18 DECEMBER 1920

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But here we must mention the striking Report—the fourth of

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its series—issued as a White Paper on Wednesday by the Committeo of Public Accounts. The Committee do not hesitate to speak of the possibility of national bankruptcy. They...

The House of Commons on Thursday, December 9th, had a

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set debate on economy. Mr. Lambert in an able speech moved that the House should decline to sanction expenditure for 1921-22 in excess of £808,000,000—the total estimated for a...

Mr. Chamberlain said in reply that the Government had made

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immense progress in reducing expenditure. Last year we spent £2,160,000,000, and had to borrow part of it. This year the Estimate of £1,282,000,000 would suffice—since the...

Sir Godfrey Collins moved as an amendment that the Govern-

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ment should reduce expenditure " to the utmost extent possible," and suggested that the total should not exceed £1,060,000,000, including £110,000,000 for the redemption of...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HE heavy decline in trade and values is fill ing everybody with alarm. The only consoling reflection in a very depressing situation is that alarm always proves to be one of...

Mr. Chamberlain went on to read the Cabinet minute en

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finance. New schemes which would cost money were to remain in abeyance. The Ministries of Munitions, Shipping, and Food were to be wound up by March next. Our forces in Persia...

NOTICE.

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Owing to the Government having taken over our old oremises, we have removed to new offices, 13 York Street, Covent Garden, W.C. 2, where all communications should be addressed.

The Prime Minister concluded the debate with a vigorous defence

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of the Government. It would be dangerous, he said, to cut down expenditure on education—which cost more because the teachers were better paid—or on housing, because half-...

TO OUR READERS.

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Should our readers experienhe any difficulty in obtaining the SPECTATOR during their absence from home at Newsagents Or Railway Bookstalls, will they please communicate at once...

*** The Editor cannot accept responsibility for any.artides or letters

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submitted to him, but when stamped and a dd ressed envelopes are sent he will do his best to return contributions in case of rejection.

Page 2

The Sinn Feiners made numerous attacks on the troops and

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police on Sunday. A police barracks at Camlough, County Armagh; was besieged, but the occupants sent up rockets and were relieved by troops,. who captured seven rebels. At...

The papers of Thursday published a telegram from the Prime

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Minister to Father O'Flanagan in answer to Father O'Flanagan's appeal for a truce in Ireland. The Prime Minister said that Father O'Flanagan would be enabled to visit Mr. Arthur...

The troops and police on Saturday last discovered a Sinn

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Fein bomb factory in Parnell Street, in the centre of Dublin, under a shop tenanted by Heron, an official of the Irish Transport Workers' Union, and Lawless, a councillor and a...

It would be amusing if it were not tragio to

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notice time after time how English people fall into the way of arguing on the assumption that Irish patriats behave in a perfectly rational manner. " Why," they say, " should...

A really important decision was taken by the League of

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Nations at Geneva on Monday, when it was decided to set up a Court of International Justice. The Assembly approved the draft statute of the Court with amendments which was...

Dr. Cahalan, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork, whose eligibility

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for the position was strongly urged by the Germans during the war, has threatened to excommunciate those-Roman Catholics who are guilty of murder, even though they be Irish...

Commander Kenworthy moved the adjournment of the House en Monday

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to call attention to the Cork fires, and actually quoted a letter from an unnamed priest as incontrovertible evidence against the forces of the Crown. The Chief Secretary said...

The. Prime Minister, in the House on Friday, December 10th,

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made a statement on Irish policy. The Government believed that most Irish people wanted peace and a fair settlement. They welcomed the resolution of the Galway County Council...

General Macready, commanding the forces in Ireland, issued on Sunday

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a proclamation declaring martial law in Cork, Tipperary, Kerry, and Limerick, and appointing , military gover- nors to administer it. He fixed December 27th as the date by which...

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It cannot be disguised that the country as a whole

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has received the contemptuous destruction of Dr. Addison's handiwork with delight. This is a good sign in itself, not because we think for a moment that people are indifferent...

