28 JANUARY 1928

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A good deal of excitement has been caused by a

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speech attributed to Admiral Plunkett, - Commandant of the New York Navy Yard. He was reported as saying that war was not only inevitable but was near at hand. In answer to the...

Unlike Mr., CoOlidge, the Big NaVY party America does not

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hesitate to say that the programme is the direct result. of the breakdown at Geneva. If our own Government had immediately produced an expansionist policy the result of - the...

News of the Week

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I T is by no means certain that the United States Congress Will - irk* the huge naval - progranime which the Secretary for the - Navy has prodiiCed. - But— let us make no...

The Times correspondent says that Mr. Coolidge was much impressed

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by the resignation of Lord Cecil and took it to mean that there had been a " change of heart " in the British Government—in other words, a desire to water down the friendly...

Of course, voices of lamentation and reproach have already been

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raised in America, but the Washington correspondent of the Times - says that Congress in its present mood is definitely favouring the Big Navy party. Evidently something has...

EDITORU.L AND PUBLISHING OFFICES : 13 York Street, Covent Garden,

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London, W.C. 2.—A Subscription to the SPECTATOR costs Thirty Shillings per annum, including postage, to any part of the world.. The SPECTATOR is registered as a Newspaper. The...

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An article by Mr. J. Bernard Walker which appears fn

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-the December number of the Scientific American* indicates the range and intensity of the Big Navy propaganda in America. Mr. Walker points out that as the- result of the War...

Mr. Walker adds that he holds no brief for the

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British Navy, but does • hold a brief for incontrovertible truth. The propaganda against other navies, and notably against Japan and Britain, he says, has been " utterly...

The Conference of German Premiers at Berlin which has been

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considering the relations of the Reich with:the different States has appointed a committee to inquire into the whole subject. The question, therefore; whether Germany is to be...

At least they had a clean slate immediately 'after the

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War. The Weimar Constitution contemplated a Unitary State ; inside that constitution there is not the material of a Federation in the ordinary sense. Circumstances, however,...

One of the best sides of Signor Mussolini's rule by

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force is that he knows how to apply force boldly where only force can avail. Other rulers have tried to destroy the - Mafia conspiracy, which has long-been'the curse of Sicily,...

The India Commission left London on Thursday, January 19th, and

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in a speech on the same day Lord Birkenhead suggested that the members of the Coin- . missio n who are members of the House of Common s ought not to be allowed to suffer any...

M. Briand's latest Note on Mr. Kellogg's peace proposals seems

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to entail a pause in the negotiations. M. Briand says in effect that it would be easy and agreeable to enter into a unilateral Peace Treaty with the United States, but that...

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We much regret to record the death of Admiral of

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the Fleet Sir John de Robeck. He unexpectedly succeeded Admiral Carderi (who fell ill) in command of the Dardanelles Fleet early in 1915. The great naval attack on the Straits...

There have been rumours that the Government will not be

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able to find room for the Factories Bill and the Poor Law Bill in their programme for the approaching session. If these Bills are not brought in this session they are not lively...

Apparently when the pound sterling looked the dollar in the

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face it did not quite know what it was looking at. However, even if the level of American prices is indepen- dent of gold, this unforeseen arrangement has turned out quite well...

Mr. Cosgrave's visit to the United States is a wise

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stroke. He is resourceful as well as honest, and the reports show that he is making a SUCCe% of his speeches in American cities. , The truth about the Free State has not pene-...

The large increase in British shipbuilding just disclosed in Lloyd's

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Register is important evidence ' . of industrial revival. Out of 2,285,697 tons which were launched from the shipyards of the world last year 1,225,878 tons were built in...

The Milan correspondent of the Times has given an interesting

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account of the trial, and we learn that the prisoners ranged from well-to-do educated persons down to ragged paupers. Long established brigandage always has some code of...

Addressing the shareholders of the Midland Bank on Tuesday, Mr.

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McKenna said that the industrial promise of 1927 had been fulfilled. He had been hopeful last year, but he was more hopeful this year, though there was no justification for "...

