Reviews.

Reviews .

THE DIRECTORY OF PAPER MAKERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM for 1901 , is as invaluable to the trade as ever . It contains an alphabetical list of the paper makers of the United Kingdom , also lists of paper enamellers , paper makers' repre-- sentatives , London wholesale stationers , and the grouping of paper mills in the various counties : The classification of makes with makers' names , trade designations used as water marks , and information valuable to the trade generally is published . Publishers : Henderson , Craig and Co ., Limited , 97 , Queen Victoria-street , E . C .

_ In addition to the above , we have received the following new books , which will be reviewed in our next issue : From Messrs . Methuen , "The Redemption of David Corson , " by C . F . Goss ; "The Black Wolf ' s Breed , " by Harris Dickfon ; and " Bunter's Cruise , " by Charles Gleig . From Chatto and Windus , "East London , " by Sir Walter Besant .

_ How TO READ THE WAR NEWS * FROM CHINA , published by T . Fisher Unwin , pnce _ is ., is a useful vade-mecum of notes and hints to readers of despatches and intelligence from the seat of war , with a coloured map and glossary of military and technical terms . There are also short descriptions of various places mentioned in despatches , notes on the customs , army and institutions of the Chinese , also short biographical sketches of prominent men among them , and among the Allies who have been opposed to them . To the newspaper reader who wishes to take an intelligent interest in the progress of events in the Far East , this little book will prove invaluable .

LA REVUE DE PARIS , London current edition , T . Fisher Unwin , price 2 s ., is replete with articles of interest to those who are able to enjoy F rench literature in the original . The serial story , " Le Cilice , " is concluded in this number , and a new story by Paul Adam , entitled , ' * L'Enfant d'Austerlitz , " is commenced , the scene of which is France under Napoleon . Not only is the story interesting from an historical standpoint , but it will evidently be of peculiar interest to Freemasons . The disastrous effects of revolutionary politics on Continental Masonry is abundantly demonstrated , and there are other points about this tale calculated to interest members of the Craft . There is a

further very thoughtful article on the Triple Alliance , dealing more particularly with its second renewal , 1887-1801 , from the pen of M . Billot , while M . Diehl writes of the dead cities of the East in a most readable manner , and takes special notice of the traces of French architecture in Cyprus and Rhodes . Character studies of the painter , Alfred A-rache , and that quaint 18 th century soothsayer , Catharine Theot , are sandwiched between a chatty article on the beginnings of the popular novel , and an account by Gaston de Scgur of a canoe-trip up the Wanganui River , in New Zealand .

We have received from the publishers , Messrs . J . Miles and Co ., 6 S-70 , Wardourstreet , a handsomely-bound copy of " Vagrom Verse and Ragged Rhyme , " by Robert George Legge . Though unambitious in title , yet the verses are undeniably excellent , and are written with true poetic instinct , and the arrangement of metre is in accordance with the truest canons of art . A vein of philosophy , frequently sad , but never pessimistic , is apparent throughout . The poems worthy , in our opinion , of especial mention are "The Dream Birds , " " Philosophy , " "A Prayer , " and last , though by no means least , " Wrecks . " Other poems in this volume have been inspired by recent events , the War in South Africa , the death of the Queen , & c .

The Swan Electric Engraving Company have forwarded fo us an edition de luxe of their latest publication " The Progress of British Newspapers in the igth Century , " which , in a form and style superior to anything hitherto attempted , gives a general view , in very readable form , of the progress of the great " Fourth Estate " during the last century . The history of the London papers during the period dealt with has been

written by Mr . H . R . Fox-Bourne ; that of the provincial papers by Mr . Alex . Paterson ; that of the Scottish papers by Mr . Jas . Strong , and that of the Irish by Sir Jas . Henderson , Bart ., Past President of the Institute of Journalists . The linotype has been used in the composition of the work , and the illustration of various newspapers , with portraits of their proprietors or editors , do infinite credit to the engraver's art .

"ONLY A WOMAN—CRUCIFIED , " published by Messrs . Simpkin , Marshall and Co ., is by the authoress of "Checkmated" and other works . The view of life presented by this little volume is of a sombre hue , almost entirely unrelieved by any brighter tints than those afforded by the descriptions of the various places visited by the heroine in her travels , and one would fain believe that such characters as Dr . Spiritus , Colonel Walkett , and the Bar-Sinisters were merely creatures of the fancy , only that experience proves they have but too many counterparts in real life . The heroine , Eleanore Vernon , is the descendant of a noble Irish family , born in Australia , and , contrary to the

traditions ot her house , brought up as a Protestant . Dr . Spiritus and Father Freeman , both Jesuits , follow the heroine , who is a great heiress , with their persecutions , in consequence of her secession from the Romish Church . Their evil influence affects her married life adversely , and subsequently pursues her in her endeavours to substantiate her claims to the property of which her branch of the family are the rightful owners . The Jesuist finally combine with the Bar-Sinisters and their tool , Colonel Walkett , only too successfully , and Eleanore sinks lower and lower in the social scale till penury and madness are her portion , and she is finally murdered by Colonel Walkett .

