LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 15 April 1922, Page 23

LITERARY.

"Voicano: A Frolic,' -by Ralph Straus (Met.huen), is a whimsical comedy, staged for the most part in a sieepy inland spa, which centres about the most respectable of spinsters. Miss Belt of the Grange, the unofficial and hardworking queen of the place. The lady linds it. difficult to preserve the proprieties according to her Puritanical (standards, and her rule is considerably disturbed by the revolutionary ideas of certain residents, who decline to be fitted into the niches in the social circle to which ihe good iady desires to consign them. The >tory is told in the author's Ikrhter vein, and abounds in amusing incidents.

"Dead F-Cci-oning," by Erie Leadbitter (George Allen and Uinvin). is the itory of a retired sea captain and 'his only daughter, who live in an English rural district. The girl, during a visit to London, becomes engaged to an artist. with whom the father is out of sympathy, but in tho. interests of his daughter lie tries to make the best of it. Unfortunately, he fails to realise tliat his idea* and prejudices are entirely out. of harmony with the feelings of his son-in-law, with whom lie is unwisely induced 10 live. Domestic conflict follows, with the result that notwithstanding Ins ardent desire to promote the happiness of his only child he succeeds in very nearly wrecking it.

"The Oppidan," by Shane Leslie Chatio and VTindns), is a, story of life at Eton, during the headmastership of Dr. YVarre. Tic author declares that

"il seems impossible that Eton can hold again the prestige of pow.r she held under Hornby and AVarre, who themselves have become legendary." He admits, however, that the public school course is certainly limited. There could he nothing duller than a school nov_l true to life. Conversation is as restricted among boys as among clerks, and by reason of school slang rather les3 intelligible. Against the general background the precocious boy seems more brilliant than lie is and less popular than he deserves. School life can be totally monotonous and the train of events devoid of plot. Breakage of rules affords perpetual incider.t and expulsion the occasional tragedy. Tlie only conof literary interest is either priggish or Rabelaisian. Character ajjain is more discernible among masters than boys. The boy is moulded to ■ onvention, and lives in mild terror of being thought quaint, talented, or pioti3. The truth of this generalisation is demonstrated by "The Oppidan," which makes no very strong appeal to anyone who lacks interest in the details of life in an English public school.

The name of Eustace Miles ____ become associated -with numerous _s_ful textbooks dealing with matters contributing to physical fitness. In hia latest book, -■Healthy Breathing" f ITetSm en), Mr. Stiles tells us that "deep and full breathing is an essential accomplishment; but is probably performed more badly, as a hit-bit, than anything else in the -whole wide world." He further declares that deep and full breathing 1 expands and -uplifts the whole body and tbe whole self, and is thus an excellent antidote or preventive of th. 'bad effect of those sedentary habits and cramping conventions which seem to encourage inactivity and senility." The book describes how and why deep breathing ought to be learnt and practiced. It fllso considers the subject in relation to voice production.

•__lr. Heskcth Pearson, in "Modern, Men nnd Mummers" (George Allen and t'nwin), gives currency to a number of free opinions on various celebrities, theatrical and literary. His judgments, in many instances, -will not, we venture tc> think, be very widely shared by" [jeoplc possessing discernment and judicial capacity. He is an adorer of Bernard Shaw—one of those devoted disciples who excite amazement outside the narrow Shavian circle. It is simply astounding -that anyone with an. atom of literary discernment could seriously pen a passage like -this: "It is as prophet-artist that Shaw remains supreme. He is the most noteworthy figure among all our dramatists except the author of ___ilet,' and his message is obviously of greater moment than by the nature of the case Shakespeare's ■could have been."' Or again: "The Arthur Bourchiers of two hundred years hence will be bludgeoning their antagonists with the name of Shaw, just a_ those of to-day knock down theirs with the name of Shakespeare." Is it conceivable that any impartial man believes that Shaw or "his works, despite Shaw's cynical cleverness, will !haTe much rogue even fifty years hence? The essay on Bernard Shaw occupies the opening chapter of tihe book, and aftef reading it a good many people may feel indisposed to go further, but in the other sketches there may be gathered impressions of the outstanding characteristics of men and women who have occupied conspicuous pla__es in the limelight, which are amusing and not always unfair even though the reverse of complimentary. The author had the advantage of knowing personally a lair proportion of tbe people be describes. Of Sir Herbert Tree he tells anecdotes that illustrate phases of tbe actor's character, which have been more gently hinted at in other biographies. He probably states the simple fact in declaring that Tree's -wit was "studied, not spontaneous, and most of his humour was just personal mannerism—i his way of saying a thing, rather than the thing said." He is certainly correct in saying tbat Tree had no touch of eloquence. "His speeches were halting and nofc seldom pathetically selfconscious." The author's association with the theatrical profession gave him opportunities o_ observing the foibles of prominent actors, 'but tho good taste with which these advantages have, in -omc instances, been turned to account is open to question.