The mere possibility of a second rejection of the Prayer

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Book Measure in the House of Commons has, of course-, brought Disestablishment nearer. It is commonly as- sumed that Disestablishment would set the Church free, but a...

Bank Rate, 41 per cent., changed from 5 per cent.,

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on April 21st, 1927. War Loan (5 per cent.) was on Wednesday 10111 ; on Wednesday week 1011 ; a year ago 1011. Funding Loan (4 per cent) was on Wednesday 801; on Wednesday week...

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Railways and Roads

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TN considering the present controversy between the -11- railway companies and those who speak for the roads it is necessary above all things to remember that there is room, and...

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The Bishops and the Prayer Book

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T HE Bishops have handsomely fulfilled their promise to explain the Prayer Book Measure at points where further explanation seemed necessary. There is now a definiteness on...

THE SPECTATOR.

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Before going abroad or away from home readers are advised to place an order for the SPECTATOR. The journal will be forwarded to any address at the following rates One Month . ....

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The Bodleian Library

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S T CE the middle of last century the older Universities have been trying to meet the needs of a new learning. The resources of Oxford and Cambridge, supplemented by wise...

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The Blessing of Death

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pedigrees—only a few of hundreds traced- 1 quoted in my last article show beyond reasonable doubt the hereditary character of pauperism, and its connexion with the still more...

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Over the Sea

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T HE popularity of ocean travel, a renewed desire for which is awakened in many of us with the coming of spring, is evident when we consider how many people have already...

On the Death of Stella O N January 28th, 1728, Jonathan

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Swift, while he was supping with some friends at the Deanery, received from a servant the message that he had been awaiting. At length, when his guests - had left him, he sat...

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What's in a Name ?

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C ALL your child " Three Farthings," " Rubbish,' or " Beggar," and the Evil Eye is not likely to be cast on such a worthless creature. So say some of the tribesmen of Northern...

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The Fauna and Flora of Covent Garden Market

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T HIRTY years ago, C. J. Cornish, writing in the Spectator on " The Cat About Town," quoted a statement made by some unofficial cat-census authority, in which it was estimated...

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The Theatre

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(" THE DANCE OF DEATH." By AUGUST STRINDBERG. AT THE APOLLO THEATRE. " REGATTA:' BY SUTTON VANE. AT THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.] IN his Dissertation on Tragedy, David Hume...

Art

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[A DUBLIN SCHOOL OF STAINED GLASS] Ax appreciable number of people even outside Ireland know that in the period of political disillusion which followed the Parnell split,...

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Correspondence

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came. Many units of the Chinese Expeditionary Force have gone away and there are still more to go. Five battalions are to stay—two here and three in Shanghai, but as we see...

THE INDEX TO VOL. 139 OF THE " SPECTATOR" is

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Now Ready, price One Shilling (or 20 cents) per copy, on application to INDEX DEPARTMENT, THE " SPECTATOR," LTD., 13 YORK STREET, LONDON, W.C. 2, ENGLAND.

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A LETTER FROM MENDOZA. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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S1R,—To the average Englishman Mendoza, though a city of seventy thousand inhabitants, is merely a name. It is a flourishing town of the Argentine, the centre of a rich wine-...

Poetry

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Captain Noah OLD Noah, trailing plummets, found Green harbours on the heights— As from his deck he watched The showers spill Their gospels of the rainbow round An arch of seven...

No. 2.—PEEING. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sirr,.-- 7 The latest

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phase of the China puzzle has produced a striking anomaly. For a long time Marshal Chang Tso-lin has been proclaiming to the world that his whole efforts have been directed...

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The League of Nations

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Great Britain's Views on Arbitration THE GOVERNMENT NOTES. What is described officially as " Observations of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain on the Suggested...

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THE EGOTISM OF THE WEST

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —I have been a careful reader of your distinguished and impartial columns for many years, but I cannot recall ever before having seen...

Letters to the Editor

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HOUSING AND THE FLOODS [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] sift,—The leading article in the Spectator of January 14th, and the letter from Mr. Robert Street, are welcome...

