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Page 150. THE Page 147 The SHRINE of theJESTER CRITIC. BYFLORENCE FARR No. AN IN-DEPENDENT SOCIALIST REVIEW The ANGLORUSSIAN ALLIANCE. BY E. NESBIT. OF POLITICS, LITERATURE, Edited by A. R. ORAGE and HOLBROOK THE OUTLOOK. AND ART JACKSON ONE PENNY 669 [New Series. Vol. I. No. IO.] THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1907. ~~~$,,,&f~~;~~“*] his own policy in opposition to antagonists formidable separately and; it might be thought, irresistible in comcombination. It is not easy to fight Catholicism ; it is not Is it Too Late ? easy to fight Socialism ; it is not easy to fight the Is it too late to save our national honour from a whole population of three departments banded to degross betrayal ? That is the question which all decent Yet M. stroy the very machinery of government. Englishmen must be asking themselves when they read Clemenceau has fought all three, and his Ministry still Sir Edward Grey’s confirmation of the rumours of an stands. Will it stand for long? It seems almost inAnglo-Russian agreement. It is a singular defect in credible. The majority of ninety by which he secured our democratic institutions that even Parliament has his vote of confidence this week was a considerable no control over the most vital issues of foreign policy, reduction on that by which M. Millerand’s vote of cenalliances and wars being made by the executive solely censure defeated a week earlier. was It would now seem on their own responsibility. Even if it were not so, that he is trying to meet the wishes of the wine-growers we doubt if the present House of Commons would by a Bill to check adulteration. But the peasants are refuse any slough of national humiliation through which still in revolt and the agitation shows no signs of abatthe Government may choose to. drag it. But the ining. The Socialists alone have a policy which goes to dignant protests of-a whole people no Government can the root of the problem, and the Socialists arc now as afford to despise, and we believe that such protests completely antagonised as ever the Catholics were. will be forthcoming in full measure as soon as the Only an exceptionally commanding personality could, nation realizes the danger. Alas, it is hard to make in a country of which the two main traditions are rethe nation realize it ! In another column we print a respectively Catholic and Democratic, keep in being a vigorous protest from the pen of E. Nesbit, which we Government which at one and the same time harasses commend to any of our readers who may be doubtful Churches and shoots down strikers. Something must about the necessity of immediate action. We will add doubtless be allowed for the instinctive French preference one word to her unanswerable plea. Granted, for the ence for a strong centralised administration, the presake of argument, that we care nothing for the liberty ference which created first the Monarchy, afterwards of the -Russian people or for our own fame as the his- the Committee of Public Safety, and later still the Emtoric friends of freedom ; granted that profit is the only pire, and which still keeps the Republic “ one and inend of our diplomacy ; what profit are we likely to divisible. But sooner or later we fancy that M. derive from negotiation with Russia? Is it not written Clemenceau be obliged either to make his peace with will on every page of history that Russia never gave a the Socialists or to follow Bismarck to Canossa. pledge that she did not break, never offered a price that she honestly paid, never accepted a concession without Doing the Honours. instantly demanding another? Fifty years ago the There is a certain irony about the rapidity with which Tsar solemnly pledged his royal honour that he would not keep a fleet in the Black Sea. No sooner was one the Liberal sham attack on the Lords is followed by the elevation of. four good Liberals to the despised and of the Powers that had exacted the pledge disabled hated ranks of the Peerage. When n-e examine the from enforcing it than he shamelessly repudiated it. The same thing happened in Manchuria, and Russia personalities of these four gentlemen, the irony becomes We have nothing to urge against would again have enjoyed the fruits of her perfidy had still more delicious. any of them considered as reputable citizens, but we do Japan proved as humble and helpless as n-c. The same not think that the most fanatical supporter of the Prime thing will happen again if these ill-starred negotiations Minister could pretend that there arc not (to use are concluded. If we sell the birthright of our honour Carlyle’s phrase) “ in all England four diviner men ” than and traditions, what guarantee have we that we shall Sir James Kitson, Sir James Blyth, Sir Samuel receive even our miserable mess of potage? The Ausand Mr. Alesander Peckover. The two outtrian Social Democrats have, we are glad to see, pro- Montagu, standing qualifications common to them all is that they tested against the civilities of the Hague Conference towards a Power stained with perfidy and murder. Can- are all sturdy Liberals who, in the language of annot our own Labour Party be persuaded to do the other recipient of birthday honours, “ never thought of thinking for themselves at all “, and that they are all same? very rich men and have probably subscribed liberally to the party funds. How unkind of Mr. Belloc to hint in Clemenceau and the Wine Growers. the presence of his leaders in the House of Commons Macaulay said admiringly of Lord Palmerston : that peerages were occasionally bought and sold ! For ” What a knack that fellow has of falling on his feet ! ” the rest, the honours may pass as fairly well-earned. The same praise must be conceded to M. Clemenceau. Sir W. S. Gilbert’s -knighthood is thoroughly deserved; We do not like his politics : we entirely concur in the and may be regarded as some sort of reparation for the censure which the French Socialists have pronounced idiotic behaviour of the Lord Chamberlain in the maton his arbitrary and repressive measures. But we ter of “ The Mikado. ” Sir William Cremer is, we cannot withhold a certain degree of respect from the take it, the first Trade Unionist to obtain a knighthood, personal qualities which have enabled him to carry out and we congratulate him, though his political views are 146 The NEW AGE. JULY4, 1907 Sir Robert Morant is an excellent not of our colour. type of the hard-working and efficient public functionary whose services are certainly not overpaid by a K.C.B. Knighthoods should always be a more real distinction than peerages, because they are not hereditary, but are (or should be) the reward of personal To such an merit, like the French Legion of Honour. aristocracy Socialism has no objection: for the rejection of Mr. Pete Curran, an Irishman and a Home Ruler, but one who does not limit his sympathies to one side of the St. George’s Channel, in favour of Mr. O’Hanlon. We trust that the workmen of Jarrow, English and Irish, will resist all attempts on the part of parochial Jingoes like Mr. Redmond to divide them into hostile camps. Labour and the Lords. We need hardly say that we find ourselves much more nearly in sympathy with the Labour Party’s amendment concerning the House of Lords than with the Government’s resolution. We think, indeed, that some sort of second chamber is desirable, as a bulwark less against revolution than against reaction and especially against that particularly perilous form of reBut action which goes by the name of “ Liberalism.” that the House of Lords, as at present constituted, “ is a hindrance to national progress and ought to be abolished ” is a proposition to which we do not think that any Socialist will take exception. Mr. Henderson’s speech in moving the amendment was wholly admirable in tone, and we are glad to note that he courageously denied to the Education Bill the credit of embodying the views of the people, and pointed out, as we did last week, that the machinery proposed by the Government would probably prove more fatal to distinctively social legislation than the present system. The Labour amendment was, of course, defeated, and, equally, of course, the Government carried its original resolution by an overwhelming majority, but we are sorry that this majority should have been swelled by the We think that they should votes of the Labour Party. have put up a speaker to point out that the refusal of their amendment proved the Government’s crusade against the Lords to be hypocritical and unmeaning, and so either voted against the resolution or walked out of the House. As it is, Liberals may attempt to claim their support for a policy the utter futility and even mischievousness of which they have themselves In the same way the proceedings of demonstrated. this year’s Trade Union Congress with reference to this question must be closely watched. One Union has, we see, given notice of an anti-Lords resolution. To this in itself we have no objection, but we must be careful to keep clear of any complicity with Liberal humbug. Of course, there are some Trade Union leaders who will always be ready to play the Liberal game, as have those twenty-two Liberal-Labour members? whose manifesto against Colonial Preference would have appeared somewhat old-fashioned to the elder Mirabeau, and quite insupportably antiquated to John Stuart Mill, but it is essential that the Labour Canmovement as a whole should avoid such pitfalls. not some Union be induced to move an amendment bracketing the House of Lords and the Liberal Party in a single condemnation? We have little doubt as to which is the more “ useless, dangerous, and meet-tobe-abolished ” of the two. Mr. Lloyd George and the Investor. The President of the Board of Trade, at one time regarded as the most Radical member of the Government, will soon be looked up to as the sole protector of property in a land threatened by the predatory ravages of Socialism. He waxed quite tearful in his eagerness to assure theL shareholders in tube railways that the Government contemplated nothing that could possibly justify any nervousness on the part of investors. In similar vein he told the House. of Commons that while the country had a right to demand reduced rates, shorter hours of labour, and the like, yet “ if all these things were to be done for a great public purpose, they ought not to be done at the expense of the investor.” That the investors should take the profits of an undertaking, to the success of which they have contributed not a single effort of brain or hand, and should then throw on the community the whole burden of coping with the evils produced by their desire to get as much work out of their servants for as little wages as possible’ seems to Mr. Lloyd-George just and reasonable. Yet he coquetted with railway nationalisation, probably because the combined rapacity and incompetence of our railway companies have forced even the capitalists to realise the necessity of controlling them. The case of national ownership was made out with overwhelming force, and no serious reply was even attempted. We hope that this reform, long overdue, is at last in sight, so that in future we may cease to protect the foreigner against our own producers, and to hand over the profits of a State-created monopoly to the investors for whom Mr. Lloyd-George feels such a tender care. More Imbecilities. On the top of the banning of “ Mary Barton ” comes the prohibition of living statuary. It is a grave disappointment to some of us that the Moderates, who were returned to power by a reaction to which London’s disgust with Progressive -puritanism contributed not a little, have shown themselves no less fanatical and absurd than their rivals were. Indeed, we are not sure that they have not shown themselves more so, for the last Council, in spite of the appeals of the Rev. Copeland Smith, let La Milo alone, while this Council has decided that the human body is so vile a thing that nobody must even simulate it without skirt or trousers. The Rev. Stuart Headlam was, of course, on the right side, as were some of the saner Moderates. But the prudes and cowards carried the day. It is some consolation, in the face of this betrayal, that the Moderates have had a bad slap in the face from Parliament over their electric scheme. The Progressive and Moderate policies in this matter have killed each other, and London must wait for an efficient and economical electric supply till Parliament and the Council can agree. This is not a very satisfactory outcome ; but it is perhaps better than handing a new source of immense wealth over to the exploitation of monopolists. Ireland Again. Is it possible that Mr. Birrell is actually going to succeed in getting a Bill through Parliament before the present Government retires from office? It really looks as if his Evicted Tenants Bill would go through, for it is apparently acceptable to the Nationalists and is not strenuously opposed by the Conservatives. It is the last relic of Mr. Birrell’s Irish programme, since the University proposals have been abandoned and the Council Bill killed, and for the poor Minister’s sake, as well as for its own, we wish it success. In itself it is, of course, a very plain instalment of justice which the Irish people have a perfect right to demand, though we may remark that it will probably be a long while before so much justice is conceded to mere Englishmen. It is just this feeling that English grievances receive at present far less attention than Irish ones that makes some of us, like Hodson in Mr. Shaw’s play, a trifle impatient of the continual exploitation of Irish disMr. Redmond, we see, has been exploiting tresses. them vigorously at Jarrow, where he has been pleading ox-o for Strength. JULY 4, 1907 147 horrible, vile, that they cannot be spoken of in plain so English in a public spirit. And no one is punished. No one is even reprimanded. These things go on. An Appeal by. E. Nesbit. You who read, could you take the hand of a man who THE persistent rumours of a proposed alliance with the had tortured a little child to death? I appeal to you, Russian Government are causing alarm and uneasiness then, show that you, at least, do not rate lower than This An your own private honour the honour of