LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 218, 13 September 1924, Page 18

LITERARY.

Tho "Cornhill Magazine" for August opens with a new fragment of literary history, "Dora Wordsworth: Her Book," by F. V. Morley. In this book, to which Mr. Morley was given access by its owner, Wordsworth's daughter collected , autograph poems from her own ! and her father's friends, and ! each of the sixty entries sug- | gesta sumo sidelights on the history iof the poet and his friendships. j "Adventures iv Printing House Square," |by Bennet Copplestone (V. Harcourt Kitchin) comes to its conclusion with | "Tho Northclilfo Infiltration." The recently published book, "Leslie Stephen: Some Early 1 Impressions," prompts an I editorial sketch dealing with Stephen's I reminiscences of his own work as editor of the "Coruhill" fifty years ago. I "The Maid of Stoncystrcam," by Faith Baldwin (Sampson, Low, per Robertson und Mullins, Melbourne), is I a novel, clean, pure, fresh and inviting. To read this story is like giving the j mind a bath in a mountain stream, after ploughing through accounts of the feverish, disturbing, degrading and abnormal conduct of the characters selected for description by many modern writers. In this story we are quickly glad to find ourselves in the delightful company of mentally, healthy, wellj bred natural people, and we share, very readily, their thoughts, their actions, and their difficulties. Here, most admirably set forth are the daily lives of a class of American men and women, boys and girls, with whom we are glad to make acquaintance. It is a love story, a lovo story of the best. No sickly sentimental, degenerate, madhouse emotionalism, but healthful, youthful romance. The very simplicity of tho plot, and the charm of effortless conversations aro evidences of a mind above the average, and skill worthy of praise. "Equality and Fraternity," by Douglas Macleane, provides much food for thought, with its strong Christian bias, progressive, useful and hopeful ideas. It is more in the nature of a criticism than an expounding of any novel theory. The author quotes freely from many varying sources, sometimes with quaint and very contradictory results. The book might be called a "Study of the General Welfare of the World," and not belie its apparent purpose. Mr. H. G. Wells talks of a growing "sense of community," and the formation of a "World City." This latter would bo fatal to all Socialistic ideas of equality, for a city might involve community of interests, but not equality. Canon JJacleane goes far to prove that, in an earthly sense, thero aro no such things as liberty or equality, and that the nearest approach to them must come by devotion to duty and service, and a subordination of self. Indeed tho whole book is an argumentative expansion of three words, "Lovo ono another." In the chapter upon equality the author is humorously satirical, using the arguments of rabid Socialists to refute themselves. He points out, too, the fact that those who prepared the Declaration of Independence, and commenced "All men are created equal," were slave owners; and those words were but slightly altered by the French in the Revolution, when it was stated with equal untruth, "All men are born freo and equal." "The only leveller is death."

In connection with the exposure in our columns of the bogus nature of verses "To Miss Jessie Lewars," found recently in Otago and attributed to Burns, a correspondent writes: "Scotsmen appear to be subject to periodic attacks of Burnsitis, and, while suffering from that malady, attribute to their nntional bard all sorts of unlikely effusions. The most alarming outbreak was about half a century ago, when it was claimed that Burns wroto most of the Scripture 'Paraphrases,* which are printed after the metrical Psalms in Scottish Bibles. After a fierce controversy, the claim seemed to be abandoned; but as Scots will never admit that they are beaten, it may bo revived any day. The lines to Miss Lewars wero denounced as a fraud over forty years ago, yet the verses, boldly signed 'Robert Burns,' have bobbed up serenely. They say a lie with 24 hours' start is hard to overtake; but what nbout one that has 50 years' start? A notable fact is that at the very time this bogus Burns poem was found in Otago, a controversy started in tho columns of the Edinburgh 'Scotsman' regarding the authorship of 'The Land o' the Leal.' This, too, is a revived claim. We remember it being made about twenty years ago. Much ability, as well as pertinacity, is displayed in the attempt to rob Lady Nairne of tho credit of writing this exquisite lyric. Everyone acquainted with the works of Burns must admit, however, that 'The Land o' the Leal' shows not tho slightest trace of that poet's Btyle or language. We fear that Scot 3 nowadays simply worship tho Burns tradition, but do not read his works."

"The Interpreter's House," by Mr. Stmthers Burt (Hodder and Stoughton), is, for a first novel, a wonderful Btory. Only those who write can properly value the result of effort sufficiently sustained to produce 319 pages of "copy." The story takes us into that phase of American life made familiar to English readers by Robert Chambers' wealth and fashion and social interests, supported by the always convenient successful business man. The author has selected the post-war period, which has given us the mental and physical unrest disturbing alike to the old and middle-aged, and j produced by the so-called unfettered ! youth of both sexes. Wealth and luxury so weaken character that the I meaning of life is sought more in the | abandonment of old standards than in I the creation of sound new ones, and the craze for "freedom" which does not exist, and "self-expression" which means licence and selfishness, gives the novelist a variety of human material never dreamed of- by older writers. If the author, as a student of current morals and motives, has shared in the mental gymnastics of his dramatis personae he must have suffered, for love which knows no reason, and ambition which knows no honour, are painful topics, even when only lightly handled pour s'amuse. Cleverness is here in plenty; but the desire for new expressions, which has produced much slang, has, here and there, carried this now author beyond reasonable limits, as witness "strangled gesture," supposed to describe hand-waving in vigorous protestation: "internal madness."' "ripples of j stores being flung." and so on. The j whole story is bitterly condemnatory of things as they are; the author offers i no solution of social problems, he merely exposes ruthlessly not only the actions, hut degrading motives, of his crowd of modern Americans. It is most interest- , ing. as is indeed a pool of alligators, but we do not desire to move amongst Mr. Struthers Burt's city dwellers. i