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OUTLAWING WAR

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—Without wishing to trespass upon your space with a discussion upon the many points raised in your last two issues, may I be allowed to...

THE CUSTODY OF THE TITHE MAP [To the Editor of

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the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—It appears desirable to draw the attention of all who are concerned for the proper custody of historical documents to the danger that is now threatening the...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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Sin,—Having very recently returned from two years' residence in the interior of Shantung Province, North China, I was especially interested in the Chinese references contained...

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] have never scientifically studied

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tides, floods, and frosts, but, since I started my Diary in 1870, I have taken great interest in them, and recorded a good many obser- vations. May I question the statement in...

HIGH TIDES IN THE THAMES [To the Editor of the

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SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The following extracts from Stow's Survey of London, 1633 edition, may be of interest. Describing the tides in the Thames, he says :- " Sometimes also they rise...

THE WORLD ECONOMIC CONFERENCE [To the Editor of the SrEcrwrox.1

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Siu,—Mr. Goodenough, in his annual speech as chairman of Barclays Bank, refers to the League of Nations' proposals for promoting European Free Trade by the reduction or removal...

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THE REJECTED PRAYER BOOK

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Will you allow me space for a few words in reply to the objections raised by your correspondent Mr. E. K. C. Hamilton to my letter in your...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—Your correspondent, Mr. E.

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K. C. Hamilton, in your last issue says that it is inaccurate to say that Reserva. tion is illegal, and that " the old Prayer Book makes no pro- vision for the practice, but...

RAILWAYS AND THE INVESTOR

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sni,—The writer on this subject in your issue of January 14th confesses to a somewhat sombre view in regard to English Railway Stocks, whereas...

THIS AIRSHIP BUSINESS

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May I please make one or two observations in reference to your reviewer's remarks on my book ? If R.100 or R.101 fail and lives are lost,...

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ST. KILDA SHEEP

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[To the Editor of the - SPECTATOR.] Sui,—In your issue of January 14th you assist in perpetuating the legend that St. Kilda sheep have four horns. They have only the usual...

SUMMINGS UP

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—The following epitaph is of more than local interest. It is on the grave, in this churchyard, of John Jarvis, of this parish, who was...

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

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(To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—"Under the above heading Mr. Borrett calls attention to the terrible destruction of wild life that is proceeding in every part of the...

THE ART OF THE POSTER

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In his crusade for posters which do not offend against the proprieties, Mr. Walter Bayes, let me assure him, will have the support of all...

ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL AT PRAGUE

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sit,—Mr. Basil Maine knows as well as I do that it is not a question whether Delius's compositions are good or bad. But Delius is by no means...

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Practical Building for January has an interesting article under the

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title of " The Builders' Neglect," deploring the non- participation of the building trade in the Conference on Industrial Relations. The Operatives, however, if not the Master...

Principal Jacks's Constructive Citizenship is based on a

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series of lectures delivered last year to the University of Glasgow. The author quotes the inscription of an Indian artificer—" Mechanic and mathematician and Servant of the...

Mr. Lionel Edwards dedicates The Passing Seasons (Country '

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Life, £3 3s.) to the rising generation.. This is a very delightful gift book. With eighteen coloured plates, which are detachable for framing if desired, this is a very pleasant...

Many middle-aged people dread ill-health, the fear of illness .

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in some cases actually producing it. Dr. Hopewell-Ash's book, On Middle Age and Keeping Young (Mills and Boons 3s. 6d. net) should encourage sufferers from undue appre- hension....

Mr. Lowell Thomas, whose Lawrence in Arabia has had such..

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a success both in films and print, recently travelled twenty-five thousand miles by air over twenty-nine countries of Europe. We have just received the American edition of this...

During the past month the books most in demand at

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The Times Book Club have been :-- FicTiox :—Iron and Smoke, by Sheila Kaye-Smith ; Novem- ber Night, by the author of The House Made With Hands ; The Unburied Dead, by Stephen...

In our notice of The Adventures of Five Hours, by

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Sir Samuel Tuke (Holden, 7s. 6d,), we should have ridded that Mr. B. van Thal edited the play. . .