England. in decent men of every shade of political opinion. You can write a letter to the is what you can do. alliance with the Russian Government means, in plain letter to words, an alliance with men in power, who have not member who represents you in Parliament-a the scrupled to use that power to crush with every circumstance journal in whose pages you have read so often If each man who reads stance of abominable cruelty the people of their coun- the tale of blood and cruelty. try. WC Englishmen have free speech, a free Press, a this writes two such letters we shall have, within two free Parliament, free justice-freedom personal and days, a body of expressed public opinion such as will The Russian people have none of these compel our Ministers to pause, to reconsider, to retreat political. Their efforts to obtain, peacefully, what our from a position that threatens, so unbearably, the things. honour of England. Write your letters, then-it will fathers died to win for us -have been met by imprisonnot take you long-- and do your part in protesting ment, exile, execution--without trial, or with a trial that is the bitterest mockery. Are we to permit Sir against this proposed alliance with Russia, an alliance Edward Grey to bind us in bonds of amity with such a that would be no less a diplomatic imbecility than a black national shame. E. NESBIT. government as this? The simple methods by which Englishmen make In known their desires are denied to the Russians. Russia to hold a public meeting in favour of, say, a Habeas Corpus Act, to write or even read a tract advocating freedom of the Press, means not only exile or JUST about a year ago a party of British officers got it means death-death made horrible imprisonment, mixed up in a village row at Denshawai, in Egypt. A young man They had gone to amuse themselves by shooting with torture, shameful with outrage. visits his sister, carelessly leaves on her table a tract pigeons, the domesticated pigeons of the villagers, and fourteen-year-old child is had apparently not been careful to get permission. on Trades Unions -the By hanged. A woman weeps to see a Jew burned alive : accident an Egyptian woman got wounded, the officers she is cut to pieces by the swords of Cossacks. Thouwere mobbed and lost their heads, two of them ran for sands of men and women are tortured and murdered, help while three were beaten by the crowd, and one of thousands of children butchered every year, by the those who ran dropped dead. Now it does not need a And these infernal deeds are go- very profound knowledge of the psychology of the British government officials. ing on, now, while Sir Edward Grey is contemplating tish officer to recognise in this incident all his characan alliance with the Power that complacently countenteristic bravado and stupidity. The officers had not ances them. It is for us to speak out, to let our voices taken the trouble to either understand the language or It is for each of the-humanity be heard in indignation and protest. of the villagers, who were treated as us to say, and to see to it that the world hears us, that creatures of another species. Consequently at the first England shall not be allied with the Government of sign of the breakdown of the formal nexus of beRussia. haviour which enables the British officer to communiAnd the moment for indignation, for protest, is now. cate with the Egyptian village, the officers were hopeThere is no time for petitions-for the slow, heavy lessly bewildered, lost their heads and gave way to These alliances are panic. Had there been anyone at headquarters to put movement of political machinery. not concluded by Parliament, but by the Cabinet. The the matter right by a stiff reprimand, matters would We shall not hear, officially, country is not consulted. have been no more serious than a schoolboy’s row with that this base thin g is to be done, until it is done. a gamekeeper. But apparently those at headquarters Therefore, on the mere rumour that such a thing is got even more panic-stricken than the officers, and withdeemed possible by Ministers WC must speak out. And out the excuse of the hubbub and turmoil of a riot, gave we must speak out on the instant, without fear as withfrantic orders for arrest and trial of the riotous vilout delay. We are a free people. What have we to do lagers. As a result four men were hanged, and eight with the Jew-baiters, murderers, torturers, who make men were flogged and some imprisoned. up the bureaucracy of Russia? Are we to hold out the On the face of it, this story sounds incredible ; one hand of friendship to hands dyed in the best blood of a imagines there must be something more behind it. That noble people struggling for Liberty? Are we, from something more, according to Lords Cromer and Grey, any possible commercial or political gain to associate is an Egyptian National movement which has to be the name of England with a Power that is the Power of sternly suppressed. But even granting that there is an Darkness ? No man, surely, can answer these ques- Egyptian Nationalist movement, is there any evidence tions, and answer “ Yes.” at all that the mobbing of some stupid men at Answer “ No, ” then, in the name of God and of Denshawai anything to do with it? In fact, there is had common sense. For, be it noted, we have nothing to no justification whatsoever for this belief, there are no gain from the friendship of Russian despots. An allireasons, only motives, and the motives are those of ance with them will cost us much, and will gain us bewildered fear. Now, even if Denshawai were a naught save the abhorrence of the Russian people, and separate incident, it would be a very serious matter their just enmity in that day when the battle between to recognise that our administration in Egypt is so Freedom and Tyranny shall be fought to a finish, and fatally wrong-headed. Whatever other conclusions we Freedom shall triumph, as, in the end, thank God, it may draw it is at least certain that our administrators must. do not understand the temperament of the people they arc governing. The question becomes, have they made YOU who read this, you have read in your daily any effort to understand ? How many, for instance, of papers, week after week, year after year, the bloody those officials who arc thrown into contact with the record of Autocratic infamy-do you feel nothing? people of the country can understand their language or YOU, who would hide your eyes from memory all your are versed in the etiquette of their social life? In South days if once you had seen one little child snatched from its mother’s breast and dashed to death on the stones at Africa many Boers keep their hats on their heads when they enter a room and expectorate at leisure on the her feet? In Russia many mothers have seen their carpet. This conduct would be considered a little outré. children die so. Perhaps, even as you read, a Russian Is it not perhaps possible our officials in London. mother is hearing her baby’s last scream, mingled with the gay laughter of that baby’s murderer. You have transgress in an equally serious manner ? Is there, indeed, any adequate provision to prevent such possible only to turn to the files of any newspaper to see that these things are quite common in Russia. No one offences ? The shooting of domesticated pigeons does minds, no one interferes. Russian officials of a11classes not sound as if there were. The matter, however, is by no means confined to the practise on their victims tortures and outrages so hor- The Anglo-Russian Alliance. To, Empire via Denshawai. THE NEW AGE. July 4, 1907 whose notion of Empire is exactly comparable The Denshawai. picnic is diagnostic of Carmelites, one incident. to that of the school-bully's. At the same time, quite a the most serious imperial disease-complacent failure One can parallel it almost detail for large body of Englishmen who are not Carmelites easily to understand. entertain what, in effect, is the detail in the incidents which occurred before the late and unsuspectingly the failure to understand, the re- same notion. They imagine that in some occult way it Natal campaign ; will be quite possible to maintain the supremacy of fusal to try to understand, the sudden panic of minor officials spreading up into the central administration : England and at the same time to create an Empire. will be slow, the harsh measures of retribution, the imagination of For them, apparently, disillusionment a big nationalist “ Ethiopian ” movement. All these and, unfortunately, not at all sure. What, however, we shall have to do is to make clear, things were parts of the Richmond incident which prein the first place, that England is not the Empire ; in If an administration cipitated the Natal campaign. will only go on irritating a people, whom it does the second place, that loyalty to England is not necessarily loyalty to the Empire ; and in the third place, not understand, long enough, if it will only go on tellthat even disloyalty to England may be the highest ing them they are dangerous traitors nursing nationalist All these propositions, while dreams, that people will come to believe and act upon loyalty to the Empire. obvious enough to the intelligent Imperialists (of whom the Government’s suggestions. The question finally is one of the possibility of avoiding this kind of stu- there may be several hundreds), are as yet far from Fortunately, we in Empire has no meaning for a Socialist unless being obvious to most people. pidity. it means the co-operation of autonomous units. Can England shall be considerably aided in our realisation we understand and co-operate with the Egyptian people of them by the assistance of the British dominions overseas, whose people -for the most part indignantly reand with the other alien races within our boundaries? pudiate loyalty to England just in proportion as they If we are to do so it will need a very much greater proclaim their loyalty to the Empire. The fact is that effort to understand, and it will mean that our administrators the Empire is at once a greater and a more imaginative trators shall be really compelled to study the language, habits, and customs of the people amongst whom they entity than England ; and it takes an Englishman a are going, at first hand. And this means in all pro- whole generation to realise anything greater than himself, and another generation if it happens to be improbability scrapping of a good deal of our upper-class the aginatively greater. Yet, as we have said, ‘the thing public school-boy machinery in favour of a school-board must be done if the Empire is to become a fact. Either polytechnic-educated human being. The time, indeed, may not be far distant when we shall be compelled to England must herself be loyal to the Empire,- and insist on the public-school coming up to a decent edu- abandon her silly claim on the Empire to be loyal to her ; or England must be prepared for the disintegracational standard. From the national point of view that is, and not their class point of view. When one tion of the whole system by the action of independent parts. reads in the Blue-books that in the Denshawai hangLet us take the propositions one by one. That ings and floggings “ all possible humanity was shown,” England not the Empire, and does not even stand for the is and “ the arrangements reflected great credit on all Empire, becomes plain so soon as we reflect that Engconcerned, ” and then parallel this with a quotation from the Natal shooting correspondence, where a land’s interests are often in conflict with the interests, clergyman of the Church of England certifies that the not only of other members of the Empire, but of the men were shot “ with the utmost humanity,‘? it is Empire as a whole. For example, it is to England’s clear that the disease is deep-seated. Unless our ad- interest to maintain the best of her people in England ministrators can realise that other races and classes are itself, and to send the worst to the colonies. Yet by devotion, England neglects human beings, and can understand them as human be- a strange eider-duck-like her own interests and really consults the interests of the ings, there is no future for our Empire. Meanwhile there are some Denshawai natives still in prison. We colonies, sending them her best sons and keeping her have made them our enemies, that is the worst of worst for herself. That, we take it, is genuine Imstupidity, but there is no reason why they should be perialism ; none the worse for being blind and instinctive ; and only a little the worse for being carried out kept there any longer. We are glad to see that a petiConvert such a blind sacrifice into tion signed by Egyptian notables was presented to the under compulsion. an intelligent co-operation, and we have the germ of a Khedive on June 28, the anniversary of the “ hanging ” genuine devotion to an idea of Empire which would incident ; and we hope that the petition will be supporcarry us far. The conclusion is that England is now ted by questions in the House of Commons. Imperial only because she needs must be. By her very instincts, she is compelled to reject the theory that the Empire exists to aggrandize England. That loyalty to England is not necessarily loyalty to the Empire needs scarcely, to be demonstrated. An WHAT the idea of Imperialism needs more than any- Australian who is loyal to England is generally a thing else at this moment is a Galileo who will disabuse nuisance wherever he is. In England he is no Englishthe mind of England of the Anglocentric Theory. From man : in Australia he is no Australian. Such amphithe very moment that a single British colony obtained bious creatures are bound, let us hope, to become exself-government the Anglocentric ‘theory was’ in reality tinct sooner or later. At the same time, it must be obsolete and discredited ; but with the usual persistence remembered that loyalty to Australia is just as silly as of dangerous absurdities the theory has continued its loyalty to England. After all, we are endeavouring to hold upon the majority of minds with the tenacity of a create a superior unity, of which Australia, Canada, and limpet. Nothing could better illustrate this than Lord England arc simply parts ; and it is to that new spiriLansdowne’s unfortunate