the counting-house as well as on the field of battle; the feudal bars of iron are broken down, and golden keys begin to unlock the doors of office and influence. The great ministers of Tudor times, the Cromwells, the Cecils, the Walsinghams, all spring from the middle, and not the old feudal, classes; and Queen Elizabeth herself was great-granddaughter of a London merchant. Politically, this expansion shows itself in the develop ment of the House of Commons at the expense of the House of Lords and of the monarchy; and, but for this middle-class aggression, Charles I. would never have laid his head on the block, nor James II. have fled beyond the sea. Economically, the whole geographical movement, the search for new trade routes, the formation of great companies, the Merchant Adventurers, the East India Company, the Levant Company, are all expressions of the growth of a commercial middle class.

Not that Professor Pollard fails to warn his readers against undue faith in general statements. He is, in fact, keenly alive to the ease with which generalization may be employed to distort truth, conceal ignorance, or avoid thought. Thus, writing of nationality, which he considers the dominant note of modern as opposed to medieval and ancient history, he observes that when the question arises of why the sentiment of nationality prevailed over the old idea of universality, it is not enough to say, as some would, that this was simply the result of the influence of national char

Novels and Tales

acter. What, he demands, is this national character? Where does it come from? And, still further, how identify nationality itself? All of which leads him into a careful, painstaking, luminous discussion of the factors that have operated to distinguish an Englishman from a German, and a German from a Frenchman, and, in fine, to give nationality its predominating influence in the evolution of modern society. There is some capital analysis here--without, however, that minute particularization which robs so many historical works of their vitality.

It is unnecessary to enlarge on the more special topics with which Professor Pollard concerns himself in the course of his pages. Most of these, such as Henry VIII. and the Reformation," "Parliament," "Social Revolution," "Political Ideas of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries," "Church and State in England and Scotland," and "Cromwellian Constitutions," relate to the Tudor and Stuart periods of English history. Both of these, and more especially the Tudor period, Professor Pollard has made peculiarly his own. his case the years devoted to diligent research have had none of the deadening effects so often evident in the writings of professional historical investigators.

I

There are very few novelists indeed who could impart the interest of animation and living character to a discussion in fiction of medical fads and frauds. This is, nevertheless, exactly what Maarten Maartens has done in his "The New Religion." The delusions of people who think they are ill or who really are ill (for there is nothing commoner than a mingling of disease and delusion), the smooth deceit of the fashionable specialist who sends his patient from one expensive treatment to another without genuine belief in the benefit to be gained, the self-deceived and honest discoverers of promising remedies which fail in actual practice, the quack pure and simple, the confirmed valetudinarian, the patient who flits

The New Religion. By Maarten Maartens. D. Appleton & Co., New York. $1.50.

But in

from one sanitarium to another to taste and test them all-these and many other types are presented acutely, and with the obvious moral that in the care of our bodies terror, humbug, ignorance, and faddism are abominations, and that a sane attention to hygiene, a cheerful view of life, and the choice of a physician who is known to the patient to be honest and intelligent rather than famous and wealthy, are the primary requisites. As usual, the author is lavish in plot-surprises and queer incidents. The book is sometimes puzzling and sometimes exasperating, but it is never dull.

the book. While his good nature and clever turns of phrase are infectiously amusing, one is left rather breathless at the end. In "The Plow Woman," by the same author, Eleanor Gates, there was more variety in characters, and a decided promise of excellent original work. That is not entirely carried out in " Cupid," but there is sufficient vigor, wit, and clever handling of material to encourage us to look for even higher achievements.

It has become a habit among ministers to write novels, and as fiction is the favorite vehicle for all sorts of discussion and material, their choice is not surprising. Dr. R. S. Holmes writes of theological problems, making an original old Scotchman chief speaker, and his hero, a young minister, chief actor. The Maid of Honor," though described as transcendingly charming, is really too rude to be accepted seriously. She should have been taught her manners before she was old enough to attend her friend's wedding as maid of honor. The unobtrusive and altogether unusual devotion of the young dominie finally melted her hard heart, however, and she consented to marry a minister, disclosing the fact that her determination not to do so was the cause of all her bad behavior. As usual in these stories, emphasis is laid upon the high type of real religion found outside the church, and David Henderson, the Scotchman, though strong on dogma, is also mighty in good works.

