23 APRIL 1910

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We may add that there is also a possibility of

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what we may call an opportunist and suspensive compromise being found in the suggestion that the Government's own proposal for always allowing the right of the Lords to impose...

Serious riots are reported from Changsha, the capital of Hunan,

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a city of three hundred thousand inhabitants some two hundred miles from Han-Kau. Hunan has always been noted for its exclusiveness, conservatism, and anti-foreign feeling, and...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HE past week, which has been one of comparative calm in the political world, closed with a crop of vague rumours of compromise. No doubt there are plenty of possible...

The campaign in favour of Dreadnoughts ' is being con-

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ducted with great energy in Austria. In view of its sources of inspiration, special significance attaches to a recent utter- ance of the Vaterland, the Conservative Roman...

. , A telegram from the Shanghai correspondent of the

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Times published on Thursday announces that Sir Robert Bredon has resigned his membership of the Shni-wu-chu (the office of Controllers-General of the Chinese Imperial Maritime...

* 4 * The Editors cannot undertake to return Manuscript, in any

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ease.

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Mr. .Healy in an extremely amusing speech denied that there

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was any bargain between Mr. Redmond and Mr. Asquith. " The Prime Minister sized up the hon. Member for Waterford at his proper worth and measured him as a man without an ounce...

On Tuesday the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a full

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statement on the financial situation, the upshot of which was that though the finances of the country had been thrown into confusion for four months, though there bad been...

In Customs and Excise there is an apparent deficiency of

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£5,500,000, which Mr. Lloyd George said is due to the failure to collect the additional License-duties for liquor and motor- cars. The drop in the receipts from Spirit-duties...

In an interview reported in the Sydney Daag Telegraph, and

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summarised in the Times of last Saturday, Mr. Fisher declared that his intention was to "improve social conditions " as far as possible while preserving the existing relation of...

The final returns in the Australian General Election give the

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Labour Party, led by Mr. Fisher, a majority of thirteen in the House of Representatives, and of ten in the Senate. The majority in the House will be raised to fifteen if the two...

The Shui-wu-chu was created in 1906, without, as the Times

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says, consultation with the foreign Powers or with Sir Robert Hart. The Controllers were to have direct authority over the whole Service, and Sir Robert Hart saw at once that...

In the House of Commons on Monday night Mr. O'Brien

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gave a detailed description of his negotiations with Mr. Lloyd George. He declared that at one of the interviews "he had read the letter to him precisely as be had read it at...

Lord Kitchener was entertained by the Pilgrims in New York

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on Monday, and in reply to the toast of his health, proposed by Mr. Choate, made a brief and sensible speech. Having recently returned from Australia, he was able to bear...

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The Gladstone League Committee have sent us a description of

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five cases which, after careful inquiry and investigation, they allege to be cases of political intimidation. They have made in these cases "grants to the victims." In our...

The Paris correspondent of the Times gives in Thursday's paper

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some idea of how the enormous sum of £60,000,000 which the Municipal Council is raising is to be spent on the improvement of Paris. The Haussmannisation of Paris is to be...

One other ugly fact is to be noticed. On Thursday

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night the Irish Members claimed the right to silence a Member of the House of Commons who said things which they disliked, and succeeded in so silencing him after the manner in...

The House of Commons on Thursday was occupied with a

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fierce and bitter debate on the revelations of Sir Robert Anderson. We cannot make any attempt here to go into the merits of the case, but we desire to say with all the emphasis...

Sir Harry Poland has an excellent letter on the dangers

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of a wholesale creation of Peers in last Saturday's Times. Lord Lyndhurst in the debate on the Wensleydale Peerage case in 1856 had maintained that the Crown might, in strict...

The situation in Persia was the subject of a abort

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debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday. Lord Lamington, who introduced the question by asking for information as to the progress of the loan negotiations, contended that the...

We regret to record the death of Mark Twain, which

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took place at Redding, Connecticut, on Thursday evening. In him the world loses a great deal more than a humorist. He was that in a very high and original degree, but he was...

In the Lords on Wednesday it was arranged that Lord

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Rosebery's Resolutions should be the first business taken by the House of Lords after the Recess. The Government Resolu- tions will be considered immediately after Lord...

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE KING AND THE CONSTITUTION. N IVE do not think that the Prime Minister did any service to his country, to his party, or to his Administration by the way in which he...

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LORD ROSEBERY'S LETTER.

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O N Saturday last Lord Rosebery published in the Times a memorable letter on the Constitutional issue in which he pointed out the extreme danger of going to the country on a...

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A PLEA FOR THE REFERENDUM.

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I N the preceding article we have dealt with the impos- sibility of getting in practice that concentration on the Constitutional issue which in theory we ought to obtain. We...