speech at the Unionist tual unity that loyalty must be offered. demonstration last week. The assumption upon which Finally, let us boldly face the fact that extreme he proceeded in his references to Ireland was the disloyalty to England may be the noblest loyalty to the thoroughly and typically little-Englander assumption, Empire. Whoever, for example, pricks a bubble of the theory, namely, that England is the sun round home-made complacency thereby incurs the charge of which Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the various colo- disloyalty but nevertheless brings profit to the Empire. nies must and should be content to revolve in satellite The case in point is always Ireland. Of all our doobsequience. minions, Ireland is the most disloyal to En-gland; and There is only one thing to be said of such an attitude. of all the regions of the Empire, Ireland is the most Anglocentricism is incompatible with Imperialism. It profitable. It is exhilarating to remember how much is quite conceivable that by force of arms a single coun- the British Empire will owe to Ireland. One by one, try might maintain supremacy over another country or Ireland pricks the Anglocentric bubbles blown by our even over two or three other countries ; but it is’ in- insular conceit. If there is one country of the British conceivable and impossible that by force of arms or by Isles to which more than another the Empire owes what any other force, England can maintain supremacy over life it has, that country is Ireland, Scotland and two-fifths of the globe. What is more, nobody really Wales are almost as much English as England ; but proposes such a thing seriously, unless it be the Ireland is Imperialist or nothing. Of course, we admit The Anglocentric Theory JULY4, 1907 and have made and administered laws for women from the standpoint it created. But the tacit admission of the legal absurdity on the part of women by the introduction of special terms into the new enfranchising measure, will be an acceptance of the position, and will almost certainly be used in the future to es&de married women from benefit under charters of liberties which are couched in general terms. The result of the innovation would be that a second struggle would be necessary, whenever a liberty had been gained, to get it This would more than applied to married women. double the effort needed in the fight, and would product the weakness of disunion in women’s ranks. But perhaps its worst effect would be that it would preserve that condition of mind in men which the whole effort of women’s revolt should be directed to destroy. Man has regarded his wife as more his slave than his sister or mother for long ages. He has made laws and As in the customs which have expressed this feeling. world of inanimate things, man seized upon that which was the most valuable to all for his own private advantage, so his desire for property in human beings was One of the heaviest charges brought against the advocates cates of the immediate establishment of sex-equality is strangest where the greatest personal advantage was to be reaped. Both from economic and sex considerations that the measure they have hitherto supported would not remove the disabilities of married women. In spite wives were desirable, and the only way known to primiof the fact that the measure in question was drawn up tive man of securing what he desired was by recourse by a skilled lawyer, and is based on the principle of to physical force. So woman, the worker and the wife, The rebellion against enwas won by enslavement. equal voting rights, this charge may be quite true. If it is so, however, it will not be because of any fault in enslavementwas recognised by the male victor as dangerous to his interests, and ruthlessly repressed. Kept the Bill, but because of the inconsistency and unreason under physical fear, the resentment of women has only for which legislative enactments and judicial utterances dealing with women are remarkable. To women who been expressed by fits and starts, while in silence it has are persons in one clause of an Act of Parliament and wrought havoc among the higher possibilities of human who arc not persons in the nest clause, the exclusion of comradeship. Ages of such conditions have finally profor the masculine dread that married women by legal quirks and quibbles, after an duced some justification It Act which really enfranchised them had been passed, is free women would refuse wifehood and motherhood. is this fear of loss -- the loss of subject wives quite conceivable. Because of this danger the Sufaccepting all the conditions laid by men upon them fragists responsible for the drafting of the last enfranchising measure presented to the House of Commons that actuates the opposition of many men to any freedom‘ that reaches the married woman. Under mons. decided to introduce into the phrase “ whether married or single ” . . . though this action was cover of arguments which profess concern for racial progress, under cover of the chivalrous protection of against the better judgment of many of their leaders. By these dissenters the phrase was regarded as un- the married woman from herself, and by frank appeals to the sentiment of ignorance, the “ wife-owner ” seeks necessary to secure the voting rights of married women, to protect his ownership. It is not wifehood or motherwhile its inclusion in the Bill was felt to be a dangerous hood that he seeks to protect, but the arbitrary condiprecedent. Once women have won the right to vote on the same tions which are set up around it, and from which he As his desire for ownership centred terms as men, it will surely follow that the qualified derives benefit. married woman will be admitted to the use of the around his wife, the gaining of liberties by women other than wives has not had to meet the full force of his franchise as freely as the qualified married man. If The last relic of his over-lordship of marriage does not disqualify the men, it will not dis- opposition. qualify the women. The broad general statement of women is endangered by the claim that married women equal rights will cover the whole ground. This position arc included in the general term women, and therefore is supported by the action taken in 1869 to exclude must benefit by everything that women in general win. married women from the municipal register. In the This clear and rational position would simply underMunicipal Corporations Act of that year the exclusion mine the disabilities of married women. They would of married women was secured by a specific clause. collapse like ruins from which the supports had been Evidently this action was required to keep married withdrawn. women off the register. It follows, therefore, that The wisest course for Suffragists seems to be to keep without an excluding clause married women would be the measure voicing their demands in general terms, equally entitled with their unmarried sisters to the assuming the very obvious fact that married women are rights conferred. This is as it should be. The posi- u-omen. If this fact be disputed, it will be time enough tion is obviously reasonable. But as the interpretations to act when the male lawyers have rendered themselves of the judicial mind of the past, with regard to equally ridiculous by trying to prove it. Then the line to take obvious and reasonable claims made by women, have will be one which does not accept the absurdity, but not been remarkable for consistency, it was decided finally removes it from the statute book and rejects it. last year to secure the rights of the married woman in I believe women, having, once considered these arguthe future by special mention of them in the general ments, will be convinced of the unwisdom of the course measure. criticised. Moreover, they may find therein a new point It is not at all certain that‘ this action is wise. It is of view from which to regard the efforts occasionally apparently based on the idea that the disabilities of made to include married women in the new roll of marriage are not disabilities of sex. Yet this is absurd. voters simply because they are married. In spite of the If married men shared the legal subjection forced superficial contradiction, these efforts are at the bottom upon their wives it would be possible to talk of a “ marriage calculated to continue the dominance of men. If the disability. ” But a burden borne by the woman vote only comes to the majority of women upon maralone is purely a sex-disability, and as such, so far as it riage its value will be vitiated, sex-equality will not be is political, it will be removed by the acceptance of the establishment,and such voting power as women possess general principle of political sex-equality. The assumpwill remain very much under the control of men. Only tion that married women are a class apart from other the placing of the general principle of political sexwomen, and not entitled to the same fundamental equality upon the statute book will establish for all human rights, is unreasonable and dangerous. In the women for all future time the certainty of equal human past men have made this assumption without challenge, comradeship with men. TERESA BILLINGTON-GREIG. that Ireland repudiates Imperialism, as what selfrespecting country would not when that Imperialism is identified with. loyalty to a single country, and that, But once let England abandon the not one’s own? Anglocentric theory, and frankly make the Empire a Commonwealth, and there is everything to show that Ireland will be Imperialist of Imperialist. For, be it remembered, that Ireland is’ the country of practical imagination, of dreamers whose -dreams come true. There, if anywhere, will grow the ideas and emotions on which the Empire must depend for its bonds of solidarity. Put the Empire as a shining sun in the sky, and Ireland will be the first to move about it in order and with sacrifice ; but leave it bounded by Land’s End and John o’ Groats, and Ireland will be the first to scoff and to rebel. For her disloyalty to England is her loyalty and service to the Empire. Married Women and the Vote. Pomp and Pageantry. THE present vogue of neo-mediaevalism is a curious One can dismiss it curtly enough by talking thing. contemptuously of “ the pageant craze,“- or one can babble of “ unrivalled splendours ” in the manner of a dramatic critic paying his midnight homage to Mr. Tree’s latest production ; it is all a question of point Of view. One approaches the Oxford Pageant with a certain trepidation born of doubt as to what is the proper mood in which to enjoy it. The special trains from Paddington carry a heterogeneous mob of welldressed people, many of them Americans. Americans have an instinctive passion for pageantry, for quaint ceremonial and costume ; and one has a momentary vision of a possible announcement on the advertisement hoardings of New York or Chicago : “ Mr. Charles Frohman presents the Oxford Pageant, as played in England, with the original scenery and effects. . . . EVER since the time of Noah there has been a tenEnormous attraction ! ” But such frivolous imaginings dency in all of us to build little shrines of refuge for are all dispelled as the pinnacles and spires of Oxford Some of the old come into view, and the Oxford atmosphere envelopes ourselves and our responsibilities. shrines were sacred to the belief in the immortality of us ; the atmosphere which inspired the ancient University bidding-prayer “. . . . that in this and in all each human soul and the careful preservation in torment of all human imperfections. Other shrines were other places dedicated to God’s honour and service, sacred to the belief that women might develop into true pietie and sounde learnynge may for ever flourishe angels if they could contrive to concentrate all their and abounde. ” To-day the High Street is crowded, and almost im- thoughts on one worthy or unworthy man. Another A knight in chain armour is riding his kind of shrine still very popular is sacred to the god passable. bicycle to the Pageant-ground, and he takes off his called “ Beggar my Neighbour “; it is very handsomely decorated. There are other little shrines looked upon helmet with a sweep as he passes a Georgian lady with powdered hair and patches. Two ancient Britons are with great suspicion by everyone but the builders ; they are erected to Ambition, Egotism and Excellence ; they seated in a motor-car outside the Mitre Hotel, and they are saluted gravely by a venerable prelate who dates are not popular or decorative, and the builder generally ends by sacrificing himself upon his own altar. Shrinefrom the Tudor period. A gentleman of Charles I’s building is necessary to social life. Nature, with her court occupies the front seat on the top of a tram, while he arranges his wig with care. Yet Oxford does rhythm of murder and rape, must be disguised, and we build a shrine to conceal our moment&of concession to These are the commonplaces of pageantry. not laugh. The pity of it is that the whole affair is for the bene- natural law from our hours of virtuous disapproval of We contrive codes of manners and eat too fit of people who are already living too much in the Nature. frequently in order that we may eat without indecent past, who feed their minds overmuch upon tradition Civilisation is artfully contrived that we may It is interesting to observe the spec- appetite. and ceremonial. De- forget the ignominy our body heaps upon the jesting tators as they flock in to the Pageant-ground. corous, comfortable people, all of them ; some with a critic in our heads. genuine interest in details of costume and ‘historical I am writing in praise of social decency, and the accuracy, some with their minds open to larger and upper part of the head is the symbolic sanctuary of more general impressions, some merely in search of a social decency, for the nose and mouth certainly have new sensation, and “ doing ” the Pageant. There is not really aristocratic habits. The Jester Critic, who, no admittance for the people of the Oxford slums ; they after all, is our real redeemer from natural law, may be must be content to like the streets and watch the visisupposed to live somewhere in our skulls, whence he tors arrive. can look out and laugh at our struggles with