The marriage question in relation to disparity of age is less often touched upon in fiction than are some other phases. This aspect is the pivot of Mr. E. F. Benson's novel' in which Hugh Grainger, a man of twentyfour, marries a widow of forty-two, whose earlier marriage was a disastrous one. In this union there is perfect harmony of tastes and mind and a passionate mutual love; there is nothing to prevent its being an ideal coupling of two human beings except the great gulf between twenty-four and fortytwo-with the seniority on the wrong side. No "little rift" appears to open gradually and silence the music of this marriage, though the wife feels an occasional qualm as she glances into futurity, knowing that the years that will bring only maturity to Hugh will bring old age to her; what will be the outcome? There is only one ending that can avert unhappiness in such a case, and Edith's qualms were needless. Mr. Benson's most admirable point as a writer is his hatred and clever setting forth of cant and priggishness and his clear contrasting

1 The Maid of Honor. By Richard S. Holmes. The Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. $1.50.

2 Sheaves. By E. F. Benson. Doubleday, Page & Co., New York. $1.50.

of it with the real goodness it attempts to mimic. In Edith Grainger is portrayed a thorough Christian gentlewoman. She is a creation any novelist might be proud of. Several of the other characters display clever handling, particularly a pushing would-be society woman whose snobbishness and hypocrisy form a foil to Edith's genuine refinement and goodness; also Ambrose and Perpetua, a delightful pair of juvenile prigs.

The days of New York when brocades, powder, and patches were worn, when, instead of automobiles and electric light, sedan chairs and link-boys were in vogue-these are the times portrayed in "The Van Rensselaers of Old Manhattan." The heroine rejoices in the name of India, and is a hoyden, as her starched old Tory relative appropriately but impolitely informs her. Still, she is so attractive that her path is literally besieged by the gallants of the day. Among her charms is an "arch gurgle," which is very often called into requisition; and she is remarkably demonstrative in manner. The other characters include the hero, a young Tory of fallen fortunes, a desperate and most repulsive villain, and an actress; while George Washington appears upon the scene, though very cursorily. There is very little plot, too much declamation, and a constant striving to produce atmosphere that is too apparent and therefore fails of its effect. The effort, too, to carry on the tale in the language of the period results in a stiited style that is very wearisome in spite of occasional anachronisms, such as "chortle" and "his nibs."

A heartless flirting mother, a selfish weakwilled father, and a little neglected daughter are the dramatis persone in this book of George Madden Martin's stories. Besides these appear officers of different standing and their wives, "non-coms," and "strikers." Strikers, be it known, are soldiers who add to their finances by performing, if they choose to do so, various duties in the households of the officers, in whatever fort they are stationed. Letitia's comfort and well-being depend greatly in the earlier stories on the amount of milk of human kindness existent in the striker her mother selects to be the guardian of the lonely little girl; fortunately, being a shrewd woman and having a keen eye to her own advantage, she usually selects judiciously. The stories are amusing and give a good insight into wandering military life; the characters are avowedly reproduced from living types, and are vividly depicted and

1The Van Rensselaers of Old Manhattan. By Weymer Jay Mills. The Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York. $1.50, net.

Letitia: Army Corps, U.S.A.. By George Madden Martin. The McClure Company, New York.

not overdrawn; but the language is sometimes marred by obscurity owing to an obvious effort to imitate Kipling's style.

Greece and the Egean Islands

This is a charming and finely illustrated book by a New Englander, a philhellene, who would make of benefit to others his experience that "it is as easy now to view and enjoy the visible remnants of the glory that was Greece as it is to view those of the grandeur that was Rome." Athens has been abundantly described by many writers, but there are other and remote places which have been less adequately made known to tourists; much also which even the latest technical accounts of archæologists imperfectly present. There is ground, therefore, which this volume covers as no other has yet done, and the journeys to which it invites involve, says Mr. Marden, no more discomfort than a journey through Italy. With this volume in hand any intelligent traveler should find the rough places made smooth, with the direction and information that the stranger

craves.

