President Roosevelt has reburned an effective reply to the Resolution of Congress adversely criticising his Message regarding the Secret Service. In the debate on the Secret...

Tbe results of tbe French Senatorial elections, announced on Monday, are as follows:-Radicals and Socialists, 60; 3lepublioans of the Left, 27; Progressists, 9; Nqtiopalists...

A Canadian correspondent of the Times sends a summary of the speech delivered by Professor Leacock, of McGifl UJniversity, at the annual banquet of the Dominion Commercial...

Even if Austria-Hungary, after the expenditure of a great I deal of money and the wasting of a great deal of blood, and further, the running of a great many external risks,...

The broad results of the New Zealand elections were summarised seven weeks ago in our issue of November 21st. The New Zealand correspondent of the Times deals at length with...

On the whole, the Time8 correspondent seems inclined to I think that hostilities may be avoided provided that AustriaHungary has the good sense to meet Montenegro's demand for...

The Pimes correspondent goes on to point out that the I difficulty in regard to the projects of the two States is that neither of them can be fully realised without war. Though...

I We are bound to say that even it the President is a little peremptory in his methods of addressing Congress, out sympathies on the merits are entirely with him. After alid...

Wednesday's Times contains a striking letter on the state of Ireland, signed by Mr. Gerald Arbutlinot. It appears that whereas the number of agrarian outrages in 1906 was 234,...

Serious religious rioting bas taken place at Titagbur, an | 'fldustrial centre in the Barrackpore district near Calcutta. According to telegrams despatched on Tuesday, a mob of...

+;,"triall 1sentment at British criticism of Baron Aelbren- I :uats Policy has culminated in an extraordinary explosion In thle offiOial Viennese Press. Several papers repeat...

I Wednesday's Times* contains an interesting letter fromi, Lord MacDonnell on the Indian Mohaminedans and the Electoral Colleges proposed to be seb up under Lord Morley's...

On Friday week the Sultan entertained the Deputies at a I baqkquet at Tildiz Kiosk. The banquet was rendered remarkable not only by the guests, but by the speech of the Sultan,...

Tuesday's Times contains an interesting account of one of Mr. Quaritch's recent finds,-the earliest existing MS. of Alfred: a Hasbque, by James Thomson and David Mallet, which...

TOPICS OF TIHE DAY. THE ALLEGED HEMMING IN OF GERMANY. I IT is with deep regret that we record the fact that the German Emperor has broken his oratorical fast of seven weeks,...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.| If¶1IERE is little more to record in regard to the eartb_ quake except that the death-roll was perhaps a little 'xaggerated when it was placed at two...

The Montenegrin dislike of Austria-Hungary is not less keen, but more personal. The Montenegrins bold that in the past Austria's selfish action deprived them of the fruits of...

tho-ugh it has attracted comparatively little attention, the 31 ---- 11janun b u~le auwutLion, tile 0OW Yeal has been marked by an event in China which may Prove of the utmost...

I The news received from the Near East during the past week has been of a neutral character. The outstanding difficulties between Bulgaria and Turkey appear to have iesolved...

qThe Journai of Education. (8 Broadway, B.C. 7s. 6d.)-The I Jswrnal has now, we see, accomplished its fortieth year, and has certainly achieved a pre-eminence in the...

A few words of notice must be given to a very Ouriqus and I interesting collection of Old Sporting Prints, by Ralph Nevill (Connoesseur Magazine, 7s. 6d. and ,5.) The word...

B OO IK S . DUMOURIEZ.* Tnis bulky volume is intended as a shrine for an interesting historical discovery. Some time ago Mir. Bertram Dobell, who has more literary "finds" to...

LORD ESHER ON THE TERRITORIAL ARMY. I HEE January number of National Defence (Hugh -Rees, 119 Pall Mall, ls.), the organ of the National Defence Association, publishes under...

A CRITIO ON " PARADISE LOST." [To Tnx EDiTO O THE "SPUOTATORM" SIr.,-The following laconic and sarcastic criticism may be worth noting at this time of Milton's Tercentenary: "...

CROSBY HALL AND SWIFT'S LODGINGS. LTO THIS ElITOR 0 THE "I SPUTATOR*" I SIs,-I have only to-day (December 14th) seen your issue of November 28tb, 1908, in which Mrs. Barrington...

POLICE BLOODHOUNDS. [To TUB EDITOR OF TUB , BPz~rATow"] Siu,-In the interests of the public, I would be glad if you would publish this letter. I have lately twice had my...

A MILTON ANECDOTE. LTO THa JEDroz or O TF T SrScTATOn.'1 SIR,-Where is the evidence to be found that Charles II. Visited Milton (see Spectator, January 2nd)P It must be borne...

THE POETRY OF ISAIAH. [TO THlE KDorOR OF TUB "8PU(rLTol.'] SIu,-In your interesting article on Isaiah in the Spectator of January 2nd you say: "Who, for instance, can bear the...

