24 FEBRUARY 1917

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On the Western front attack and counter-attack have increased in

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importance, and we must expect them to do so week by week, if the weather permits, till they pass almost imperceptibly into the great, and possibly the decisive, struggle of the...

The next important fact is that " ruthlessness " has

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made no startling difference to our losses. Sir Edward Carson took for comparison the first eighteen days of December, January, and February. The table of losses is as follows...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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We are threatened with Food Shortage of a most serious kind. That being so, the Government should surely say : " Not a grain of food shall be turned into intoxicants till that...

S IR EDWARD CARSON'S statement on submarine warfare in the House

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of Commons on Wednesday turned on the electric light in a dark room. It was thoroughly informing, bracing, and reassuring— always with the reservation that the power to mar as...

The fact that the forty encounters described by Sir Edward

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Carson occurred within eighteen days is itself evidence of the harrying to which the German submarines are exposed. But there was more and weightier evidence than that. Let us...

A new British Blockade Order has been issued, altering the

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procedure in response to the now German ruthlessness. This was inevitable. Neutral vessels plying to and from countries which have open communications with enemy countries must...

Mr. George Lambert, M.P., Civil Lord of the Admiralty in

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Mr. Asquith's Administration, made a somewhat hysterical epcech in the House of Commons oa Thursday week, clamouring for the recall of Lord Fisher to the Admiralty as the only...

No question is more familiar in general conversation than :

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" Why don't the Government toll us the number of German sub- marines sunk ? " The common belief is that our own people would be encouraged and the Germans would be depressed by...

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To many opponents of Tariff It s eform the adoption of these

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Resolutions may at first sight appear as- a- complete surrender of the Free Trade position. As a- matter of fact, however, they are' but the logical - consequences of admissions...

No one las been able to show-that Sir •Doag,lae Haig

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has done any harm to us or to our- Allies: On the contrary, his remarks greatly pleased. French public opinion. We believe that the long and short of - the whole matter...

On Wednesday three Resolutions passed by Lord Balfour of Burleigh's

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Committee on -Commercial and Industrial Policy were issued as a- White Paper.. These Resolutions are so important that we record- them textually :— " (1) In the light 'of...

The second reading of the-Criminal Law Amendment Bill was moved

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by Sir George Cave in the Commons on Monday. The Bill proposes to raise the age of consent in charges of indecent assault to sixteen, and to repeal altogether the "reasonable...

. We-congratulate Mr. Boner Law upon the tact and common-sense

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With which ho got rid of the ridiculous attempts to make mischief out of Sir Douglas Haig's 'interviava with the French journalists. The facts are quite simple. Sir Douglas...

In the House of Lords on Tuesday Lord Curzon revealed

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some very interesting and satisfactory facts, about Persia, of which the nation has hitherto heard nothing. Starting with a force of some eight hundred men,. Sir Percy Sykes had...

Time and the ace:dents-of war have shown that botlaFieeTiaders, and.

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Teed- Reformers were mistaken..- Neither - had: foreseen lbw effects of the submarine; neither imagined that, though wo might keep, thocommand of the.seahethe military...

In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Boner Law

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announced that the War Loan had exceeded all expectations. The amount of new money subscribed, he raid, was at least £700,000,000; and this did - not include direct...

A. reference to- our files. during Mr. Chamberlain's Tariff. Reform: ,

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controversy will show that we always admitted: the ." State of. , Siege " argument in theory, but held that it did not apply because our supremacy at sea-ensured us against ever...

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The letter to the Prime Minister very properly insists that

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the sacrifices made and the services rendered by our fellow-subjects overseas make it necessary to pay attention to the unanimous demand for Preference made by the Prime...

The second Resolution, that in favour of Preference, is also

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in essence based on the " State of Siege " argument. The war has taught us that we must not again be at the mercy of neutrals—i.e., subject to the risk of such Powers being...

We have received too late for our correspondence columns the

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following letter from Sir Charles Bruce, G.C.M.G. Our readers will doubtless recall his career as a distinguished public official in the service of the Empire :— " May I, as...

We congratulate Sir Thomas Acland faille giver, and the National

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Trust and the nation as the receivers, of a prinoely gift. Sir Thomas, in whose family public duty, public sympathy, and a liberal mind are the most ancient and most precious of...

