Lean, clean, brown Englishmen bear the stamp of the Public Schools upon them and have made England what she is. Smug-faced missionaries grow fat on the spoils they have collected from smug-faced church-and-chapel-goers at home. Labour Members are in the pay of Germany and frequent infamous flats in the West-End. Liberal Cabinet Ministers--sometimes, more shame to them, of decent birth--wince consciously when reminded of the taint of their association with plebeian colleagues. These things, and many more of equal moment, I have learnt from Mr. STANLEY PORTAL HYATT, who in _The Way of the Cardines_ (WERNER LAURIE) describes how _Sir Gerald_, of that famous family, captured, with reckless profusion of local blood, the independent island of Katu. Katu is in the Malay Archipelago. Of vital importance as a key to the Eastern trade route it is eagerly sought after by Germany, and to Germany's protection, after _Sir Gerald's_ exploit, a pusillanimous and almost more than Liberal English Government basely ceded it. But what could you expect when _Sir Joseph Darkin_, smug-faced hypocrite (I am sorry, but almost everybody in this book except the _Cardines_ had a smug face), was a member of our Cabinet? Were it not that Mr. HYATT writes with a distinct sense of style and some power of narrative, I should boldly label _The Way of the Cardines_ as one of the most amazingly humorous books I have read for a long time. In the circumstances my amusement was mingled with a certain amount of respectful sorrow. _Sir Gerald Cardine_ took morphia tablets freely; on the essence of what strange herb Mr. STANLEY PORTAL HYATT had been browsing before he began to write _The Way of the Cardines_ I simply dare not think. I should recommend readers to mitigate the crudity of his opinions, as I did, by softening the C of _Sir Gerald's_ perpetually reiterated surname all through. The story sounds even more beautiful so. And I like to think that, when the hour of England's need comes, a Sir Pilchard of the historic house, and reared in some famous school, will not be found wanting. * * * * * A WORLD'S WORKER. [Illustration: Chef timing a mixed grill.] * * * * * OUR GALLANT BISHOPS. "The Bishop of Barrow-in-Furness rendered timely assistance yesterday in an accident which occurred in the main street of Carlisle. Part of the harness of a heavily-laden cart broke, and the horse was becoming restive, when the Bishop, who was passing, prevented further danger by buckling up the girth while the carter held up the cart shafts, which would otherwise have fallen to the ground."--_Morning Post._ A lesser man would have pinched the carter's cap. * * * * * MR. BALFOUR'S GIFFORD LECTURES. "As everything is illusory, we had better make our illusions as pleasant as possible. 'That,' he said, 'has been my view.'"--_Times._