Evening star., 1937-01-02
By Mary Carter Roberts


i manuals of occupations as pro-
fession. 1t seems reasonably likely.
indeed that it may be SO listed, since
1t comes under the general head OF
Journalism. But be that as 1t may. 1t
has acquired what may be called Ger
tain trade" expressions. and one finds
the phrases, excellence of style" or
Felicity of style" "neatness of con-
ception," variety of characters and
the like cropping up with noticeable
regularity in the columns devoted to IT..
Falling back now on these well-ap-
proved expressions. the present re-
viewer wishes to turn them to use In
describing Whitaker's Almanac. II
has an excellent style. its plot, though
complicated. is neat to admiration,
while the variety of its characters cam
not be equaled by any, even OF the
1,000-page novels, which have become
SO popular in recent years. These
characters include two kings with a
forthcoming supplement announced
for the third; they take i'll lords. la
dies, bishops, SQuireS, danes. crim-
inals, schoolmasterS. sea captains.
financiers, strike leaders. aviatorS and
famous horses. And many more. For
really varied reading, in excellent 'or
felicitous) style. the reviewer cannot
recommend a better piece of work.
The type seems to be a trif1e small.
That Is the one drawback.
Whitaker's Almanac for 1887 begins
by announcing itself as the almanac
of a coronation year. Bravely it
plunges into its story with this plot
assumption. There is scme building
up of the scene, to be sure. Prelim-
mary pages are given over to the
zodiac, the perpetual calendar. phases
OF the moon, tidal constants, the suns
altitude and azimuth, solar and
sidereal time. the stellar system, the
measured degrees, the reader finally
approaches the earth.
At this point the authors pause
IN their scene-setting to give mas
terly resume of what has gone on
before the opening of their story.
Briefly mentioning the tides, ter
restrial magnetism, temperature and
rainfall and the phenomenon known
as time" they devote some pages to
chronological Notes" covering the
development between the azoic period
and the post-glacial, or recent, period.
This closes with a brilliant descrip-
tion Of the earth as it is today-its
population, its governments and its
towns. Due mention is also given to
the League of Nations.
Then the authors enter on their plot
proper, and list the English Kings.
From the year 827 to the year 1903
they never miss a King. There they
pause to give their readers the tale
Of Scotland's rulers, beginning in 1857.
In 1903 they pick up the united houses
and carry on down to the present.
The closing words of this mastery
passage are as follows:
Edward VII, Eldest son Of VIC
toria, 1901 to 1910: George v. Sur
viving son of Edward VII, 1910 to
1886; Edward VIII, Eldest son OF
Georve v. 1896, Whom God Preserve"
We then come to the glamorous
description Of the coronation itself.
''The Sceptre with the Cross Is placed
in the Kings right hand and that
with the Dove in his left: and then
the Archbishop of Canterbury stands
before the Altar with st. Edwards
Crown upon it. takes it up and conse-
crates 1t, lays it down again, and,
attended by other Prelates, proceeds
TO the side of the King. when the
Dean brings to him the Crown. which
whereupon the people shout God
Save the King!' and the Peers put
on their coronets, the Bishops their
caps, and the Kings of Arms their
crowns, the trumpets sound, the drums
are beaten, and the guns OF the Tower
and the Park are, on signal, fired of.
An exhorta ton is now spoken, and
the Choir sing, BE strong and play
the Man The Bible is next handed
to the King. and then the Archbishop
OF Canterbury pronounces the Bene-
dictions, which the Bishops and Peers
accompany with frequent 'Amens.'
The process Of Enthronisation sue
ceeds, when the King Is lifted into
his Throne by the Prelates and Peers
around him"
A letter from the authors sent to
the reviewer December II should per-
haps be mentioned here. 1t states
that supplement concerning the
abdication OF King Edward VIII and
the accession Of King George vi COR
such title as the Duke OF York may
adopD will be available through all
booksellers on Thursday next free OF
charge" In this ready and competent
manner these writer's deal with what
might be an irreparably confusing
accident to lesser men-nothing less
than change Of heroes midstream.
The tale of the works fascinations
Is by no means ended with the coro-
nation. From there it goes merrily
around the world, adding plot and
counter plot. 1t carries the reader
into Parliament. among other places,
where, for instance. We have the minor
plot of tne Budget Leakage" laid
before U.s. Consider this bit OF human
interest, II you please:
1t seems that Mr.. j. II. Thomas and
Sir Alfred Butt were reported TO the
House OF Commons on June IL as hav-
ing made unauthorized disclosures"
of budgetary secrets Says Whltaker's:
"Mr. Thomas refused to criti-
cine the report. He declared that
he never consciously gave a budget
secret away. He announced that he
would resign his seat and said that
he had no strength left 10 fight bye
election: moreover, victory would not
wipe out the stain. After recalling
his u years as member, Mr.. Thomas
passed slowly from the House to the
accompaniment OF warm though
suodued cheer. Sir Alfred Butt took
. different line. He strongly denied
having received any confidential in
formation and declared that he had
not intended to resign. but In view
OF Mr.. Thomas decision he would
n is oyHla I.F.