At the same time they realize that they must examine

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very closely the effect of imposing duties upon articles used for manu- facturing purposes in this country, especially in connexion with our export trades and the shipping and...

The Resolutions we have just quoted were forwarded to the

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Prime Minister with a letter signed by all the members of the Committee explaining why they bad taken immediate action, and not waited till their investigations in regard to the...

We must strive to get to a point where being

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cut off from oversee -supplies for, say, six months, or even a year, would merely mean shortage, and not the horrors of -actual starvation. Till we have reached that point, we...

If we were asked to sum up the general result

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of the Resolutions and the explanatory letter, we should answer : It is imperatively necessary that we should do something to meet the " State of Siege " argument and to make...

We regard the three Resolutions as forms of national defence.

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Once again, we are quite prepared to admit that they derogate from the pure economic principles which give wealth to nations. In theory they make for impoverishment as against...

Even' the third Resolution, that which deals with Customs duties,

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is in reality -governed by war needs. The necessity for waking the whole population of the country share in the burden of our war expenditure has become imperative. However much...

We mar, in fact, put the matter thus. Under a

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policy dictated -by the -" State of Siege " argument, national self-sufficiency in the matter of food and munitions is the line of greatest safety. A secondary line of safety is...

Bank Rate, t 1, percent., changed from 6 per cent.

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Jan. 1§tb.

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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THE TRAGICAL FOOD FARCE. TF the matter were not one of such vital import, it would 1 be difficult to forbear smiling at the position assumed by Ministers on the issue of Food...

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WHAT WILL THE UNITED STATES DO ?

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THE immediate policy of President Wilson is one of the most interesting subjects of speculation at the moment. Will he go to war with Germany ? Does he want to go to war,...

THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERIAL RESOURCES. F ROM many points 'of view

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we have very great sympathy with the proposals for the development of Imperial resources which were made at a meeting of the Royal Society of Arts some two months ago, proposals...

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WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.

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BONAR LAITS statement in the House of Commons 1 on Monday removes all doubt as to the success of the War Loan. lie was not able to give final .figures, but he was able to...

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THE FRIENDS.

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A NY one who has found himself occasionally in a London bar or tavern may well have wondered to what class and what callings those belong who have the air of spending their...

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THE OTHER FELLOW'S SHOP.

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"y ou meet some queer fellows in the war," said Seton. " and living as you do at such close quarters, with unlimited opportunity of talking, you get to know men's ideas and...

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FOOD SHORTAGE AND PROHIBITION.

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AN APPEAL. The situation created by the Shortage of Food and the continued.- destruction of cereals in the manufacture of intoxicants is se. serious that we hare determined to...

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THE PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN.

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[To Tits EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") Stn,--It is I think greatly to be regretted Out the Drink Question cannot be discussed, in any of its phases, without heat and passion. The...

BREAD VERSUS BEER.

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[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR.-1t is highly gratifying to learn that at last both the Spectator and the promoters of " The Strength of Britain Movement " have come to...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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MINISTERIAL SILENCE. • [TO THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sta.—In view of the peril arising from the liquor trade in the present crisis of the national history, it was with...

(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—In furtherance of

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your contention that bread is taking a preferential place in the question of food control to beer, I tender the following. Last month I telephoned to the grain merchant from...

SUBM

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(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Ste,—We are being besought by the Government posters and adver- tisements to "wear old clothes and old boots." But why is it reason- able or...

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TILE " SPECTATOR " AND PROHIBITION. !To TEE EDITOR Cr

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TEE " SPECTATOR.") BM ;You may be interested to know that at a splendid citizens' meet ing in this city last night (held in the Music Hall, the largest building we have for such...

fTo THE ED/TOR OF THE " SucT4Ton.1 Sta,—I have read

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and followed with deep interest your crusade in the Spectator. on the " Drink question," as it is called, though it might more appropriately be known as the " Food question,"...

" VULGAR ERRORS " CONCERNING ALCOHOL. (To THE EDITOR Or

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THE " SPECTATOR.") Sis.—Amidst the " drums and tramplings " of this present war, the question of Prohibition assumes an importance never before attained. The discussion of the...

