Thie volume from the pen of Messrs, 4.0. P. Bland and E, Backhouse it, without doubt, the most striking work that has yet been written on China, Other authors re written valuable books on the Middle Kingdom, seiting forth its history in masterly detail and portraying the life of the people ith scholarly accuracy or sympathetic Bat the foontaia head of all in the Empire has remained itbio " walled enclosure; glimpses of the forbidden yroond may have boon obtained, its physical testares have been carefully mapped, and connec based on such lence a8 was a able, has done its best to perform the functions of the historian, For the first time the certain before the Peking Court has been lifted to reveal the actore, nut in the performance of their several parts before the footlights, bot la the ioner sanctum of the green room.
The interest taken in the Court life of Peking has something more la it than mere idle curiosity. To probe the secrets of the Imperial City, it has been thought, would be to ondcratand much in Chtuese history that has hithorto defied comprehension. If to know all in this cave ix not to forgive all, itis at least of assistance in relegating cause and effect to their proper places and in apportioning praise or blame with roster accuracy than would otherwise China under the Empress Dowager" contributes much to the elucidation of what was obscure in the inner workings of China's administra-po ina single trenchant elderly children of the the authors have revealed the key to many closed doors. Chioa has never yet been pat out of conceit for hereell. Chasticement is of il, if itis tobe followed up immediately by petting and spoiling, and by farther coaxing into the belief that the whipped child has been harshly treated and is really every whit as good as those who took bim to task, Unfortunately in the moltitade of nurses counsel is non-existent, and the child continues on its course ancbecked, even after the period when be ought to have reached years of discretion. The ruta of diplomacy, however, are wide and deep, and with twelve or more bands anxious to manipulate the steering wheel, it is perhaps, as well that the Peking steam-roller can only forward in jht line.
Messre. and Backhonse's book is opportune in the moment of its publication, Interest la the personality of the great Tzu Hei will continue as long as Chinese affairs demand the attention of the world, but Chine under the Empress Dowager" lets flood of light into a condition of thing that has an intimate beating on the immediate futare of the country. Death has removed the chief figures in the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.