Vol. 4 No. 5, November 26, 1908
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THE A WEEKLY REVIEW OF POLITICS, LITERATURE, AND ART No. 742 series Vol. IV. No. 5 THURSDAY, Nov. 26, 1908. [registered at G.P.O.]ONE PENNY CONTENTS, PAGE To OUR READERS . .,. 81 A LITERARY SUPPLEMENT... NOTES OF THE WEEK . .., . 81 India Impressions . 1 ARMS AND THE MAN. By Victor Grayson, M.P.... Present Day Socialism . 2 84 Little People . ,,. 2 ADVANCE OR STAGNATION . 85 NANSON. By Aaron Watson. THE FUTURE OF THE FABIAN SOCIETY . 86 THE BRAWLING BROTHERHOOD. By Edmund B. d’Auvergne 91 AT RANDOM. By Peter Pan. 87 ON KNOWING ONE’S PLACE. By W. R. Titterton... 92 THE COMMUNISATION OF SOUP. By Chris Healy. 1:: . 88 BOOKS AND PERSONS. By Jacob Tonson . .., 94 THE SOLEMN SPOOFER. By G. K. Chesterton. , *.. 89 BOOK OF THE WEEK: Recent Verse. By F. S. Flint :; THE PATHOS OF THE POLL. By A, W. Humphrey. 90 CORRESPONDENCE : Mr. Grayson and Mr. Henderson . 97 NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.--All Business Com- NOTES OF THE WEEK. munications must be addressed to Publisher, " New Age,” 139, Fleet Street, E.C. ; communications for the Editor to 1 & 2 WERE we convinced that we have now not only the Took’s Court, Furnival Street, E.C. latest but the last Education Bill we should examine it in some detail ; but we may expect “ another four, and more, and more and more.” The Government is To Our Readers. here entirely to blame. We were all getting on rather nicely under Mr. Balfour’s Act. It was not reason- WE beg to draw the earnest attention of our readers able ; it did not accept the facts, but we never expect and friends to the Prospectus of the proposed NEW AGE the Government to have respect for the facts of life. LIMITED COMPANY which we print on another page. Everyone knew that neither the parents nor the chil- dren, except religious zealots like Roman Catholics, Since our notice of October 24 the prospects of the Jews, and Extreme Secularists, cared a brass farthing paper have enormously improved. Thanks largely, we as to the quality of the religious instruction that ob- do not doubt, to the efforts of our readers, the circula- tained in the schools ; all sensible people recognised tion of THE NEW AGE has increased within the last five that whatever the nature of that religious teaching, the weeks by six thousand, making a circulation for the bulk of the children in our towns grew up to be entirely current week of 22,000 copies. In addition, as our indifferent, i.e., nominally accepted Christianity with- readers have observed, we have twice been compelled to out bothering themselves one way or the other. (Of course, this is not a Christian country.) But the issue a Literary Supplement to accommodate the in- Government would not let bad alone, but must needs crease of advertisements in our columns. make it worse. Under these circumstances we do not hesitate to say * 0 * that the tone of our Prospectus errs considerably (as There are two terms in the Education Bill to which we are willing that it should) on the side of under- educationalists must take exception. Clause 3 allows statement of the actual position. In fact, the total assistant-teachers in all schools to volunteer to give reli- prospects of the undertaking are considerably brighter gious instruction on two mornings in the week if they are permitted by the local education authority. In than the Prospectus itself conveys. practice this will simply mean that any assistant- In view, however, of the hundred and one schemes teacher who does not so volunteer when wanted will not we have in mind, both for the improvement of THE NEW be appointed or that some excuse will be found for his AGE and for the increased activity of the New Age dismissal. If any religious body desires to give de- Press, it-is necessary that a certain amount of working nominational teaching it should be required to supply its capital should be provided. These schemes include the own teachers. We know that many teachers object to this right of entry, but until this country brings its establishment of THE NEW AGE as the foremost weekly teaching into accord with its practice we see no hope journal of independent Socialist, literary, political, and of secular education. Teachers are still to be coerced intellectual discussion ; the creation of a central depot into giving religious instruction in conformity with the in London for the production, distribution, and ex- Cowper-Temple clause ; the number of teachers who change of the most advanced literature of the day ; and object to this, quite as much as to any other form of the organisation of the entire reform movement for the religious instruction, although rapidly increasing, is