Welsh Journals

Labour?" and "Suggestions towards a Political Economy of the Greek City State," we sample Professor Zimmern's profound erudition. His intimacy with European scholarship, his own fertile mind, and the wealth of suggestions which he makes, seem to mark him as a model Director of Research. His more historical and descrip- tive passages are alive with examples wisely chosen. No better description of mining in Ancient Greece could be desired than that given on pp. 141-3, while the citation of the fact that out of a total citizen body of 35,000 in Athens, only 1,200 could provide their own horses for a campaign, throws a flood of light on the penury of the Greek Citv State. His parallels are widely flung: from East and West, Ancient, Medieval or Modern History, they are all called up with the ease of endless resource. However, one must confess some dissatisfaction when, on more than one occasion, problems are raised to be dismissed on the score of inadequate space, and this sense of incompleteness is especially strong as one lays the last essay aside. The more general appeal of this volume is contained in the introductory essay in "History as an Art" and "The Study of Greek History." All three serve to convey much wisdom in masterly fashion, but there is probablv little new material in the last two. The first, however, has all the vision of that little gem "Learning and Leader- ship." One perceives the same insight, orderli- ness and vivid turn of phrase. Indeed, this last quality pervades the whole volume, and it would be a task of comparative ease to garner a sheaf of obiter dicta from its pages. Here are a few: "It is the great merit of children that they are unable to preach truth they can only embody it." All civilised nations know that at best war is doing evil that good may come." "Truth cannot be offered for a consideration." We have almost lost out daily sense of the martyrdom of Truth," etc., etc. B.B.T. THE HIBBERT JOURNAL January, 1929. It is significant that the current issue of the Hibbert begins and ends with articles by women. The first consists of a fair and authoritative answer to the question, "Has Katherine Mayo Slandered Mother India?" and to those who have been unable to obtain or read that work, this contribution practically makes the task an unnecessary one, so impressive is its scrupulous disinterestedness. "Home Making as a Key [ndustry"-the concluding article-is in some ways an English counterpart to the Indian in- vestigation, notably in the consideration of maternal mortality, but obviously it raises other issues of political and social interest as well. The mere males monopolize the rest, and, this time at least, they do so not only with their customary unction, but with conspicuous success. It is almost impossible to discriminate between those papers which should not and others which may be missed. The following represent a ran- dom selection: "An Orthodox Russian in the Presence of God," for its atmosphere and en- lightenment; "The Human Value of the New Astronomy," for its ready aid to the lay mind; "An Ancient Astronomer Speaks," for its his- torical interest and further proof of the glory that was Greece "The Ethics of Leisure Ethics of Investment and Labour," a manifestation of the Devil for their vain analysis of a few of our social difficulties; "A Philosopher's Tragedy," too, for its profundity; and that signpost to cravers for Commonwealths or Empires-" Edu- cation and the New English." There is very little else left, but what remains is good fare. B.B.T. LITTERIS (Milford), Vol. V, No. 3, December, 1928, reviews Wiegand's book on the ruins of Baalbek, incidentally adding to our knowledge of ancient Syrian religion, and also Rostovzeff's "History of the Ancient World." E. Miiller's attempt to draw conclusions about character and racial features from the portraits of Roman emperors is likewise discussed, though not very favourably. Mention must also be made of "The Correspondence of H. Crabb Robinson with the Wordsworth Circle," edited by Professor E. J. Morley, and of Schücking's study of the relation of English family life to Puritanism, both of them valuable contributions. Spanish literature is particularly well represented in this number. The reviews of unpublished plays of Queredo and of P. S. Rodriguez' "Introduction to the History of Spanish Mysticism," are very helpful to the general reader, as well as to the specialist. Professor Staaff's review of "The Origins of Spanish" by R. Menendez Pidal, makes it clear that we have had an epoch-making work of great value not only to the student of Spanish but also of other Romance languages. A. Taylor's "The Black Ox," is remarkable as an example of the method to be pursued by folk-lorists in following the development of a popular tale. Quite out- standing, also, is Martin Lamm's book on Strindberg's plays, to the understanding of which, the reviewer, Monsieur Jolivet, likewise makes a striking contribution. Bibl's edition of some new Metternich correspondence and Las- son's edition of Hazel's works are also discussed. Altogether this is a number of exceptional interest. H.G.W.