of life in one of those small provincial towns which (quite rightly) have a good opinion of themselves . . . Mr. Burgess has a nice sense of humour and a shrewd eye for a portrait: I found his book very much to my taste." " The Times Literary Supplement," in a lengthy notice, is equally favourable : " . .. . a straightforward story of ordinary life and practical people told so simply and effectively that the characters take clear and decisive shape and their destinies become matters of interest and concern for the reader. . .. A book to be read through in leisurely enjoyment of the story that it quietly unfolds." In these disjointed times there is much to be said for a book which affords leisurely enjoyment and one in which, to quote a comment on " The Beverleys " by Sir Hugh Walpole, " the people are all human and real—the first necessity in a novel."
BLACK DIAMONDS. One of the largest coal-mines in the Sheffield district belongs to the Nunnery Colliery, and the 600,000 tons output per annum from the concern has an extensive local sale both for domestic and commercial purposes. It was by the kindness of one of the directors of the firm that I was able to visit on two occasions the Parkgate and Silkstone surface workings and actually descend to the working-faces of the latter seam. The pit is situated within a mile and a half of the centre of the city, and the seams, extending as they do right under the streets, make it necessary to take special precautions in the method of removing the coal from the seam. The system used is known as the half and half system, which is designed to give support to the surface so that no lowering of it or damage to buildings is done. It consists in taking out the coal in levels and gates 44 yards wide, and leaving solid coal between 55 yards in width. As I was to accompany the under manager on his daily inspection of the Silkstone seam workings, it was not quite 9 a.m. when I arrived at his office, situated in the heart of the surface plant surrounded by the shaft, screens, the washery where the coal is automatically washed, the sidings connected with both the L.M.S. and L.N.E. Railways, the other offices, engineering shops and the coking plant. I soon changed into my oldest clothes which I had brought with me, and after I had been fitted up with the necessary equipment—torch, helmet and heavy stick—we made our way across the busy yard toward the lift at the pit-head. 25
