movement of recent times for the furtherance of the ideal social order as the kingdom of Christ. He sees great gaps still existing between that ideal and its achievement. Making full account of the various hindrances yet to be overcome, he emphasizes the potency of the overcoming factors now working toward the achievement of prophetic hope. Well-balanced criticism, constructive thought, a clear and energetic style, and an optimistic outlook characterize the volume. Some sentences are prophetic of the judgment now falling on barbarous systems of world militarism;" other sentences would have been qualified if written in view of that. Dr. Mains devotes a noble chapter to the "Divineness of Man." More of this than he deems possible in this life would seem possible in view of the ages through which the earth will be habitable-"the world to come referred to in Hebrews ii. 5, R. V. The same comment may be made on Dr. Mains's thought of "the incomprehensible Christ." While civilization is still unfree from barbarism, it is too soon to pronounce the uncomprehended "incomprehensible." This is not Pauline; see Ephesians iv. 13. Proof of God (The). By Harold Begbie. The Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. 75c.

In this, as in his previous writings, Mr. Begbie shows high qualities. The proof here undertaken is the reductio ad absurdum sometimes employed in mathematics-proving an affirmative by proving the absurdity of its negative. This process is made more interesting by putting it into the Platonic form of a dialogue between Mr. Begbie and his friend Rupert. Rupert is a Member of Parliament, a hater of democracy, a materialist and atheist. Their conversations lead on from the question, "How did Life begin on this planet?" to the discussion of

evolution, hypotheses, a knowable God, and personality. Mr. Begbie holds with Bergson that Life is aboriginal and self-existent in God. Rupert doesn't capitulate, but begins to get his eyes open and shows signs of weakening. The impression made on him is followed up by a letter on the tendency of modern thought under the lead of Eucken, Bergson, Troeltsch, Höffding, and other such. Midway in the series of conversations is a letter showing the falsity of the claim that the "leading scientists are irreligious or antichristian." "Tis a little book, but meaty. Philosophy: What Is It? By F. J. Jevons,

Litt.D. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. $1.

These lectures to a class of British working men and women are a highly interesting undertaking to show philosophy as a concern of practical life. Professor Jevons has admirably simplified and illustrated his course of thought from point to point, starting with his definition of philosophy as reflection upon human experience as a whole, what is its meaning, and what the good of it all. He insists throughout that sound philosophy must be practical, aiming at truth to be lived on and acted by. By this test he shows the insufficiency of all theories except that which his discussion develops. Experience is a constant process of being and doing; it is a whole, whose ultimate reality is a perfect Personality in whom we live and move and have our being.

Materialistic and atheistic philosophy, as expounded by Haeckel's school, has spread widely in the ranks of the industrial army. That this antidote to it has been supplied by request of a branch of the Workers' Educational Association is one of the hopeful signs of the time. Not for them only; to any others who are disposed to begin acquaintance with philosophy on easy terms no simpler introduction could be given.

VIEW

ship of that remarkable man, Billy Sunday. In those meetings something like fifteen thousand persons were converted, the most of them being men; many of them were from the worst element in the city: drunkards, wife-beaters, thieves, gamblers, and the like. These men gave up their evil ways, and are to-day leading sober, honest, and useful lives. Not only are they endeavoring to do what is right now; they are, so far as possible, righting the wrongs of the past, such as paying old bills that the merchants had given up hope of ever collecting. Business men have been greatly benefited. The only business that has suffered because of the campaign is the liquor business; in our county twenty-nine thousand gallons less whisky were sold in the six months following the revival than in the corre

1914

sponding six months a year ago. Now, what is it that has brought about these wonderful results? It was the preaching of these very doctrines which we find in "The Fundamentals." Never, for a single moment, did Mr. Sunday advocate belief in any system of doctrine as a substitute for right living. But he did preach the doctrines which orthodox Christians hold to be fundamental; and when men received these truths into their lives, instead of becoming a substitute for right living, they became an inspiration to it. The preaching of these doctrines has ever had the same result. In St. Paul's words, which you quote, he exhorts those to whom he wrote to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Why should they so live? what motive was there? Paul adds, 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Because they believed these doctrines, which St. Paul had taught them, they did lead sober and righteous lives. In my observation, I have noticed that the people who deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and who live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, are those who hold most steadfastly to the importance of these doctrines, regarding them as fundamental. It looks to me as though right living is the result of right thinking or belief in right doctrine.

I trust that you will permit me to express my appreciation of "The Fundamentals" through your paper by publishing this letter. I have always found The Outlook very fair in this regard, its willingness to print the other person's point of view. JOHN G. MOFFAT.