superThe show begins with stateliness and dignity ; one human forces. His laughter comes of what we call scene follows another amid decorous applause. Monintrospection, and introspection is a great bar to the arch after monarch arrives in his royal barge. One progress of natural law. The Jester Critic really makes perceives that in mediaeval times the domestic affairs of us doubt if there is such a thing as progress at all. His royal personages were discussed in a publicity which is own development is curious. The older he is the in these days only achieved through the medium of smaller be gets. At first he laughed loudly at the de“ Reynolds’s Newspaper. ” The spectacular effect formities of all people who differed obviously from his reaches its height in the scenes of the Stuart period. own standards. Then he laughed at curiosities in Oxford was loyal to Charles I throughout the Civil morals and extravagance in manners. Finally, the War, and one more than half suspects that she is loyal awful day dawned when he saw his own deformity, his to him still. The Roundheads were rather vulgar own immorality, and his own inconsistency. After the people, perhaps. . . . . first pangs of his shattered pride he separated himAmid all the gorgeous magnificence of colour there self from these things and called them natural law, are only one or two incidents of any dramatic value ; and he laughed at the tears which dishonoured his eyes one being the expulsion of the fellows of Magdalen by and the rheum which disfigured his other features and James II, and the other a part of the “ Masque of said : “ I am all brain. I do not share these ignoMediaeval Learning, ” a morality play in which the ignominious processes of life. I am the critic, the master mediaeval undergraduate makes his choice between the of these slaves who make themselves ridiculous that I pursuit of learning and surrender to the follies and may laugh at them.” This is the history of the Jester vices of youth. But dramatic interest is hardly aimed Critic when he gets as old as this. We each of us at ; we have pomp and circumstance, the pride of build a shrine to him in which we enjoy a solitary dream chivalry, the glitter of armour and the flutter of ban- which may or may not give a radiance to our social ners, a blaze of colour upon the spacious meadow with intercourse. Our real god thereafter is this Jester its background of trees ; and as the grand finale is Critic who shatters ideals as lightning rends the sky reached, and hundreds of massed figures in the costumes who thunders peals of derisive laughter as we hide and tumes of all periods stretch far away into the distance, our failures from the daylight. the power of history and tradition seems suddenly overThe deified critic sits in our skulls ; each- of us knows whelming. him too well for it to be necessary to try to prove his It is a remarkable social phenomenon, this assem- existence ; and he laughs. He assures us it is more blage of a thousand performers and five thousand spec- honest to admit our defeats than to pretend to be It tators to glorify the past and exult in its greatness. victorious more heroic to struggle for experience than to ; has been for months past the principle topic of conversation and an absorbing interest for hundreds of people ; and through this long summer afternoon we have watched the result of their efforts. Yet one has some misgivings about it all. As we approach Paddington the return journey we come back to realion ties. There is a certain insistent clamour in the grime and squalor of the mean little houses whose backs are towards the railway-line ; a certain demand for our immediate attention. “ Let the dead past go,” they seem to say ; “ what of the future “? The familiar question becomes more insistent than ever’ this evening. One begins to realise that in spite of all the glories of pageantry, it may be a very dangerous narASHLEY DUKES. cotic. The Shrine of the Jester-Critic. JULY 4,1907 try and save our souls ; more healthy to clear the air with storms than to live stagnant among the dead and dying. We believe him for ourselves. We know this We start fight the inner voice is telling us the truth. Suddenly our hand and we believe in ourselves. trembles and we slink away from the battlefield. We still believe in ourselves, in our. own capacity to fight the illusions of social life and to shatter the old shrines which hold no heart of glory, but we do not believe-in There is a other people. That is the horrible truth. kind of ecstasy in expression which forces us to shout a war cry. Then the reaction comes : we ourselves are prepared to know, dare, and be silent if we suffer ; but we cannot bear the responsibility of taking others from conventional suffering and sympathy and plunging them into some kind of martyrdom they cannot endure. So the little dead shrines stand on centuries -after they empty. We still pretend we are preparing for another life by avoiding the three great teachers, Experience, Solitude, and Meditation. We still think it right that women should be legally all sex and no brain. We still refuse to move on until we are beaten and tortured into activity. And why? Simply because we have no faith in each other. We know home life is not happy, and we pretend that it is. We know going to church is not improving, we pretend that it is. We know going to bridge parties and theatres and dinners bores us, we pretend it does not. We do all these things because we think the rest of the world really want to do them. And, after all, nobody wants to do them ; but each wants other people to do them in order that they may be kept out of mischief. Yet it is these very superstitions that drive us into mischief. If we were free of them our own Jester Critic would soon laugh us into good behaviour ; for mischief that is not a reaction from overwhelming boredom is not amusing. The root of all evil is our belief that other people are not as clever as ourselves. We cannot bring ourselves to think it is possible for a moment. Our children supersede us generation after generation, yet we still think them silly and untrustworthy ; we still try to protect them from the natural consequences of any mistakes they may make ; we deprive them of all chances of learning by experience ; and we consider we have done our duty by them when we die leaving them our property and our ineffectual blessings. Human relationship is so subtle in its action and reaction that it seems almost impossible to hope that our mutual distrust can be overcome. A lover secretly abhors his beloved because he suffers from his desires. Parents are jealous of their children’s friends ; children are resentful of the restraints of home-life ; teachers conceal more truth than they teach. A great artist wisely said : “ The only people who really help us are our enemies ; we can always learn something real from them. ” And another artist who was a pirate in the Greek Islands, said :“ I am a servant of the Lord God of War, and I know the lovely art of the Muses.” Human enmity is more roughly stimulating than love, and it is especially stimulating to women whose limbs are lax with centuries of inactivity. They have been servants of Love so long that many of them are seriously considering the service of the “ Lord God of War ” as a desirable alternative. I do not mean that I see signs of the formation of an army corp of able._ bodied women, but I do see that women are beginning to feel their ideas are worth fighting for. The other day someone proposed a sex-strike, and there is little doubt that if women cast off the kindly habits of civilisation and were as rarely to be ingratiated as most female animals, a great deal would be gained. But, after all, bad temper is no use ; it will never accomplish its purpose. The real ally women should pray for is the Jester Critic. Let them prepare their brains carefully for his reception, and there is little doubt that he will clear the way for them and-- to invert the witty saying of one of our great actresses-- when women have a sense of huhumour,they will laugh at men instead of loving them. Love and Hate have created indescribable confusions, He lies slink away like lashed hounds at his outcry. kills the solemn devil that makes the worse appear the He is here with us, safe in our own better part. Let us brains criticising, reproaching, controlling. welcome him gladly for he will save us from ourselves and make human relationship something nobler than a mere obsession of selfishness and humiliation. FLORENCE FARR. NEW WORLDS OLD FOR By H. G. WELLS. At present, when education is fast levelling up the entire population of the civilised world, there prevails a widespread conviction that the day is at hand when there will be a radical readjustment of the class divisions into which society is now split up. The so-called upper and middle classes are distinctly uneasy at the innumerable vague theories with which the air is filled, and which they contemptuously lump together under one label“ Socialism.” What, precisely, is this terrible new doctrine ? Thousands of people are asking this every day without being able to obtain any satisfactory answer. It is high time, therefore, that some sort of definite scheme should be put before the world. This is the task which Mr. H. G Wells, the world-renowned author of “Anticipations ” and so many other famous works, has set himself to accomplish in this series of papers. GRAND Magazine Now on Sale *n A Id. See the JULY Net. An entirely fresh consideration of Sexual Morality, With incidental discussion of general Mets-Christian principles, tions _---- DidChrist Condemn Adultery? Author of Against Dogma and Freewill.,” “ Heresies” (5 vols.), ” Meta-ChristinaityThe New Science of Causatien,” “ Meta-Christian Catechism, and Appendices, etc. To which is added a Criticism of Tolstoy’s book, “The Relaof the Sexes.” sent to the writer by Tolstoy’s representative, -- . Mr. V. Tchertkoff. By H. CROFT HILLER, The author contemplates publishing the above book himself, Before arranging about quantities, he makes an experiment by asking readers of " THE NEW AGE ” intending to buy the book, which will cost not more than IS., to send him applications on postcards, addressed H. CROFT HILLER, Didsbury, Maochester. RUSKIN FOR 3d. SESAME By JOHN AND RUSKIN. LILIES. 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A special feature is made. of duplicating, and arrangements can be made for addressing and dispatching. Terms Moderate. Special terms for annual contracts. WRITE Room 27, FOR PARTICULARS MISS 26, TIFFIN, Typist, 4th Floor,. CHANCERY Lonsdale Chambers, LANE, LONDON. SECULAR A BOARDING GIRLS AND AND FOR EDUCATION. DAY-SCHOOL FOR YOUNGER BOYS. In addition to a thorough general equipment, the SPECIAL AIMS are the CULTIVATION of PHYSICAL HEALTH by means of an outdoor life in ideal surroundings, and by a well-studied dietary. The DEVELOPMENT of FACULTY by a careful adaption of method to individual requirement, and by due attention to practical work and to the formation of CORRECT MENTAL HABITS. MISS CLARK, COOMBE HILL SCHOOL, WESTERHAM, KENT, BOOKS BOUGHT, SOLD, AND EXCHANGED. G. CANNON (Successor, D. J. RIDER). CROSS ROAD, W.C. 36, ST. MARTIN'S COURT, CHARING Good Prices given for all books on Socialism, Art, Philosophy, The Drama, etc. Books by Fabian writers specially required. Residence with private family. WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA.-Board Close station, beach, trams. Good cooking, late dinner. -B. “ Lodway.” Valkyrie Road. THE NEW AGE JULY 4, 1907 The L.C.C. presenting every and Morals. masquerading as The decision of the London County Council to prohibit the exhibition of living statuary was only to be expected. The queer rabble of fifty or so persons, re- sort of negationism Really one would have of the method of prohibition. thought that the world was old enough for even a Bishop or a Silvester Horne to have realised that proAs it was in the days of hibition does not prohibit. Noah, SO it is now, however ; at the first breath of a rumour of a suspicion of something wrong, Bishops and Rabbis and all preternaturally timid persons cry aloud and shout for prohibition of the accursed. thing. In the profoundest- sense, of course, prohibition is the Nonconformist Conscience. The Nonconformist Conscience always says No, and never says anything else It is the apotheosis of negation’, the very but No. Was it not Mr. G. K. Chesterton Absolute Nothing. who said : “ Where there is nothing there is Dr. Clifford “? At least, it is true that where there is nothing there is the Nonconformist Conscience. But let nobody imagine that the Nonconformist Conscienceconfined to the petitioners of the L.C.C. is Reliance upon prohibitions and repressions is one of the commonest forms of official weakness. Mr. Morley in India, Mr. Birrell in Ireland, the mining magnates in the Transvaal, the Tsar in Russia, Clemenceau in France, in fact, every constituted government under the sun, relies in the first or last resort (and generally the first) upon active prohibition. -But since every intelligent gent person knows that prohibition is useless ; since, in brief, Christianity in its essence was the great movement of the human spirit against prohibition ; it follows that every constituted government has a good deal to learn both from intelligence and from Christianity. And what it has to learn is the simple demonstrable truth that prohibition does not prohibit. The L.C.C., for example, must learn that their prohibition of living statuary will have not the faintest ameliorative effect If anything, their action will upon popular morals. lend an additional glamour to the forbidden things ; for in a people of any spirit, nothing is so attractive as the So far from prohibition prohibiting, it prohibited. does the very reverse. The Bishop of London, the Rabbi, Silvester Horne, and the rest have really added to the attraction of the Music Halls, and should be thanked (as no doubt they silently are) by the managers. But would we then have no prohibition of anything? Obviously it is impossible to take so extreme a view. The tendency to prohibit is as human a tendency as any other, and must be humoured and utilised accordingly. On the other hand, it is safe to say, in