In the House of Lords on Wednesday the Agriculture Bill

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was debated, and the Lords rejected the clause which gives Ministers power to enforce certain methods of cultivation. In vain Lord Lee argued that there was too much bad farming...

Germany makes it difficult for the Allies to display a

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con- ciliatory spirit towards her. By the Peace Treaty she agreed to reduce her army to 100,000 men and to deliver up all surplus arms. But, while reducing the regular army, she...

The third volume of Bismarck's memoirs, which the German Emperor

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suppressed, was described and summarized in a Berlin paper last Sunday. It seems that the ex-Kaiser, though an exile, is still influential enough at Berlin to prevent the book...

The House of Lords on Monday took the Report stage

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of the Government of Ireland Bill. The two Courts of Appeal for the North and the South were retained on a division by 88 votes to 53. The House accepted a new clause, moved by...

The ex-King Constantine arrived at Venice on Wednesday, and went

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on board the Greek cruiser Averoff,' in which he is returning to Athens. The Italian Government gave him a royal reception, as if to show that they did not agree with their...

The Assembly of the League discussed on Tuesday the fundamental

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question of reducing armaments. In view of Germany's suspicious behaviour in enrolling " volunteers" and of Bolshevik military activity, it is not surprising that the Allies and...

The Ministry of Health Bill, after being severely criticized and

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much curtailed in the House of Commons, was rejected on Tuesday by the House of Lords, on the motion of Lord Strachie. The Bill, like all Dr. Addison's measures, was badly...

At a luncheon given to M. Paul Cambon on Thursday,

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December 9th, by the Foreign Press Association, Mr. Boner Law expressed very happily the respectful admiration with which we all regard the veteran French Ambassador, who is now...

Bank rate, 7 per cent., changed from 6 per cent.

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Apr. 15, 1920 ; 5 per cent. War Loan was on Thursday, 821 ; Thursday week, 83 ; a year ago, 91i.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE NEMESIS OF PRETENCE. T HE condition of murderous anarchy into which the South and West of Ireland have fallen is a disgrace to the British nation. No milder words can be...

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THE LIBERAL AND LABOUR LEADERS AND PRETENCE.

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T H E most signal act of pretence—the point where pretence seems to have reached its apogee— concerns the Liberal leaders more than the present Govern- ment. Within the past...

BEGINNING AT THE WRONG END.

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I T is a hopeless mistake for a Government to believe that they can start upon a policy of economy by going through a list of their expenditure and telling themselves that they...

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THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL AS A LINK

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OF EMPIRE. A GREAT deal of discussion has been going on in Canada about the reference of Canadian disputes to the Privy Council. When Lord Cave returned from a recent visit to...

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THE ENGLISH DISTRUST OF LETTERS.

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A FEW days ago the public read in a newspaper of a legacy left by a scientific man to found " a chair of rational logic " upon somewhat new lines. The testator desired that not...

LABOUR AND THE " CANT MUST " PRESS.

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T S the Press unfair to Labour ? It is constantly and emphatic- ally asserted by Labour leaders that the Press—the " capitalist " Press as they call it — is grossly unfair to...

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FINANCE—PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

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BUSINESS DEPRESSION. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " serciarea."1 Sin,—It is some time since the City has experienced so depressing a week as the one which is now closing. Nor is there...

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THE INDEX FIGURE.

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(To THE EDITOR Of THE "SPEOUTOR21 Sia,—The following facts are not without interest as bearing on the above. At the Burton Court branch of the Ministry of Pensions, and...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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[Letters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more eliective, than those which fill treble the space.] WOMEN AT CAMBRIDGE. (To THE...

Page 11

HOUSING AND THE TRADE UNIONS.

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Its THE EDITOR OF TI1E SPECTATOR."] Sie,—The disastrous shortage of houses, together with the difficulty of finding employment for discharged soldiers and others, is such a...

THE AGRICULTURE BILL.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sm,—I have never believed that farmers generally who under- stood this Bill or its effects were in favour of it, and the results of recent...

