for it will take a long time to make British The Best Books of the Year workingmen politically of the same mind. In the attempt to form in Great Britain a new political party devoted to the interests of labor and animated by the collectivist principle, either of two courses may be chosen : independent or co-operative party action, the latter alternative finding its realization naturally in connection with the Liberals. It cannot be denied that the history of British politics gives scant encouragement to the prospect of any political organization outside of the two great parties. The present Labor party has only an insignificant representation in the House of Commons, nor has it exercised a noteworthy influence in electoral contests, except where it was willing to merge its vote and be content with a partial advantage. The so-called parties outside of the Liberals and Conservatives are little more than phases of sectional opinion which have no solid place in the esteem of the nation. The set tled habit of the electorate is not tolerant of them as separate organizations aiming at political control.

But the new party foreshadowed at the Bristol Congress would have, it seems to us, a still more remote chance of success, whether as an independent or as an allied organization. If a section of the Liberals should adopt some of the more radical tenets of collectivism, it would be read out of the party as alien to the traditions and the temperament of British party politics. The tenets would point ominously to an elaborate untried system—a concept repugnant to the British voter, who does not want a system, but a practical fighting issue. The intrusion of doctrinaire propositions as a medium of popular appeal would be bluntly resented as subversive of an established order. In this res ect the English Socialist differs widely from the German. The former, with that Anglo-Saxon inconsistency which illustrates the union of free theorizing with practical action utterly dissevered from it, may believe as firmly in collectivism as the latter, but he intuitively perceives its uselessness as a party weapon. He will at best hope that gradually, point by point and under the disguise of names which hide revolutionary meanings, isolated articles of his creed may find their way into the contentions of party politics. He may profess the most radical theories, but as a voter he is steadied by the conservatism which allots votes and theories to widely different uses.

The Outlook's annual Book Number-put forth as it is at the height of the book-publishing season and at the time when readers are beginning to select those best of holiday gifts, good new books-may lay claim to be called a well-established institution. It was, we believe, the first in the field of such illustrated book numbers, and the next issue (which, as usual, will form the December Magazine Number of The Outlook) will be the tenth to appear. In addition to the general survey of the freshly published literature of the autumn and the usual extensive announcements of publishers, our readers have always found in this number a group of timely articles relating to literary topics. This year a novel group of such articles with ample illustration will form the chief special feature. In another part of this week's issue of The Outlook will be found an announcement about this subject to which we call attention.

Briefly stated, it is proposed to ask our readers to hold immediately a sort of plébiscite as to the best ten books of the year just closed with the end of September. A blank is provided in each copy of this issue which each reader is requested to fill out and return to us at once. The ten books thus selected by vote, their authors, and the circumstances under which they were written, will form the general subject of a group of articles by writers and critics of standing, which can hardly fail to be distinctly and positively readable. The articles will be fully and originally illustrated. Apart from the interest in thus learning what the popular feeling is about the comparative merits of recent books, this method of choosing the particular subjects for treatment will give our readers a pleasant personal participation in this special number. Books voted for must have been published in the United States during the year ending September 30, but need not be by American authors. New editions and technical works are excluded. To the reader who first sends in the list which the tabulation shows to be that determined on by the general verdict, the works thus named will be presented by The Outlook; and when we consider the excellence of the notable publications of the year, it may fairly be said that the fortunate reader will have in the ten works chosen no contemptible nucleus for a home library.

Queen Wilhelmina and Her Realm

By William Elliot Griffis

"It is dark at the base of the lantern." This Japanese proverb has been well illustrated in this month of the birthday of two Queens in Holland. The very nearness in language, inheritance, ideas, and manners of the Dutch to the English-speaking peoples serves to exaggerate into caricature outward differences, and to "make darkness visible." I could easily compile enough blunders, perpetrated by pens, pictures, and types in American and British journals, concerning recent Dutch events and persons, to show what a comparatively unknown land Holland still is. To represent Queen Wilhelmina as "crowned" in a Roman Catholic cathedral or a Lutheran church edifice, or to talk of "the compact entered into by William the Silent in 1813" (!), or to draw close analogies with the coronation ceremonies of absolute monarchs like the Czar, is to turn Dutch history into something like opera bouffe. The truth is quite different. In telling my story I shall speak of what I know and have seen. The white star which I wore made every policeman my guide, protector, and friend in densest crowds. The "red carnet" furnished me, potentially some months ago, through Dr. Abraham Kuyper, President of the Netherlands Circle of Journalists, and actually placed in my hands August 30, signed and stamped by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, and containing not only signatures but my own photograph, for recognition, was a veritable "open sesame" to many doors. It placed me on the very best places for observation and hearing, and in the Nieuwe Kerk, directly in front of the Queen, when she read her brief address, which is already a classic-I do not hesitate to call it this-and when she took solemn oath to her people to maintain their rights, and uttered her prayer:

"Zoo waarlijk helpe mij God almachtig!" (So help me truly, almighty God.)

There was no coronation proper. To say that Nederland is a democratic monarchy is not contradiction; it is a statement of balance and harmony. The Queen did not even wear a crown, but only a tiara. The whole programme was planned for the people's enjoyment, and not for a favored few of the court." There was no "religious" ceremonythat is, no ecclesiastical formula or monopoly; but, as befits this land of long toleration and the leader among nations in freedom of conscience, Jew and Christian, Protestant and

66