Dunmore, Pennsylvania. [See an editorial reply in this issue.-THE EDITORS.]

SMALL FARMS AND LARGE

In your issue of September 2 there is an editorial note on "German Supremacy in Agriculture," which, I believe, is misleading. It is true that the Germans, by reason of the very limited area of tillable land per person, have been obliged to practice an intensified system of agriculture which has enormously increased their production per acre. Learning of this fact, many persons in this country, inexperienced in farming, have been loudly advocating "small farms." They insist that the great ranches and plantations of the South and West shall be cut up into small farms that we may farm more intensively, according to the German plan. They forget that large farming enterprises, like large industrial enterprises, can be operated more economically and produce cheaper staple commodities than small enterprises. Thus wheat, sugar, and corn, and shoes, steel rails, and cotton goods, are most cheaply produced on a large scale. To the argument that employees on the big farms are like the

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serfs of feudal times, I would answer that there are thousands of farm laborers who could not operate a farm profitably themselves, but who would be happy and prosperous on a great plantation operated under a profit-sharing plan.

Small, intensively tilled farms in the United States would be limited to the production of vegetables, fruit, and poultry, which are most economically produced on a small scale. What the German farmers have accomplished in intensive farming is only an assurance to us that, when the time comes, there are agricultural methods that our farmers can use to produce five times as much per acre as they are now producing. At present any attempt to produce staple crops on small farms would result in a decided increase in the cost of living.

Tucson, Arizona.

STANLEY F. MORSE, Superintendent Agricultural Extension Service.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

In an editorial of The O tlook of September 30 headed "Who is Responsible?" the conclusion is reached, "History will hold AustriaHungary and Germany responsible for the terrible tragedy which is now spreading desolation throughout Europe." This condemnation seems to be pronounced somewhat prematurely, at a time when it has not been possible to digest carefully the data at our command. Indeed, it must appear the more premature as it is associated with extravagant praise of Sir Edward Grey in the rôle of an apostle of peace, a rôle which, for instance, Ramsay M. MacDonald, a Member of the English Parliament, does not think Sir Edward Grey has played with any too great an effort. Neither does it appear that at least two members of the English Cabinet were imbued with the necessity of England's participation in the war. You may be justified in not attaching great weight to the reports emanating from Berlin with regard to the efforts of the German Government for a peaceful solution of the Austro-Servian controversy-efforts interrupted, as many believe, at a moment of possible success by the duplicity of the Russian Government. You may not give credence to the reports showing the events going on in Belgium before its neutrality was violated, or to such documents as, for instance, the letter of M. de l'Eschaille, the Belgian Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburg, and naturally any man may construe the data at his disposal as he sees fit. But the editor of a responsible magazine should be a little wary in pronouncing judgment in such momentous events as are now going on, and should not anticipate the dictum of history, which at a more opportune moment will be amply capable of dealing with its own questions. Dr. SAMUEL AMBERY. Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.

A prominent New York City hotel has placed in its lobby a bale of cotton with this inscription on one side: "Cotton Good as Gold! Cotton warehouse receipts accepted by the Hotel in payment of room accounts." On the other side this appears: "Why don't you buy a bale of Cotton and help the South? Inquire at office," etc. The bale of cotton is generally surrounded by an interested throng of possible buyers.

Warring nations differ even as to the names they give to great battles. The Battle of Waterloo is known to the French as the Battle of La Belle Alliance; the Austrians call the Battle of Sadowa the Battle of Königgrätz; the Battle of Bull Run, so called in the North, was to the Confederacy the Battle of Manassas. A writer in the "Youth's Companion," noting this fact, says that the explanation is that battles usually take their names from a prominent landmark occupied by an army, and of course these differ with each of the opponents.

The best endeavors of the best architects in America, says "House and Garden," are found in the houses they have built for themselves, unhampered by the crude desires of whimsical owners. No profession, according to this magazine, is so limited by its clients as is that of the architect; he must tolerate changes that often entirely destroy the unity of his work.

"House

and Garden" plans to make a book that will show what the architects can do when they have free scope, as in the building of their own

houses.

The navy-yard at New Orleans is to be reopened, it is announced, as the Secretary of the Navy believes that it will be a matter of economy to send the gunboats and other war vessels which are kept in Mexican waters to New Orleans for repairs, instead of assigning them to a Northern yard.