Colonel Lathers's

Those who were fortunate enough to read the bioReminiscences graphical memoir which appeared at the time of Colonel Richard Lathers's election as an honorary member of the Grand Army of the Republic have a lively recollection of the account there given of Colonel Lathers's energetic but futile efforts as a peace-maker on the eve of the Civil War. Born in South Carolina, Colonel Lathers was a prominent New York business man when the agitation over slavery reached its most critical point. A Southerner, he was none the less loyal to the Union, took a lead ing part in framing the New York appeal to the South, and carried this appeal in person to a number of Southern cities. At Mobile

the news of the firing on Sumter brought to a sudden end the meeting at which he was delivering his plea in behalf of the Union; and his mission was abruptly terminated at New Orleans when the mayor of that city ordered him to leave town on the first train. After which, he returned North and was active in the raising of money and men for the successful conduct of the war by the Union armies. All this, and much more, is now to be found in his "Reminiscences," posthumous volume of striking interest. Although he died only four years ago,Colonel Lathers's manhood recollections stretched back to the early forties, and he writes from personal knowledge of many men who were

a

1 Greece and the Exean Islands. By Philip Sanford Marden. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston. $3, net. Reminiscences of Richard Lathers. Edited by Alvan F. Sanborn. The Grafton Press, New York. $2.50, net.

then to the fore in the public life of the United States-Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Van Buren, and many others. His book is overflowing with anecdotes-most of them worth while-and with pleasant little glimpses of the life of old Charleston and of antebellum New York. So that, whether viewed from the historical, social, or personal angle, it has much to commend it to an extended circle of readers.

Charles Clark Munn writes The Healthful pleasantly of "Boyhood Days Life on the Farm,' "1 and Frank T. Merrill furnishes the illustrations of a book that will bring many memories to readers of similar experiences. A New England lad, Orlo Upton, tells of his routine work, and the play and dreaming that came daily into his young life. Ghosts, queer happenings in the fields and woods, tales told by Old Remus," the boys' friend, and everything that makes up the human interest of a country neighborhood, come in to this quiet, well-told story of real life.

Ibsen's Works

Volume XI. of the collected works of Ibsen contains

"Little Eyolf,” John Gabriel Borkman," and "When We Dead Awaken,” translated, with introductions to the three plays, by Mr. William Archer. "Little Eyolf" was written in 1894, "John Gabriel Borkman " was presented for the first time at Copenhagen in 1896, and "When We Dead Awaken " was published shortly before Christmas in 1899. The latter play was written in such a passion that Ibsen's friends were seriously alarmed by his feverish state of mind. This play is perhaps less known by the great majority of readers of Ibsen than any of the earlier dramas. Mr. Archer interprets it as a piece of self-caricaturea series of echoes from the earlier plays. With the publication of this volume the new edition of Ibsen's works is completed. It has fulfilled its promise of being a thoroughly satisfactory piece of book-making.

The recent disturbances in Earthquakes California and South America have turned public attention and curiosity very strongly toward inquiry into the causes. and results of earthquakes. Professor Hobbs, who occupies the chair of geology at the University of Michigan, gives us in his new volume what we believe to be by far the most thorough study of the subject, which is couched in fairly untechnical language, and may be read with a clear understanding by

1 Boyhood Days on the Farm. By Charles Clark Munn. The Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Company, Boston. $1.50. 2 Collected Works of Henrik Ibsen (Copyright Edition). Volume XI. Little Eyolf, John Gabriel Borkman, When We Dead Awaken. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. $1.

ago.' Set over against this statement the contrasting fact that the road from Jerusa lem to Jericho is still unsafe, that robberies have occurred there within the memory of men still living, and we get some conception of the difference between a static and dy namic civilization. Into our dealings with the evils of a dynamic civilization bring once more the remedy of Christ, the remedy of a larger neighborliness, and the next twenty-five years would be as wonderful spiritually as the last twenty-five have been materially." A good book to read, to lend, or to give to other neighbors.

