RICHARD HARDING DAVIS will, alas, entertain us no more with his easy-flowing pen. These short stories, _Somewhere in France_ (DUCKWORTH), must be his farewell to us. And it is good to feel that his sympathies are so whole-heartedly on the right side. The first of the stories (the only one that has anything to do with the War) is a spirited yarn of the turning of the tables on a German secret service agent, with plenty of atmosphere and hurrying action. The rest are light studies of American life, of which I chiefly commend an extravaganza set in Hayti with a resourceful Yankee electrician, as hero, in conflict with the President in the matter of overdue wages; and the final item of a tussle between a stern and upright District Attorney and the might of Tammany, in which the author seems to have a rather whimsical mistrust of both sides. I always like to think of Tammany when our croakers are holding up everything in this poor little island to obloquy. * * * * * The God in the Car. "Rumania asked permission for the passage through Bulgaria of several wagons of grain bought from Greece. Bulgaria agreed on condition that Rumania should release over 200 wagons of Bulgarian gods detained in Rumania." * * * * * "An extract of squills, which has been used by the French Government in the trenches for two or three months, is to be used in a Berwickshire County Council experiment to exterminate rates." _Provincial Paper._ We should like to hear of something equally deadly to taxes. * * * * * "Miss Ruby Miller is in gorgeous green, to match her gorgeous red hair."--_Sunday Pictorial._ It is perhaps just as well that some people, notably engine-drivers, do not see things in this way. * * * * * [Illustration: _Chauffeur (ex-coachman, to master, who has been influenced by economy posters)._ "A run or two now and again, Sir, would be good for the car. You see, if I might so express it, she's just eating her bonnet off."]