England at any rate, that the contrary principle should be deliberately cultivated. If prohibition is what it is, namely, the forbidding, of things one does not like ; then the contrary principle is the performance of things one does like. If, for example, this precious embassy to the L.C.C. had petitioned not that living statuary should be prohibited, but that certain music, plays of an excellent sort, should be subsidised by the Council, they would have done something positive. The safe rule for a soul that is striving for release from a Nonconformist Conscience is to do what it likes every time it feels tempted to suppress what it does not like. ReRememberingthat suppression is homage, the individual, Council, or Government that desires really to prohibit n-ill do so by turning its best attention on the contrary idea. Unfortunately, of course, the majority of the prohibitionists like nothing so much as prohibition. Their ardour for suppression is disinterested, and lives for its own sake. Nobody with any positive ideals would waste his time in negating other people’s ideals. What religion, which petitioned the County Council against the exhibition might be backed to win, even if they had petitioned against the realistic details of Wellington’s bronze horse. The fact that only nine of these persons had ventured to risk their highly inflammable temperaments by gazing on the sinister apparitions only enforcesMr. Dooley‘s dictum that “ vice wears such a hijous mien, that the more we see of it the better we like it.” However, we are not concerned to defend this particular form of vice. ” We have not been able to intoxicate ourselves in the Dionysian way with it, and unless vice does that it is always more trouble than it is What we desire to point out is the utter folly worth, he would do is to make his own ideals shine so that all men should look up to them. But who can tell what the ideals of the L.C.C. are, or what are its desires with regard, let us say, to theatres and music-halls? We have yet to see a single theatre or a single play subsidised or encouraged by the Council. We do not even believe that the best theatre in the world could keep afloat on a population of Bishops and Rabbis. The fact is that these people do not want a good theatre or a good music-hall. At bottom, they want nothing, escalled Morality : and we are sorry should have fallen into their hands, except the pleasure of “ putting the kibosh ’ on other people’s wants. This affords them the luxury that is that the L.C.C. JULY4, 1907 153 bliss for either party. One way of gaining such an understanding. which rulers should possess of the ruled, An Independent Survey. By is by the reading of Irish history told from the inside" The Licensed Trades.” told as it is in the biography of Lord Edward Edwin A. Pratt. (Murray. 1907. 5s. net.) Fitzgerald, the letters of O’Connell, in the memoirs of in Unless Mr. Edwin Pratt is a syndicate, he is one of Wolfe Tone, and in these memoirs of Miles Byrne. the most remarkable men of the time. Whatever social History narrated by those who have helped to make it topic is to the fore, Mr. Pratt is ready with a volume is naturally partisan, however judicial the writers may He is, as he tells us, a journalist, full of information. strive to be, and should be edited and annotated by In those who possess cool hearts and full heads ; thrown but he can generally use words with fair accuracy. this volume Mr. Pratt displays even higher characterisupon the world haphazard it will be either misleading, tics. He calls it “ an independent survey,” but this is or -misunderstood, or both. It is to be regretted, therea slip of the pen. It “ represents,” he says (and here fore, that Mr. Stephen Gwynn deliberately reduced his the journalist breaks out ; he means it is) “ an attempt task as editor “ to seeing the pages through the press, to deal with the Licensing Problem from the point of correcting the spelling of proper names, suppressing view of the actual traders ” ; in other words, it is actual repetitions,” etc. ; even this limited duty being a somewhat sober account of what an intelligent pub- poorly performed, repetitions abounding. He tells us, publican would say of his temperance critics. Mr. Pratt further, that this publication is an experiment to see He has got has the makings of a first-rate dramatist. whether there be a public “ ready to buy reprints of inside the actual trader ; he understands his intense books which have a high value in the study of Irish conservatism, his inability to see beyond the threshold history. ’ ’ We fancy that there is such a public-in of his shop door, and in this volume he satirises him Ireland itself, and in America, but it is not likely to be Take, for instance, the chap- caught by such an undigested reprint as this. with inimitable gravity. Mr. ter-on temperance beverages. It is admirable reading. Stephen Gwynn would have done well to cut down The well-informed publican gets hold of certain Amerithese verbose memoirs to one handy volume, confining can trade catalogues and papers ; lets us into the it to those portions which deal with what Byrne calls secret of all the horrid, chemicals used in making his “notes, which commence with the memorable epoch “ long ” drinks ; tells us how trade critics warn their of 1798 in the county of Wexford and finish in Ireland customers not to leave too many wasps and flies in the at Dublin, 1803,” with the abortive plot of Robert syrup Jars ;-and finally gives us statistics showing how Emmet and the writer’s escape to France. Thus strictly many non-alcoholic drinks are far stronger in alcohol confined to a brief résumé of the history of the than “ four ale.” That is the sort of thing which raises period, with explanatory notes and a good map, the book loud applause in the bar-parlour debate, and after all would have stood good chance of success-would, inproves nothing at all. indeed have deserved it : as it stands-two fat, chaotic As for clubs, mine host has no patience with them. The more’s the volumes-we fear it will fall still-born. The amount of drunkenness they promote is really pity, for Mr. John Dillon is not far wrong at any rate in They can keep open at all hours ; their shocking. speaking of it “ as the best of all books dealing with membership is often bogus : they do not pay license Ireland. ” Such unfair fees : or suffer from police interference. Miles Byrne was born at Monaseed, county Wexford, competition with honest tradesmen is a scandal in a in March, 1780, and died in Paris early in the year The teetotallers with their exaggerations 1862. When only eighteen he was a United Irishman, free country. tions are an easy game. Prohibition States abound in and actively engaged fighting the English, whom he arrests for drunkenness : the stories of how whisky is hated inveterately and in tensely. Englishmen wonder supplied as “ Cholera Mixture ” in one place, and is why the Irish hate them : let them read such books as ” in another -are entertaining, called “ Kill-‘em-quick these, let them realise that the memory of horrible inand no doubt accurate. juries and injustices lingers long-and then they will In his character as trader Mr. Pratt has specially partially appreciate the position they hold in the minds studied the mystery of brewing, about which he has and memories of the Irish. Byrne was an Irishman to much of interest to tell, and he describes the tied-house the last drop of his blood ; Irish in his intense love and system from the inside standpoint, whence he makes admiration of his friends and in his equally intense out a fair case in its defence. When he comes to the hatred, yet chivalric attitude, toward his foes ; Irish question of political reforms, his trader’s point of view in his enthusiasm and his unquenchable hopefulness ; is less valuable, because it is both ignorant and preIrish in his habit of exaggeratingeverything of importjudiced. The trader, of course, has not a moment’s ance to himself : he exaggerates good qualities of the thought for the interests of the community, except in so his friends and the bad ones of his foes, the bravery of far as they can be made to coincide with his own. those with whom, and the cowardice of those against Any taking away of licenses, notwithstanding the ad- whom, he fought : to him every skirmish was a battle, mitted law, even after long notice, is pure confiscation. every crowd an army, and every large sum of money was Any interference with the trade will ruin the country. vast. He was an active and brave soldier, lighting well And perhaps the most comic part of the book is the throughout the pitiable campaign in Wexford ; holding list of some 500 trades, such as asbestos-packedout staunchly in the guerilla warfare in the Wicklow cock-manufacturers, bankers,- bricklayers, electric-acHills, and later working nobly and strenuously with cumulator-acid manufacturers, and so on, who will Robert Emmet. His narrative up to this point is as come to more or less destruction if the teetotallers prevail exciting and as dramatic as any adventure story, full of vail. But one omission puzzles us. Why is the derring-do and hairbreadth escapes by field and flood. famous trade of bottle-washer overlooked ? The rest of the memoirs of his service in France, in Few publicans could possess the ability to get to- Greece, and elsewhere, and of the life of the Irish exiles gether so large a mass of facts on this question : fewer on the Continent are scarcely more than notes, of still could have remained so unconscious of the widely intenseinterest to the student-and of utility to the hiscirculated volumes on the liquor problem which have torian. Repetitions abound, and occasionally the narrative appeared of recent years. In these respects Mr. Pratt tive-even in the earlier portions is difficult to follow. fails in his attempt to depict the typical traders’ menBut whatever be the faults, there stand out in these tal equipment, but otherwise his success is admirable, pages two things : an intimate portrait of a fine fellow, and he has made a thoroughly useful addition to the a whole-hearted man, who fought fairly and fearlessly, Library of the Licensing Problem. and a truthful picture of one of the saddest periods, if not the most sad, in all the sad history of English rule " Memoirs of Miles Byrne.” Edited by his Widow. A new in Ireland. The long note of this man’s life was fierce edition with an Introduction by Stephen Gwynn. (2 resentment against the conquering race that had vols. Maunscl and Co. 15S.) trampled upon and ruined his own, and whatever may Englishmen never have understood, and it is probe our political opinions, it is pitiable to think that bable that they never will understand, Ireland and the such men as the Emmets, Tone, Lord Edlward It is a case where ignorance is not Irish temperament Fitzgerald, Arthur O’Connor, and Miles Byrne should have REVIEWS. THE NEW AGE. JULY4, 1907 them thither during the whole of the year. If the wealthiest nation in the world were not also the meanest and the stupidest, we should, of course, do something of the sort. But as this solution is about as likely to be adopted as Plato’s proposal for the establishment of his By R. W. Frazer. New Republic by the segregation of children from their cor"A Literary History of India.” Edition. (Fisher Unwin. 12s. 6d. net.) rupt parents, we may as well make the best of a bad I; is fortunate in some ways that Englishmen generbusiness, and accept Mr. Bray’s sane advice. Mr. Bray ally know nothing of India. A moment’s realisation of belongs to the growing category of writers who deal in the almost demiurgic task of governing nearly three what may be called the best Fabian spirit with some hundred million people would either‘ persuade them that aspect of the social problem. From beginning to end they were gods or reduce them to a humorous despair. of his three hundred or so pages there are abundant eviUnfortunately, however, the case is really worse than dences of painstaking study, first-hand experience, and that of knowing nothing about India. What has actusolid practical sense. With most of his conclusions ally happened is that the English have acquired a con- we are in hearty agreement ; and on the economic siderable stock of positive misinformation, on the basis aspect of education, and on the need for a profounder of which public opinion in this country builds its fool’s sense of State parentage, no Socialist could put the case paradise. Nothing, of course, can alter this but a per- better, or need now attempt to do so. Such difficult and sistent supply of accurate information ; and we are complex problems as apprenticeship Mr. Bray handles therefore glad to welcome a new edition of Mr. R. W. with considerable skill ; and we hope that his influence Frazer’s invaluable work. A “ Literary History of will tell on the coming proposals for partial State apIndia, ” it may be remarked, is more than a “ History prenticeship. of Indian Literature, ” and Mr. Frazer, therefore, sets But it is impossible for us to agree with Mr. Bray’s himself the enormous task of reconstructing the series suggestions regarding the educational curriculum itself. of events in India from the earliest times out of the So long as he confines himself to administrative quesliterary and oral traditions of the Aryan race. How tions he is an admirable guide, but we should be sorry enormous that task is may be dimly conceived when we to see teachers adopt more than they do already his arid remember that the beginnings of Indian history lie in the and doctrinaire advice in the training of character. The To the student of fact is, of course,. that the phrase, training of character, very clouds of historic conjecture. India the bare chronology of events is a perpetual probis a pure obsession of the theoretical educationalist. lem, every suggested key to which proves on trial to be Neither Mr. Bray nor, of course, elementary teachers in useless. Whether, for example, the Rig Veda, un- general know anything, whatever about the constitution doubtedly the oldest Indian document, is four or forty of character, nor what will or will not train character. thousand years old is still a matter of some dispute. Every moralist, no doubt, is convinced that he knows About its date “ those behind cry Forward, and those all about character ; but fortunately he is unable to use before cry Back ” ; and it is probable that the problem anything stronger than persuasion in order to have his will have to be attacked. in another way or remain for nostrums tried on adults. He therefore turns to the ever unsolved. most defenceless persons in society, namely, children, What is clear, however, is the fact that so far from and there by means of corporal punishment and school Macaulay’s contemptuous sentence of 1835 being right, discipline he tries his quack remedies ; with what deeven he was never more wrong. “ A single shelf,” he detestable results every decent teacher knows. Mr. Bray said, “ of a good European library is worth the whole does not belong to the extreme type of child-vivisector ; native literature of India and Arabia. ” That may have but we feel that he has the germs of the evil in him. been true for somebody, but it was not true for Europe. In an otherwise excellent and valuable book, the chapter Still less was it true for India itself. As a matter of “ The Child and the School ” is a regrettable incident fact, India has suffered more from Macaulay than from dent. any other of her English educationalists. At the pre" The Roots of Reality.” By E. Belfort Bax. (E. Grant sent moment, indeed, there is plenty of evidence to Richards. 