Under the title "Our Cultural Humility," Randolph S. Bourne, in the "Atlantic Monthly," deprecates America's indifference to its own art and philosophy. Here is a sentence from his article: "In the music of MacDowell, the poetry of Whitman, the philosophy of James, I recognize a national spirit, 'T'esprit americain,' as superbly clear and gripping as anything the culture of Europe has to offer us, and immensely more stimulating."

The term "sheet anchor," according to a nautical journal which endeavors to explain the derivation of some sea phrases, should really be "shoot anchor," for its purpose is to be shot out in an emergency; the "dog watch," which is instituted to secure a change of the daily routine, is a corruption of "dodge watch;"

Redondo Beant

"jury mast comes from the French jour, day, such a mast being rigged only temporarily, or for one day. Ingenious guesses, these, which the dictionaries neither confirm nor refute.

The German auxiliary cruiser Cap Trafalgar, which was sunk by the Carmania off the coast of Brazil, is described as having been in a class by herself in the River Plate service, the luxuriousness of her appointments being unsurpassed. She was completed only a few months ago. These fine merchant vessels usually have no chance when they meet a rival of superior armament, and especially when a war cruiser overhauls them, for they are extremely vulnerable.

Some one makes a suggestion for the "effi- : cient kitchen to the effect that the housewife can provide herself with a convenient twinecutter by getting her "handy man to file the inner side of a common screw hook to a cutting edge. The hook may then be screwed into a convenient place, and the twine can instantly be severed by drawing it over the sharp edge.

An enterprising farmer wins a prize from the Progressive Farmer" for his method of straightening a crooked creek. By means of ditches which required the work of two teams only three days, he asserts, with some additional work in the cutting of timber, he shortened a creek whose channel had been two miles long until it was less than half a mile in length. A field which had been cut into twenty-three parts was in this way reduced to two sections only, with great advantage in its cultivation. Needless to say, this feat was not accomplished on a New England farm, but on the "sandy bottoms" of Texas.

The stores of Paris that are still doing business, even the big department stores, are reported now to be closed for an hour at noon, because there are not enough clerks left for one to relieve another at lunch time.

The philosopher's dictum, "Whatever is, is right," is brought to mind by the statement that the extermination of tigers in some parts of India has resulted in a vast increase in the number of wild pigs, with consequent destruction of the natives' crops. The philosopher's saying may be open to question, but it is certainly true that whenever the "balance of nature" is disturbed unlooked-for results follow.

Mark Twain, though dead, lives again in the pages of "Harper's Monthly" for October, in "A Scrap of Curious History." The contribution, written in 1894, is tragic, not humorous; it tells of the early days of abolitionism in a small town of Missouri. The narrative has its bearing on attempts to suppress Socialism.

T

HE week-October 14 to 21-was almost as barren of reliable news as the preceding one. Neither side scored any definite advantage. The center of interest was in western Belgium, where the Germans advanced to the coast at Ostend; but the conflict there is-as we go to press-still raging and undecided. There has also been severe fighting at other points in the long battle line, notably at Arras and St. Mihiel. There have been conflicting rumors from the extreme right of the French line. A despatch from Berlin speaks of an advance in force against Belfort, and a Paris report tells of French advances in Alsace. In the eastern campaign there is reason to believe that an immense battle is developing which will be at least as important as that in France. Where the opposing forces are is still vague, but the principal struggle will probably be on or near the Vistula to the south of Warsaw. Just what is happening there is impossible to determine, as the official reports are flatly contradictory. It is proba⚫ble that those actually engaged in the battle do not yet know which side is winning.

On the sea the fight continues to be one of small ships, submarines, and torpedoboats. England has suffered the most in the loss of war-ships. But she could go on losing vessels at this rate. for many months before her control of the sea would be seriously threatened. The Germans and Austrians are wisely pursuing their original plan of keeping their big battle-ships in the safety of their fortified naval bases. And as long as they do there will be no great naval battle. There are unconfirmed rumors of a clash between Russian and Turkish ships in the Black Sea, based on the sound of firing reported from a Rumanian port. A number of

similar sea fights have from time to time been reported from Sandy Hook. Any firstclass thunder-storm is enough to start them. If, however, Turkey should declare war on Russia, she has in the battle-ships she recently bought from Germany much more formidable fighting machines than any of the units of the Russian Black Sea fleet.

The censorship has removed South Africa from the old civilized world of easy communications. Only the vaguest rumors have come through as to the extent of the Boer revolt. Japan is pegging away at the siege of Kiaochau, without any very noticeable progress, but she has enough energy to spare to go ahead effectively with the lighter work of lowering the German flag in the scattered islands of the Pacific.