"TITE COMING REVOLUTION."

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(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR "1 Sia,—Whatever one may think of its general political morality, the Spectator has admittedly one high virtue—that it is all afraid to let its...

(To Tee Emma or THE "Sexerseon."1 Stn,—As a housekeeper of

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many years' standing, I wish to thank you sincerely for your article in the Spectator of December 11th on the "'Index Figure." It puts clearly and forcibly what I am sure most...

[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."1 SIR, —I have

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reason to be specially interested in the accuracy of the Index Figure of the cost of living, and therefore hare read your articles on the subject with close attention. Surely...

Page 12

A CATALOGUE OF BRONZE IMPLEMENTS.

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ITO THE Emma OF THE " SPECTATOR."7 Snt,—It has long been realized that various events that hap- pened in the Bronze Age, such as movements of peoples and of trade, have had a...

LUSTRE POTTERY.

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MO THE EDITon OP THE " SPECTATOIL'I SiR,—I shall be grateful if you will allow me to refer to Mr. William Burton's letter in your issue of the 11th inst., in which he informs me...

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IN MEMORIAM C. T. WIIITMELL, DIED DECEM- BEE lOrri, 1919.

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[To THE EDITOR or THE " SEEM/10E2] Sni„—There will be few of your readers who have not fresh in their memories Lucy Whitmell'e lines. "Christ in Flanders," which appeared in...

POST-BELLUM FAMILY BUDGETS.

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LTo THE EDITOR or THE " EFEHIATOH .. ] Sts,—In the halcyon days before August, 1914, you occasionally printed letters from your readers giving their domestic budgets, and I...

VILLAGE CLUBS.

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(To THE EDITOR or THE " EPECTATOR29 have read your article on the so-called dullness of Eng- lish village life with much interest, and as it is a subject which must be...

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POETRY.

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THE FAIRY SHOEMAKER. Tiros a mossy root he sat, Beneath an aged fairy tree, In buckled shoes and three-cocked hat, And breeches gartered at the knee, As ugly as a chimpanzee....

THE THEATRE.

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" A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM " AT THE COURT THEATRE. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play in which a very careful balance has been made between humour, sentiment, and senti-...

dt4e *ptrtator

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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Including postage to any part of the Year.y. United Kingdom .. £2 3 4 OVERSEAS POSTAGE. Including postage to any of the British Dominions and Colonies...

NOTICE.—When "Correspondence" or Articles are einiei wilt the writer's name

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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 mode of...

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BOOKS.

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THE VIOTORY OVER THE SUBMARINE.* ADMIRAL Sues, a very old and good friend of the British people and of British seamen, has written the most illu- minating account of the war...

SO tilt PLAYS WORTH SEEING

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AYOLL0.—French Leave .. 8.30-2.30 [Amusing comedy. Brigade H.Q. to the life.] WYNDHAM'S.—The Prude's Fall .. 8.16-2.90 [An admirable love-story.] THE PALACE.—The Swedish...

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LORD ASKWITH ON LABOUR DISPUTES.* LORD Ammer's, who was for

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years the Official Conciliator, has written a most interesting book on his experiences of industrial disputes. We hear more than enough of theoretical methods of establishing...

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THE SHIBBOLETHS OF TUBERCULOSIS.*

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WIEETHER it be the author's intention or not, this book will probably be widely read by the public, and it is necessary that the reviewer should keep this fact constantly in...

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" MARGE ASKINFORIT " AND TWO OTHER HUMOROUS BOOKS.*

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Is his interesting book The Ways of Life (Oxford University Press, 6s. 6d. net), which wo reviewed recently, Mr. Stephen Ward says that since in this life we are all companions...

A MYSTIC POETESS OF KASRMIR.*

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WE need not be ashamed if we have not before heard tell of "Granny Lal," as she is called in modern Kashmir. It is probable that not many of the numerous Europeans who make...

Page 19

TWO MUSICAL BIOGRAPHIES.*

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MB. GEORGE Lowx's study of Josef Holbrooke and his Workl is the latest addition to the " Library of Music and Musicians " edited by Dr. Eaglefield Hull. Of the three hundred and...