BARLEY BREAD. [To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—It

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surely would assist your "Down Glasses" propaganda if some effort were made to make barley bread obtainable in the towns. Of course it is obvious that barley meal is necessary...

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LORD WOLSELEY ON " THE OLD SUPERSTITION." (To THE EDITOR

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or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—The maxims of the late Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley may perhaps be of service now, at a time when " the old superstition " is showing itself again...

RABBITS, BIRDS, AND THE FOOD RATIONS.

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(To THE EDITOR OT THE " SPECTATOR.") 8m—I find in conversation with friends that it is generally believed that a scrupulous interpretation of Lord Devonport's instructions...

THE CLERGY AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

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[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."] Sia,—I have just read a letter cf advice from Miss Springfield to a seemingly unpatriotic and unrespected country clergy. Does she really...

THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUGAR.

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[To THE EDITOR OT THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Mr. Livingstone Holmes in his letter in the Spectator of the 10th inst. complains of traders selling sugar on the pro rata basis, and...

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CTo THE EDITOR Cr THE " SPECTATOR.")

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Ste,--Last week's Spectator was largely occupied with discussions about the Church in relation to the war. In some of the letters there was it considerable intermixture of...

THE CHURCH SELF-GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION. (To THE EDITOR OP TEL "

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SPECTATOR.") SIR,—It is now some seven months since the Report of the Arch- bishops' Committee on Church and State was published. During this interval the Report has been widely...

THE SAVINGS BANE." 1[AI3IT. [To T ur. EDITOR Or THE

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" SPECTATOR.") SIR it not a mietake for the Spectator to suggest that the " small man," as defined in its " Last Week of the War Loan " article of February 10th, can do...

LABOUR EXCHANGES.

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[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") am moved to offer a protest against your reference to Labour Exchanges in your article on "National Service" in the Spectator of February...

[To ME EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sis ,—Lady Glenconner in

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your last 'mintier writes: " In those approaching weeks of Lent . . . it will be well-nigh beyond human endurance to sit listening to a young curate . . . reciting t o empty...

REPRISA LS.

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[To THE EDITOR Cr TEE " SPECTATOR."] S R ,—Arr. C. C. Lacaita, whose letter you published la.st Saturday, may be interested to hear of the way in which the Americans acted at...

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INFANT MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE.

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(To TER EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR:1 .Sta,—The enuring of infant life is of paramount importance to the nation. We make no excuse for drawing attention to the numerous -class of...

THE SALE OF CARS FOR WAR WORK. [To elm Earroa

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or mar "Speceasent."I dilie,—As you strongly uphold the practice of national economy, .perhaps you could give some advice in your next number of the .Spectator as to the best...

THE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

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[To rat EDITOR or TES "SPECTATOS:1 SIII,—Will you allow me, in the hope of extending the usefulness of an organization that has done and is doing excellent work, to bring to the...

WOURALI OR CURARE POISON.

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[To vas Entree or IRE "SPECTATOR."3 Etna—Those who are interested in wourali or curare poison in .connexion with an impending trial should read the account of this poison given...

SLEEP.

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[To TES EDITOR OF TER "SPECTLT02."] Pre,—I should be glad to learn the authority for the statement of the writer of the interesting article en " Sleep " in your last week's...

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A DOG STORY.

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(To THE EDITOR OF 7HE " SPECTATCR."] Sin,—Perhaps you may like to hear the following, which seems to me to be a curious instance of intelligence in a dog. We had hanging up in a...

POETRY.

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TO ALL WHO LOVE ME. IF Death should claim this mortal shell of me Which you have seen and touched and thought to be Needful to happiness, I pray you shed no tear as though...

" CHRIST IN FLANDERS."

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°wrest to the large and continued demand for copies of the poem entitled " Christ in Flanders," which appeared in our issue of September 11th, 1915, it has now been reprinted in...

BOOKS.

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SHREWSBURY FABLES.* Tins slim volume contains the " informal addresses" given at Evening Service in Shrewsbury School Chapel during the last four or five years on Confirmation...

"A STUDENT IN ARMS."

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Tete leading article in the Spectator on the death of Lieutenant Hankey and his article " Don't Worry " have been republished as a leaflet by Messrs. W. Speaight and Sons, 98-99...

