IN VICTORIA'S DAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 18

IN VICTORIA'S DAYS

LETTERS AND MEMORIES

"For My Grandson" (John Murray) is the title of a book of reminiscences by Sir Frederick Pollock, who describes himself as an, "ancient Victorian." He, a. highly : distinguished member of a famous family, haying reached his eighty-eighth year, has had the happy thought of recording for-his. grandson some of' the,memories and customs of bygone years. The rising generation has little idea of conditions of life before even gas was in domestic uso, and when trains were still young. Sir. Frederick was born into a very interesting circle. His own notable career has enormously extended that circle, and . the number of leading lawyers, men- of. letters,- philosophers, artists, and authors, British and foreign, besides Alpine climbers, fencers, and sportsmen, whom he has been able to claim' as i friends is. truly amazing. Interesting people and equally interesting pursuits over a period of eighty years.: gives material ■ for an excellent book;- ,- ■■ y r \, •.:.:• ■•..■' •, .-. • -' .

■ Lady Mary Meynell'is 80 years of age and she looks back over a long life in "Sunshine And Shadows" (John Murray). Lady Meynell has met many ■interesting people in all walks of-life, and her descriptions of them and of the manners and customs of days gone by make'delightful reading.

Although in his ninetieth year, Sir Bindon Blood has been able to write his , reminiscences, to which he gives the title "Fourscore Years and Ten." His attractive, book is a proof of his remarkable vitality; it is a stirring and Jively record, of life in the Army in the good old days from 1860 to 1906, when sport was looked on as the best training for war, or at any rate the sort of war that Great Britain waged. The author has much good material to draw on, and marshals it with a sure touch' which makes his reader re-liye the past, with him. He took part in many.wars on 'the Indian frontier and in Afghanistan, Egypt, and South Africa. ■ Of these he has much to say of permanent value; but he is equally informative about sport of all kinds, mainly in India, where he, spent about 27; years, 1871-78 and 1885-1906, and particularly of : the shooting of tigershe bagged: fifty-seven, says the dustcover—bears, and leopards, besides pigsticking and-polo; his.love of horses seems almost., to surpass that for pretty faces; -of both-of them there is frequent mention. His , orbit crossed those of many*n.otabilities; among them, besides the Eoyal family, were the Prince. Imperial (there: is an authentic account of his death), the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Colley of Majuba, General Gordon, Napier of Magdala, Lords Wolseley, Chelmsford, Roberts, Kitchener, Baden Powell, and Curzon, General Botha, Eanjitsinhji, and Lord Mayo, the Viceroy who was assassinated, .whilst Lieutenant 'Winston Churchill was his extra A.D.C. in one frontier campaign. • ~.,'.