has just been published by Chapman and Hall (15s. net). Everyone, that is to say, who takes an interest in obtaining clear glimpses of the lives of many of the most interesting personalities concerned with statecraft and high Continental Society of the latter half of the past century. Frederick, when he retired from the Diplomatic Service two or three years ago, was our Envoy to Switzerland, but there is scarcely a capital in Europe, Asia, or America, where, in the course of his long career, he has not been stationed. Perhaps his most interesting chapter in a charming book is that dealing with Pekin, where he served under the famous Sir Frederick Bruce, the brother of Lord Elgin. Sir Frederick Bruce was adored by the Chinese, his calm and suave temperament gaining him the confidence and respect of the Orientals. In fact, so great was his power over them, that it was said that the two brothers, Lord Elgin, as Viceroy of India, and Sir Frederick Bruce, ruled between them over more than half the human race. When the author was in Pekin, Gordon was there, and there are some interesting anecdotes concerning him. The account of Sir Frederick's ride from

Pekin, through Mongolia and Siberia, to Russia, in the depth of winter, accompanied only by two Americans and one servant, records perhaps one of the most perilous feats of travelling on record. The book is very chattily and interestingly written, though it does not betray any secrets of State. Indeed, the only criticism one can pass about it is, that the author is perhaps a trifle too reticent. He could have told us a great deal about ex-King Milan, who was a friend of his, and his acquaintance with the late Empress of Austria and the late Crown Prince Rudolph make us feel he could have told us a good deal concerning them which has been withheld. Nevertheless, the book will be read everywhere, for Sir Frederick is a good raconteur. In his career, he was one of the most tactful of diplomats, and in his younger days was a sportsman whose reputation was known from one side of the world to the other.

The King of Greece

The King of Greece, the popular brother of our Queen, arrives at Windsor on November 13, on a visit to the King and Queen, and will be accompanied by his third son, Prince Nicholas of Greece, and Princess Nicholas. King George always thoroughly enjoys his visits to this country, and speaks English wonderfully well. At his birth there seemed little

Mr. J. S. Fletcher

The winning Conservative Candidate Photo by Johnston and Hoffman

ARE we taking our politics less seriously? It would seem So, to judge by the recent contest at "Happy Hampstead," where humour and genial banter took the place of the rancour and bitterness of old. 66 Rally Round Rowe " was the alliterative Radical battle cry, and their hoardings were neatly plastered over with anti Ministerial posters of the good-natured order. The Conservatives, for their part, replied in coin. The lowest poster in our illustrations is a good specimen of their humorous style, and that of Jchn Bull patting the Premier on the back "He's good enough for me "-made a direct appeal to Conservative good nature. It was a happy idea, too, to issue, under the heading of "Measures passed by the Liberal Government," a book full of blank pages. Let it not, however, be supposed that the campaign was entirely humorous. Mr. Winston Churchill made some speeches.

That is the grave

Should women carry canes? problem which has recently been exercising the minds of the élégantes of Paris.

The idea is of German origin, but, for once, that fact has not been allowed to prejudice Paris entirely against it. No less a personage than the young Crown Princess of Germany has initiated Berlin Society into the fashion of the feminine walkingstick. Every day Her Imperial Highness walks in the Thiergarten carrying a cane reaching as high as her face, the top of which is studded with rubies and other precious and glittering gems.

Berlin Copies Old Paris

And all Berlin has imitated the fashion, so that the avenues of the great park resemble those of Versailles in the middle of the seventeenth century, when the cane was part of the equipment of every elegant woman who considered herself really stylish.

Paris does not like to see its historic glories-even so small a one as this-stolen by the Germans, so it is seriously concerned whether or not canes had not better be at once re-introduced into Paris fashions.

Canes as an Aid to Expression Arguments, however, are both for and against the proposal. On the one hand, certainly, it is contended that the cane gives a woman a certain grace. If it was part of the ensemble of a woman at the Courts of Louis XIV., XV., and XVI., when French grace and charm was certainly at its zenith, then the twentieth century need have no fear of imitating it. Further, the cane, it is held, is, in a way, a means of expres sion. sion. It can be poised in so many various ways, that grace, abandon, domination, and who knows how many more attitudes can be shown through it. On the other hand, there is a certain peril threatened by the cane, and thoughtful Frenchmen are seriously considering it. Would it be wise for women to be thus armed, ready to use weapons in arguments where hitherto their tongues have sufficed? And, again, would it not engender a certain laziness in the fair sex, a certain inclination to heaviness of gait, which would threaten the Parisienne's world-wide reputation for lightness of step and perfection of movement ?

The arguments for or against la canne seem so evenly matched that the issue is a little difficult to predict. And there is the one great fact which may, after all, condemn it-it comes from Germany !