Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/88

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. x. JULY 26, 1902.

Marston, whose influence on the stage, so far as it extended, was beneficial. M. Filon's survey of the Drench stage is brief but adequate. It extends from Emile Augier to MM. Richepin and Rostand, and leaves unmentioned M. Capus, who presumably when the article was written had produced neither ' La Veine ' nor ' Deux Ecoles,' but whose ' Rosine,' played in June, 1897, gave promise of the gifts he has since displayed. It is to be regretted that M. Filon has been accorded no power of revision over the earlier contribution on the French stage. The prefatory essay by Dr. Henry Smith Williams is on the influence of modern research on the scope of world-history. Among the subjects brought forward is, of course, Assyrian discovery, which brings with it the mention of Prof. Mahaffy's suggestion that " the era of the Pyramids may have been the verit- able autumn of civilization." Recent classical archaeology and the Mycenaean civilization are also discussed. ' Chicago ' is the opening article, and naturally supplies some startling statistics of growth. It is accompanied with maps of the city and suburbs. ' Chile ' and ' China,' the latter especially, are articles of the highest importance. With the account of the China-Japan war China occupies some fifty columns. Dr. Arthur Shad well deals with 'Cholera,' and the Bishop of Ripon with the ' Christian Church.' The ' Chrono- logical Table' extends from 1 Jan., 1876, to 31 Dec., 1900. It chronicles some " small beer,'' but is dis- tinctly useful as an aide - mdmoire, for which it is intended. ' Biblical Chronology,' as regards the Old Testament, is in the hands of Prof. Driver, and so far as the New Testament is concerned in those of Mr. C. H. Turner. Mr. Sidney J. Low contributes the life of Lord Randolph Churchill. Passing over without mention many articles of importance, we come to Prof. Poulton's deeply interesting ' Colours of Animals,' which, among other points, dwells on the various aspects of mimicry in insect life. Much that is said is naturally conjecture, but the pro- fessor is the best authority we possess. Dr. Holden, formerly director of the Lick Observatory, deals with ' Comets.' Prof. Sir Frederick Pollock writes on 'Contract,' and Mr. Wadsworth on 'Con- veyancing.' Prof. Nairne has a short communica- tion on the vexed questions of Creatianism and Traducianism. Cremation has received, of course, much attention during the period covered by the new volume, the most recent results being tabu- lated. The modern development of cricket is said to date from the first visit in 1878 to England of an Australian team. In the county records sup- plied Notts is shown to occupy a brilliant place, having been champion during no fewer than eleven years. Ample statistics are furnished. A similar article is that by Mr. Lillie on ' Croquet,' which has had in recent days a conspicuous revival. Under 'Corot' a delightful landscape of that painter is furnished. Under ' Cross ' we have a sympathetic life of George Eliot by Mrs. Craigie. Courbet's ' The Stag Fight ' is also reproduced. Reproductions of two illustrations of Dickens accompany a short and not quite adequate life of Cruikshank. ' Cuba ' and ' Cyprus ' are instances of articles in which recent history effects some- thing like a revolution. 'Cycling' also, which is fully illustrated, has undergone great modifica- tion. ' Dairy Farming' occupies considerable space and is thoroughly practical. Daubigny's ' Moon- light' constitutes an attractive illustration. In fact, the reproductions of French pictures by men

such as Degas, Detaille, &c., form a very agree- able feature in the work. Under 'Dictionary' a vindication of a practice of which we are some- times disposed to complain, of disregarding litera- ture in the interest of philology, is given. Among those who write on ' Divorce' is Sir Francis Jeune. Valuable and interesting articles in the volume are those by various writers on Egypt, and by Prof. Flinders Petrie and Mr. Griffith on Egypto- logy. It is obviously as impossible to give an idea of the contents of separate contributions as to convey an idea of the value of the whole. We have to congratulate those concerned with the production on the rate of progress that is maintained. The price of the volume is not given, since that at which the work is supplied is temporary, and subject to alteration after the first subscription list is closed.

THE REV. JOHN PICKFORD writes : " An honour conferred by the University of Oxford on one of your oldest and most esteemed correspondents, the Rev. William Dunn Macray, M.A., ought not to pass unnoticed in the pages of ' N. & Q.' He has recently been created Doctor of Literature (Litt. Doct. ) by that university, a well-earned and well- deserved honour by one whose services have been so great not only in the literary, but in many other fields. The general expression of feeling is that it ought to have come long ago. However, the old proverb tells us that ' it is better late than never.' "

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D. S. R. (" Et in Arcadia ego"). See 4 th S. i. 509, 561 ; x. 432, 479, 525, 532 ; xi. 86 ; 6 th S. vi. 396.

COL. LONGLEY ("Moves at Russian Backgam- mon "). Consult ' Encyclopaedia Britannica,' ' Russian Backgammon,' at end of article on ' Back- gammon.'

CORRIGENDUM. 9 th S. ix. 312, col. 2, 1. 10, for ap read ap\

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