"Bv COMMAND OP THE PRINCH , " by J . Lawrence Lambe , published byT . Fisher Unwin , price 6 s . There are many novelists who constantly seek fresh scenes as the theatre of action for their plots , just as there are others who always lay the scene of their novels in a particular country , but it is some time since we read a work of fiction so absolutely fresh as regards the misc-en -seine , local colour , and contemporaneous histoiical events as is the work under review . The scene of the plot is in Bulgaria , for the most part , either at Sofia or Phillipopolis , though occasionally it is transferred to

Buda-Pesth . Ihe author evidently knows both the country and the people intimately , and would appear to have been an eye-witness of the dramatic history of that country fiom its deliverance from Turkish rule after the Bulgarian atrocities of 1877 , including the struggle for supremacy between the Liberals and Conservatives after the accession of Prince Alexander , the patriotism of the Prince for his adopted cou ntry , with the consequent estrangement of Russia , and the Muscovite intrigues which led first of all to the Servian War in which Prince Alexander defeated the late King Milan , the

subsequent kidnapping of the Prince , his return , abdication , succession by Prince Ferdinand , the assassination ot the patriot Stambouloff , and ultimate reconciliation with , not to say absorption by , Russia . The plot of the story is interwoven with the political events of the times . Detcho Boytcheff is the son of a Bulgarian brigand , educated for the army by Prince Alexander , and distinguished for valour at the battle of Slivnitza in the Servian War . Subsequently he joins the Russophil paity , and is concerned in the abdication of the Prince , and on the triumph of

Russia becomes a Court favourite and aide-de-camp at the Palace . When only a poor lieutenant he falls in love with a beautiful Austrian girl , a singer at one of the cafes rhantantioi Sofia . Their marriage is postponed until Boytcheff can pay his debts and attain to a position more secure . In the meantime a child is born , and , though a favourite at Court , partly indeed because thereof the debts increase , and Bojtcheff marries the daughter of a wealthy priest in order to rid himself of them . The deserted mistress creates a scandal at the Palace which threatens to ruin Boytcheff , whose debts

his rich father-in-law refuses to pay . Then follows the murder of the betrayed woman , the discovery of the crime by the united endeavours ot the Austrian Minister and the murdeied woman ' s fellow-singers at the cafes chanlants , concluding with the execution of the murderer and his accomplice , the Prefect of Police . Whether regarded as a woik tf fiction or as a lucid explanation of the almost inco mprehensible politics ot the Balkxn Peninsula , or both , "By Command of the Prince" is deserving of very high praise .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Excelsior Lodge , No . 1155 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . JOHN HENRY WITTY . This eventful meeting , which was unique in many ways , and also a record one took place at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , on Thursday , the 9 th instant . A large assemblage of the brethren met to witness the installation of so worthy and distinguished a brother into the chair of K . S . Amontr those present were : Bros . B *

Lewin , W . M . ; H . Loveless , I . P . M . ; John Henry Witty , S . W . and W . M . elect-G . W . Brading , J . W . ; D . Varrell , P . M ., Treas . ; C . Clark , P . M ., Sec ; W . G * Simmons , P . M ., D . C ; J . E . Williams , J . D , ; Thos . Wall , I . G . ; E . S . Cockton Org . ; R . W . Pembroke , Stwd . ; G . A . Ball , P . M . 1961 , Tyler ; Thos . Bugler P . M . ; Stephen Gunner , P . M . ; Thos . Hales , P . M . ; H . Pitt , P . M . ; G . G * Beneditti , P . M . ; T . G . Caulfield , F . H . Hall , E . E . Smith , P . Richbell . William Williams , W . J . Huntley , B . W . CooneyH . PatienceSidney RowlandWB

, , , . . Tomlinson , A . Lesser , W . H . Scottorn , and H . T . Saunders . The visitois were : Bros A . Akam , 871 ; T . H . Sewell , 1339 ; F . Berry , I . P . M . 211 ; G . H . Hall , 1339 AmosOakdene , W . M . 24721 E . A . Waghorn , 2749 ; E . * G . Piatt , 1327 ; C G . Hamley . S . D . 2426 ; Thos . Grummant , P . M . and Sec . 1559 ; N . Hudson , 147 ; H . Kemp , P . M . S 62 ; G . D . Fairburn , Stwd . 30 ; Isaac Dunn , P . M . 1622 ; J . Ellinger , 2222