MOUNTAINEERING ART.* ART has been defined in a general way

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as " every regulated operation or dexterity by which organized beings pursue ends which they know beforehand." Tested by this definition modem mountaineering is most justly...

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FICTION.

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IN CHANCERY.• Ma. GALSWORTEY'S novel is a third instalment of what he calls " The Forsyte Saga" which began in The Man of Property and was continued in the " Indian Summer of a...

The Stranger. By Arthur Bullard. (Macmillan. 7s. 6d. net.)—This American

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story deals with the contrast between the Western and Eastern ideals as to what is the best purpose to which life can be devoted. The Eastern stand- point is taken by an...

READABLE NOVELS. —The House. By Katharine Tynan. (Collins. 9s. net.)—It

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will be some time before the reader will realize that the country house in which the opening scene of this book is set is not, as is usual with Mrs. Tynan's novels, in Ireland....

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POEMS WORTHY OF CowsInznnnos.—Terra Polka. By Edward Stoner. (The Egoist

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Press. 3s. &l.)—Many- of these little poems read like translations from the Anthology itself, and are recommended to all those who love the South as it really is and not as seen...

GIFT-BOOKS.

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STORIES FOR BOYS. Mr. RICHARD BIRD has written another capital school story, The Sporting House (H. Milford, Ss. net). His hero, at the age of sixteen, has, for family reasons,...

POETS AND POETRY.

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THE GARDEN OF BRIGHT WATERS.* DER. POWYS Miermuts' The Garden of Bright Waters , represents an extraordinary tour de force in the art of translation. The volume contains no...

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The First Quarto Edition of Shakespeare's " Hamlet" By Frank

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G. Hubbard. (Madison : University of Wisconsin. 60 cents.)—Professor Hubbard has reprinted the First Quarto of Hamlet, modernizing the spelling and adding the modern stage...

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge baa added half a

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dozen pamphlets to its valuable series of Hints for Students of History. Nothing could be better, for example, than Coins and Medals (is. 6d. net), by Mr. G. F. Hill, Keeper of...

The Assembly Books of Southampton. Vol. II., 1609.1610. Edited by

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J. W. Horrooka. (Southampton : Cox and Sharland. 28s. net.)—The Southampton Record Society continues its admirable work of printing the rich archives of the ancient borough. The...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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[Notice in this column dose not necessarily preclude subsequent review] Tercentenary Ilandlist of English and Welsh Newspapers. (The Times : Hodder and Stoughton. 21s. net.)—We...

ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.

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MISS ELELHOR Biases in As the Water Flows (Grant Richards, 26s. net) describes whimsically and somewhat rhetorically her adventurous journeys in a Canadian canoe on little...

STORIES FOR GIRLS.

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Mother and Dad and the Rest of Us, being the first book of Archie Fairfax (Blackie, 6s. net), is a pleasant domestic fairy- tale, purporting to be told by a boy of twelve. The...

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CHRISTMAS CARDS AND CALENDARS.—The Medici Scciety publishes some attractive Christmas

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cards with coloured repro. ductions of pictures by Mr. Arming Bell, Miss Forteseue-Brickdale, and other artists, and some neat hanging calendats—one of them bearing quotations...

The Colonization of North America. By H. E. Bolton and

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T. M. Marshall. (Macmillan. 26s. net.)—Though this is i text-book, it deserves mention and praise because it deals with the colonizing efforts of all European nations in North...

Woaas OF REFERENCE.—Burke's Peerage fur 1921, edited by

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A. Winton Thorpe (Burke Publishing Co., f6 6s. net), is the eightieth edition of this familiar and venerable work, which is the most complete of its kind. It has been revised...

Pole and Czech in Silesia. By James A. Roy. (Lane.

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66. net.)—Captain Roy was attached to the Allied Commission in Teschen. His lively little book merely records his own impressions of Prague, Vienna, Cracow, Warsaw, and Upper...