LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 95, 21 April 1923, Page 18

LITERARY.

i Tlie results of a series of inquiries into j unemployment in nine selected localities in Great Britain have been published by P. 6- King and Co. The members lof the commission which conducted these investigations were:—Major the Hon. J. J. Astor, M.P., Frofessor A. L. Bowley, Professor Henry Clay, Messrs. Robert Grant, W. T. Layton, P. J. Pybus, B. beebohm Rownlree, F. D. Stewart, and Lieut.-Colonel George Schuster. Their report shows that the years 1921 and 1022 were the worst in the records of Great Britain. In only one month in the present century, before 1921, did the percentage of unemployed trades union members exceed ten; in no month since March, 1921 has it fallen helow fourteen. At the end of August, 1922, in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1,427,311 persons were recorded as unemployed. The report shews in detail the various industries in which unemployment was developed, and explains the measures adopted to relieve the distress that resulted from the loss of wages sustained by such a serious proportion of the industrial population. One of the worst effects of unemployment is, that in rapidly increasing numbers men are bocoming more and more demoralised by enforced idleness, and tbnt the number who will never again be content to settle down to steady industry is increasing. Tho deterioration is much more rapid in young men than in men over the age of 45. The report discusses the entire problem in a practical way. and reviews the various proposals which havo been put forward for its solution. War literature, it may be thought, has reached its limit, but the claim to originality put forward by the publishers (Collins, Sons and Co.), on behalf of "A Soldier's Diary." by Ralph Scott, is well sustained. The author sets down, day by day, his personal experiences and observations, and shews what he and millions of others had to endure in that fearful ordeal. Ma jor-General Sir F. D. Maurice, who contributes an introductory preface, says with regard to the war that "we can only get the things that matter—the misery, sull'ering, and' endurance, tlie filth, the horror, the desolation, which are a part and the greater part of the most triumphant progress in modern warfare, from the men who have experienced them." General Maurice further remarks that even to-day this remarkable story makes one Rhiver. He concludes: "We are told that the public to-day is weary of war booksIt may well be weary of war books of a certain kind, but 'i hope it is not weary of learning the truth about the war. and every word in this book rings true." Our copy from Whitcombo and Tombs. The remarknble series of MSS. of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle produced a total of 2.140 dollars ( £4(iR) at the American Art Galleries, Xew York. The total was probably a somewhat disappointing one to the vendors, tho Paget Literary Agency of New YorJt City. The highest single price, 300 dollars, was paid for the author's original MS. of "Micah Clarke," IRSB. written in ink on 048 pages, over three hundred words to the page. A similar MS. of "The Refugees. A Tale of Two Continents," 1801, on 3G9 sheets, on one side only, brought 300 dollars. The M.S. of "Rodney Stone," IS9G, on 530 pieces of paper of various sizes, sold for 275 dollars, and at the same price was also sold "The Valley of Fear," 1014. on over 175 sheets. "Salty," Mr. C. W. Westron's first novel, had a very favourable reception, nnd it is always making new friends. In his new novel, "Combe Hamlet," we have as the central character that excellently humorous boatman once again, still exhibiting somewliat dubious commercial morality, still holding a delightful disbelief in the honesty of everybody else, always in trouble and always funny. With Salty ns the hero, Mr. Westron has written a farcical plot, and the book will be enjoyed for its amusinrr situations. The publisher.; nre W. Collins, Son and Co.; our copy from Whitcombc nnd Tombs. "Don Cristobal." by Ernest Goodwin, (Collins), is the full-blooded story of a dashing young Spaniard, in the days of long ago, who has ns many fights and adventures as d'Artagnan; ho has, too, the same inexhaustible resource and invariable humour. It is tho tale of his rescue of a beautiful young aristocrat from those who were conspiring to wreck her happiness. In • her service Don Cristobal played a dashing part many times, and equally frequently is brought very near to death, but in the end he laughs and fights