Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 12.djvu/484

 400

NOTES AND QUERIES, uo s. xn. NOV. 13,

IN The, Fortnightly Review Mr. J. L. Garvin devotes a considerable portion of his ' Review of Events' to Anglo-American relations. We think, however, that he labours the point considerably in his over-emphasis of the importance of American armed support to this country in the event of a conflict with a European Power. We fancy the man in the street has had few delusions on that point. The inevitable reference to Senor Ferrer's execution appears, but couched in a strictly moderate and common-sense tone. Mr. W. S. Lilly's tive conditions of Capital and Labour in the past and present. His conclusions, however, seem some- what obscure, and he advances no particular remedy for admitted evils. Mr. W. T. Stead contributes a characteristic article entitled ' When the Door Opened,' which purports to be a record of the proceedings of various spiritualistic stances at which many prominent departed statesman were induced to record their opinions on the present political situation. The majority of the opinions seem to reflect those of the author himself. Mr. Alan Mackinnon in ' The O.U.D.S. : after Twenty- Five Years,' gives an interesting account of the early struggles and subsequent successes of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. Mr. P. H. P. Steensby describes the Polar Eskimos, their manners and habits, and their connexion with Polar expeditions. The American political situation is graphically described in ' Eight Months of President Taft,' by Mr. Sydney Brooks, in the course of which a comparison is drawn between the character and disposition of the present occupant of the White House and those of his predecessor, Mr. Roosevelt. Mr. E. Vincent Heward discourses pleasantly on ' What are Comets and Meteors ? ' but without adding anything particular to general knowledge. ' Two Historians of the Eighteenth Century,' by Mr. H. D. Roome, is excellent as an appreciation of Macaulay and Lecky. In his attempts at comparison, however, the writer is not so happy.
 * Eyes and No Eyes ' is an erudite essay on the rela-

IN The National Review the 'Episodes of the Month ' is mainly devoted to a severe attack on the Government in general and Messrs. Lloyd George and Winston Churchill in particular. In ' Peace- Ideas and Disarmament' Privy Councillor Baron A^on Stengel (German delegate to the First Hague Conference) discusses from a German standpoint the ethics of arbitration as enunciated by the Hague Conference, in which he outlines the diffi- culties of Germany's position in regard to disarma- ment. Mr. T. Comyn-Platt gives a graphic descrip- tion of the cause and conduct of the operations of the Spanish Army in Morocco, and incidentally expresses a pessimistic view of the present condition and future prospect of affairs in Spain. After enduring and recovering from an avalanche of words, from which we emerge rather bewildered and inclined to wonder what the pother is about, we realize that 'Concerning History,' by Mr. C. Whibley, is really an appreciation of ' An Intro- ductory History of England' by Mr. C. R. L. Fletcher, a fact which is not easily apparent. Mr. A. Maurice Low devotes himself to 'American Affairs,' amongst other things touching upon the unfavourable reception by the American press of Lord Charles Beresford's speech at the Pilgrims' Club and the policy of President Taft. The ano- malies of American law, and the variety of inter-

pretations placed on it by individual judges, are rightly regarded as a serious phase of United States jurisprudence. 'On writing Pot-Boilers,' by Mr. H. W. Hornill, includes an apt definition of what constitutes a "pot-boiler," together with a well- justified complaint as to the inadequacy of the remuneration secured by writers of serious works. Mr. Hornill's remarks and his conclusions have our sincere sympathy. Mr. J. Castell Hopkins con- tributes a well-reasoned appreciation of the political career and aims of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. ' Cam- bridge Revisited,' by a Non-Resident Graduate, is a critical review of the social and educational conditions now prevailing at Cambridge. 'Can Protection Cure Unemployment?' is a reply to an article by Mr. Hobson which appeared in the August number of The National Review, and is devoted to a refutation of the Free Trade argument contained therein.

THE editorial article in The Burlington complains of the inadequacy of the funds at the disposal of the Trustees of the National Gallery for the pur- chase of masterpieces when occasion arises. We agree that it is deplorable that an institution, the importance of which is undeniable, should be re- duced to seek monetary relief through such means as the Grafton Galleries Exhibition. It is time that the Government interveiied with a view to putting the finances of the National Gallery on a satis- factory basis. Mr. Sidney Colviii contributes an interesting history of a portrait of Erasmus by Holbein, illustrated by two plates, one of which seems of exceptional merit. Prof. C. J. Holmes writes on ' The School of Giorgione.' The article on ' The Wares of the Sung and Yuan Dynasties,' by Mr. R. L. Hobson, will be welcomed by all con- noisseurs of ceramics. The numerous photographic reproductions of the various specimens are ex- cellent. In ' ARecentCriticismof Blake' Mr. Robert Ross seems to delight in an irritating obscurity of diction, and does not at the outset make it at all clear what he is talking about. Dr. A. Koester describes some beautiful examples of ' Bronzes from Dodona.' The famous embroideries at Hard wick Hall are adequately discussed by M. Jourdain. Students of ecclesiastical architecture should be grateful to Mr. Tavenor-Perry for his artistic little study of 'Some Square Ambories in Northern Italy.' The illustrations of some of these fore- runners of the pulpit are well worthy of attention.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately, nor can we advise correspondents as to the value of old books and other objects or as to the means of disposing of them.

WE beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print, and to this rule we can make no exception.

EDITORIAL communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries '" Adver- tisements and Business Letters to "The Pub- lishers " at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.G.

M. O'C. BLIGH, R. B., and J. WILLCOCK. For- warded.

RIVERHAM i" Welsh Judges"). Anticipated ante, p. 198.