and of the people with whom...

Page 22

UNEXPLORED FRANCE.*

The Spectator

MR. BARING-GOULD has been before the public for many years as historian, novelist, folk-lorist, and traveller; but he is still one of the most energetic of our literary men, and...

Page 23

ONE-VOLUME FICTION.* THE good old cause of the three-volume novel

The Spectator

seems in more immediate peril than we were disposed to think. The seces- sion of some of the more influential of the younger men counted for little, save as an indication of the...

Page 24

First Davenport of Bramhall. By Joseph Bradbury. (Digby and Long.)—Mr.

The Spectator

Bradbury essays to tell a tale of the fifteenth century. He fails to make much of his attempt. His book wants special colour and character. Of all literary tasks this is almost...

We must mention together, and of necessity very briefly,. several

The Spectator

volumes of the " Gospel and the Age " series (Isbister and Co.)—It would require nearly all our space to criticise at all adequately the volumes of sermons which are sent to...

Letters and Sketches from the New Hebrides. By Maggie Whitecross

The Spectator

Paton. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—These "Letters and Sketches" are well described as "supplementary and illu- minative " of that most interesting of missionary records, the...

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Spectator

Memoirs of Count Lavalette. (Gibbings and Co.)—Lavalette, born in 1769, began by being a fervent Royalist. Compromised by his zeal, he took service in the army. Circumstances...

Ormisdale. By the Earl of Dunmore. (E. Arnold.)—We meet in

The Spectator

this story the familiar characters whom we have met so often before, with some slight variations of costume and surroundings. There is the Highland proprietor whose fortunes...

Page 25

A Handbook of Hygiene. By A. M. Davies. (C. Griffin

The Spectator

and Co.) —A vast amount of information has been compressed into a small space by the author of this volume, assisted in no slight degree by the publishers, who have given all...

of " Wisdom-Literature." It was convenient, however, to include this

The Spectator

book, as the subject, begun in Dr. Davison's "Praises of Israel" (dealing with the Psalms), is thus completed. Our author applies a very reasonable and moderate criticism to the...

Helpful Hints for Hard Times. Edited by the Rev. E.

The Spectator

Bartrum, D.D. (S.P.C.K.)—This is a series of penny tracts which give practical instruction on various rural industries. The editor writes on Apples for Garden and Orchard,...

Studies in Biblical Archzeology. By Joseph Jacobs. (David Nutt.)—This volume

The Spectator

contains seven papers contributed to various periodicals. One of the most curious is the tracing of Proverbs xxx. (the Sayings of Agur) to an Indian source. The parallels are...

History of England under Henry IV. By James Hamilton Wylie,

The Spectator

M.A. Vol. II. 1405-1406. (Longmans.)—Mr. Wylie continues, with indefatigable patience, this laborious work. What would be the limits of a complete history of England were it...

A Practical Ready Reference Guide to Election of District and

The Spectator

Parish Councillors, by J. Harris Stone, M.A., and J. G. Pease, B.A. (Philip and Son), gives in an alphabetical arrangement all the information that can be wanted on the subject....

Charterhouse, Old and New. By E. P. Eardley-Wilmot and E.

The Spectator

C. Streatfield. (John C. Nimmo.)—Mr. Eardley-Wilmot very rightly begins with an account of the Carthusian foundation, of which the school took the place. We must confess to...

We have to notice three volumes of the Expositor's Bible,

The Spectator

edited by the Rev. W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A. (Hodder and Stoughton), a very valuable series, now rapidly approaching com- pletion. Dr. Robert A. Watson edits The Book of...

Page 26

Gossip of the Caribbees. By William R. H. Trowbridge. (T.

The Spectator

Fisher Unwin.)—Of these " Sketches of Anglo-West-Indian Life," we may say that it would have been at least as well if they had never been written, and that, now they are...

volumes, and we have to acknowledge the receipt of the

The Spectator

first, a handsome volume, which may be taken as an earnest of a really valuable work. Mr. Baring-Gould prefaces it with an in- troduction in which he sketches the history of...

Human Nature in Rural India. - By R. Carstairs. (Blackwood and

The Spectator

Sons.)—This book contains the observations of a shrewd, practical man. He has had twenty years' experience in the Civil Service, and has evidently used his opportunities. He...

Hymns and Their Stories. By " A. E. C." (S.P.C.K.)—This is

The Spectator

a very carefully written and useful little volume, giving just the information that many will wish to have. Some knowledge of the writer adds an interest to a hymn, possibly in...

Holy Matrimony. By Oscar D. Watkins. (Rivington, Percival, and Co.)—This

The Spectator

" Treatise on the Divine Laws of Marriage" is of an exhaustive fullness. The Scriptural authority, the -flews taken by the Eastern and Western Churches generally, and by first...

Thackeray : a Study. By Adolphus Alfred Jack. (Macmillan.) —We

The Spectator

cannot say that Mr. Jack gives us a high idea of his insight as a critic. The most difficult book to appreciate of all that Thackeray wrote is "Vanity Fair" ; and it is here...

The Flower of Forgiveness. By Flora Annie Steel. (Macmillan and

The Spectator

Co.)—These stories of Indian life are, for the most part, tinged with a sombre hue. Touching as they do, more or less directly, on the various relations between the ruling...

Messrs. W. H. Allen and Co. publish in a cheaper

The Spectator

form Wellesley, by Colonel G. B. Malleson, a volume first published (about five years ago) in the " Statesmen Series."

THEOLOGY. —The Psalms. By Alexander Maclaren, D.D. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—This

The Spectator

volume belongs to the series of the " Expositor's Bible," and is the third and completing instal- ment of Dr. Maclaren's Exposition of the Psalms. It takes in Books IV. (90-106)...