A MISCELLANY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MISCELLANY.

RUM-RUNNING IN AMERICA. The Prohibition Law of America gave rise to a new type of criminal, and to many types of half criminal. Beside these was the man who was no more than an adventurer, who smuggled alcohol as a sport, and proved to be a mild edition of the old-time pirate. F. F. Van de Water, a journalist, has written the life and adventures of McCoy, the "rumrunner," who for four years carried contraband cargo which he transhipped at sea, dodging the coastguard, bribing many officials and earning and spending

I great sums of money with recklessness in both processes. America, founded on the flouting of tho law, has always had ready admiration for law-breakers, and the ease with which McCoy, and others like him, defied and defeated tho agents of tho Government is evidence of this. As many as 700,000 cases of whisky were carried by McCoy in four years, illegal work, done in a grossly illegal manner, and now this man, in retirement, the law revoked, calls for your admiration and acclaim as an expert whisky agent in "The Real McCoy" (American version of the slang "Real McKay"), Hodder and Stoughton. Under the title "The Wild Horses of Iceland," Mr. Svend Fleuron has issued tho history of a mare and her foal of Icelandic breed as a means of giving a very thorough description of the country and its people, its trade and farming, and its many attractions for tourists. The country being almost roadless, horses are very numerous and especially valued. They are hardy, dwarfed, shaggy, and very intelligent, and as much a companion each to its owner as tho shepherd's dog. Tho homely, simple-hearted people live mostly by farming and occupy people live mostly by farming and occupy large areas under cultivation. Most of tho farm houses seem to bo two-thirds taiderground, so that a series of grasscovered mounds, many topped with growj ing grass, represent a group of buildings. I Mr. E. G. Nash i 3 responsible for the translation of tho story into English and Mr. Cecil Aldin has supplied a great number of illustrations. The approach to the subject of horses is more sympathetic than technical and the animals are credited with almost human intelligence. A» an introduction to tho country we know of no better guide than the author. Eyre and Spottiswoodo are the publishers. "Every ride is a journey and the wife kissed her husband every time ho rodo away. Of course, one was convinced that one would come back—but

1 yet ono never knew. It all depended on , the horse's lege." "The Dictatorship of Things" (Methuen), a collection of pretentious articles by Geoffrey Sainsbury, is said to embody his alternative to the dictatorship of the proletariat, a question which 6eems to be causing him and other London intellectuals some concern. He argues that if States wero organised on a purely territorial basis, and if they set themselves specific material tasks, they could solve their unemployment problems, and, in so doing, they would be so busy that there could be no thought of war. In support of this he presents the case of Russia, which it is admitted does not want war at present because tlio whole organisation and energy of the State and its people are being used in internal construction. The author sketches a large programme of public works which might be undertaken in Britain. '"Where is the money to come from? I can best answer that question by asking another. Could another war be financed? If not, what arc we doing with armaments? Are they just bluff?" To carry out his schemes, of course, Mr. Sainsbury assumes an unprecedented increase in State activity and a corresponding decrease in what wc are still pleased to call the individual citizen's liberties. He finds the assumption easy to make, but his readers will be forgiven if they strain at it.

" THE ROUND TABLE." "The world is in the jrrip of reaction," runs the firnt sentence of the. first article in the current '"Round Table." This indispensable quarterly, as usual, rises to tlio opportunities of the hour, and it is doubtful if a more valuable number has been issued. "The Fruits of Anarchy" is the opr.ninjj article, and it is followed by considerations of the World Conference, machinery for hearing Empire disputes. the Roosevelt policy, the conference from nn Australian point of view, Capitalism and Communism, the Indian situation, trade prospects, shipping subsidies, and British and Irish politics. There are the usual chronicles from the Dominions.

BOOKS RECEIVED. Protecting IYIarQOt, by All ro Grant, Uosninn: The Foreign Office, by Sir JoJin Tillev, Cliicr Clerk In tho roit'isrii Oniee, in 18-1 PI 8, anrl Stpplien Gaselee, Librarian and Keeper or tin; Papers at tlje Foreign OlTlec (Putnam). Desert r--ga. by William Hatfield (Angus and ri' lertso'n). The New World of Crime, by C. K. Rechliofl'er Roberts; The Art of Living, by Osbert liurdett (Eyre, and Spottiswuodc). The Jungle in Sunlight and Shadow, by F. W. Cbamplon, imperial Forest Service nr India; Twice Shy, by D. M. Low; Tho Way Reyond, by J cilery Farnol (Sampson Low, through Wliltcoinbe and Tombs).