P . M . ; M . T . T . Strang , J . W . 19 S 1 ; C . Lloyd , Stwd . 1981 j Wm . Shepherd . J . W . 140 ; H . C . Cuttriss , 217 ; W . H . Keeble , P . M . 615 ; J . King , 917 ; N . Courtney , 1507 ; F . G . Messent , 1922 ; E . Morrant , I . G . 1601 ; N . Palmer , J . W . 2750 ; F . Baggey , 2535 ; W . Metcalfe , P . M . 2372 ; W . H . Lunsdell , 1623 ; W . Lewis , P . M . 79 ; J . S . Pointon , I . P . M . 1901 ; and Charles Henry Stone , P . M . 507 and 1641 .

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The Auditors presented their report , which showed the lodge to be in a thoroughly sound position with substantial balances on each account . The W . M . elect , Bro . J . H . Witty , was next presented by Bro . W . H . Simmons , P . M ., D . C , to the W . M ., Bro . F . Lewin , to receive from him the benefit of installation , which was performed in a most exemplary

manner in a full Board of 23 Installed Masters , the record number in the Iodge . Bro . J . H . Witty , W . M ., invested his officers in a capable and impressive manner as follows Bros . F . Lewin , I . P . M . ; G . W . Brading , S . W . ; J . E . Williams , J . W . ; D . Varrall , P . M ., Treas . ; C . Clark , P . M ., Sec ; W . G . Simmons , P . M ., D . C ; T . Wall . S . D . ; R . W . Pembroke , J . D . ; Wm . Williams , I . G . j P . Richbell , and B . w ! Cooney , Stewards ; E . S . Cockton , Organist ; and A . Ball , P . M ., Tyler .

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . The three addresses were most impressively and perfectly rendered by the Installing Master , Bro . F . Lewin . A ballot was taken for Mr . Wm . Hy . Scottorn , which proved unanimous in his favour . The W . M ., Bro . J . H . Witty , very kindly vacated the chair in favour of Bro . b . Lewin , I . P . M ., to allow him to initiate his friend , Mr . Scottorn , which ceremony was most ably rendered . Bro . W . G . Simmons , P . M ., gave the charge in an admirable manner . The W . M . assumed the chair , and it having been announced

he hoped to stand as a Steward at the next Boys' Festival , it was unanimously resolved — "That the sum of 10 guineas Irom the Benevolent Fund be placed upon his list . " The W . M ., in a few well-chosen remarks , most gratefully thanked the brethren for the unexpected , yet highly appreciated , gift . A like sum was also mentioned to be placed upon a Past Master ' s list—Bro . Bugler—at the forthcoming Benevolent Festival , of which notice of motion was given . Such acts of beneficence speak volumes , and a lodge carrying out such principles might well be proud . Another record in the lodge was

the presentation of a splendid banner by the I . P . M ., Bro . F . Lewin , as a thankolfenng to the lodge for his experiences during the past year . It was unanimously resolved" That a most cordial vote of thanks be accorded him for his very great kindness in presenting the lodge with such a beautiful banner . " In reply , Bro . F . Lewin said he thanked the brethren for allowing him to do so . The past year had been a very pleasant one , and he hoped that many such would be spent . He presented the banner as a thankoffering to the lodge , and he most heartily thanked them for so kindly receiving

the same . The business of the lodge ended , the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where the third record in the lodge occurred , viz ., never had such floral decorations been witnessed , the whole was perfectly enchanting—palms , daffodils , with the lovely creeper smilax in festoons all over the tables , interspersed with flowers , while every brother was provided with a beautiful button-hole in damask and blush roses . The whole arrangements spoke volumes for the master hand—the VV . M . —who was so ably supported by

his assistants . The banquet , too , was all that could be desired , and Bro . Callingham , the proprietor , is to be congratulated upon the excellence of the viands and the expedition with which the duties were carried out . , , The cloth removed , the W . M . presented the toist of "H . M . the King and the Craft " in loyal and patiiotic lerms . All knew the great service he hai rendered to Freemasonry , and all were proud that he had graciously taken the title of Protector 01 the Order .

Ihe toast was received right royally . r The W . M . next gave the toast of "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , " the lirst time it had been presented in the lodge . He had done e * l service in Freemasonry , and the Order would go on prospering with him at the head . In proposing the toast of . "The Pro G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., and the rest ot IJ « Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the W . M . said they performed their onerous oui «