LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 200, 23 August 1919, Page 18

LITERARY.

There is a good deal about Mr. Gladstone and the Drews in "A Wayfarer's Log' , (Murray), by Mr. Alexander, the well-known physical trainer and teacher lof gymnastics. Mr. Alexander has known jail sorts oi famous people besides Mr. I Gladstone, and met them .with a frank readiness to tell them what he thought, which is often diverting. For example, lie gave a Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ! some excellent advice about governing '■ Ireland. He told the Duke of Argyll i why lie had got fat. He lectured Lord i Wolselev for "wanting to use exercising weights too heavy for his strength. A new edition of Stewart* "Pacific K-land Handbook," by Percy S. Allen, j comes opportunely at a time when the attention of business men in Australasia . is turned to this important outlet for export trade. The descriptions of the I various inland* cover the whole of the groups and detached islands. They have been brought up-to-date, and in the case , of the large groups comprise offiehll and business directories. The principal features in this year's edition are the Bibliography of works on the Pacific Islands, the lists of business houses and residents in the islands, and the trade statistics, which are comprehensive. The list of works dealing with the islands occupies about forty pages, shewing what an extensive literature regarding the Paeitle" has tome into existence. Mr. Allen, who is a recognised authority on this subject, has freely availed himself of all reliable sources of information, and the annexation by the Australian Government of the German Groups created new conditions which are fully explained. The ■ inclusion of so many widely separated groups in one work, is an enterprise involving an enormous amount of painstaking, research, and the success which has been achieved is highly creditable to the editor and the publishers, McCarron. .Stewart, and Co.. Ltd., Goulburn Street. Sydney. An excellent map forms a useful feature. "The Truth of Life," by F. G. Daiziell, of Wellington, gives a statement of tJie author's <-oncluoions regarding religion.i and. the business allaire of: life, as dis closed in half a century of the nationa life of Xew Zealand. The author eeti out in a series of essays upon eueh sub jectis rts the natural rights tvi man, t legal .system, capitalism, the State ar.d corporate bodies, the family, the tribe oi clan, human association. etc.. his view that all the divergent interests in Jifi could be harmonised by a general adop tion of the principles enunciated bj Christ as recorded in the four gospels lie nays "Jesus eummed up the whol< purpose and dirty of the universe as be ing universal love: that is. love of a.l tin family for t:u> parent and for oni another."' Mr. Da.lziell observes that thi teachings of all the great, religious sys terns can be reconciled, and become tin ■basis of a -oheine of .human society tha will enable mankind to enjoy the maxi mum of iia.ppiness. lie does not. how ever, formulate any system of laws l>; which the forces which obstruct the fill filment of thie vision of 'Utopia may 1' overcome. He says: "It has been sup gested to mc that, instead oi merely <le scribing facts. 1 should endeavour t frame a plan or scheme of government, o control, of enterprise based on the law have described. 1 am not adopting thi course. because I have no special qualifi •■ations for drawing up such a scheme. His book will cerve a, useful purpcee i stimulating speculation upon momentou matters affecting human happiness an national peace and goodwill, but hi theories arc too indefinite and ac&deuri to provide a. bjuis for .practical nicasiire proceeding either by means of vomntar organisation or legislative action. DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE IT AUSTRALIA. Edited by URE SMITH and BERTRA> STKVKXS, in collaboration with \\ HARDYWILSOX. Angus and Robert son, Sydney. Tiie fir=t iiupree-ion made by a g'am-p through tl.l-; artwtie work is -,i se:i-ej of the wealth of Australia. The book is not one from which the man in search of a design for workmen's cottages olnodest villa residences will derive much satisfaction. There lire entrance halls and even pergolas that world absorb pretty well the entire cost of a modest iionic The editors are artists, and in making their selections from the stately homes of Australia they have aimed at a reproduction, of the best forms of domestic architecture, from an artistic point of view, which the Commonwealth | can famish, with the result that thry prove conclusively that when the requisite money is provided araehiteets can spend it judiciously and with effect. It is interesting to note that the frontispiece is that of a house in Maequarie Street, built a century ago. Hut no one who knows the University Hall, i Sydney, built in 1557, or ist. Andrews j Cathedral, can question the fact that Sydney has always possessed architects who had imbibed the traditions and constructional capacities of the great i designers of past centuries. From the! early epoch of Sydney domestic archi- : tecture, the editors select excellent I examples of tin* New (Jreek style and j ihe (iotliic Revival, while tiie modern building- comprise a variety of buildings, not excluding the <'alifornian Mission style, of which there is such an adniir- j able example in our own Grammar School. The .-cries of illustrations. forty-seven in number, include mansions in Sydney. Melbourne. Adelaide, and Brisbane. These are reviewed ill live instructive articles by leading authorities on architecture. Professor Leslie Wilkinson, speaking generally on the subject, states: "From a brief study of domestic architecture in Australia, it is j evident that the trend has followed ! closely that of English -work. Every phase represented, from the sound and satisfying work of the early nineteenth century through the essays in medievalism to country house picuiresqueni'ss and <;eor£ian quietness. .Mi are thr-re. the good and the bad. In addition, ther» has. latterly been added a manner of home shewing influences from both sides of the Pacific.'' The Professor questions whether it is wise, under Australian climatic conditions, to follow very closely the North|em methods (if building, nnd suggests ! that "the shores of the Mediterranean ] may be richer in suggestion, or the , Californian coast manner so largely I derived therefrom." I The editors state that, "if this book i meets with the approval of the public, Iwe shall be able to continue the work I begun in it, i>n>l publish further epeci- . mem in' sound domestic architecture in , Australia." The public verdict can .hardly be in doubt, because the merit !of the work is of a very high order. : The illustrations are all admirable j examples of art photography, and render i this volume a worthy addition to "Art lin Australia," of which it forms a 'special number. y