ore oppressive and his sarcasm
even more acid thereby; and a Roman Catholic priest, intent on securing a
convert for his Order, had been plying his young mind with too exciting
conversations and too refreshing wines. Apart from external circumstances,
_Alec_ was tending to quarrel with humanity at large, and so he went the
whole hog, more in search of a desperate ideal than by way of impetuous
sin. Mr. WILKINSON treats the affair with deliberate, cold-blooded, even
cynical analysis; and his portrayal of the snobbery and humbug of the
upper-middle class, social and intellectual, in which his creatures move is
searching and disturbing. But, I ask myself, are people really like that?
Or rather are there enough of these unnaturals, extremists, moral
Bolshevists or whatever you like to call them, to justify their
presentation as a modern type? Always an optimist, I think not; and I
notice that the author gives a no less clever and a much more convincing
impression of the normal, settled and pleasant characters who are
incidental to the plot. Make for yourself the acquaintance of the charming
_Wilfred Vail_ and the most amusing and seductive Cockney artiste, _Betty
Barnfield_, and you will admit, however pessimistic your views, that there
may be something in mine.

* * * * *

[Illustration: ROMANCE AND PROSE.

_The Youth._ "CAN YOU DIRECT ME TO THE CASTLE OF THE BLACK MOUNTAIN?"

_The Old Man._ "I CAN, YOUNG MAN. BUT PERCHANCE THOU GOEST TO SEEK THE HAND
OF THE PRINCESS? BEWARE, RASH YOUTH! IT IS A PERILOUS ADVENTURE. THOU WILT
BE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE MANY DANGEROUS TASKS. HAST THOU THOUGHT OF THE
RISK?"

_The Youth._ "NOT MUCH. I'M GOIN' TO MEND THE KITCHEN BOILER."]

* * * * *

PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT.

"The Czecho-Slovaks were greeted this afternoon by a committee of
Vancouver ladies, representing the Red Cross Society. The war-worn
veterans were presented with a package containing cigarettes, an orange
and a chocolate bar, in recognition of valuable services rendered the
Allied cause."--_Canadian Paper._

* * * * *

"PRINCE GEORGE IN SWEDEN.

Prince George has been enjoying the sights of Christiania and its
beautiful surroundings."--_Morning Paper._

He should now visit Stockholm and give Norway a turn.

* * * * *

"Gentleman, no ties, will undertak