Adventures in Contentment

Mr. David Grayson in these 'dwells on country life, papers' its broadening and elevating influences. He describes the beautiful things of nature-the smell of freshly plowed loam on a spring day, when the clouds hang low and the birds are calling from the budding trees; the joy of seeing the little green blades pushing up, of watching them grow and grow till the bearded heads wave with every breath of wind in billows over the field, and, finally, the delight of harvesting the goodly crop. He is fair, too; he admits that country life has its disadvantages, such as harnessing a muddy horse in the rain, or driving intrusive chickens continually out of the barn, also that women are apt to demand an inordinate amount of kindling-wood. In spite of these drawbacks, Mr. Grayson considers that outdoor life is happy and healthful enough to compensate a man amply for sacrificing wealth and position in order to enjoy it. His enthusiasm is such that he almost infects a millionaire with his views; he is less successful, however, with some of his farmer neighbors, who evidently regard him as mentally wanting in expressing ideas so little in accord with the " get rich quick" spirit of the twentieth century.

Books of reminiscence, if Shirley Brooks good in their class, are of Punch among the most enjoyable of all books. One dealing with a famous editor of Punch in Punch's palmiest days could not fail to be jovial. Mark Lemon, Leech, Tenniel, Thackeray, Tom Taylor, Percival Leigh, were Brooks's personal intimates and professional associates. Brooks succeeded Lemon, Punch's first editor, as editor-in-chief, and he has been described as "perhaps the most brilliant and useful allaround man who ever wrote for Punch." There is mighty good picking here, then, for the lover of anecdotes and personal sketches. But, good as the book is, it might have been

1 Adventures in Contentment. By David Grayson. Doubleday, Page & Co., New York, $1.20

better but for two unfortunate circumstances: one is that in some way a great deal of the material gathered by Shirley (almost everybody called him Shirley) for the express pur. pose of making a book of reminiscences has been, through family differences, unavailable; the other reason is that Mr. Layard, bound apparently to make a portly volume, has not digested, selected, and rejected from among his material as carefully as one might wish. There was naturally and inevitably a great deal that was ephemeral and trivial about Brooks's humorous writing, and even brilliantly genial letters do not always sparkle as they should after half a century. Shirley Brooks was an extraordinarily adaptable man, ready to write anything from a threevolume novel to a three-line squib at a minute's notice. He was a capital editor and a most agreeable fellow, but he left nothing that lives in the way of literature. One of the most unconsciously humorous bits in this book' is the repetition of the announcement that " Once a Week" was to be braced up from a weakness caused by printing unacceptable fiction through the serial publication of Shirley Brooks's "The Silver Cord"— the unacceptable novels which had preceded were Reade's "The Cloister and the Hearth" and Meredith's "Evan Harrington"!

Some Neglected Aspects of War

2

In his latest published work Captain Mahan treats of war under several phases: its moral aspect, its practical aspect, and as viewed from the Christian standpoint. Also he writes of the Hague Conference of 1907 and the question of immunity for belligerent merchant shipping, In maintaining that war has a moral raison d'être, Captain Mahan remarks that no evil that war can bring can equal the moral declension that a nation inflicts upon itself and upon mankind by deliberate acquiescence in wrong which it recognizes and which it may right. Even if war is made upon mistaken premises, this judgment stands-it is not the accuracy of

decision but the faithfulness to conviction which constitutes the moral worth of an acspeaks of the "control from good to evil of tion, national or individual. Captain Mahan the sword," pointing to the birth of the United States, to the resultant lesson changing Great Britain from the mistress to the mother of her dependencies; to the French Revolution; to the betterment in India's and Egypt's condition. One of the beneficent results of war was seen in 1898, when the veil that parted two great English-speaking

2 Shirley Brooks of Punch: His Life, Letters, and Diaries. By George Somes Layard. Henry Holt & Co., New York. $3.50, net.

1 Some Neglected Aspects of War. By Captain A. T. Mahan, U. S. N. Little, Brown & Co., Boston. $1.50, net.