_The Greater Glory_ (HODDER AND STOUGHTON) is a collection of very short sketches concerned with the War. They are a little unequal, some being better than others, and others (naturally) being worse than some. They all reveal their author, Miss EVELYN ORCHARD, as possessed of a pleasantly unforced style, and perhaps rather more ease than imagination. One of them, my own favourite, the story of a parson who enlisted, is conspicuous as containing so admirable a recruiting speech that I can only hope it is transcribed from life. Having said so much, perhaps I may be forgiven by Miss ORCHARD if I add that I would rather have read her up upon some lighter theme. Her tuneful pipe contains some very pleasant notes, both of sentiment and humour, but is altogether too thin for variations upon so tremendous a motive as she has chosen. I express, of course, only my personal feeling; but I am certain that unless a book can rise to the magnitude of the War it had best leave it alone. Still it may well be that others will find interest, and even consolation, in these little papers. They have at least the charm of simplicity, and are obviously the products of a gentle and sympathetic nature. Thus, Miss ORCHARD can still see the pathos of the German private. Well, well. * * * * * [Illustration: "Look, dear--isn't that good? 'Will you march too, or wait till March the Second'?"] * * * * * A PIOUS HOPE. [Suggested by an interview between M. SAZONOFF and Mr. HAROLD BEGBIE in _The Daily Chronicle_.] The Russian statesman, HAROLD BEGBIE thinks, Is a good egg and not a subtle Sphinx; Some day perhaps he will a better egg be And tell us frankly what he thought of BEGBIE.