Enclosed in these two volumes of Mr. Punch's history is as much of living and breathing England as could be packed between covers without exploding. Mr. raves has had the difficult problem of tolling in his own words, with frequent quotations and allusions, what the world was doing and what "Punch" thought about it. He has done it admirably and has by Mr. Punch's brilliant strokes of humor, wit, and insight made his country's history more readable than the much-praised efforts of countless weary archivists. Not only does he supply all necessary background, and explain what and why, without equivocation, "Punch" did but he supplies all this in a manner unobtrusive and so in keeping with the general tone of the magazine, that it seems from start to finish as though Mr. Punch himself were speaking.

The third volume holds up a mirror to the crowded years from 1874 to 1892, while the fourth brings us down to disastrous 1914. But if it can be said that Punch holds up a mirror, it must be added that it is a mirror, it must be added that it is a mirror with some relation to those one finds at the amusement parks. For Mr. Punch does not often busy him self in a cloud of depressing seriousness; while perfectly serious in his purpose, he refuses to say anything seriously. Here is an exemplar of poise such as is not often found. And in his pages we find his thoughts on everything that happened-from the surrender of Heligoland to the subject from the prying eye and darting shafts of ridicule that are Mr. Punch's by birth and breeding both.

It would hardly be reasonable to discuss these two volumes without mention-most honorable mention-of the sketches and cartoons. These are the output of genius and catch in one page more of the spirit of the time than most writers can put into twenty of print. The books are illuminated by drawings from the pens of Tenniel, Swain, Partridge, Du Maurier and many others who have made both "Punch" and themselves famous. And it is in these cartoons that Mr. Punch betrays his prophetic vision; in the very opening of the third volume we find "Wilful Wilhelm", with the famous "Dropping the Pilot" cartoon in the background, reciting this "Imperial German Nursery Rhyme".

"Take the nasty "Punch" away'

I won't have any "Punch" today"

Young Wilhelm was a wilful lad

And lost of "cheeks" young Wilhelm

had.

He deemed the world should hall with joy

A smart and self-sufficient boy.

And do as it by him was told:

He was so wise, he was so bold."

So true have these lines been proved that they almost overwhelm; but Mr. Punch does not confine himself to the Kaiser. He foresees the electric railroad engine, dirigibles bombing London (!) the result of woman suffrage (in a cartoon recently apologized for because of Lady Astor's and Lady Rhondda's political successes, the value of the wireless.

No American can peruse these books without ruefully reflecting that there is no magazine in this country that could be compended into such a delightful chronicle. It is impossible to describe adequately the rich atmosphere of wisdom and temperance and culture that pervades the pages of the history. It is there, a representative of the finest of England middle class it may be called. but not by American standards. Nor can it be said that this prophet is without credit in his own country. Why we have nothing of the kind here is evident. It is not due to the idiosyncrasies of the Constitution of the United States, but to the inadequacy of the constitution of the peepul. A. D. E. Jr.