The hope held out last month that the war in Manchuria was approaching an end has been rudely dispelled. Russia and Japan are evidently preparing for a supreme effort. Since the fall of Port Arthur, Russia has little to fight for except national pride. Japan is fighting for national existence, and has shown a spirit and determination undreamed of. It has been called the awakening of the East, but it is also the awakening of the West to the fact that the virtues of courage and self-reliance are still to be found in the Orient.

The crisis in the political affairs of Canada shows how suddenly religious animosities-always present even though generally latent in the Dominion-can practically sweep away political party lines. If Premier LAURIER persists in his policy for maintaining separate Catholic schools in the Northwest by public funds, it looks as if he will have to face an outburst of popular indignation that will not only sweep him from power, but may shatter the Confederation itself.

Our readers will be delighted with the character sketch from the pen of JAMES M. BARRIE, and the characteristic portrait of Mr. BARRIE which accompanies it. In the sketch published in this number of the CALEDONIAN the incident related is made up of in Mr. BARRIE'S dramatization of "The Little Minister." To our minds the delightful narrative of the amusing race for a wife is much more interesting than the limited opportunities afforded by the stage for the production of such an interesting situation. BARRIE is a prince among character sketch artists, and an able dramatist, and deserves all the good fortune that has come to him.

Mr.

NON

IN

The unparalleled magnificence of the ceremonies attendant upon the Inauguration of THEODORE ROOSEVELT as President of the United States is to be taken more as a sign of the enthusiastic goodwill of the people than as any radical departure from the simple ceremonies of a hundred years ago. The love of the spectacular is natural and proper, and the increased wealth and easy modes of travel justify greater display at all important public functions. The timely article from the pen of JAMES KENNEDY, of this city, who attended the inauguration with the members of the New York Republican County Committee, will be read with interest by our readers.

The Santo Domingo treaty has brought two strong points before the public mind. The first is that the United States Senate is peculiarly jealous of its prerogatives in the formation of treaties; the second is that President ROOSEVELT is determined that, in order to maintain the Monroe Doctrine, the United States must see that the republics of the South pay their just debts. The people can well spare some of the alleged dignity of the Senate, but they cannot spare one iota of the fine sense of honesty maintained by the President.

The celebration of St. Patrick's Day ought to be as much a matter of pride with the people of Scottish birth or descent as it is with the Irish. ST. PATRICK was born in Scotland about the end of the fourth century. We cannot do better than refer our readers to the admirable article written by Dr. MARCUS SCOTT, of Detroit, wherein the learned Doctor proves that ST. PATRICK was not only Scotch, but that he was also a strict Presbyterian.

Edinburgh, as described by KATE DOUGLAS WLGGIN, is a fine illustration of how true it is that beauty is not so much in the object looked at, as it is in the eye that looks at it. Her first view of Edinburgh is altogether delightful, and it is also an illustration of that vivacity and grace which distinguish American women in their travels abroad. We expect to be able to present some more of the visions that came to the accomplished American lady in her progress through Scotland.

Our readers will be pleased to observe that JOHN D. Ross, LL.D., is still busy in the work set out for himself of illuminating the public mind on the merits of Scottish poetry. DR. ROSS has done more than any living man to promulgate the fair fame of ROBERT BURNS, but this is not all. He has spent many golden hours in analyzing the work of the modern Scottish poets and pointing out their their particular merits. His latest discovery, GEORGE SINCLAIR, of Albany, richly deserves all the kind words that DR. Ross says of him. It is gratifying to know that DR. Ross has not gone without his reward both by the popular appreciation of his numerous works, as well as by the learned Faculty who conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. DR. ROSS deserves all the honors that has come to him, which is more than can be said of some who have grown fat on other men's brains, and to whose names the addition of literary titles are a hollow mockery.

NOTICE.

We regret much, that owing to illness. in the family of the Rev. Dr. John J. Carson, he was unable to revise his eloquent patriotic sermon on "Good Citizenship" in time for its publication in this month's issue. It will, however, appear in full, with a portrait of the author, in the April CALEDONIAN. Representatives of Lodges and Societies, as well as of Churches, who heard this excellent sermon, would do us a kindness to send us a word at once as to the number of copies they want. One Lodge has already intimated 200 extra copies. How many for your Lodge, Society or Clan? A copy of it should be in every home!