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THE TRAINING OF BRITISH OFFICIALS FOR INDIA.

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T HERE could hardly be a matter in which it is more important to act with wisdom and care than the training of British officials for India. We wish, therefore, to draw very...

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THE BUDGET REVIVED AND REVISED.

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-FA VERYBODY appears to have been agreeably surprised U by the figures which Mr. Lloyd George laid before the House of Commons on Tuesday when reintroducing his Budget for...

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THE MOHAMMEDAN PULPIT. F OUR sermons lately preached in the Mosque

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of St, Sophia at Constantinople, and printed in " a leading Moslem weekly," have been translated into English, and appear in the current number of the Hibbert Journal. Both...

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CAMBRIDGE ROWING.

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T HE letter which we publish elsewhere from Mr. W. B. Close—a name justly famous in the records of rowing— offers a clear challenge to those who hold that the Cambridge...

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THE LEP.

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T HE Lep when the river is running high cannot be fished at all. Above it the stream is broad and rapid, tumbling over stones and pebbles, swirling round sharp bends where the...

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CORRESPONDENCE.

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THE FOREIGNER IN CHINA.—OUGHT HE TO BE ATTACKED? TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR. •• ] Sts,—The Treaty of Tientsin, 1858 (Article V at.), between England and China,...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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THE CONSTITUTION AND THE REFERENDUM. [TOTHE EDITOR OF THZ "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—The deadlock is well-nigh complete. Compromise on the main issue seems impossible ; it trembles...

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THE OPINION OF Tab GALLERIES.

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[To TICE EDITOR OF THE " SPECELTOE.1 SIR, -- At Washington, where no vote can turn a Government or a Congress out before its appointed time, political meteorologists are wont to...

(To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."1

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Six,—By his letter to the Times Lord Rosebery has for the moment focussed public attention on the important point that in the event of a General Election the most vital...

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

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SIR,—The "right to veto legislation" which is possessed by the President of the United States, and by the Governors of at least forty-one of the forty-nine States of the...

THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT OF VETO.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. " ] Srn,—In your leader of the lGth inst. you speak of the people as possessing a right of veto over the legislative acts of the House of...

THE HOUSE OF LORDS PROBLEM.

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LTO THE EDITOR OF THE 'SPECTATOR.") SIR,—There is one little point about the present proposals of the Radicals which appears to be escaping the attention it deserves, but...

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LORD ROSEBERY'S LETTER TO THE " TIMES."

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(To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "' Sta,—As a constant reader of the Spectator, I hope you will spare me a small space in your valuable paper for a few words in support of...

£HE TRAINING OF BRITISH OFFICIALS FOR INDIAN SERVICE.

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ITO THE EDITOR 07 THE " SPECTATOR.1 SIR,—In discussing our Indian difficulties one not infrequently hears it remarked that Anglo-Indian officials have been losing touch with...

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IRELAND REJECTS THE NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sra,—The author in your columns of last week of the very able review of my " History of the Irish Parliamentary Party " enters a plea in...

THE MANUFACTURE OF PAUPERS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF TUX " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—You rightly comment in your last issue on the rapidity with which public money will flow, whether used for the manufacture of...

BRITISH POLICY IN SOMALILAND.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sts, — I feel it my duty to endeavour to correct a misappre- hension which appears to exist amongst the general public concerning the...

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A BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE OF THE PRESENT DAY.

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ITo THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,-It has been a disappointment to many that more notice should not have been taken by the English Press of a person so well known in this...

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CAMBRIDGE ROWING.

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[TO THE EDITOR OP THE SPECTA1011.1 SIR, — On my return to town my attention has been drawn by an old Cambridge friend of mine to the comments on the University Boat-RaCe...

WIMBLEDON COMMON.

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[T& ma Bar/"013 or TEE .. sesoneres.1 Srn, — Those who a few weeks ago read your plea for the pre- servation of the gleries of Wimbledon Common s will hardly need a...

MEMORY AND THE INDIVIDUAL.

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[To ram Enrroz or TEE " Srrcrirog."] Sin,—The writer of your interesting and suggestive article in last week ' s Spectator on " Memory and the Individual " quotes Wordsworth...

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DR. THOMAS CHALMERS.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."' SIR,—The reference in your article on " The Safe Alternative " in last week ' s Spectator I think was intended to be, not to Robert...

POETRY.

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THE MIDDLE WATCH. IN a blue dusk the ship astern Uplifts her slender spars, With golden lights that seem to burn Among the silver stars. Like fleets along a cloudy shore The...

BOARDS OF GUARDIANS.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR...3 SIR,—A curious position has arisen as a result of the recent election of the Board of Guardians in a large provincial town in the West of...

THE PUNCH-BOWL CASE.

