The Reviews Reviewed. 



189 



THE ITALIAN REVIEWS. 



"Viator," writing in the New Year number of the 

 Nuova Antologia, takes stock of the position in 

 Tripoli " with serenity and satisfaction." .'\mong 

 the " iiositive advantages " he notes " the splendid 

 patriotic spirit of the nation " and the " admirable 

 conduct of the campaign on land and sea." The 

 war, he says, has shown to Europe a new Italy, 

 strong in her conscience, and conscious of her 

 strength. As regards railitary operations, he points 

 out that the whole coast and the chief towns are now 

 held by Italian troops, and it is only on this basis of 

 conquest that peace can be concluded with Turkey. 

 The real aim of Italy is, however, a colonial one, a 

 long and difficult enterprise, and nothing must be 

 undertaken beyond what is strictly necessary for its 

 accomplishment. English neutrality must at all costs 

 be maintained. "Viator" notes with satisfaction that 

 the tone of the European Press is growing less hostile, 

 but admits there is still much to grieve all thoughtful 

 Italians. 



The same number contains the opening chapter 

 of a new serial by Grazia Deledda, a story of Corsican 

 life entitled " Doves and Sparrow-hawks." The 

 Deputy P. Bertolini describes the "recent constitu- 

 tional crisis in England " with much knowledge and 

 impartiality, and takes an optimistic view of the 

 future. Arturo Graf contributes a fine dramatic 

 poem on " The Death of Cain." Professor Boni 

 contributes one ' of his delightful archreological 

 articles, profusely illustrated, on the excavations in 

 and around the Column of Trajan. Another article 

 from the same pen in the Rassegna Ccntemporama 

 deals learnedly with the ancient flora of the Palatine, 

 and describes the replanting which Professor Boni 

 is carrying out with such felicitous results. 



The KassegtM Conlc;it/<oranea is far less happy about 

 the war than the Antologia, and voices dissatisfaction 

 w ith the Government, declaring that " silence is 

 criminal," and that " to perpetuate military and 

 jjolitical blunders is unpardonable," etc. Besides 

 editorial notes no less than three articles deal with 

 various aspects of the campaign. Under the title, 

 "A Grave Peril," Professor Valenti, of Siena, points out 

 the foolishness of piituring Tripoli as a sort of Pro- 

 mised Land for the Italian race. The question of 

 how best to cultivate its desert lands will require 

 much scientific consideration, and in any case for 

 long years to come men who settle there will need 

 much capital and cannot hope to acquire easy fortunes. 

 The Deputy <;. A. de Cesare declares that it is 

 " neither natural nor logical " of the Pacificists of 

 Europe to protest as they do against Italy's aggres- 

 sion, and argues pra<lically that war against the Turks 

 is always lawful, as Turkish rule has ever been 

 opposed to progress and civilisation. In fact, Tripoli 

 is being comjuered for iis own good. It is an argument 

 that we ourselves have produced so often whenever it 

 has suited our purpose that we must not be surprised 

 to find it on the lips of other nations. 



The interest in all things North African is being 

 fully utilised by journalists, and all the illustrated 

 periodicals that reach us — Emporium, La Lettura, 

 Rivista dd Towing — contain fully illustrated articles, 

 both military and topographical, dealing with Tripoli, 

 Morocco, etc. 



In the Rassegna Nazionak Professor Bettazza, who 

 has been conducting a special investigation into the 

 subject, deplores the low estimate in which the 

 Italian immigrants are held in Switzerland and the 

 rough usage to which they ijre often subjected, and 

 urges that much more should be done for their moral 

 and religious welfare. 



THE SPANISH REVIEWS. 



Among the contributions to the current issue of 

 La Lectura is an interesting account of Madrid in the 

 early days of Carlos II., that is, at the end of the 

 seventeenth century. It is the physical aspect of the 

 place, not the social conditions prevailing there, which 

 is dealt with. It is the custom of certain writers to 

 represent Madrid as a charming spot even in those 

 times ; they speak of the park of Buen Retiro and 

 other portions of the city as though everything had 

 been lovely, but the fact is that it was in a very evil 

 condition. The roads were bad, the whole character 

 of the capital was sordid, and its unlovely aspect was 

 only equalled by its insanitary condition. In another 

 contribution we have a continuation of the essay on 

 " The Sadness of Modern Literature," in which the 

 writer passes strictures on the pessimism of most 

 modern authors. Contrasting the old with the new, 

 he declares that the ancient writers were' more genial 

 and optimistic. Nowadays we have gall disguised as 

 wit and humour, sadness and sensationalism marking 

 lack of virility, and a failure to understand and enjoy 

 that which is good in life. There are also articles on 

 " The Domination of Logic " and " The Tragic 

 Sentiment in .Men and Races." 



" (ilancing at Spain " is the title of an article in 

 Niiestro Tiempo, which contains much food for 

 reflection for others besides Spaniards. Commencing 

 with the statement that one must leave Spain and 

 learn something of other countries in order to be 

 able to judge of the conditions in the kingdom of 

 Alfonso XIII., the writer asserts that their country 

 is a mystery to many Spaniards, who know very 

 little even about its geography, to say nothing of other 

 matters concerning the pa/ria. Having lived outside 

 his native land for some years, he lays down a line of 

 conduct which he thinks his fellow-countrymen 

 should adopt. They must not be dominated by 

 French ideas, mental or economic ; they must cling 

 more to Italians, with whom they should colonise 

 Northern .Africa (Frenchmen not being very good at 

 it) ; they should have more literary and commercial 

 intercourse with Italy, Roumania, Belgium, and 

 Portugal, the iK'ople of which are more Latin than 

 those of France ; and they should seek closer 

 general intercourse with Portugal. .Another contri- 