Our book reviews ought to be a matter of special interest to our readers this month. DR. DODD's great work on the Bible contains the best thoughts of one of the ablest theologians of the age and ought to be in the hands of every Bible reader. DR. JAPP's notable contribution to the literary efforts made to elucidate the romantic life and strange literary character of literary character of ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON is an admirable work which ought to be in the hands of every lover of the great story-teller.

From the current magazines we have endeavored to gather a few of the shortest and best passages. The magazines are all excellent and the little ex

amples of their work which we give ought to be an inducement to the reader to reach out and enjoy more of the delectable literary feasts spread so lavishly by American publishers before a discerning public. The illustrated magazines are particularly interesting from the vivid pictures of men and affairs which the pictorial art of our time so artistically presents. It is gratifying

to observe that many of them have a kindly word to say for the CALEDONIAN.

It will be observed by our regular readers that our principal advertisers continue their advertisements from month to month. The results satisfy them, and their continued patronage encourages us in our special field of catering to the requirements of the American people of Scottish birth or descent. From the beginning the CALEDONIAN has closed its pages to everything that would tend to do other than add credit to the Scottish name.

In our chronicling of events in Scotland some of our readers have observed that we might furnish a larger amount of the current news. We do not consider it in the province of a monthly periodical to assume the work of the daily press. We shall endeavor to note occurrences of national importance in Scotland whether they be few or many. In the matter of news of scarcely local interest we cannot conceive of what service it is to the Scottish residents of North America to be informed as to how many eggs the minister's hen may have laid last week. We leave such work to such midden-scrapers as care for it.

Out of the gray dawn of the March morning the majestic dome of the White Capitol rises cloud-like in its shadowy splendor. The streets of Washington are already crowded, and as we wend our way by the terraces that lead to the great rotunda we pass every variety of people, some sober-suited, some bedizened with with glittering trappings,-all The great

eager-eyed and expectant. city is arrayed in holiday garb. Triumphal arches, armorial shields, golden eagles, starry flags, red, white and blue streamers are everywhere. The air is vibrant with blasts of martial music that herald the mustering squadrons. The spreading gardens seem to have burst already into bloom. The splendid city at our feet seems to stretch into infinitude. The Washington monument rising in solitary grandeur seems reaching to the morning star. Here and there massive marble structures rise like great islands in a glittering sea, their gigantic columns towering aloft like the awful battlements of the grand canyon of Ari

zona.

There is no city in America at all comparable in picturesque beauty or architectural grace with Washington. Here is no dead level with rectangularshaped squares of dull brick and blank walls showing their bare, unsightly sides. Here are tree-lined avenues, broad and smooth as the Potomac, radiating in every direction from the Capitol as from a common centre into magnificent distances, each lending enchantment to the

view. But now we are under the great dome of the Capitol. Around the walls

of the vast circus there is emblazoned in far-spreading panorama the history of the establishment of these United States. Here, in concrete, are the footprints that mark momentous events in the march of human progress. Here Columbus is landing at Guanahani; here the men of Plymouth Rock are building better than they knew; here the farmers of Lexington are beating back the redcoats; here is Washington and his shattered army recrossing the Delaware to strike the Hessians, and there is Cornwallis surrendering his army at Yorktown. Here indeed, in letters that were written with blood and steel, we can read the great story of the beginning of the experiment of government for the people and by the people. Here sculpture has also blossomed into richness. Marble effigies of the good and the gifted are around us. Here are great inventors, historians, statesmen, poets, story tellers, "and warriors with their bright swords sheathed, the mightiest of the hour."

But the multitude is thronging into the galleries of the Senate Chamber, and the ceremonies of the inauguration are about to begin. The New York contingent gathers near the eastern portico and awaits the coming of Theodore Roosevelt.

Of the man of the hour it is not necessary to say much here or now. His life's history is on every tongue. No man ever came into the Presidency of the United States so well equipped. It is a great thing for a heroic human soul to have found its proper place. It is common to compare Roosevelt to Lincoln, but the two men and the conditions surrounding them are vastly different. Lincoln, almost unknown, came into the