NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10756, 8 September 1900, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

A variety of types of London life w£l be found in "Kiddy," a novel by Tom Gallon. The most- remarkable thing about the book is that one of the leading characters is a money-lender who commits a murder, burns down his office to conceal his crime, and yet the author contrives to enlist our sympathies in his behalf, so that we feel quite sorry for him. The moneylender has a very selfish wife, fond of society, and he spends most of his time in his office, while she entertains company at home. They nave a niece, the heroine of the book, who lives in the house, and is treated as a poor dependent by the moneylender's wife. Subsequently she goes to assist the husband in _.:s office, and a strong affection, attended by ( some pathetic incidents, springs up' between the two. The more romantic love affairs of the heroine also naturally occupy a good deal of attention, and some humorous types of character, notably a London Avasherwoman, are introduced. We also get an affecting insight into the habits of self-denial and mutual assistance prevailing among the London poor. (London: Hutchinson and Co., Paternoster Row. Christchurch: Fountain Barber, 3s 6d.)

The domestic story, with an infusdon of religious interest, still appeals to a large class of readers, and these will gladly welcome "The Minister's- Guest," by Isabella Smith. The heroine is a girl who is brought tip by a delightful old country, clergyman, the Rev. W. Burton. Her' mother was a nonconformist, and made him promise that when the girl came to the age of discretion she should spend a year with an Independent minister, the Rev. Josiah Ketterley, and then decide for herself as to what her form of religious denomination should be. The characters of the two ministers are drawn in sharp contrast. Mr \ Burton is a country rector of the old school —not given to talking much about- religion, fond of horses aud shooting, a great horse, doctor, but withal kindly and benevolent." Mr Ketterley, on the other hand, is a rather narrow typo of Nonconformist, who has a sister, Peniah, far more narrow and bigoted than himself. They live in a manufacturing town, and the life of its middle-class and poorer inhabitants is very well sketched. The minister, who is a bachelor, falls in love with his ward, and she on- her part becomes attached to' the son of a leading manufacturer. As to how the complication works out our readers will probably prefer to discover for themselves. ! (London: T. Fisher Unwin, 2s 6d.)

Sea stories never seem to lose their attraction for English and colonial boys, and we have no doubt they will enjoy "Tha Voyage of the Monsoon," by R. McMillan ("Gossip"). It is the story of a boy who embarked on the ship "Monsoon," bound from Liverpool to China, as a stowaway, and after serving a brief spell on deck was promoteto be cook. He has a very unpleasant time .witn a ruffianly old skipper, until he and another boy named Charlie Smith, hit upon the ingenious but somewhat risky device of poisoning the captain with tartar emetic —fortunately without fatal consequences. The young scapegrace finally leaves the ship in the island of Manila, and the vessel herself comes to a disastrous end. The story is well /told t and the illustrations by X). H. Souter, add to the attractiveness of the book (Sydney: William Brooks and Co.)

Admirer- of Ethel Turner—and they aro legion—will enjoy "Gum Leaves/ a series of charming stories and rhymes for children, interspersed with sketches and hints as to games, household contrivances etc. Ethel Turner is assisted by other writers m making up this delightful olla podrida, and there are a number of letters from tho children for whom she caters. It is very attractively got up, and the quaint illustrations by D. H. Souter are most clever and artistic. (Sydney: William Brooks and

The "Pall Mall Magazine" for August has ss its frontispiece a drawing in colour by H. urenville Fell, entitled "Summer'» Mr Marriott Watson's "Outlaw" continues his exciting adventures, • an d Mrs Flora AnniQ Steel's story -of the "Hosts of the Lord reaches its 26th chapter. Amona the short stones may be mentioned Gilbert jun. s Four Cigars"—a powerful story of the present Boer war—and "The Junrie " one of the best of Miss E. Nesbifs deliq-ht-M children stones. The general articles contain several contributions of interest-! from 'How to Popularise our Army ' "Oxford," and "Some Famous Collaborators."

The Juno and July parts of ,f Knowledee" contain several very interesting gleanings from the fields of popular science. It still retains its original reputation for treating astronomy in a bighly attractive fashion, and among other interesting art'cCea may be mentioned one by R. Lyddeker on "ThaFirst -. lUBk -9, XCn J m En-laad since the Glaoial ftpoch., and a description by T. A. Gerald Strickland of the Solway Fish Hatchery Establishment, from which so many ova for New Zealand have been procured.

A copy is to hand of the "Euterpe Walts '» for the pianoforte, by Llewellyn Owen The wait? is considerably above the average of pieces of its class. While the melody is tuneful, the author has made effective us© 0 f the grave notes without overloading his work w-ith. ornament. The change of £cv is akn effective. (London: Robe!t Co^ndCoT Burlington street.) '