one has come forward with any definite policy, yet all observers feel that 'something' ought to be done. The British papers are clearly opposed to any campaign of coercion. Mr. George Moore, with what the Spectator calls 'a brilliant flash of imagination' writes that Ireland ought to be made the corridor between America and Great Britain. ‘A great port on the West Coast, a new and splendid railway across the island, a train ferry to Holyhead (until a tunnel is made), a mighty stream of traffic through the heart of Ireland. Give Ireland a great position in the world by making her the most striking link in the League of Nations.' G. H. Powell, an Englishman of Englishmen, complains of the vacillating mind which 'passes Home Rule Bills it dares not enforce and imprisons convicted criminals only to release them with an apology.' A Unionist writes that the Sinn Feiners represent only a minority and that great numbers of electors have not voted. For John McGrath, writing in the Fortnightly, the whole Irish situation is a tragedy. "There are people, Irish, I am sorry to say, as well as English and others, who seem to think all this is a very excellent Irish comedy. It is a tragedy!' And if tragedy, there is nothing more tragic than the position of the Irish soldiers who fought with the Allies. Theirs has been the greatest sacrifice, for when they returned to their own land, they got little thanks for all they had done. Captain Stephen Gwynn is now touring Ireland urging the necessity of organization among the men who served. BOLSHEVISM, if one can judge by the few apparently trustworthy reports, is decidedly on the down-grade. The system simply does n't work, quite apart from any conditions resulting from the Allied blockade. That portion of Lloyd George's speech of April 16, which dealt with the Russian situation will be found interesting. He says: I do not despair of the solution being found. There are factors in the situation even now which are promising. Reliable information which we have received indicates that while the Bolshevik forces are apparently growing in strength Bolshevism itself is rapidly on the wane. It is breaking down before the relentless pressure of economic facts. This process must inevitably continue. You cannot carry on such a great country on such crude principles as those which are being inculcated by the Bolsheviki. When Bolhevism as we know it, and as Russia has known it, to her sorrow, disappears, then the time will come for another effort for the reëstablishment of peace in Russia. But the time is not yet. We must have patience and we must have faith. We are dealing with a nation which, after being misgoverned for centuries, has been defeated and trampled to the ground, largely through the corruption, inefficiency, and treachery of its own government. Its losses have been colossal. All that largely accounts for the real frenzy which seized upon a great people, and that is why the nation which has gone through untold horrors has abandoned itself for the moment to fantastic and lunatic experiments. But there are unmistakable signs that Russia is emerging from the fever, and when the time comes that she is once more sane, calm, and normal, we shall make peace in Russia. And until we make peace in Russia it is idle to say that the world is at peace. CAMILLA LACEY, near Dorking, the country residence of Mr. Leverton Harris, was destroyed by fire in the early hours of the 17th. ult. The outbreak was discovered by the servants, and before anything could be done to check it the house was doomed. together with the entire contents. Only the outer walls remain standing. Camilla Lacey was rich in historic and literary associations. The original house was built by Miss Burney from the proceeds of her third novel; hence the title. She was the daughter of Dr. Burney, celebrated for his knowledge of music, and in 1793 was married in Mickleham Church, close by, to Chevalier D'Arblay, who was a guard at the Tuileries on the night when Louis XVI fled to Varennes. About this time many distinguished French exiles had taken refuge at Juniper Hall, in the neighborhood. The house, or cottage, was gradually enlarged and improved by successive owners, but many of the original features had been preserved, including "The Burney Room.' This contained the manuscripts of several of Fanny Burney's novels, original letters and other correspondence, and family portraits, which Mr. Harris had been at much pains and expense to collect. The whole of these have been destroyed, together with valuable antique furniture and other art treasures. Sir Walter Scott once visited Camilla Lacey, and afterwards wrote: 'She (Mme. D'Arblay) told me she had wished to see two persons, myself, of course, being one, and George Canning. This was really a compliment to be pleased with, a nice, little, handsome pat of butter, made up by a neat-handed Phyllis of a dairymaid, instead of the grease, fit only for cart wheels.' Camilla Lacey was picturesquely situ ated in the beautiful Box Hill district, near where George Meredith lived and died. THE EDITOR'S NOTE-BOOK Joseph Galtier is a staff correspondent of the Parisian daily, Le Temps. Hilaire Belloc, author and editor, has devoted much time to a special study of mediæval civilization. Maximilian Harden, needs no introduction to American readers. News from Germany has been strangely silent concerning his rôle in the present melée. BY LAWRENCE HOUSMAN Weary pilgrim, rest thy powers, Where the roseate doors of rest Pain and toil, as partners here Pilgrim, in thine evening skies Here, in fellowship with thee, BY LAWRENCE HOUSMAN Weary pilgrim, rest thy powers, Where the roseate doors of rest Pain and toil, as partners here Pilgrim, in thine evening skies Here, in fellowship with thee, The Nation FIRELIGHT BY ELIZABETH STANLEY Playing in the fire and twilight together, My little son and I, Suddenly woefully I stoop to catch him. "Try, mother, try!' Old Nurse Silence lifts a silent finger: 'Hush! cease your play!' What happened? What in that tiny moment Flew away? The Athenæum |