No one of the neutral countries has as yet been drawn into the war, but recent rumors from the Balkans are disquieting. The new King of Rumania will have trouble in keeping his subjects quiet. Once an army is mobilized it is very hard to demobilize. The question as to whether or not Turkey will get drawn in seems to depend more on which clique intrigues itself into power than on any broad principles. And if Turkey moves, all the Balkan States will be involved.

The New York" Evening Post" estimates, on the basis of the casualty lists published by the British War Office, that the losses of the war in these first eighty days total the appalling figure of 1,750,000 men. And the indications are that the war is only begun.

THE BELGIAN CAMPAIGN

Simultaneously with the attack on Antwerp the Germans developed a new offensive movement, aimed at the left flank of the Allies. Their intention seems to have been

to push their army, which had been before Antwerp, to the English Channel at Ostend and to sweep down the coast to the rear of the Allies' line, which ran north from Noyon, through Arras, past Lille to the Belgian frontier, and at the same time to hurl a fresh army from Brussels towards Lille. It was

said that this was a new attempt at a rush on Paris along the seashore. But this was hardly probable, for a coast road is unfavorable for military operations, as it means crossing every river at the widest point. But if the Germans could have got as far south on the coast as Boulogne, and at the same time delivered a heavy attack at Lille, the Allies' left wing would have had to give ground and would have been lucky if it could have stopped at the Somme.

However, General Joffre was quick to foresee this menace and rushed troops to the north to meet it. It is still uncertain whether or not he has been able to stop the Germans. It is very largely a question of who can get the most men to the spot quickest. As we go to press the French War Office claim that their line runs almost north through Ypres to Nieuport, on the coast a few miles south of Ostend. They claim to have checked the attack on their lines near Lille, and that the plucky little Belgian army, having regained its breath, is holding the Germans on the line of the Yser River. But it is probable that neither side has yet been able to bring all its force to bear, and the line may swing back and forth for some days before an equilibrium is reached. Unless one side or the other develops overwhelming weight, they will dig themselves into trenches on a line running between north and west from Lille, and a deadlock of several weeks, like that of the Aisne, may result.

If the Allies can hold the ground they now occupy, it will be a victory for them-another German offensive defeated. Once this line of trenches, which now extends from the Swiss border to near Lille, is completed to the sea, all flanking operations will be over and any advance will have to be made by frontal attacks against field works. The Germans have not been notably successful at this kind of work elsewhere; they are no more likely to be so here. At best it is slow progress, and time is the Germans' worst enemy.

ARRAS AND ST. MIHIEL

While this struggle in western Belgium has been raging, the old conflict which was

at first called the Battle of the Aisne has

been in progress. Along that particular river there has been relative calm, but around Arras, on the Scarpe, the fighting has been particularly desperate, and the French official report of the 19th speaks of it as having been "uninterrupted" for ten days. The object of the Germans. seems to have been to strike so hard that the Allies would need reinforcements here and be unable to send

troops farther north. In this they appear to have failed. The French had enough men to hold their ground here, even make some advance, and at the same time rush forces into western Belgium.

St. Mihiel on the Meuse is a sleepy little town of less than ten thousand inhabitants, half-way between Verdun and Toul. It owes its recent newspaper fame to the fact that it is the one place where the Germans have been able to force their way across the river. And here the Meuse is the real military frontier of France. The tide of battle has flowed back and forth through French Lorraine. Ever since the war began the Germans, operating from Metz, have been trying to drive the French out of this skirmishing ground and to force a passage of the Meuse. Here at St. Mihiel they succeeded in getting some men across. It is one point at least where they have broken the enemy's line by frontal attacks. The French cannot claim that this was a strategic" retreat. Day after day, gaining only a few miles a week, the German battering-ram drove them back, and, probably at great cost, made this breach in the eastern defenses of France, gained this opening into the heart of the country.

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But the French resistance stiffened at once. The Germans were not able to cross in large numbers. The French have been trying desperately to dislodge them, but the Germans have "dug themselves in " and are holding on tenaciously. Despatches from Berlin say that they are prepared to hold on indefinitely. But while the French have made no progress against this advanced post, they have very nearly succeeded in isolating it. Unless the Germans are able to develop a new and strong offensive here, their small forces at St. Mihiel will soon be completely enveloped.

The outcome of this western campaign seems to depend on the amount of reserve force the Germans possess. Every one who had followed military matters expected them to excel all other nations in the speed with which they could develop their maximum