Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , Music , & c . Intended ( or review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , Now Barnet . — : o : — Forty-one years in India , from Subaltern to Commander-in-Chief . By Field-Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar , V . C ., K . P ., G . C . B ., G . C . S . I ., G . C . I . E . New edition in one volume , with fifty-four illustrations ( 10 s ) . — Maemillan and Co ., Limited . A GREAT book , by a great soldier . How good the book is , and how great

the author's reputation , may bo gathered in part from the fact that this is the thirtieth edition . Since the publication of Stanley ' s " In Darkest Africa " there are but two works which can be said to have rivalled in popularity that wonderful narrative from the pen of the great explorer of Africa . Need we say that we refer to "Farthest North" and " Forty-one years in India" ? Not a few of the world ' s great workers , men of action and adventure , have proved themselves skilful writers too . Xenophon , Caesar , Napier , Roberts ;

among men who have wielded sword and pen with equal dexterity , these four will , we think , be always and everywhere eminent . We notice , indeed , that Bro . Lord Roberts has reminded us , in his gracoful preface to the first edition of this work , that the writer is a soldier rather than a man of letters . Were we to judge of his attainments from this volume alone we should insist that Lord Roberts has distinguished himself in both these great spheres of human life and activity . That he is a brave , sagacious and skilful general is matter

of common knowledge ; that he is in the best sense a man of letters is evident to all who appreciate how well he has written this long history of Indian life in sunshine and in storm , in peace and in war . This book is nothing less than the history of British rule in India during the whole period of which the author writes . The personal element adds greatly to the interest of the narrative as a . whole ; and so simple , so straight-forward , so unostentatious is the style throughout the whole story that we are perhaps in some danger of

forgetting how momentous were the events here recorded . Carlyle ' s battlepictures in his " Frederick the Great" are universally acknowledged , even by military men , to be masterpieces of their kind ; but very few who have never seen a battle can describe one save in a very crude and perfunctory manner . The truth of this is evident from the volume before us : for Lord Roberts ' s narrative of the Indian Mutiny and of the struggles in Afghanistan are as superior to those of most writers on these subjects as Napier ' s " History of the

Peninsular War " is superior to Southey ' s books on the same subject . We believe , however , that the part of this volume most frequently read will be that treating of the march from Kabul to Kandahar , in August 1880 . As readers are probably aware , it is no hyperbole on our part if we compare that wonderful " tour de force " with two other exploits of which we all read at school—the expedition of the Ten Thousand , and the retreat from Syracuse . During the memorable journey of 313 miles the food supply for some 18 , 000 men and 11 , 000 animals had to be found daily near the line of march ; an

ordeal which must have taxed the resources and endurance even of Lord Roberts and of the brave fellows who were with him . This volume contains many illustrations , plans and maps , and the type , considering how large a quantity of matter is comorised within a comparatively small space , is exceedingly clear . We hope—who does not ?—that the hero who , in India , passed from subaltern to Commander-in-Chief , may bring his present undertaking to a speedy and snccessful issue . Messrs . Maemillan have done the public a great service by the publication of this cheaper edition .

South Africa of To-day . By Captain E'rancis Younghusband , C . I . E ., Indian Staff Corps . With illustrations ( 6 s ) . —Maemillan and Co ., Ltd . CAPTAIN YOUNGHUSBAND has written a book upon South African affairs which does not lack his customary skill , and certainly is not deficient in entertaining and instructive subject matter . His opportunities of becoming acquainted with the Boers and their country were exceptional ; for as special correspondent to the "Times " he enjoyed many advantages denied to others .

But we fear his book is hardly written in such manner as to convert those who do not wholly approve of our actions towards the people of the South African Republic . We desire to acknowledge how generous is the author's estimate of the Boer character in his early chapters ; but must dissent very strongly from the tone of the latter portions of this book . As readers will naturally suppose , Captain Younghusband is sufficiently skilful so long as he confines himself to the narration of incidents , the compression of negotiations

and the description of the resources of Rhodesia . He is better at a thesis than at a synthesis . He can collect facts industriously and marshal them in a very imposing and efficient manner ; but when he attempts to establish some political doctrine therefrom , or to advocate a particular policy , he seems , in our judgment , much less successful . We will not cavil over the blemishes of an unquestionably useful and timely volume , but may quote one instance of the author ' s method in argument , which shall

serve to justify our strictures . On page 240 we read : — " The thousands of men and women flocking to South Africa from every part of crowded Europe in search of a livelihood are now beginning to ask whether all this wealth can be allowed to run to waste , whether the Boers are justified in keeping so rigorously in their own hands a country which , if properly administered , might afford a home and comfortable living to hundreds of thousands of the over-populated states of Europe , and whether they are really following out

