Reports Of Meetings.

Or , to speak without metaphor , he has brought together with admirable skill the essential characteristics of an early period in the history of English literature—a period which is even now but very imperfectly understood . It has always been matter for regret that we know c so little concerning the life of Chaucer . Such a regret is likely to remain with us and to be in turn shared by our

sons . Chaucer has lain in his grave for just five hundred years ; our national archives have been searched with at least approximate thoroughness , and our knowledge of the man who wrote the Canterbury Tales is not likely to be largely augmented . Mr . Snell , so far as we are aware , has told us nothing of the poet ' s life that was not already known ; but his measure of the poet's work and

personality is at once critical and appreciative , and he has a singularly happy knack of stating the gist of a matter in few words . We prefer his introduction to any of his chapters , and those who have ever attempted to write such an introduction themselves will readily believe that" in saying this we pay Mr . Snell a sincere compliment . The volume is one of an admirable series .

The Last Days of Pompeii . By Lord Lytton . Illustrated ( is 6 d ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . THE publishers exercised a wise choice when they decided to include this story in their new venure , the Great Novels . By writing this work Lytton brought before us , in a very realistic manner , a world which , figuratively and actually , had long been

buried . It called for much ingenuity and perseverance , but both qualities were Lytton ' s , and " The Last Days of Pompeii" is seldom mentioned without being praised . Macaulay , as our readers will remember , questioned whether such a story could ever , be handled with complete success , and said something about a great gulf being fixed between era and era , civilisation and civilisation ; but he

essayed to recreate an age in his own " Lays "—and did it exceedingly well . This edition of a still famous novel is clearly printed on rough paper , and tastefully bound . It should find many readers , for it is a masterly narrative , and is no more to be compared with the ruck of novels than . —as Carlyle puts it in a far different connection—Heaven is to be compared with Vauxhall .

New Century Library ( 2 s net per vol . ) . —T . Nelson and Sons The Works of SIR , WALTER SCOTT , Bart . Vol . xx ., The Talisman , & c , & c . THE author of the " Talisman " was never in the East , yet , like the poet of Lalla Rookh , he wrote so well about its scenes and its people that many a reader , unacquainted with the details of his

life , has taken it for granted that Sir Walter Scott had seen with his own eyes such things as he so well describes . The "Talisman !' must ever remain a prime favourite with young folk ; for , able and satisfactory as the story is when considered as a whole , it is perhaps even more remarkable for its splendid episodes . Such stories as the encounter between Richard and Saladin , and the attempt on the life of Saladin , are the delight of all readers and the despair of

those who would fain write good fiction ; and the wonder is not that so many editions of such a story are called for but rather that even more are not required . Readers who are going to spend their Christmas on- the south coast , and who are likely to spend four hours in getting there , should engage the services of the " Talisman " to beguile their journey . The charm of this classic is talismanic indeed .

For the Colours . A boys' book of the army . By Herbert Hayens . With numerous illustrations ( 6 s ) . —Thos . Nelson and Sons . A VERY handsome and useful gift book . We cannot advise fathers to bring it from the city for evening presentation , for the youthful recipient could hardly be expected to sleep after such a

windfall . The volume is well printed and elegantly bound ; but we are more concerned with yet another of its merits . These true stories of strife are excellently chosen and narrated—chosen from among a thousand fights , where selection must have been difficult , and narrated in clear , elegant , forcible language honourable alike to the writer's head and heart . These merits are the more commendable because , as readers will see from our remarks elsewhere , we do

not always find such stories handled in a manner which satisfies our sense of what is fit and proper in such volumes . To prepare volumes for the young , which shall be full of sound , healthy narrative , simply set down , is one of the most difficult tasks to which writers can turn their attention , and one which , unfortunately , is often discharged in a flippant manner . We hope Messrs . Nelson have other volumes of a similar character in preparation .

Books Received.

BOOKS RECEIVED .

The Animals of / Esop . / Esop's Fables adapted and p ictured by Joseph J . Mora ( 10 s 6 d net ) . —Sampson Low , Marston and Co ., Limited .

The Children ' s London . B y Charlotte Thorpe . Illustrated by William Luker jun . —The Leadenhall Press , Limited . Madamscourt or the Adventures of a Fugitive Princess . By H . May Poynter ( 2 s ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons .

The Cape and its Story or the Struggle for South Africa By the author of "Breaking the Record , " & c , & c . ( 2 s 6 d ) . — Thomas Nelson and Sons .

An Antarctic Mystery . B y Jules Verne . Cheap edition , illustrated ( 2 s 6 d ) . —Sampson Low , Marston and Co ., Limited . Dickie . B y Mrs . Hamilton Synge ( is 6 d )—Thomas Nelson and Sons .

