STRONG- MAN AND "VAMP."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRONG- MAN AND "VAMP."

JEAN DEVANNY'S NEW STORY. T : ~ Mrs. Jean Devannv has written another New Zealand novel, and let us hasten generously to say that it is not as bad as it's painted —on tbe dust-cover. The scenes of "Bushman Burke" (Duckworth) arc laid partly in Wellington— we are glad to say not- Auckland—and partly in the West Coast timber country. The authoress evidently knows and loves the New Zealand bush, though oven here, as with her characters, we think that she errs on the side of what she loves to call "the exotic." Our bush is not brightly-hued,, nor often clamorous with birds; its individuality lies rather in its green silences. As for the New Zealand girl—well, if such women as "Flo-Flo" figure in the society of our towns, all we can say is that they have not won the notoriety they deserve, nor does "the hectic, artificial life" of Wellington ring true. Tho theme is that painfully thread-bare one; a "vamp" marries a strong, simple man, betrays him, grows inexplicably to love liim, follows him to-the' bush, .ana there, in three weeks, becomes strong and simple herself —and the conclusion is obvious. There is not one note of originality here, and the whole story is obsessed by sex. Happily, this kind of thing is getting a little out of date, and Mrs. Devahny must learn a new note. The best part of the book is the description of mill-life and, though she may decry pur. towns, the authoress certainly advertises our bush well. The tonic effect of the life is miraculous. The mill hands ai'e mighty men; even the cook can "dexterously slap a hundredweight of dough upside down," and the men apparently survive the eating of it. After her few weeks' stay, Flo is able to follow a pighunt many miles through virgin bush, and we find "the luscious and exotic" girl become so primitive as to indulge in a face-scratching contpst with a rival. Having, with some difficulty, separated the • Amazons, "Burke sat down, took out his handkerchief and mopped his face—'My God, women,' lie said" — Exactly.

Sir James Barrie will be seventy On May 8. He is to preside at the Royal Literary Fund dinner on that day. "Books have the same enemies as man: fire, dampness, insects, time; and their own insides." —Paul Valery. Lovers of horses grow ever fewer in numbers as mechanical transport increases and it seems improbable that the horse will ever regain his popularity as the friend and helper of man. 'J l . C. Hinkle, who has written many times of another friend of man—the dog—has published through Chapman and Hall a most vigorous and enthralling account of the adventures of a wonderful horse, "Black Storm." This book will probably prove to be very popular with boys and for this reason we submitted it to the critical of a twelve-year-old schoolboy, and asked his opinion. The kite-making of his brother went unheeded, his two sisters departed for a birthday party unnoticed, his mother and aunt addressed him in vain. His interest in "Black Storm" held his attention and made liim; indifferent to passing events. .When vthe'la,st page was turned we asked his verdict, "A lovely book," said he, after a milder expression of "very nice," which seemed quite inadequate, and "very nice—a lovely book" therefore remains as our report, after personal'verification.