LTO THlN EDITOR o0 TIM "S PBI TO3.- SiRS,-ircumetantial as the letter in your last issue of your., correspondent's great-great-grandfather appears re the alleged, visit of...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. TTIE EARTHQUAKE. ETO THP EDITOR OF THE a SPICOTATOR.'] Skip,-4s one of the gainers from what I have read in your last issue, I venture to supplement...

. SLAVERY ON THE COCOA PLANTATIONS. LTo ric II r)1rOit Oil THI "8PI!PATOIt,") SIn,-May I, on the strength of many yetll's' residence in Angola, submit a few remaarks on this...

. THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL CANCER CHARITY. ITO THE EDITOR O TSR "SPCOTATOR."J SxIa,-Will you kindly allow me space in your journal to remind your readers of the valuable work...

A RT. THE EXHIBITION AT THE ACADEMY. PLATO makes Socrates discourse of the pattern laid up in heaven of all things on earth, and the Academy seem to have wished to give a...

A LIFE OF WILLIAM BECKFORD. [To .TUi EDITOI OF Tlld '5SIpmO&TOt&.mJ Sin,-I am engaged upon a biography of the author of " Vathek," William Beckford of PonthIll, and I have...

THE LATE PROFESSOR JOHN STUART BLA.CKIE. LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "S SrCTATOu"J Sin,-Thle hundredth anniversary of the birth of the late Prpfessor John Stuart Blaokie falls to be...

POETRY. I THE WOMEN KNOWN TO. FAME. I (WITHOUT APOLOGY TO MR. LAURENcE HOUSmL.) BLIND singer, who would thrill our ears With tale of schoolgirl escapade, Confusing, with a...

The Lone Shicling, and other Literary and Historical Sketches. By G. M. Fraser. (W. Smith and Sons, Aberdeen.)-In his first paper Mr. Fraser discusses the authorship of the "...

Miwed Herbs. By M. E. S. (Sampson Low, Marston. and Co. 2s. net.)-Perhaps there is something inarticulate about this "Working Woman's Remonstrance against the Suffrage...

Canada. J~dited by Phrofessor W. Bennelt Munro. I (Thoe Champlain Society, Toronto.)-Certainly the interesting selection of charters, title-deedsL, instructions, arrgts,...

A Liffle Summer at Assisi, By Clemence North. (J. M. Dent and Co. 2s. 63d. not.)-Thoro are some attractive sketches and studies of places and persons, past and present, in...

In the "Oxford Editions of Standard Authors " (H. Frowde) we hYave The IVorks of Charles and Mary Lamb, Edited by Thomas HIutchinson, M.A., 2 vole; (4s. net), and The Complotb...

I Thc Shadow T1World. By IHanmlin Galaind. (Harper and I3rothers. (is.)-Mr. HIamlin Garland, writing from Chicago, says :-" This book is a faithful record of the most...

[TO TRX EDITOR 01 THR hSPRNOATOU.l Sin,-The article on " The State of Ireland " in the Speo~taor of December 19th, 1908, has reminded Irish Liberal Unionists -Nonconformists...

THE STATE OF IREL&AND. rTO TIll RDITOIL OP TiHR SPICOTATOR."j tsiRNo one with experience of the country and full know. ledge of its present condition will be inclined to...

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK. [tUnder this heading we .Otice euchl Books qf the week as have not been tehJrved for rieview inl othor forms.] The Life of James Robertson, D.D. By...

Old Age Pensions anti the Poor Law. By Sir William Ch'ooe, Bart. (P. S. King, and Son. 3d.)-Those who want to understiud what the nation has really done by committing itself...

Literary and Biographical Studies. By James Balrer. (Chapman and Hall. 7s. 6d. net.)-There is good work in these essays, studies, and criticisms of boolis. We find a special...

|India: its Life and Thought. By Jolln P. Jones, D.D. (Macmillan and Co. 109. 6d. not.)-Dr. Jones has worked as'a missionary in Southern India for thirty years. This certainly...

READABLE NOVELs.-Patricia Baring. By Winifred James. I (A. Constable and Co. Gs.)-This is an autobiographical study of life in Australia. The heroine is a child at the...

Lady Noggs Intervenes. By Edgar Jepson. (Hutelinson and Co. 6s.)-Although this book is really a continuation of Mr. Jepson's earlier novel, Lady Noggs, Peeress, it will be...

I Peru. By Goraldine Guinness. (Morgan and Scott. :7. 6d.)- This book, as may be conjectured from the names which appear on the title-page, is strongly auti-Ioman. Some...

NAVAL ADMINISTRATION AND WARFARE.* CAPTAIN MAHAN bas collected in this book a series of his articles and addresses either written or delivered at intervals during the last...

THE FRIEND OF LA ROCHEFOUCAULD.* THIS Life of Madame de la Fayette is a painstaking piece of work, the defects of which, it must reluctantly be said, outweigh its qualities....