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[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.' • , SIR,—Your story in last week ' s issue of the defences made by a man accused of stealing a kettle reminds me that in my young days...

THE CRIME OF INFANTICIDE.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Six,—As the prison visitor who first publicly protested against the laxity of the law in dealing with cases of infanticide, perhaps 1 may...

1HE SULTAN MUHAMMAD ' S ART CRITICISM. ITo THE EDITOR OF THE

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"SPECTATOR. "] SIB,—The name of the Sultan referred to in the letter on this subject which appeared in your issue of April 9th was not Mahmnd, but Mohammad II., the conqueror...

THE LATE BISHOP OF LINCOLN.

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[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECIATOR."] SIR,—It is proposed to publish a small volume of the spiritual letters of the late Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. King), and as one of the Bishop...

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

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name or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked "Comnsunicated," the Editor must not necessarily be he'd to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the...

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MU S IC.

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THE REVIVAL OF GLUCK'S " ORPHEUS." THE annals of opera have no more glorious entry than that which records the production of Gluck's Orpheus at Vienna in 1762. For the work is...

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BOOKS.

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MR. JOHN BIGELOW'S RETROSPECTIONS.* " RETROSPECTIONS " is a description which Mr. Bigelow, who is in his ninety-third year, prefers to " Recollections." Every one will respect...

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CLERICAL SUBSCRIPTION.*

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CANON HENSON'S volume of Lyman Beecher Lectures deserves the careful attention of the Christian minister, to whatever denomination he belongs, because it breaks alto- gether...

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WHERE SOCIALISM HAS FAILED.*

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SOCIALISTS have this advantage over their opponents, that, while it is very easy to inveigh against the evils of society as we know it, it is very difficult to prove the...

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THE ELIZABETHAN STAGE.*

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THE dramatist who writes his plays with a view to their performance upon the stage finds his efforts limited in two directions. On the one hand 1.e is confronted by the...

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THREE -BOOKS ABOUT LONDON.*

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THE sixth volume of Sir Walter Besant's " Survey of London " cannot 'be compared for literary value with its predecessors. It has more of the character of a catalogue and a...

A PICTURE OF AFGHAN LIFE.*

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SOLDIERS and diplomatists have told us a little about men and things in Afghanistan, and Dr. Lillias Hamilton related some of her experiences at the Court of the Amir Abdur...

FAMOUS BLUE-STOCKINGS:f

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IT is something of a shock to be told that the typical "blue- stocking " was a man; one Benjamin Stillingfleet; grandson to the Bishop, who was accustomed to wear the blue...

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According to Maria. By Mrs. John Lane. (John Lane. '

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This volume is less a novel than a study of coithinporary manners viewed from a satirical standpoint. The "Maria" of' the title is one of the most intolerable df the race of...

NOVELS.

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CANADIAN BORN.* MRS. HIIMPHRY WARD'S visit to Canada two years ago has borne literary fruit of a very good and wholesome quality. The" motive" is to be found in the spirited...

Service. By Constance Smedley. (Chatto and Windus. 6E14-r. Every one

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knows the story of the lady who wrote to her friend about the paragon she had been asked to engage as a tutor:—" I have not yet found a tutor with the qualifications you...

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The Last American Frontier. By F. L. Paxson. (Macmillan and

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Co. 6s. 6d. net.)—Every man has his own gifts, and it is perhaps unreasonable to complain that Professor Paxson does not give us much of the atmosphere with which Parkman has...

China as I Saw It. By A. S. Roe. (Hutchinson

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and Co. 12s. 6d. net.)—These " Woman's Letters from the Celestial Empire " are full of entertainment. They cover something less than two years, the first being written from...

The Ideal Garden. By H. H. Thomas. (Cassell and Co.

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6s. net.) —No one reaches his ideal, moral or material, but it is a good thing to aim at it. So Mr. Thomas's book will be found useful even to those who are hampered by narrow...

Fifty Years Reminiscences of a Free Church Musician. By E.

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Minshall. (James Clarke and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Minnhnll began his musical experiences at an early age, for he is now but half-way through the sixties. Indeed, he became...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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'[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not been --reserved for review in other forms.] Church Unity. By Charles Augustus Briggs, D.D. (Longmans and Co....

READABLE NovEr.s.—First Love. By Marie van Forst. (Mills and Boon.

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6s.)—An American story of a young man's love for a very much older woman.—The Wild Heart. By M. E. Francis. (Smith, Elder, and Co. 6s.)—This is one of Mrs. Blundell's...

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Several books which have to do with travel in one

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way or another may be mentioned together. These are :—Mexico : a Handbook for Travellers. By T. Philip Terry. (Gay and Hancock. 12s. net.)—This handbook is constructed on...