PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9834, 17 September 1897, Page 2

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

"Weekly Press and Referee. *

Phoebe Thayne, the heroine of John Beswick's The Secret of St. Florel, ; is a good sweet girl, who Bomehow seems an anachronism in a book published in 1897, for the reason that she can be bullied and persuaded into marrying a man she doesn't like, there being in existence at the same time a man with whom she is head over ears in love. It must bo admitted that the latter, owing to an accident, has temporarily lost all memory of her and even of his havintr courted a lass and engaged himself to marry her ; still we cannot fancy the average modern young woman doing as Phoebe did. Her lover, Hugh Strong, is a good sort, and his adventures in the unfamiliar ground of Reunion and Madagascar are interesting. The Madagascan coffeeplanter is distinctly fresh. He was a Mauritian, but he explains that they are not particularly proud of Britain in Mauritius. Britain exercises a narrow depressing policy, doe 3 not allow freedom, " extends over us an old womanish control that we don't like." So when the Mauritian is tired of his island home, he explains, "You just come across to Madagascar. Take a Malagache wife; they're easy to , get and often handsome. Then do you choose a likely bit of land, and let her haggle over the rent or the price with the , j district-governor. A bribe every now and then will secure you his good will, and your claim to it won't be disputed. Then you give your wife as many dollars as you feel inclined, for a present you understand, but at the same time you give her a hint how to spend them. In a very little while she'll find you labour enough. There's no law against theee natives holding slaves. They're her's, not your'a. Blacks are meant to slave, and whites to be their masters. It doesn't work badly. This island is full of Mauritians who do as I do. No one can interfere." A slight drawback to the plan would seem to be the instability of the Malagache wife's affection, and her possible skill in poisoning, both of which are exemplified in this planter's case. Strong, however, escapes both Venus and Atropos, and returns to England to find Phoebe married, and some further startling adventures awaiting him, before the arrival of the happy ending, of which the reader is at many points extremely doubtfuL

Rolf Boldrewood'a My Run Home ie an amusing book. Rolf is here in his own ideal character of a wealthy young squatter, who, with wool up and everything lovely, goes home to have a thoroughly good time. He guidebooks a good deal; but as he sees everything with youthful freshness much, can be forgiven to him for his conscientious padding. We must protest in paasing, however, against the New Zealander who in the JRed Sea passage "don't think notbin' of it. Felt it fifty degrees 'otter on the plains, and ate up alive with flies into the bargain." This hyphenless gentleman must have been an Australian; we are not eaten np by flies in New Zealand. Bnfc the essential character of the book appears when Rolf gets to England. He shews the way to the fliers of the shires, he masters the terrible Bucephalus who has mastered all the English roughriders who have essayed to sit him, he and his friends shine splendidly in a row at Cremorne, he wins the Grand National with an Australian horse: and about each and every accomplishment he " blows : " to an extent which moat bring balm to the poor soul of Anthony Trollope sitting aloft aching with the knowledge of the hate of an entire continent. And oh ! how peerless is his Australian girl, who triumphs over English girls in looks and manners and arebery. Her charms admitted, strange it is nevertheless that the siion should so far outclass the stock. Rolfs Bucephalus goes with him to Ireland, and there performs wonders never before seen in the way of big jumps, and Rolf iets himself go in frank imitation of Lever's rollicking tales of Irish life and manners. In «rite of the run bom*

having been taken away back in Thorraanby's year, Rolf Boldrewood's skill makes yon forget its antiquity, and he is as readable as ever, perhaps more than ever. The Secret of St. Florel and My Run Home are published in Macraillan'a Colonial Library and can be obtained at Messrs Simpson &'Williams, Christchurch. The Lady's Realm Summer Number is full of attractions. The Countess of Warwick is described as one who is trying to draw the classes in England together and bridge social chasms. Her favourite motto is " The union of all who love, In the service of all who suffer." We are left with the impression of a great lady indefatigable in endeavouring to perform the duties and rise to the responsibilities of her position. Millais , Heroiaes is the title of a paper in which the least artistic must find matter of interest, and the Court of Denmark and the Pels of Celebrities are both pleasantly written, and, like everything in the number, abundantly illustrated. The most striking article is that on Lawn Tennis Tournaments, in which we see the growing fashion and social importance of lawn tennis well set forth. The portraits of tennis celebrities are welcome, and there is a bright picture of Mrs Chapman with her twin babies, whose parents are both tennis champions. Incidentally we hear of " new tennis," with a " top of the bound " stroke. Christchurch players of a few yeara ago may remember to have seen this stroke played by D. T. Mclntosh, whose powerful wrist it suited. He often proved its effectiveness, but like the rest of the local tennis world considered it unsound ; if it is to be the fashion it should suit (to speak only of Christchurch) such players a3 Collins and Clark and the veteran Wilding. In fiction the Lady's Realm is very strong, containing no less than six complete stories, by H. S. Merriman, F. Frankfort Moore, Graham Travers, and others. Paul Dare's illustrations to Merriman's story deserve special commendation.

The Wanganui Collegian is a useful type of school journal, exhibiting in every way. the work and activities of the boys, and publishing the results of all events with proper journalistic promptitude. We are most impressed by the report of the Union, which is a masterpiece of condensation, and achieves the impossible by making debates readable.