THREE PONIES AND A HORSE. IT is a commonplace with students of natural history that there is nothing more vulgar or more foolish than to attribute human proclivities and human...

CORRESPONDENCE. -THE NAVIES OF THE WORLD. IV.-THE JAPANESE NAVY. [TO THE Ell[TOr oF TUN "SPrIrATORt.] SIR,-Tbe systematic construction of a mnodern fleet by Japan Was begun...

NOV EL S. CHRISTOPHER HIBBAULT, ROADMAKER.0 X1§8 BRYANT'S work is unfamiliar to us, and internal evidence seeme to indicate that this is her first novel. If so, she is to be...

I Tie Judgment of 1Mingborough. By R. E. Verhede. (Hodder I and Stoughton. tOs.)-Mr. Vernede has coutrived an exceedingly improbable plot. That lie knows, we may be sure,...

fM. Be1ke of the Blacks. By John Aysoough. (Eveleikh Nash. 6u.)-Readers of "Marotz" will be interested in the author's statement at the beginning of this book to the effect...

. THE NARROW FIELD OF. INDIAN SEDITION. LTO TSE EDITOR O THE " SPUCTATOR'."] SIR,-I enclose an extract from a letter of a high-caste Hindu written to a lady. at home under...

NATAL AND SOUTH AFRICAN UNlTY. [To THE EDIToR Or THE "SPWETATOR..] Siu,-I am sure that you would wish to correct a wrong impression which is causing an injustice to be done to...

BRITISH OFFICIALS AND OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE TROPICS. I I [TO TEU EDITOR OF THE ' SPECTATOR. 1 Sip,-With reference to the solitary lives, the general die. comfort and...

REALITIES AND IDEALS.* WE have often had occasion to differ from Mr. Frederic harrison. In this volume there are not a few statements and conclusions which we cannot accept. It...

THE MAGAZINES. Mu. NOEL BUXTON, the Chairman of the Balkan Committee, summarises his impressions of the Young Turks, with whom he recently spent three weeks, in a most...

LECTURES ON ARCHITEOTURE.* THESU lectures 'of the Professor of Architecture at the Academy contain plenty of matter which is worth pondering over. In the preface Mr. Blomfield...

THE SPIRIT OF " PUNCH." THE poet Horace tells us in one of his Odes that as an T infant he escaped death only by the intervention of the Muses. He was left to wander unguarded...

SOCIALIST FINANCE. A T the end of the present month. the Labour Party will A, hold its Annual Conference, and among the subjects to be discussed are the problem of...

A BOOK OF PORTRAITS.* " THiE title," says Mr. Gardiner, "is a trademark rather than a strict inventory of contents." We note the distinction: still, a trade-mark should have a...

THE MANSION' HOUSE AND THE HOUSE Of COMMONS. HJIERE have been some expressions of surprise, and T more of regret, that the Government have s8llt 110 money contribution to the...

SEDITION IN BENGAL. [To TIu RDTTOR Or TUB 'SPROTATOR."1 SIR,-Aut disce, aut discede, manet sors tertia caedi, which writing on the wall may be interpreted,-either learn or...

(To THI EDITOR OP T1ill uSPIPATOlt."] SIR,-I enclose a cutting from the Irish Times of December 24th, 1908, which I think is an interesting comment on Mr. Birrell's...

[To m. ErDITOR oF THE "aPECTATOl."] SIR,-In this parish there are ulmsobuses founded in 1616 where eleven old people are elected to have a home, 6s. a week, clothing, a nurse...

THE FEEDING OF SCHOOL-CHILDREN. [TO THE EDITOR 0P THE "'SPOTATOR."J SiR,-Your article in last week's issue sets out clearly once mord some of the dangers which surround this...

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. [To SHn EDITOIL or TM " SPECTATOR.'] Sip.,-With reference to much correspondence in the Press on this subject, it seems to me that if the possession of...

MOORS AND HORSEMASTERSHIP. rTo TUB HDI)TOU OF TlHU "fPlO'rATORt."I Sxn,-I am deeply grateful to your reviewer for his notice in the Spectator of December 12th, 1908, of my...

BOHOOL-BOOKS AND POLITICS. [To TUB EDITOIL OF TUB "SPEOTATOR."] StR,-One of the wisest teachers, William Oory of Eton, recommended a man* who was to follow m him in his work...

PRAGMATISM AND RELIGION. [COMMUNICATED.1 TO religious people there is, it can hardly be questioned, a great attraction in the methods of the new philosophy which we know as...

REFORM FROM WITHIN. IT is a common criticism among those who are in the van of " social reform" that the Church has never done anything seriouzs towards the reforms they...

FIRST AND LAST THINGS.* " RECENTLY I set myself to put down What I believe," writes Mr. H. G. Wells. His new book, First and Last Things, is the result of this effort. Mr....