the precepts of their often-quoted Bible when they persist in wrapping up their talent in a napkin and making nothing further of it . " Now , although the author is here speaking rather for a , diss than for himself , we may point oui the radical sophistry that underlies the policy insinuated in the above paragraph . It is the policy of the older child who pleads that he would take superior care of his junior ' s toys if transferred to him . It is the language invariably employed by those who wish to render tuum and meum convertible

terms . It is an argument which would have justified any of Alexander's incursions , any of Frederick ' s ambitions , any of Napoleon's conquests , any of out own former annexations . Indeed , the closer we examine the paragraph we have quoted the more objectionable it appears . It is ludicrous to imagine what would become of the balance of power in Europe if such notions were ever seriously entertained by responsible statesmen , to say nothing of one or two despots whom we could name . A great many intelligent persons have asked whether Russia is justified in retaining under

her iron rule vast territories which if " properly administered " might be a boon and a blessing to an enormous number of contented inhabitants . But Russia is powerful and can guard her own . For that reason , if for no other , she is in no danger of being raided . With the Transvaal it is otherwise . Many persons like tht . se of whom Capt . Younghusband speaks have observed that the land , if not everywhere well-wateied , is , at least desirable ; and such are more ready to emulate the conduct of Lot than that of Abraham . " We seek no territory " said Lord Salisbury . Nous veirons ! This hook ia well printed and well illustrated , and should have a very large circulation .

Books Of The Day.

BOOKS RECEIVED . Brown , V . C . By Mrs . Alexander . Second impression ( 6 s ) . —T . Fisher Unwin . The Oneida Community . A record of an attempt to carry out the

principles of Christian unselfishness and scientific race-improvement . By Allan Estlake ( 2 s 6 d net ) . —George Redway . Literary Reminiscences . By Edouard Grenier . ' Translated from the French by Mrs . Abel Ram ( 6 s ) . —Adam and Charles Black . Negro Nobodies . Being a series of sketches of Peasant life in Jamaica .

By Noel de Montagnac . No . VI . of the " Over-seas Library " ( Is bd ) . — T . Fisher Unwin . The Englishwoman ' s Year Book and Directory 1900 . Second year of new issue . Edited by Emily Janes . Twentieth year ( 2 s 6 d net ) . — Adam and Charles Black .

In London ' s Heart . By George R . Sims ( 2 s ) . —Chatto and Windus . Lord Roberts of Kandahar , V . C . The life story of a groat soldier . By Walter Jerrold . With nine illustrations ( 2 s 6 d net ) . —S . W . Partridge and Co . The Armies of the World . By Charles S . Jorram . —Lawrence andBullen , Limited .

Bearers of the Burden . Being stories of Land and Sea . By Major W . P . Drury . Second Edition . —Lawrence and Bullen , Limited . A Glimpse of the Tropics , or , four months cruising in the West Indies . By E . A . Hastings Jay , LL . B ., F . R . G . S . With illustrations . —Sampson Low , Marston , and Co ., Limited . British Policy in South Africa . By Spenser Wilkinson . Third Edition ( Is ) . —Sampson Low , Marston , and Co ., Limited .

The Georgics of Virgil . Translated by R . D . Blackmore , M . A . ( Is ) . — Sampson Low , Marston , and Co ., Limited . The Plots of some of the most famous Old English Plays , with index of the principal characters . By Henry Grey . F . R . B . S ., F . Z . S ., F . I . Inst ., & c . Second thousand ( 2 s 6 d ) . —Swan Sonnenschein and Co ., Limited . Black Jamaica . A study in evolution . By W . P . Livingstone . —Sampson Low , Marston , and Co ., Limited .

Ad00503

Just published , Crown 8 vo ., Cloth , 5 s . MILITARY LODGES . The Apron and the Sword , or Freemasonry under Arms ; being an account of Lodges in Regiments and Ships of War , and of famous soldiers and sailors ( of all countries ) , who have belonged to the Society , together with biographies of distinguished Military and Naval Brethren , and anecdotes showing the influence of Masonry in warfare . By Robert Freke Gould ( late 31 st Foot , barrister-at-law ) Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , P . M . Nos . 92 and 2076 London , 153 Gibraltar , 570 Shanghai , and 743 1 st Batt . East Surrey Regiment , & c . Author of " The History of Freemasonry , " and other Works . Gale and Polden , Ltd ., 2 Amen Corner , London ; and Aldershot .

Ad00502

SPIERS»POND'S STORES ( No Tickets Required ) QUEEN VICTORIA STREET , E . G ., Opposite Blackfriars Station ( District Riy . ) AND St . Paul's Station ( L . C . & D . Riy . ) . PRICE BOOK ( 1 , 000 pages ) , illustrated , free on application , FREE DELIVERY IN SUBURBS bs ? our ovtfn Vans . Liberal iernns for Countrtf © rders . FOR FULL DETAILS SEE PRICE BOOK .