Welsh Journals

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Rhamant y Blodau. Gan Awen Mona. Wrecsam. Hughes a'i Fab, t.d. 43. Is. The romance of flowers is seven exquisite little tales for children admirably conceived and executed. It features a world of make believe where sun and wind and flower and all elemental things are a very part of our human affairs. There is nothing of the grotesque and impossible that one finds so commonly in the presentation of such themes. Further, it is all but faultless with respect to basal facts and observations. There remains but to envy the present generation of Welsh children in anticipation of this treat. R.A.R. Red Clover Investigations. By R. D. Williams, M.Sc., The Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth. pip. 136. 5s. Though it is not a monograph on Red Clovers this publication covers a range of investigations into the relative merits of a multiplicity of forms of this forage plant, drawn from many countries and diligently pursued over many seasons. Its findings have been widely quoted in the more popular agri- cultural press. To the economic botanist and the agricultural specialist, here, as elsewhere it is good wine that neer j no bush." To realise adequately the labour and application involved in work of this kind the publication must however be consulted first hand. I would recommend it to those who would appreciate the type of higher and post graduate research studies that are being pursued in the University Colleges of Wales at the present time. R.A.R. The Problem of Sin in the New Testament. By J. Evans Thomas, B.D. A. and C. Black, Ltd. Pp i-viii 1-152. 5s. The wrapper of this volume claims that this is the first English book to take as its main theme the subject of Sin in the New Testament and to treat this in a thorough and comprehensive manner," but a perusal of the book leaves one in the end somewhat disappointed. The treatment of the subject is too scrappy and cursory, and the actual writing is often slipshod and unsatisfactory. The author, who is quite familiar with the work of modern scholars, adopts the critical standpoint and his real know- ledge of the contents of the New Testament is clear on many a page. But his chapters touch too briefly on too many points without satisfactorily co-ordin- ating them and bringing them into relation with his main theme. Chapters ix and xii may be cited as instances of this defect. And in the last chapter (The Christian Problem of Sin), where one might have expected a final and constructive summary, the author uses most of his space to discuss three nega- tive propositions and only one closing page is devoted to the attempt to tell the reader what the Christian doctrine of sin actually is. Despite some real merits, one cannot rest satisfied with this volume as a thorough and comprehensive treat- ment of its subject. G.A.E. Pioneer Work and Other Developments in Adult Education. Paper No. 9 of the Adult Education Committee. During the last few months, this Committee has displayed exceptional fertility. The explanation is probably out with the announcement of its recon- stitution by the President of the Board of Education and the retiring chairman. Dr. St. J. Parry, may well review the accomplishments of his team with every degree of satisfaction. He has made Adult Educationists his debtors in a real sense. His Committee has advised the Board on the whole range of work and the newly-constituted body will be at no smiall pains to discover new issues and problems for investigation. Here in their Swan- Song they have passed an extensive survey over the whole range of post-war developments in Adult Education, more especially in the light of the regu- lations relating to the definition of spheres of work of University and Voluntary Organisations as drafted in 1924. These regulations signified the first comprehensive effort to form the movement, admitting Adult Education into ponscious part- nership with other phases of education under official recognition, and initiating, undoubtedly, a period or ordered growth. Barely is this task achieved before the cry of reform is raised. It has been heard in Wales already. The definite recommendations made in this report are not submitted in respect of conditions in Wales. Our development, having been different, it is recog- nised that provisions for the future must be differ- ent also, and if we accept their admission that popular culture is more widespread in Wales than in England we must affirm their reference that the discovery of these must evoke some action from the Welsh Department of the Board of Education. But one Departmental Commission has but recently been constituted Let us be modest even in our expecta- tions. B.B.T. Benn's Sixpenny Library. Protestantism: Rev. W. R. Inge. History of India: Edward Thompson. Money: Hartley Withers. The English Novel: J. B. Priestley. The Races of Mankind: H. J. Fleure. The Body: R. C. Macfie. It seems, from one's introduction to these volumes, that Ernest Benn, Ltd., are presenting to English readers an admirable counterpart of the German Sammlung Goschen. They should not, therefore, be subjected to a critical notice but boldly announced and warmly commended. Pipe scholarship, attrac- tive simplicity, and sanity of treatment-these are their qualities and sufficient forsooth, to attract a host of readers in Wales. Have we not a record in the purchase of the Home University Library series? This was won for us in the valleys of Glamorgan and one has visions of conflicting loyal- ties, with the appearance of a new series at a lower price. These embody great value in small bulk at a low price— conditions which are difficult of attain- ment in our vernacular literature which is so im- poverished in this field. One notices the variety of type and arrangement in these volumes, a pleasant feature which does not rest on differences of length alone. Of special interest is Professor Fleure's contribu- tion loaded with erudition and suggestiveness B.B.T. The Round Table. December, 1927. Macmillan, 5s. The current number of this excellent Review has something to say, not only about the main problems of Europe, but also those of the Pacific and India. It begins with an inspiring article on "The Common- wealth." It sets out the principles upon which our system of government is based, which is the noblest yet conceived. Two articles, In Russia Now and American Preoccupations," present a piquant con- trast. The United States and Russia both possess a huge territory and immense natural resources, but in their political and economic systems they are poles apart. It is consequently interesting to see how each of them is getting on on their own lines. The sketch of Al Smith, the Irish-American Governor of New York, and a probable starter" for the presi- dential contest, is a feature of the American article. The problems of Honolulu and other isles of the Pacific already rival our own in their complexity, and a first-hand knowledge results in an arresting article. A witty article from Ireland follows, and there is an article of considerable interest about the relations between French and British in Ontario,