Lady Midas (to friend.) "Yes, do come to dinner on Friday. Only I must caution you that it will be an absolute picnic, for my fourth and sixth footmen have just enlisted."
The reiterated accusations made by Germany of the use of dum-dum bullets by the Allies, although they are not believed by anyone else, appear to be accepted without question by the German General Staff. New measures of retaliation are being taken, which, while not strictly forbidden by International Law, may at any rate be said to contravene the etiquette of civilised warfare. We learn from Sir John French's Eye-witness that numbers of gramophones have made their appearance in the German trenches north of the Aisne River.
Papers captured in the pocket of a member of the German Army Service Corps contain bitter complaints of the enormous strain thrown upon the already over-taxed railway system in Germany by the Kaiser's repeated journeys to and fro between the Eastern and the Western Theatres of War. He is referred to (rather flippantly) as "The Imperial Pendulum" (Perpendikel). The writer, while recognising the eager devotion with which the Kaiser is pursuing his search for a victory in the face of repeated disappointment, congratulates himself that the Imperial journeys, though they are not likely to be discontinued, will at least grow shorter and shorter as time goes on. Indeed, it is hoped that before long a brief spin in the Imperial automobile-de-luxe will cover the ground between the Eastern and Western Theatres.
In some respects, apparently, the enemy has been less affected by the War than we have. While in England the book-trade has been slightly depressed, in Germany it seems to be flourishing. We give samples from the latest catalogues:—
Poetry.
The most interesting volume announced is A Hunning We Will Go, and Other Verses, by William Hohenzollern, whose Bleeding Heart attracted so much attention.
History.
Kaiser's Gallic War Books I. & II., a new edition, very much revised since August by General von Kluck and other accomplished scholars, are certain to be of great use for educational purposes.
Natural History.
In this department a work likely to be enquired for is The Dogs of St. Bernhardi, by General von Moltke.
Fiction.
The demand for fiction in Germany is said to be without parallel and the supply appears to be not inadequate. Among forthcoming volumes there should be a demand for Der Tag: or, It Never Can Happen Again.
General.
Proverbial Philosophy contains the favourite proverbs of various persons of eminence. From the Imperial Finance Minister comes: "It's never too late to lend." From General Manteuffel (the destroyer of Louvain library): "Too many books spoil the Goth." The Crown Prince contributes: "Beware the rift within the loot."