not purpose of intellectual fraternisation. yet strong enough to resist unfair pressure that is put We hereby invite our readers to co-operate with us upon them in this free country. Roman Catholic schools, etc., having at least 30 children in attendance in these undertakings, if only to the extent of a single and not situated in a single-parish school, will receive share. And we may add that as regards the proposed an Exchequer grant if the standard of efficiency is as means there is no time to be lost. The first lists of the high as the Council schools. In practice this will mean proposed NEW AGE COMPANY will statutorily close on overwork and underpayment of the teachers, antiquated December 10. We therefore beg to urge intending school-buildings with over-crowded classes, the ruin of subscribers to act at once. the health of the Roman Catholic children. We sup- 82 ThE NEW AGE NOVEMBER 26, 1908 pose it is on the whole better that the bodies of the frequently displays. A member approached the Presi- dent of the Local Government Board with the query, teachers and children suffer than adopt secular educa- ‘ Ought I to come to you, Mr. Burns, or to Mr. Master- tion, allowing all religious bodies to provide their par- man on a question of water supply? ’ With a flash of ticular brand of irreligion outside school hours. This the eye, Mr. Burns retorted merrily, ‘ My curate does would be too logical a solution. the baptisms ! ’ ” * * 46 * + * A pretty convention is a-growing between the Tory However, ex-Socialists and judges are not our only and Liberal Parties that our Foreign and Imperial humorists. Tory M.P. ‘s can sparkle on occasion. policy must be continuous. Said Mr. Balfour at Car- Witness Mr. F. E. Smith who, on the clause in the Licensing Bill which proposes to close public-houses on diff : “ I rejoice to think that foreign politics are likely election days, daintily observed : “ The voice of the to be entirely outside the sphere of party controversy.” people was the voice of God, but it spoke with a hic- The more reason, of course, for those who do not look cup. ” We opine that Mr. Smith has been lately re- upon politics as a game to be watchful of Britain’s reading “ The Mistakes of Moses,” “ The Ways of Imperial policy. The aim of Mr. Balfour’s amiability God ” -the literature that has fed so many who have is not far to seek. Foreign and Colonial policy is a craving for knowledge and for recognition as broad spirits. practically in the hands of the big financiers, who have * * * risen immeasurably in power under the present reign. The most encouraging item in the statement issued The Ministers are merely the puppets who obey the by the Anti-Socialist Union is that it will contain an strings pulled by the King and the financiers. There Intelligence Department. People are to be trained in is no difficulty in withholding all serious information the elements of economics and politics. This is a move from the people until the political coups are brought in the right direction, for our greatest difficulty is the off ; for the art of lying among Parliamentarians is in profound ignorance of our opponents. The cost of direct ratio to propinquity to the Front Benches. educating them has been heretofore borne by Socialist organisations. Grounded in economics and history, we When curiosity is unusually rife it is staved off by hints shall be able to make converts with some facility. The of mysterious dangers menacing our lands-“ I could A.-S. Union will have several classes fitted to the capa- an’ I would.” This was the case in the Denshawai city of their students. The Duke of Rutland, Mr. affair, in Natal, in the Russian visit. Home affairs, it Claude Lowther, and Sir Thomas Wrightson will pro- would seem, are regarded by Mr. Balfour as at once bably be classified according to rank, others according of minor importance and uninfluenced by our Imperial to attainment. The insect-house, we are informed, has three mantises, or soothsayers, policy. Speaking of foreign affairs, he went on : “ In several new arrivals ; have been presented. Persons interested will have a no case shall we aim at any party advantage to the good opportunity of seeing how they seize and hold discomfiture of the national policy of the country.” their prey. These insects are fed on rose-leaves, and Apparently, then, he would not object to a party advan- are so voracious that in some parts of the world they tage, say if it casually drove the people more readily off are decided pests. the land to sweep them into the towns, or if it merely * + + led to the starvation of school children. These are Every woman is at heart a servant-if she belongs to not questions of national policy.