For sheer sentimental twaddle The Life and Death of Sacco

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and Vanzetti. by a Mr. Lyons (whom the publishers describe as a distinguished American journalist) would be difficult to emulate and impossible to surpass. Two young atheists...

In Five Years in Turkey (Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, 16s.)

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General Liman von Sanders tells the story of his frequent quarrels with Enver Pasha and of his difficulties in " reform- ing " the Turkish Army, both before and during the War....

General Knowledge Questions

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Tim prize of one guinea offered weekly for the thirteen best General Knowledge questions is awarded this week to the Rev. H. E. Ruddy, Scarthoe Rectork, Grimsby; for the...

The Short Story Competition

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OWING to the very large number of entries received for the twenty guinea Short Story Competition, it is impossible to publish the result until February 4th. Will competitors be...

Some- Books of the • Week

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SIR WILLIAM BEACH THOMAS is away until February - 25th, when he will resume his " Country Life " page. ' * * s' *

A Political Competition THE Editor offers two prizes of ten

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guineas each for the most practicable programme for the next Unionist Government. One prize will be given to women of under twenty-five years of age and the other to men of...

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The Spirit of Malines The Conversations at Malines 1921-1925 (Les

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Conversations de Matinee 1921-1925). (Humphrey Milford. 2s. 6d.) WHAT is the " One Catholic and Apostolic Church ? " Two apparently contradictory, though really complementary,...

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Our Wonderful Bodies

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Living Machinery. By A. V. Hill. (Bell. Is. 6d.) PROFESSOR HELL'S book consists of lectures delivered before " a juvenile auditory " at the Royal Institution during the...

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Doer and Dreamer

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Studies of an Imperialist. By Lord Sydenham of Combe. (Chapman and Hall. 18s.) Olives of Endless Age. By H. N. Brailsford. (Harpers. IN. Ild.) FORTY to forty-five years ago...

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A New Edition of Malory's " Morte d'Arthur "

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E ACH new edition of the Morte d'Arthur must raise again the perplexing question : how has it come about that a formless mediaeval compilation about fantastic characters bent on...

A Study of Beethoven

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Beethoven : A Critical Study. By J. W. N. Sullivan. (Cape, 7s. rid.) FEW men are better qualified to write a study of Beethoven than Mr. J. W. N. Sullivan. He is a curious blend...

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Red Russia through Rose Spectacles

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Hdtv the Soviets Work. By H. N. Brailsford. (New York: Vanguard Press. Obtainable in England from the New Leader. 14 Great George Street S.W. 1. 2s. 6d.) • WE find Mr....

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Fiction

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A Diverse Trio Islanders. By Peadar O'Donnell. (Cape. 6s.) THESE three novels are almost as diverse as any trio of stories could be ; and, since the critic's function is to...

THE SILENT HOUSE. By John G. Brandon. (Cassell. 7s. 6d.)

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-Whether the play of this name is less crude than the novel is not known to the present writer, who comes to the book unprejudiced by the glamour of the theatre. The portrait of...

A Library List

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TRAVEL AND BIOGRAPHY :-Wanderers. By Mrs. Henry Cust. (Jonathan Cape. 12s. 6d.)-To the Foot of the Rainbow. By .Clyde Kluckhohn. (Nash and Grayson. 12s. 6d.)- .The Life and...

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Finance—Public and Private

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An Economic Banquet ONE could

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A GOOD GAS DIVIDEND.

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The directors of the Gas Light and Coke Company may be congratulated upon the financial results for the past year. After paying a dividend making £5 Os. 8d. per cent. for the...

A GREAT Loss.

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. The City has suffered a severe loss through the sudden death, which occurred last Friday morning as the result of a motor accident, of Mr. Michael Seymour Speneer-Smith; a...

IMPENDING CAPITAL ISSUES.

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There is little doubt that the next few weeks will see con- siderabla.activity in the matter of capital flotations. Not only did great success attend the recent flotation of the...

Financial Notes

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MONETARY CONDITIONS. Tim strength of high-class investment securities has been well maintained during the past week, a circumstance due both to the great success of the...