Books Received.

Held to Ransom . By F . B . Forester ( 5 s ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . Valour for Victoria . Stirring deeds that won the Queen ' s Cross . By James A . Manson , with illustrations by J . F . W ' augh ,

George Soper , K . M . Skeapmgj F . Buchanan , G . Thomas , & c . ( is 6 d ) . — -George Newnes , Limited . For the Flag . A Painting book of the Flags of all Nations ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons .

A Day at the Zoo ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . Up to London to see the King ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . Children of the Empire ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . Sand Castles ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons .

Cassoll's Magazine . Illustrated . December 1900 to November 1901 ( 8 s ) . —Cassell and Co ., Limited .

****************** NEW MUSIC . — : : — Hopwood and Crew , Limited . —Edward St . Quentin ' s Popular Pianoforte Tutor ( 5 s ) . Howard and Co ' s . nth Dance Album ( is ) . " Queen Alexandra , " stately dance , by Edward St . Quentin

( 4 s ) . "Russian Peasant Dance , ' No . 3 celebrated compositions by Ivan Tchakotf , transcribed for mandoline , with piano accompaniment , by Edmund Forman ( 3 s ) . " The Everlasting Song , " words by Clifton Bingham , music by Edward St . Quentin ( 2 s net ) . " Edward VII , " grand triumphal march , by Edward St . Quentin ( 4 s ) . " At

Rest , " words by Clement Scott , composed by Edward St . Quentin ( 4 s ) . " Eccentric Boy ' s , " valse , by Edward St . Quentin ( 4 s ) . " Fourth Suite of Characteristic Dances , " by Ivan Tchakoff ( 2 s net ) . "Ave Maria , " song , with ad lib . accompaniment for harmonium , violin , violoncello , or flute ; words by A . Horspool , music by Alfred

Rawlings ( 2 s net ) . " Barcarola , " with ad lib . accompaniment for violin or violoncello , words by Boyd Jones , music by Ivan Tchakoff ( 2 s net ) . " The Big Drum-Major , " written , composed , and sung by Duncan Tovey ( 4 s ) . " I guess I'll have to telegraph my baby , " written and composed by Geo . M . Cohan ( 4 s ) .

Boosey and Co . — " Love , the Pedlar , " words by Caryl Battersby , M . A ., music by Edward German . "A Woodland Madrigal , " words by John Dowers , music by Robert Batten . " Those Azure Eyes , " words from the German of Heine ,. music by Garnet

Wolseley Cox . "The Mermaid , windlass song , words by Robert Buchanan , music by Augustus Barratt . "Come , Gentle Night !" words by Clifton Bingham , music by Edward Elgar . "At Sunset , " a slumber song , words by E . O . Cooke , music by Liza Lehmann .

***************** * Midland Railway . IN connection with the Christmas and New Year traffic , this Company has made the most complete arrangements for the collection , quick transit , and prompt delivery of Christmas parcels

in all the chief towns on their system . Frequent collections of parcels will be made from the receiving offices in London and other large centres , and the traffic will be despatched b y first train after receipt . Special trains will be . run , and thr 6 ugh vans attached to the principal express and mail trains to accommodate the parcels

traffic , which , in view of the low rates now prevailing to both English and Scotch towns ( in some cases less , and in no instances higher , than the parcels post rates ) , it is anticipated will be much heavier than before . As a timely reminder to those sending parcels at the " owner's risk" rates , such as game , poultry , tobacco , cakes , cheese , & c , it may be stated that the minimum as to weight has

been abolished , and the charges are now computed at actual weight . It is requested that all parcels should be fully and legibly addressed , and the address labels firmly attached . As an extra precaution , a duplicate label should be enclosed in each package , so that the name of the consignee may be ascertained in the event of the outside address becoming detached or defaced .

****************** Whatever is named in the summons as part of the Lodge work must be disposed of before the first enquiry by the W . M . for the good of the Order in general and his Lodge in particular . Then , on " first rising , " admit only proposition for initiations and joining . Let any payments to

Secretary or Treasurer occupy the interval between the " first and second . " The " second " for the reading of communications , the reception of applications , and notices of motion if there be any . This leaves the " third rising " clear for the greeting of visitors , who ALONE are expected to offer " hearty good wishes " on behalf of their respective Lodges . —Exchange .

********** A petition is being prepared for presentation to the Duke of Connaught by a number of influential Irishmen resident in England , praying for the issue of a Warrant

authorising the formation of a new Lodge in London , to be called " The Lodge of Erin . " Among those who have signed the petition are the Earl of Donoughmore , Lord Tempiemore , Sir Vesey FitzGerald , Sir John Edge , Bro . M'Call , KG , and Bro , Macrory , K . C ,