his way to victory. Two additions fo tho bookstall library of Australian novels arc "The Plantation Manager," by Ernest Osborne, and "Stolen or Strayed," by Dale Collins. Mr. Osborne writes an absorbing story of adventure on a North-western Pacific plantation, nnd Mr. Collins, a wellknown Melbourne journalist, finds adventure a-plenty on the river Murray. The robbery of a country bank figures prominently in the story. "Aussie." the cheerful monthly, has been permanently enlarged with an additional N.Z. supplement. The April number, containing the new feature, is just to hand. The additional si.vtecn pages is composed of humorous, literary, and black and white work by well-known New Zealand writers and artists. The work of Mr. Cumberworth, of Auckland, and Mr. Tom Bell, of Christchurch, depleting the Maori type, are worthy of particular mention. There is a splendid full-page collection of Massev heads, drawn toy an artist signing himself T. Ellis. A very entertaining series of personal sketches" is begun in "Cornhill" magazine, for March by Mr. Edwin A. Ward, the distinguished portrait painter. His profession brought him in contact with many celebrated people, and his anecdotes about them are original and well told. Among those mentioned in this article are Lord Northclillc, Cecil Rhodes and Phil May, who is described as "not only a great artist but one of the most lovable personalities I have ever known." Unfortunately, his convivial habits and unpractical ways were ill calculated to ensure long life or fortune. Tho monthly illustrated magazines, received per Gordon and Gotch, include the April number of the ''London," which, iii addition to Gilbert Frankan's serial, has short stories by Beatrice Grimshaw, Muriel Hine and other popular writers. One of the features of the "New Mlagazine" for March is a long complete novel by Marr Marry, entitled "The Princess—and Bill." Special features in numbers nine and ten of Cassell's "Children's Book of Knowledge" include "The Wonderful Story of Julius Caesar," "Canada," a descriptive and historical story. Special articles on canals, the Cat Family, famous castles, and many other subjects. The illustrations are profuse in number and of ft high-class character.

"The Neglected Fire," by Halloway Horn (Collins), has for its subject the rivalry of two women for tlie man they both love. One of them is charming but conventional; the other, judged by ordinary standards, is without principles or morals, although she has a queer code of her own. Mr. Horn has drawn those women with the insight and observation that mark all his work, and he is particularly happy in the second. Silvia Desmond, a product of the underI world. Each has her different appeal to the man; and their weapons and their manner of using them engross the reader's attention to the end. NERVES AND PERSONAL FOWEK The circumstances under which this work was written were pathetic. The author, D. Maedbugall King, M.8., brother of the Prime Minister of Canada, at the age of thirty-five, was stricken with influenza, complicated by double pneumonia, from which there developed tuberculosis of an acute type. He sought health in a sanatorium at Denver, Colorado, where he remained nearly three years. During that time he wrote a book entitled "The Battle with Tuberculosis, and How to Win It." Ho bad recovered sufficiently to resume ptactice when, two years later, he became aflficted with progressive muscular atrophy, which left no margin of hope. He knew that an early death was inevitable, and it was during this long illness, advancing from comparative freedom of movement, to complete paralysis of the greater part of the body, that his second book, "Nerves and Personal Power," was written. The author observes that "everybody at times snfl'ers from symptoms which are popularly termed 'nervous.'" The aim of his work is to describe in clear non-technical language, precisely what part the nervous system plays. He explains the manner in which these sense organs, of which there are millions, operate in transmitting messages to tbo brain and various organs of the body, and what an important part they play in the physical and mental constitution of man. The most interesting sections of his book, to the general reader, are thoso | in which Dr. King deals with the mental j and moral qualities and propensities that I are connected with healthy or with dis- | ordered nervous conditions. ne de- ! Rues certain rules of conduct which if j steadily applied, will save men from a i good deal of suffering nnd secure a I •legreo of happiness