7s. 6d. net.) prove that what is needed, and is already being created, While others are combatting individualism in the in Europe is an atmosphere of such discussion as persphere of economics, Mr. Belfort Bax is directing the vades, let us say, the Bhagavad Gita, a little book attention of philosophers to the failure of individualism of incomparable illumination, the wholesale distribution in metaphysics. The present work may indeed be reof which in England would be an admirable undertaking garded as the Socialist metaphysic ; and we should not for a millionaire with Indian sympathies. Also, it is be at all afraid of taking our stand upon it. Mr. plain that India herself will profit more by Shankara Bax’s views are characterised by profound insight as and Kapila than by Spencer ; for, after all, the English cannot hope to dragoon the genius out of a whole race ; well as by wide reading, and his treatment of the main problems of metaphysics is nothing short of masterly. and the attempt merely produces abortions. We remember nothing better in metaphysics than his Mr. Frazer has some admirable chapters on Indian upon the orthodox Hegelians, philosophy, which undoubtedly was the metier of the crushing onslaught whose Pallogism Mr. Bax properly regards as anathema Indian mind as beauty was of the Greek mind and lam Perhaps his anti-pallogistic zeal carries him too of the Roman mind. His luminous account of the rise far when he states that Plato, for example, was tarred and development of the unique caste-system of India with the abhorred brush. Surely the “ Philebus ” is should also be studied carefully by English readers. It is significant that the only free person under the caste as alogical as Mr. Bax could wish. Besides, as Professor Lutoslawski has now demonstrated, the Platonic system was the sophist, the philosopher. “ It is permitted that the sophist only be from any caste ; for the life of the sophist is not an easy one, but the hardest of all.” “ The Town Child.” By Reginald A. Bray. L.C.C. (Fisher Unwin. 7s. 6d. net.) A robin redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage. What, we wonder, does heaven think of some hundreds of thousands of children in a city like London? Environment for environment there is no doubt that the human environment of a city is less beautiful than the natural surroundings of a country village ; and the L.C.C., we are glad to observe, is following the exexample Charlottenburg, of and transporting some of the city children to the country for summer-school. We only wish it were possible to transport the whole of -- felt that they had no choice but to take up arms against England ; such men-to put it mildly-cannot have been altogether in the wrong. Some of us believe they were altogether in the right. JULY 4, 1907 of the methods of the W.S.P.U could not but feel respect and sympathy for the woman who writes the finely-controlled chapters, “ To Prison for the Vote,” and “ The Woman with the Whip,” but at the same time we cannot but feel that she confuses political with economic issues and looks to political changes to effect that industrial and social revolution which Socialists have seen in every country, and which for either sex, could only result from economic changes. “The Death of Madonna Laura.” By Francesco Petrarch. Rendered into English by Agnes Tobin. (William Heinemann. 10s. 6d. net.) Petrarch lived and loved in the first half of the fourteenth century, and the wonder of his love songs has been a tradition for five centuries.’ Now, for the first time, in Miss Tobin’s free translation, we English can catch glimpses of this immortal beauty born of unfulfilled desire. One example will serve to show with what sympathy and ingenuity her work has been done : Sonnet lxxvi :The most transparent face, the loveliest eyes That ever were, and that most glorious hair To rival which the great sun did not dare; The laugh and voice that silver-fountain-wise Took all that heard them by a bright surprise; The little moon-white feet as soft as air, And all the body that with tender care theory of Ideas, which was essentially pallogistic, was practically abandoned by Plato in his later dialogues. But “ The Roots of Reality ” contains more than a criticism of modern metaphysical individualism. Mr. Bax has definite conclusions to present, and, for our part, we cordially endorse his modest contention that if they do not actually form the basis of future metaphysics, every future metaphysic will be compelled to take them into account. Socialists with a mind for metaphysics could not possibly do better than entrench themselves within Mr. Bax’s citadel. By Ethel Snowden. (Labour " The Woman Socialist.” Ideal Series. George Allen. IS. net.) " Towards- Woman’s Liberty.” By Teresa Billington-Greig. (Garden City Press. Letchworth. 4d. net.) This is the kind of book Sarah Grand might almost have produced in those fiercest moments of hers when Man the Abominable was the protagonist in every volume ; only Mrs. Grand had always humour and Mrs. Snowden is, at best, only an unconscious cause of -amusement, as when she gravely affirms : “ a moment’s reflection will probably bring to the mind of the reader an occasion in his own life when he found pleasure in a cruel act. A helpless baby thrashed, an innocent dog beaten, a cat tormented, a horse maimed-we know them all. ” But to a Socialist there is more cause for indignation that a book purporting to represent the policy of the Independent Labour Party should be informed with so unrelenting an individualistic spirit, and should prefer to devote itself to somewhat old-fashioned diatribes against man instead of making any serious attempt to envisage the conditions of woman’s life and labour when wage-slavery is abolished. It is scarcely to be thought that Mrs. Snowden really believes the fact of woman’s subjection to man stands alone in the cosmic series of injustices, but the outlook of her book is so restricted as to distort every problem and to rob even unquestionably Socialist proposals-as that the mother’s independence must be secured-of half their value by reason of the almost angrily-individualist language in which they are couched : “ the mother will be paid so much per child so long as it lives and thrives,” for instance. One is at once tempted to ask what happens to the unfortunate mother if her perverse offspring insists on developing tuberculosis ? But, indeed, the extravagant tone throughout prompts to gibes. It is better to recognise that wherever the book deals with Woman under Socialism it is hasty and perfunctory : only in that matter which Mrs. Snowden has passionately at heart-- the present status of Woman-is it genuinely arresting, passionately convinced. Mrs. Billington-Greig’s book, on the other hand, is just what it professes to be, a statement of the case (admirably put) for the Women’s Social and Political Union. She sketches the “ awakening of women,” in especial during the last fifty years, with much fairness’, and has a particularly good paragraph showing how “ the trend of legislation into the home has increased a hundredfold the need for women’s suffrage.” After trenchantly demolishing the stock arguments against what Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was reduced to calling an “ irrefutable case, ” she gives a telling record of the history in Parliament of the women’s suffrage movement ; after which (though she is not fair to the adult suffragists) one is only astonished at the moderation of the women who waited so long before making the protest from the House of Commons gallery. The bitterest opponent of the suffrage movement, or Brought to a sudden standstill, rings on rings) To see him take a little human hand, And leave slack-reined His awful steeds, the stars. "From One Man’s Hand to Another.” Fisher Unwin. 6s.) writers, G. H. Breda. (T. And all his winged’ warriors breathless stand (A thousand times ten thousand mighty cars Are the desire of the King of Kings: Was once conceived and made in Paradise- are grades of imaginative rank among all and while the “ mysteries ” of one rank are unintelligible to another, it is possible for any grade to become competent in craftsmanship. G. H. Breda is in touch with the “ mysteries ” of high imaginative rank, but has not condescended to the meaner arts of observation and translation of everyday happenings into events of artistic importance. There is too much description and paraphrasing of a certain emotional timbre of mind. Nevertheless, the book is good because of its “ rank ” ; meaner arts can be acquired. One chapter describes a passage in the lives of a man and woman by emphasising ing, in a series of separate and superficially disconnected paragraphs certain typical emotional experiences. The effect is like that of large brush work in a picture ; it is very successful, and if G. H. Breda will only accept ordinary life as the medium of expression, “ things ” will happen. The Dimensional There Tyler. (Fifield. Idea as an Aid to Religion. IS. net.) By W. F. “ Every Woman’s Own Lawyer.” By Gordon C. Whadcoat, Solicitor. (Fisher Unwin. 3s. 4d. net.) born. London. It tells yen b-w we At the first glance there seemed little advantnge in selectfor a good position in Electrir.al ing a few departments of law, and treating them apart on T.luht awl Pnwnt. Trsmwav Motor the ground that they have special reference to women. But, ZION’S WORKS contain explanations of the BIBLE, which free mankind on consideration, we think that Mr. Whadcoat has written a J from the charge of Sin. Read the “Dialogue, ’ Vol. IV., and first Letter, book which will help many women to understand their legal Vol. IX. In the principal Free Libraries. position in this male-ridden world. The law on domestic UNITARIANISM AN AFFIRMATIVE FAITH,” ” UNITARIAN CHRISTIANITYservants, shopping, children, and concerning all the varied (Armstrong), “Eternal Punishment ” (Stopford Brooke) tianity Explained troubles of the married state is clearly and usefully described. BARMBY, Mount Pleasant “Atonement” ( Page Hopps) given post free.-Miss It is also advisable that a woman should know the ordinary .mlnloath. . awpton Strwt. HOWTO BECOME ELECTRICAL ENGINEER from writing this little book. The application of the idea of a fourth dimension to justify certain religious beliefs is not new; and when it is attempted by a gentleman whose only qualifications for entering the field of metaphysics physics are an honest intelligence and the best of intentions, the result is not satisfactory, either to the believer or to the sceptic. ( Thus Mr. Tyler the doctrine of " Free Will ” is to inconceivable, but he advises us to believe in it, nevertheless less, because such belief is probably necessary to race survival!) However. the book is attractively written. and will. no doubt, find favour with that section of the public which craves the moral support of definite metaphysical dogma, but cannot swallow it unless it is wrapped up in “scientific ” phraseology. religion, a wise man keeps to himself,” and we cannot help feeling that Mr. Tyler would have been wiser to refrain Someone has said that " What a wise man thinks about Hol- JULY4, 1907 steps which must be taken in bringing or defending an action in the smaller affairs which arc settled in a County Court. Such knowledge may help in many cases towards her assertion of a rightful independence. WC regret that the author should have thought fit, in his prejudice, to mention the Deceased Wife’s Sister’s Bill as specially proving day and Friday afternoons, commencing on September 24 nest, although the rotation in which the new plays will be given has not been definitely settled;. yet. Mr. Aflalo in his new book breaks new ground, forsaking his favourite fishes and birds and turning his attention to his own species. Primarily, of course, the author’s interest throughout his trip in Florida, the West Indies, and along the Spanish Main centred in the fish. Yet his lively narrative is not by any means all of fish and fishing, for hetakes the reader through the streets of New York ; to the White House at Washington, with a brief but interesting audience of the President, in whom he found a kindred spirit; into well-wooded heights in Carolina; from the gay streets of Havana through the heart of Cuba; into cattle stations in Jamaica ; and under the personal conduct of the acting Chief Engineer, over the so far completed portion of the Panama Canal. His book is fully illustrated. * Mr. A. C. Fifield has just issued a pocket edition of Ruskin's the need of women possessing a Parliamentary vote. We prefer to think that there is no subject of Parliamentary discussion on which women have not the fullest right, as Sport in Florida and the West Indies,” by Mr. F. G. Aflalo. Mr. Werner Laurie will shortly publish "Sunshine and citizens, to vote aye or nay. BOOK NOTES. Mr. Unwin announces for immediate publication a book on “Dramatic Traditions of the Dark Ages,” by Professor In this volume an attempt is Joseph F. Tunison. scattered tracts made to collect some from the triumph of Chrisdramatic representations tianity There are chapters on to the Renaissance. in religion, on Eastern traditions and Western development, and on the traditions which came by way of ancient The same publisher also announces a and mediaeval Italy. novel by William Hay, entitled "Herridge of Reality in the old Swamp, ” a story of adventure in Australia convict days. * + + “ Women’s Franchise ” is the title of a new penny weekly paper devoted to the women’s cause which is to be published by Mr. John Edward Francis, of 13. Bream’s Buildings, E.C. The important thing about this publication is the fact that it will be the medium for the expression of the views of all the various societies working towards- the enfranchisement of women. The promoters of the venture arc to be concongratulatedon having succeeded in securing the enthusiastic the war between Church and Theatre, on dramatic impulses kin’s “ Sesame and Lilies " at threepence. This amazingly cheap reprint should have a large sale among Ruskin readers, and it will serve as a companion volume to the same publisher’s threepenny edition of “ Unto This Last.” DRAMA. The Incubus. Whatever else Brieux’s play may indicate, it does unundoubtedly show the enormous superiority of realism over romantic rubbish, from the professional actor’s point of view. The chief woman’s part, that of the so that one “ Incubus,” Charlotte, is very unpleasant, appreciates all the more Miss Mabel Hackney’s acting that makes us like Charlotte just for the sake of her differ, but whose aims lead to the same gaol. We wish the venture every success. + * * Also it does not matter one bit rather crude humanity. The members of the Fabian Society who arc responsible that the situation in the play is the very stalest of for the idea of a Fabian Summer School, arc to be concongratulatedon the success of their organisation. The list of dramatic stuff, because it is so treated as to be interestlectures provided for the first session, beginning July 27 ing by virtue of substituting observation for convention looks most promising. Of these there are four courses: and humanity for melodrama. Nothing, I believe, is I. Great Socialists and their Lives. 2. Present Problems of less interesting than the relations between a man, a 3. Elementary Economic History. Social Reconstruction. That the situation is compliwoman, and her lover. 4. Miscellaneous. And among the lecturers are such wellcated by the man and woman not being married and by known and able people as Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells. Sidney the lover being very deeply in love, of the passionateWebb, Hubert Bland, Aylmcr Maudc, B. L. Hutchins, F. romantic type, only adds to the trivialities. This situaLawson Dodd, and Hadcn Guest. The school will be held at Pen-yr-allt, Llanbedr, Merioneth, N. Wales, from July tion is one essentially involving all the littlenesses of 27 to September 14. and is open to members of the Fabian men and women, that is if it remains a situation ; if it Society and of other Socialist organisations. For terms and does not, then it is solved in some way or another quite particulars write to Mr. J. W. Shaw, Fabian Offices, 3, too severe for sentimental dramatic treatment. The Clements Inn, Strand, W.C. real crudity of the sex-relation dramatists have failed to 3c * excepting Euripides “ Hippolytus,” tackle : always The pamphlet by Mr. H. Croft Hiller, advertised in our which it is possible, however, only ancient philosophers columns, should have a good sale. Readers of his volumes and post-Darwinian, post-Lamarckian scientists can on “ Heresies ” will remember Mr. Hiller for his positively flashing and brilliant pen. The “ Saturday Review.” we reunderstand. hit Brieux gets to work on these very member, was particularly enamoured, and was in danger unpleasant trivialities, and makes them so real that for some time of announcing Mr. Hiller as the liveliest one’s attention and admiration arc alike compelled. living writer. Pierre, the man, has taken unto himself a mistress, + * + Charlotte, in order to escape the responsibilities of marA new magazine. “ The Colonial Office Journal," has just marriage. Charlotte has accepted the position in order to appeared : and it is to be hoped that a copy will be placed escape the probability of starvation. There is only the in every library in England. The first number contains one bond between them, and they lead a cat and dog digests of the latest official reports, and summaries of Colonial commercial information. Nothing could be better life together. Charlotte is stupid, jealous, exacting, calculated to educate the British public in the real meaning exasperating, disturbing, and generally intolerable ; of Imperialism : and we extend our heartiest greetings to Pierre is dull, irritable, inconsiderate, and selfish-in a the venture, and commend it to our readers. word, they are a rather usua1 couple. And out of this * SC xmost unpromising material Brieux makes a sympathetically Admirers of the works of Bernard Shaw will be glad to tically human play. The three acts drag one through know that they will have an opportunity in the autumn of of objectionable human traits, witnessing a stage performance of his “Caesar and Cleopatraa really terrible exhibition and yet at the end one finds oneself liking both Charpatra.” Special arrangements have just been concluded Charlotte Pierre , as one would in ordinary life. and In the between Mr. Forbes Robertson and Mr. Vedrenne which last act Pierre has cut adrift from Charlotte, and she, in will enable the Managers of the Court Theatre to give this fine play at the Savoy Theatre, with Mr. Forbes Robertson in his original part of Caesar and Miss Gertrude Elliott as Cleopatra, and it is hoped that the company will include several of the artists who were in Mr. Forbes Robertson’s original production of the play in America. But, owing to the engagements which Mr. Forbes Robertson has for his provincial tour. it will not be possible to open the Savoy Theatre with this production : it will therefore be given for a limited number of weeks in the latter half of November next. The opening performances at the Savoy as far as the evening bill is concerned will be “You Never Can Tell. As for the Vedrenne-Barker Matinees they will be as hitherto on Tues. co-operation of the various suffrage societies, whose tactics JULY 1907 4 THE NEW AGE. more or less simulated despair, has made a nearly sucsuccessful effort at drowning ; she is rescued, and tries to It is here that the delight of Brieux becomes return Left alone, Pierre would probably have sent manifest. Charlotte to the devil. But the rescued Charlotte has enlisted all the weight of social sympathy on her side by virtue of her show of feeling, and this weight of emotion crushes all resistance out of Pierre. The final scene after the half-drowned incubus has been brought in, and when the neighbours are all standing round to see what reward the “ rescuer ” will get is a masterpiece of irony. Pierre, first of all, and with great reluctance, tips the man 20 francs. Both the neighbours and the man denounce the parsimony bitterly. At length Pierre produces notes for 200 francs, saved with great difficulty for a holiday, and sentiment and convention All leave the wretched man who has are satisfied. again sold himself into slavery, and the scene closes by Charlotte giving her automatic aggravating reproof of his unconscious habit, and saying, “ Don’t sit on the table, dear. ” The old life has begun again. I am not sure that I do not rejoice rather unduly in the irony ; if so, it is the fault of the other kind of French drama. But I rejoice really because, however unpleasant the characters of both Pierre and Charlotte may be, there can be no doubt of their being quite ordinary people, living in a quite ordinary way. I entirely reject the scrupulously English idea that Brieux wishes to point-a special moral by making Pierre and Charlotte The only difference their relationship not married. makes is to accentuate the enslavement of the man and the economic dependence of the woman. That these arc unpleasant things I know ; that there are more attractive themes for drama I am frequently told, but we’ve Pleasurable got to have realism before we get reality. romantic sentiment such as is found in the “ Scarlet Pimpernel ” is, of course, more roseate and prettier But, Brieux diet is interestthan the drab of Brieux. ing and stimulating, while the “ Scarlet Pimpernel ” is There is no reason why the cloying and satiating. reality of man should not be as beautiful as the background of mountains and clouds and seas and lakes proprovided man. But we still only get it by understandby sugar ing the realism of Brieux, not by building candy castles a la “ Scarlet Pimpernel.” -- It is not Brieux who makes things ugly, but cowardice and sugar candy emotion that prevent things being beautiful. And yet it is astonishing how beautiful even ugly realities can be, seen in the perspective of big relationships. When Charlotte is jealous and exacting, one dislikes her ; when she baldly announces she was in need of a purse to buy bread before she took Pierre, one gets her in a big picture. A good deal, of course, depends on the acting ; but the actors depend enormously on the dramatist, for unless he creates human beings, human actors cannot understand and interpret them. Mr. Charles V. France as Pierre was so very good that I hesitate to seem captious, but in the last act Pierre ought surely to be a little more wavering. Of the other actors there is less to say. Mr. Charles Garry as Brochot, the lover, was good’ and produced the difficult conception very effectively. Brochot is full of high falutin’ romantic love for Charlotte. In this Brieux atmosphere he appears, of course, quite absurd. His final dismissal is superb. The other important character is the gentleman from the flat below, who is situated in the same way as Pierre. The scene in which he comes to protest, and, as it dawns on him that Pierre is a victim like himself, stays to sympathise was a great piece of humour excellently acted by Mr. PlayFair. Perhaps, on reflection, the play is a little savage, but then we need some savagery to clean all the sugarcandy stuff out of our way. L. Haden Guest. -- --The most Original Paper in England. Music for the People. Scene : Hyde Park, around the bandstand on a fine evening. The military band has just concluded a selecLoud applause from the crowd tion from Tannhäuser. in the enclosure ; less strenuous applause from those Three men are sauntering round ; outside the ring. Dodson, an ardent Radical of the Polytechnic (Regent Street) brand ; Smith, a staunch Tory of the “ don’t you make any mistake ” type.;- Latimer, a non-party man, regarded by his friends as a man of hazy, indeterminate views, and by himself as a man with a singularly fair and open mind. Dodson : Do you hear that applause? And yet, Smith, you pretend that the people don’t care about music. Why, look at the crowd-Smith : Crowd, of course there’s a crowd. Who wouldn’t be glad to get away from the noise and dust of the streets into a park as ‘ud do credit to any nation? And when there’s a tune going on-Dodson (indignantly) : Tune, have you no better word for Wagner than that? Smith : Yes, I have for most of his stuff-only you’d like it still less. Dodson : At any rate, you admit they’re attracted by the band? Smith : Oh, they like a good noise-but I do not think they care a hang about what’s being played as long as they’ve plenty of brass and drum. Above all, they like a place where they can come with their wives, sweethearts, and pals-and slack a bit. Dodson (impressively) : I tell you they’re beginning to realise the refining effect of good music. You can’t pooh pooh away that applause. These bands are exercising a splendid educational effect on the people, and if they only kept to the better class music-what do you say, Latimer ? Latimer : I don’t know that I’m enamoured of your “ educational ” label. But in so far as they make for clean, honest, sane relaxation, as they do, I’m for them. Dodson : Now, look at that party in front of us sitting down. Quiet, intelligent, respectable-looking young women. Did you see how they enjoyed Tannhäuser ? Smith : They enjoyed the bang and the blare as quietlooking girls usually do. You watch ‘em when the “ Blue Moon ” is played. They like that just as well-and probably better--because it’s livelier. Dodson : Very well, we’ll watch them. Latimer : But why on earth shouldn’t they like the “ Blue Moon ” as well? Is it a crime to like light music ? Smith : Dodson thinks it’s a sign of moral degeneracy. Dodson : It’s impossible to dissociate those things from the vulgar story and imbecile lyrics. Smith : That’s the worst of you Radicals. You profess to be so fond of the People, and you show it by preachingat ‘em everlastingly to keep ‘em in an unnatural state of moral tip-toe. A good musical comedy does no one any harm, and is a capital remedy for worry after a heavy day in the City. Dodson : DO you mean to say that the Gaiety and the other places where this twaddle is performed exert an educational influence? Smith : Oh, confound your mutual improvings--I say there’s no harm in a good, honest laugh. Dodson : I can’t laugh at those things. Smith : No, you’re always morbidly hankering after Extension lecturesand something instructive. Dodson : I certainly hold that even an amusement shall have some educational effect. ting a powder in it? Dodson (ignoring interruption) : Some educational effect, I say. It either elevates or degrades. Smith : Elevates ! Always talking about elevating ! Pity YOU weren’t born a steam crane ! Latimer (diplomatically) : That’s Handel’s “ Largo,” isn’t it, they’re playing ? Dodson : yes, a lovely thing. And see that young servant girl and her sweetheart on our left. They seem Smith : I suppose you never take jam without put- THE FREETHINKER, G. W. FOOTE. Bright Paragraphs Edited by Strong Articles Weekly Up-to-Date. PIONEER - TWOPENCE. PRESS, 2, NEWCASTLE STREET, LONDON, E.G. SpecimenCopy post free, 158 THE NEW AGE. July 4, 1907 quite