As a laughter maker Eden Phillpotts has “done his bit” during these dark years, and all men are agreed that the relief of light literature and humorous verse are very considerable in these days. They rest and distract the mind, and remind us of Nietzsche’s aphorism that, “art is with us that we may not perish of too much truth.” A feature of the work is twelve illustrations by Miss Alma Elliott, which will attract the attention of all lovers of art by their wonderful craftsmanship and imagination, and every effort has been made by the Publishers to make this volume one of the best gift books of the season. AN INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIAN MUSIC By M. MONTAGU-NATHAN Author of A History of Russian Music, Glinka, Moussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakof, Contemporary Russian Composers Crown 8vo ⅙ net Boards AN INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIAN MUSIC is a small volume designed to afford a concise account of the foundation and development of Russian musical art. It consists of a series of chapters devoted to the most famous Russian composers. Prefacing these is an Introduction to the subject; following them comes a sketch of what the author has styled The New Age in Russian Music; in this section will be found the names of such as Stravinsky, Skryabin and Rebikof. THE SILVER CHAIN A Satire on Convention By SIR WILLIAM BLAKE RICHMOND, K.C.B., R.A., etc. Illustrated Wrapper 500 pages Crown 8vo 6/- net Cloth SIR WILLIAM RICHMOND’S eminence in the world of Art and Letters will command for his long novel “The Silver Chain” a wide circle of readers. It is a work of great artistic achievement and of scholarship and culture. Philosophy, psychology, a delightful sense of humour, subtle analysis of the moods and motives of men and women, and a true and artistic presentation of nature are the rich elements that make every page of this book of absorbing interest. A BOOK OF LAUGHTER By EDWIN PUGH Author of “Punch and Judy,” “Harry the Cockney,” etc. Specially designed Illustrated Wrapper by F. GARDNER Crown 8vo 6/- net Cloth “When you want to laugh--mind you do.”--_Eden Phillpotts._ “Laughter is day and sobriety is night.”--_H. W. Beecher._ “Laugh when you can, it is a cheap medicine. Merriment is a philosophy, not well understood. It is the sunny side of existence.”--_Lord Byron._ “A Book of Laughter” is a book to read for oneself, a book to keep handy on one’s library shelves, and an ideal gift book from friend to friend. A sense of humour is the most precious quality of man, and laughter its most glorious attribute. The exposition of the philosophy of laughter needs a born humorist, and that Mr. Edwin Pugh most certainly is. “A Book of Laughter” is a subtle analysis of our various ideas of humour, and illustrated throughout with numerous stories and anecdotes, mostly original. There can be no question that Mr. Pugh’s new work will prove to be the most humorous book of the year. A YEAR IN THE GARDEN