ETON WAR MEMORIAL (TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'']

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Sin,—We ask our brother-Etonians to subscribe to a Fund in memory of their schoolfellows who have given their lives for their country. The chief object of the Fund will he to...

A PARISII WAR SOCIETY.

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ITo TEE EDITOR OF TEE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—A Parish War Society has been formed in Wendy (Cambs.). Its objects are to promote the production of more food, the profit- s ble sale...

"A STUDENT IN ARMS."

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ITo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECILTOR."1 SIR,—A7nongst the many letters in your columns referring to Mr. Donald Hankey and his articles in your paper I have seen no reference to...

WE have received the following additional subscriptions for the Scottish

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Women's Serbian Hospital Fund :—" Sheena's Cot," £25; Mrs. Heywood, £1 ls.; making a total of 2244 Os. 6d.

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

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or initials, or with a pseudonym, or are marked " Communi- cated," the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the mode...

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OLD FRITZ.*

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As Lord Rosebery says in his introduction, this is a very human book. Frederick the Great, Prussia's only really able King, has been eulogized and criticized in hundreds of...

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SOME WAR BOOKS.* Sin HENRI' NEWBOLT, having the art of

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a glowing simplicity, is always able to teach and inspire youth with the minimum of wear and tear to the pupil. In these Tales of the Great War I he warns a boy, who stands as...

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HOLLAND AND PAN-GERMANISM.•

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ONE of the favourite devices of pro-Germans in neutral countries is to pretend that the blockade and the action of the Allies in Greece show us to be hypocritical in our claim...

DEFEAT OR VICTORY ?°

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fx Defeat or Victory Mr. Mee and Dr. Holden put forward boldly and vigorously the case for Prohibition till the Peace. The grave indictment against the Drink Trade in war time...

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My Russian and Tartish Journals. By the Dowager Marchioness of

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Dufferin and Ava. (John Murray. 10s. Gd. net.)—Lord Dufferin, after his return from Canada, was our Ambassador at Petrograd from 1879 to 1881, and at Constantinople from 1881 to...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

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Wales in air colu:nn does not necessariti proasis su5ssison.! rams The Lord Kitchener Memorial Book. (Hodder and Stoughton. 3s. Gd. net.)—This interesting volume has been...

Needlecraft in the School. By Margaret Swanson, late of the

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Glasgow School of Art. Introduction by Professor John Adams, M.A., B. Sc., LL.D., University of London. (Longmans and Co. 5s.)—The wide range of subjects which may be grouped...

Pcpys on the Restoration Stage. By Helen McAfee. (Oxford Univer-

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sity Press. 128. Gd. net.)—Under the auspices of the Elizabethan Club of Vale University, Miss McAfee has compiled a most valuable and interesting book from Pepys's Diary. All...

READABLE NOVELS.—The Matchmakers. By J. E. Buckrose. (Hodder and Stoughton.

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I's. net.)—A most humorous story dealing with life in the village of Little Pendleton. Its perusal will furnish an excellent antidote to the worries of the war.—The Background...

The Sonnets of Shakespeare. Variorum Edition. Edited by R. M.

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Alden. (Houghton, Mifflin, and Co. 25s. net.)—Those who read Shake- rpeare's Sonnets for their intrinsic beauty should avoid this cxhau itive treatise, in which the variations...

FICTION.

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HATCHWAYS.* Tnonon this is an ante-belle us novel, it is not without premonitions of the conflict, and inasmuch as one of the principal characters is a Frenchman, and a very...

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DEATH.

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IICTTON.—On 10th February, 1917, after a long illness, at. Werlown, Haslemere, Surrey, IlisNalr Mammals Hems, M.A., 31.11. Calais., ay.' 03.

Prom Hatbour to Harbour. By Mrs. Arthur Boll. (G. Bell

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and Sons. 10s. 6d. net.).—This is a well-written history of Christchurch, Bournemouth, and Poole, with the intervening villages . so well known to the visitors who flock to the...

NEW Als.ID FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS.

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An.1:-.•yoli (L.), The Crushed Flower, and other Stories, Cr 8vo (Duckworth) net 5:0 Ashton (H.), The Tale of a Tank, and other Yarns, Cr 3vo ( S. Low) net 3/5 Bettiam-Edwards...