wrapt up in it. Not talking a word. Depend upon it, Handel is speaking to them, though they mightn’t be able to express his message in so many words. The Sweetheart (aggrieved) : ‘Ello, Lizer. Got the ‘ump. Yer’ve been as quiet as a mouse for the last five minutes ! Liza : Hev I? Sorry (places a comparatively small foot on his stalwart number nines as a mark of confidence). It’s that old tooth of mine a-nagging. Sweetheart (relieved) : Oh, that’s all, is it ! I was afraid you was worrying over that row with the missus. But this ‘ere tune is enough to give a cat fits. (Consults Handel’s Lager-just thought it was programme.) precious mild, eh? P’haps ‘is bottled stuff has more fizz and go in it. (Laughs loudly.) Liza (vaguely, but admiringly) : You are a one. Dodson (angrily) : And it’s a good thing he is only one and not half a dozen. What right has he to spoil other people’s pleasure with his inanities? Smith (with a chuckle) : Well, what did you expect from the lower classes? Dodson (coldly) : It’s absurd to generalise from a lout like that. And I think that phrase “ lower class ” is most objectionable. Smith (facetiously) : “ Smart set,” then, if you prefer it. A Severe-Looking Woman (to her husband) : I wish you’d sit still, John, and not hum. I want Freddy to listen to this. You know he has just learned to play it on his violin ! Dodson (triumphantly) : You see ! Latimer (under his breath) : Yes, thank goodness we don’t hear. Smith (jocosely) : It’s absurd to generalise from a noodle like that. (The piece concludes amidst great applause. The group of girls before referred to are particularly enthusiastic.) Dodson : Well, Mr. Cynic, what about those girls-they appreciate it. Are they also noodles? Intelligent young women-I say ! Smith : I believe that another classic, “ The Blue Moon,” is down nest on the programme. We’ll stroll round near to them, and I’m sure their comments will be illuminating. (They do so. “ The Blue Moon ” is received with the same cheerful indiscriminate enthusiasm. As it dies away, one of the young women referred to speaks to the others.) One of the Intelligent Young Women : That’s very light and pretty, isn’t it-such a lot of change in it. I do like change. Of course (oracularly), Rubens isn’t a Handel or a Wagner, but (with a certain guilty embarrassment) he-he keeps your feet going all the time. fl Dodson (sententiously) : Ah ! how they hanker after the flesh-pots of Egypt ! Another I.Y.W. (who has evidently enjoyed the selection immensely) : Extremelv catchy-- (hypocritically tally)-but of course that superficial kind of music tries one very quickly. A Third I.Y.W. : But wasn’t Passmore lovely in that Crocodile song. I could have heard it all night. Dodson (with pained expression) : Come away. I’ll never judge by looks again. Smith (looking self-satisfied) : What did I tell you? Now, old chap, I know you’ll drop that educational bunkum. Dodson : At any rate, they knew what they ought to 9 like. ARTHUR RICKETT. “WHERESHALL I LIVE?” A NEW PUBLICATION SIXPENCE. READY JULY 1st: Consistsof 192pagesLetterpress and Half-Tone Illustrations and contains:(1) (2) PLANS AND DETAILED COTTAGES. SPECIAL ARTICLES ON Leading Experts of THE Price Post Free NINEPENCE, COST LAND Day. OF NEARLY AND 50 MODEL BY THE HOUSING. (S) A “DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLAND” BILL. SPECIALLY DRAFTED BY ALD. W. THOMPSON. (AUTHOR OF THE " HOUSING HANDBOOK") (4) A DESCRIPTIVE AND PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO GARDEN CITY. A FIRST EDITION of 20,000 copies is being printed and orders will be executed in order of Rotation. 192 Pages. SIXPENCE. 326a, HIGH 192 Pages. Published by FIRST GARDEN HOLBORN, CITY, Ltd., LONDON, W.C. The HIGHEST is STANDARD of FOOD EXCELLENCE ovis Trade Mark BREAD Scienceand Experience Confirm. bread. The waste branny particles are excluded, being indigestible. Hovis promotes digestion and possesses a sweet, nutty, agreeable flavour. Beware of substitutes. No other is “just as good.” See the word “ Hovis ” on each loaf, Booklet nnd al2 information frsr from- HOVIS Bread is a pure wheaten product absolutely free from all chemicals and adulterants. It contains all the nutrient properties of the grain, and is more nourishing than either white or whole-meal The Bovis Bread-Flour Co., Ltd., Hacclesfield, The 2nd BOOK of Nuts.@ Free, 91 ‘*Of the making of books there is no end,” but we are quite certain there is no otber book at all like the one we are willing to send you . on one condition only-that you mentioo the “New Age.” The contents include 24 Nut Recipes by Mrs. Gillmour, of Belf&t. Wih the book we will send JOQ free samples of “ Clleam oV Nuts iv, a delicious Nut Food made by ourselves. Geo. Savage OLD & Sons, rht Experts, 53, Aldersgate Street, London, E.C. AGE PENSIONS! G?P . ART. The Younger Craftsmen. At some time in the distant future, when the present plague of commercialism and ugliness is finally banished from life, we imagine that exhibitions will disappear also. At the best they are necessary evils. They are attempts at bridging over a gulf which has no right to exist. Unfortunately, however, they fail to effect the desired result. A candlestick, a picture, or a piece of Our system of ANNUITIES is quite unique, and meets the rerequirements of persons of moderate means to whom it is more coninstead of HALFvenient to receive their income MONTHLY YEARLY or YEARLY. No trouble. No medical examination. No references. Full particulars on receipt of postcard to THE LONDON AND PROVINCIAL ASSURANCE CO., LTD., ~,MOUMT STRBET,MANCHESTER,O~-~~,LEADENHALL STREET,LONDON, E.C. CHARLES LEESE, Managing Director. I The Prodigy and Freak of Nature; or An Animal Run to Brain. By KERIDON. “Well worth reading by all who are interested in mental evolution.“-The Westminster Review. Price 4d. WATTS & CO., 17 Tohnson’scourt. London, E.C. I l MA furniture can be placed in an exhibition, but a modelled plaster ceiling, a stained-glass window, or a wroughtiron screen may not. The consequence is that exhibitions are never representative of the art of the day. It is one of the peculiar things of modern art that most progress has been made just in those things which are The Junior Art Workers’ not adapted for exhibition. now being held in Clifford’s Inn, Guild Exhibition, Fleet Street, shares this defect of all craft exhibitions ; nevertheless it is a highly Creditable performance ; and Socialists who imagine that the Arts and Crafts has lost its vitality would do well to pay this exhibition a visit. Considering the exhibition in detail, it is to be regreted that such representative craftsmen of the younger generation as Joseph Armitage, H. W. Palliser, and the brothers Silver are not represented. Of the crafts exhibited, the jewellers and silversmiths may fairly claim Their exhibits are all of firstto take the first place. Messrs. J. H. N. and workmanship. class design Bonner, W. S. Hadaway, H. B. Cunningham, J. A. Spencer deserve special menHodel, and E. The last - named is also represented by tion. several delightful candelabra, lamps, and other is as good each piece of which metal work, as anything that is produced at the present day. The bookbindings of Messrs. Sangorski and Sutcliffe and of Alfred de Sauty are excellent alike in design and Some fabrics by Alfred H. Dennis are workmanship. very creditable. A semi-circular wash-stand by Ambrose Heal is an admirable example of the more utilitarian side A dressing-table by Geo. Ll. Morris of craftsmanship. is worthy of mention, though the colour is not exactly Photographs and drawings of buildings satisfactory. by Messrs. Milne, Fyfe, and Stanton are among other very pleasing items ; special mention should be made of a very successful pair of cottages by Oswald P. Milne. In the more pictorial part of the exhibition we find the painters fully justify their craft. The miniatures by Messrs. Messrs. Dudley and Lionel Heath are excellent. Leonard Walker, Stacey Aumonier, and Frank Carter show works in oil and water colour admirable and individual in treatment. “ Night,” by Dudley Heath, “ Winchelsea,” by Stacey Aumonier, “ A Fantasy,” by Frank Carter, “ The Fan,” by Leonard Walker, are all skilful and pleasing essays in colour, and decorate the wall to real purpose. The etchings by Luke Taylor uphold the finest traditions of the needle, and are amongst the best things in the exhibition. ‘ Pastoral ” is a poetic theme, showing a fine sense of composition in light and shade. Laurence Davis’ etchings of Italian subjects are also excellent. On the whole, perhaps, the sculpture is the weakest part of the exhibition, though exception-should be made of “ Valkyrie,” an excellent bas-relief by Richard Garbe, and some beautiful statuettes in bronze by Mervyn Lawrence. Some designs for fountains and monuments are unsatisfactory from an architectural point of view. Why sculptors will persist in spoiling their best’ work by their amateur architecture is difficult to understand, especially in the exhibitions of a Society whose aim is a reunion of the crafts. The Guild is to be congratulated on the exhibition, which is very pleasingly arranged, and is not too large to bore the distracted visitor. A. J. PENTY. have no reference to Mr. Wells at all, but argue quite The remaining 137 lines (nearly two-thirds of the article) impersonally the case for a Socialist Party. Mr. Wells further says that I have put together “clipped Now, generous as quotations ” from his articles and tracts. I know the editors of THE NEW AGE to be, I do not think they would have permitted me to quote either the whole of Mr. Wells’s article, which had appeared .a week before, or But, if Mr. Wells the whole of ‘(This Misery of Boots.” means that I left out any qualification which would have put a different colour on his words I challenge him to prove it. The pretence that the difference between the two passages is one of tone is one that will not hold water for a moment. In his tract, Mr. It is a direct contradiction of doctrine. Wells tells the new converts to Socialism, not merely that they must call themselves Socialists, but that they ” must refuse to be called Liberal or Conservative.” In his article he very properly that Socialism supersays: that they “deny If this is not a or Conservatism. sedes ” their Liberalism flat contradiction, what is? I must apologise to Mr. Wells for having misunderstood be a sociological allegory, containing, not indeed Mr. Wells’s programme for the next election, but his vision of how much nobler and happier the world might be if men would only Mr. Wells manage their affairs sensibly and humanely. news tells me that it is a mere fairy tale without any sociological meaning or value ; and, of course, I am bound to accept his statement. I regret a misunderstanding on my part, which yet was not, I think, unflattering to him. "In the Days of the Comet.” When I read it, I took it to Lastly, Mr. Wells tells us that, though he is against Socialists entering politics as a party, he is in favour of Socialist legislation. This can only mean that Socialism can be established saying by men who are not Socialists, has gone over Q SC that Mr. Wells assailed in “This Misery of Boots.” Does not this justify me in to the ” permeators ” ? CECIL CHESTERTON. the very position * discovery that poverty is an evil is one which the average human Intelligence is capable of making unaided. But the insistence on the primary importance of accumulating a great deal of money is odd in the mouth of a Socialist who works for a state of society in which great accumulations in the hands of individuals will be impossible. We have UNDERSHAFTISM. To THE EDITORS OF “THE NEW AGE.” Perhaps some of your readers do not share the enthusiasm of your reviewer over (‘John Bull’s Other Island, etc.” The learned from our teachers, Mr. Shaw among others, that human greed is responsible for most of our present evils; but here it is back again as a benignant influence. Andrew Undershaft is, of course, the hero of Major Barbara. I thought when I saw the play that he was a creation from without; but it appears from the preface that Mr. Now Undershaft Shaw has put his own opinions into his mouth. does not differ from other millionaires, except in being more fruitful than they of precepts and theories. He is not at all apologetic about himself and would regard Socialist for earnest young abolish him? He doctrines in general with good-humoured contempt. is a very engaging person, and is now presented as a model men. In these circumstances why work to WALTER HOGG. T CONTENTS FOR JULY: How Lala Lajpat Rai Came to be Deported, by Our Indian Correspondent; The Case for Local Veto, by William Pearson, U.K.A.; socialist Views of Empire; The Christianity of Christ, by Frances Swiney ; The Shop Assistants’ Revolt ; On Spending Money ; Simpler Dietetics ; Esperanto kaj la Kambrig’a Kongreso, with an Esperanto translation, by Henry Croxford. 2d. Monthly, of all newsagents. London : ELLIOT STOCK, Post free 3d., or 3s. per year, from THE NEW INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OFFICE, OXFORD. I CORRESPONDENCE. For the opinions expressed by correspondents, the Editors do not hold themselves responsible. Correspondence intended for publication should be addressed to the Editors and written on one side of the paper only. LEO TOLSTOY'S WORKS EVERETT & Co. beg to announce that in conjunction with the Free Age Press, Christchurch, Hants, they will be the publishers of all Leo Tolstoy’s New Essays and Novels. Messrs. METHODS OF CONTROVERSY. wanton inconsistency ” to him. This is a mere question of fact, which I can safely leave to readers of my article. I will only say that my article contained 226 lines, of which 43 (less than one-fifth) referred to the “wanton inconsistency ” of which Mr. Wells writes. ‘The next 46 lines are in answer to some of Mr. Wells’s arguments against a Socialist Party. Sirs,-Will you allow me to reply briefly to Mr. Wells’s criticism of my controversial methods ? Mr. Wells’s first complaint is that I “do not so much discuss this proposed new Socialist party as seek to ascribe To THE EDITORS OF (‘ THE NEW AGE.” TOLSTOY ON SHAKESPEARE With articles by E. H. Crosby and G. Bernard Medium 8vo, 6d, Shaw. 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