"PeUucidar," by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Methuen), is a sequel to "At the Earth's Core." A hunter in tho desert of Sahara pitches his camp on a spot beneath which David Innes has buried telegraphic instruments connecting with the buried world of PeUucidar. Through this medium, messages are transmitted describing the events that happened after Hooja, The Sly One, had substituted the ugly Machar for Dian the Beautiful. It describes the war of the federated tribes against the mighty Mahars, the dominant race of reptilian monsters, and their fierce, gorilla-liko soldiery, the savage Sagotlis; and pursues tho fortunes of David Innes until his filial attainment of imperial power, with his beloved consort Dian, makes him a willing denizen of the subterranean world. THE BRITISH EMPIRE. "Tho Dominions and Dependencies of the Empire," being Volume I. of tho "British Empire" series (Collins, London), is divided into thirteen sections, and listß seventeen contributors of note, including the Duke of Connaught. Turning at once to the New Zealand section, we find that country's champion is Sir James Allen, who, at tho outset, with Scotch humour, declares that Scotsmen throughout the world "hold their own— and more." Sir James is entirely unAmerican in his statements. They contain "the truth and nothing but tho truth"—for tho "whole truth" space refuses admission. In the cold and calculated lukewarmness of his description of this country, readers may learn almost as much of Sir James as of New Zealand. He says, "Wo do not want a host of immigrants dumped on our shores," but he places full emphasis upon tho "silken bonds," and "hoops of steel" which bind us to England. This section is smooth and easy reading, but, as an advertisement, lacks what the U.S.A. people call "punch." The author of the Australian section, Sir Joseph Cook, appears to dislike colonial history. * He shows no fondness i for the rearward glance. Considering that the early development of Australia owed so much to convict labour, and that sotno of the "best families" in that country speak almost with modest pride of exported great-grandfathers, there is injustice done to many by giving all praise for progress to the oldtime governors, and leaving unmentioned tho hardly-used, and sometimestortured "old-timers." It is to tho credit of the original ticket-of-leave men that they left a better record behind them than many of their naval and military warders, and tho roads the prisoners made, and the land, ttiey opened up and tilled when freed, provided the first impetus to settlement. The British adventure spirit dies hard, and long years of harsh captivity did not quell the home-making instinct of Australia's first settlers. Why should they be denied the titles of "noble pioneers" and trusty "Empire builders" lavished ungrudgingly upon those who in other colonies had lesser hardships and happier beginnings? In the sixteen pages devoted to the Australian Continent (New Zealand has twelve), the impression lis somehow conveyed that New South Wales is more particularly favoured, yet she is but the fourth in point of area of the federated States. The author has written clearly, and very invitingly, and shows real cleverness in his use of tho title, "Tho Land of tho Better Chance." That, at least, should live long. Canada (20 pages), dealt with by Sir O. Foster, has its value as a country for British settlement well supported by statistics. In the matter of climate Prince Albert Land stands first in Bunshino record. There is no attempt to belittle the severity of winter in Canada's cold regions; even to the bravest emigrant "40 degrees below zero" must necessarily give pause. The South African section is filled with tho conscientious work of Sir F. Dalton, who, in the chapter, "Progress and Possibilities" sounds a note of jovons hopefulness for the future and shows a feeling of pride for the past. South Africa, with all its problems and its military title, "The Grave of Reputations," has an almost mysterious attraction for all classes of adventurers, from tourists and sportsmen to great financiers and Jew hucksters. It is perhaps that Dutch and English have neither been entirely free in Africa which has made it a political shuttlecock and a place of unrest, and the native difficulties are greater than elsewhere. There is probably no country in the world offering such a varied field for enterprise, or so many reasons for political friction. The country is lit by the flash of diamonds, enriched by the flow of gold, and promises to rival Australia in wool and Tasmania in fruit. A wonderful country. "We can imagino with what a greedy eye, with what envy nnd amaze, foreign readers will study this volume, which, modest in word and intention, nevertheless shows forth the glory and greatness of the Empire. There are two main problems in the British Empire, that of the relations between the Motherland and the Dominions, and that of the future of the native races. Both are dealt with in "The Native Races of the Empire," edited and partly written by Sir Godfrey Lagdcn, who had a distinguished career in Africa. It gives an account of all the native races, save those of India, and as the information has been carefully collected and the \ editor has had the help of experts in I different branches of the subject, the ! result is a valuable book. What our | Imperial responsibility means in this respect may be judged from the fact that the Bible has been translated into 304 dialects of the Empire, and one of , the features of this book is a chapter j called "The Bible and tha Empire," j by the Literary Superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. British Empire builders have made many mistakes with natives in the past, nut ' we do not think any unprejudiced person could read this volume without being j convinced that in the treatment of backward races humanitarian ideals now prevail. Certainly (he mass of savagery '■ that has been abolished by British rule is : impressive when one sees it brought to- i' get her in a compilation like this. The !l book is ritfh in interest. The information ! I about the native tribes of South Africa, : and the history of their war-punctuated ■ contact with the whites, help one to ; understand the difficulties of the Govern- ■ ; ment ot the Uiiion. Likewise tht sec- ' tion oh the tribes of the Sudan rein- J forces the conviction that it would be a ' tragic piece of cowardice to give the 1 Sudan back to Egypt. The chapter on the Maoris, in writing which Sir Godfrey f Lagden had had the assistance of Sir f •Tames Allen, is competently done. Sir i Godfrey quotes from Mr. James Cowan's 1 "excellent book on the Maori, and from r "Maori and Pakeha." by Messrs. Shrimp- I ton and Mulgan. which he finds "most ■ entertaining." This volume, like the others is published by Collins. Sons and I Co.. and our copy comes from Whitcombe ,1 and Tombs. i i