under tbe most ad- i verse circumstances. He recommends a ] ?ommon sense programme of daily activities, in which work and recreation are! Inly apportioned, and tho systematic, I development of self-control. His sugges- j tions have the recommendation of practicability, and they embrnce in their scope the commonplace duties of lifo and j -•ur relationship within and outside the family circle. The book is published by 3corge Allen and Unwin. THE QUEENSLAND BTJSH. ITS CHARMS AND DRAWBACKS. Mr. AY. Lavallin Puxley, in return for typical Australian hospitality, has written a very interesting account of his experiences' during an extended visit j to Queensland. His days were spent i chiefly on country stations, where lie { had favourable opportunities for getting! an insight into the lives of squatters and other settlers on the land, and also for becoming acquainted with the flora and fauna of the bush. Ho has little to say about the towns. Incidentally, however, he tells the story of Australian exploration—tho crossing of tho Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Lawson and Wcntworth; the ill-fated expeditions of Burke, Wills and King, and tho mvstcrious fate of Dr. Leichardt. The country seems to have exercised an irresistible fascination for this wanderer from over, seas. He becomes rapturous when describing "the strange unearthly ell'oct of the Australian sunset." "From behind the white stems of the blue-gums." ivo aro told, "the sunset has a benutiful silver effect until. the level of the branches of the trees is reached, when it turns to pure gold. The mists and hazes in Australia impart the greatest beauty to the landscape, and tho melancholy of the bush does not detract from this effect. Indeed in no part of the world have I seen quite the same sunset effects, for everything is seen through this gold and silver haze. Later on in the night many sounds are to be heard. The mopoke calls solemnly at regular intervals, the curlews shriek'like lost souls, kangaroo-rats jump with a tiny whiz, and phlangers leap from the branches with their harsh call. Bears, too, can be heard snoring as they awake from their heavy slumber, and bandicoots run about everywhere. Innumerable insects begin to stir as night falls, while the sounds of the crickets aud beetles are everywhere filling the air/ But before these begin to wako to life j there is a short pause between the j lights, and then tho sun begins to sink; I and the sense of utter loneliness in the i silence of the bush is good to feel after ! tho rush and bustle of the crowded countries of Europe." Tho "heavenly music of the magpies awakened the sleeper at dawn with the most beautiful sound in the Australian bush." He was charmed by the tameness of wild things in Queensland, for the settlers do not molest the birds unless they damage their crops. "So the kookaburras show no tear of man as he goes about his business, nor do tho beautiful honey-birds or; warblers—indeed many of them follow j one about in the bush for long distances." But there is a less pleasant side of the • picture. Snakes aro numerous, some or j them deadly poisonous. In one house ' where Mr. Puxley stayed a snake was found coiled round the leg of a table. In another ease, a lady who had sat down on a log to rest, found a venomous snake coiled round her leg. Then, ants are an intolerable pest, especially white ants, which "make their way into houses and eat furniture until there is literally nothing left but a coat of paint. . .1 Although Queensland houses aro built on piles, chiefly to avoid the termites, I they sometimes manage to surmount this ! difficulty, unless tho piles arc cased in .' iron a lomr way up." "There is no ad ire- j five, which seems to express one's j opinion of the mosquitoes. The settlers ! have to struggle against alternate droughts and floods, and the rabbit pest ! is disastrous to sheep farmers." The ] general impression one gets from Mr. ! Puxley's book is. that the happy time! which be spent himself in Queensland is ! not generally shared by the resident settlers. To their natural enemies the ' squatter is inclined to add the politician, but on this burning quest*jn Mr. Puxley remains neutral, contenting himself with giving statements made "by men of opposite sides. All, however, agreed that Queensland is a country with enormous resources, which have so far been very little developed, and that the State has a great future. In this opinion the author entirely concurs. "Wandering in Queensland Bush," by W. Lavallin Puxley, George Allen and | Unwin. . J