NEW BOORS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 4

NEW BOORS AND PUBLICATIONS.

_l — There is mo doubt that the ablest scientific mien, to whom -we owe some oi the most, brilliant discoveries, have been men endowed with great powers of imagination. With tha aid of ithis gift they have been enabled to project themselves into the future, 'to follow out the workings of the laws they formulate, or ithey have drawn wide inferences from their observa-ions of phenomena, and thus been enabled to apply their discoveries for the benefit of mankind. iMr iH. G. Wells, whom we chiefly know as a vivid writer of imaginative fiction, evidently possesses in a marked degree the scientific ihdbilt of mind, and no little practical 'knowledge. His "Anticipations of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought" is not only an extremely interesting 'forecast of what (the Mure is likely to bring forth, but — ds a sound philosophical -work, so eminently practical in many of its details thalt we should be surprised if it does not lead to some of the reforms wh-ch it advocates assuming a concrete shape in the hands of some practical worker. Mr Wells not only deals with such subjects as "Locomotion ™ tlle Twentieth Century.' "The PrObaible Diffusion of Great Cities, "War in the Twentieth Century," etc, but he traces out the probable development of oursociial and .political life, faith, morals, etc. In regard, to locomotion, Mr Hells evidesrtlv sees a great future for the motorcar while If or foot traffic in great cities he favours a modification of the moving platform seen ait -the Pari* Exhibition. With Ithis improvement in the means «f locomotion Mr Wells prophesies an extensive "diffusion" «f great efcies, so that the business arJan will Tun up to town from Exeter, or feraitfoTd-on-Avco., as easily as he does now from Richmond', while art, the same time many of the amenities of the country will be introduced in>to urban areas. He is very severe on the antiquated methods of English workmen and manufacturers, especially itihe methods employed in die building trade. The whole bock, however, is TTHMft. interesting and suggestive. (London: MetmieJi and Co. 'Christchurch: Fountain. Barker, 3s 6d and 2s 6d.)

In "Scarlet and Hyssop" Mr E. P. Benson is, perhaps, more scatining than ever on the Mammon-worship, tie selttsiineas, vulgarity and frivolity of the well-to-do-classes in England. 'London says one of the characters who ha.s returned to the Mother. Country, after making a fortune in South Africa, "seems to mc to have changed extraordinarily during the last few years. As far as I =an make out it does not matter now how dull and! stupid a man is, how vulgar or vicious a -woman is, as long as he or she is rich enough That is not all. Apparently, also, you can go to a man s house or a woman's house, eat her food and drills her wines. Then yen hurry on to the next, and tell themjthat it was the most awful party you ever were at. But still apparently "you can go there again on the 16th." 'The author has lost none of hlj powers of telling and epigramatic expression, and the character-drawing in this book is very finely executed. We are particularly "struck with Lady Ardinglv, hard, shrewd, full of common-sense, the Deus ex Maehina of the story to get the main characters out of their troubles, ret herself selfish and worldly to a degree. Some of the situations are extremely powerful and dramatic —in fact, we should not be surprised to see it transformed into an up-to-date drama for the stage. As a picture of modern life, it is brilliant and convincing, but it must be confessed that it dscloses a state of thugs when every wellwisher of the Mother Country would like to se swept away. (London: William Heinemann. Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs. 2s 6d.)

The nature of "The Adventures of Augustus Short" is, perhaps, sufficiently explained by the sub-title: " Things which I have done for others and wish 1 hadn't." It is a specimen of a style of humour which is apparently becoming very popular in England just now, and which depends fora good deal of its effect on its broad exaggerations. The hero, who tells the story, is a. •gcod-n_tured > man who undertakes various offices for his -friends — sometimes, Li must be confessed, he is entrapped into doing so unwillingly—and invariably involves himself in troubles of a more or less ludicrous character in consequence. (London: Aotonv Treherne and Co.. Ltd. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tomba. 2s 6d.)

An author deserves njuch who can present the experienced novel reader with a new type of heroine, and this has distinctly been in "Tbs Fortunss of

Christina McNab," by S." Mac&anriiton. Christina is new, and she }« delightful Her fortunes are somewhat hampered, to begin with, by an engagement formed before wealth descended upon her. But aa she remarks to the ineligible one, "Does a lassie eighteen thousand a year marry anelectrical engineer ?" And "Naw," said Cobn, judicialty, /'she does not." He added, as an after thought, "Tin no sure I'd think much of her if she did—at least until she had had a try at something better." Thus Christina is set free to pursue the quest of an English accent, and an English lord—failing lamentably in her early efforts to acquire the "briliant imbecility" of society, but, by a defiant resolve to give up caring for other people's ways, and "just be myself," winning at last an unqualified society success." Folk may say what they like about simple pleasures," but until you are engaged to a duke you hardly know what pleasure is," runs a Christina reflection of this date. Though after all she descends from such supreme heights of bliss, everything ends for the best in this most entertaining vdlumne, full of amusing positions and brig"« sayings. The sketches of English country house life have a satiric touch, even occasionally a touch of burlesque; but it is good-humoured satire, and a burlesque that only assists the impressions left of a really amiable set of people cheerfully poiirtrayed by a clever pen. (London : Methuen's Colonial Library. Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs, 2s 6d.)

The Irish, life, in many grades of society. i.3 represented in "The Green Country/ though Mr Andrew Merry holds his_ brief chiefly for "the resident country gentry, "twenty tihousand i'amilies scattered over the length and breadth of the. island, clinging with: the desperaition of drowning men tff 'Che Jast planks left to them—their old homes, and the green acres, which are still theirs, m nanne at least-." His very serious "introduction with an mpology," prepares one for much political earnestness in stories which would otherwise hold a place sdmewhtoß 'between the humour of Penelope in Ireland, and the pathetic strain of Miss Tynan and Miss. Barlow. "Diamond Cut Dilaraond" shows an Irish marriage scheme, with the strange lengths gone to by .at/hers of marria'geiable sons to secure the heiress of ''siviw hundred pounds laid up safe in the Hibernian." In "The Hunting of the Pcotra," an Irish witch, and a wh<3te hare t<ike iparfc, and "How Thady O'RioTdan was put ouft" is a sad pidture of a life ending under clouds of undeserved misfortune. "The sfT_ge and story-boo-; Irishman is an extinct sipecies." we are told in "The Absentees," but the Irishman as here shown is an interesting, if somewhat more depressing study, and Mr Merry writes as one who has every right 'to vouch for "tales of real lite." The efforts of the "Board of the Congested Districts" to encourage poultry-<farnung:;are touched upon rather amusingly when Mrs Dedaney deserilbes the "great touff chickens," given out for cottage rearing." "Doesntt our own little hins, God bless them,' she sez, 'be wurt'h tha hul bilein',' she sez, 'layin' and _itt_n'*quiet and aisy in .tfiie press, arid slapeing like Christians nndher the bed a nights.' ''But these new convaniences,' she sez, 'is hard set ter creep under the bed at ahl, on' manny's the rotwl ou/fc on ter the dure ay the o_bin they've give Sliawn an' oneself,' she sez, 'whin, obey strive ter raise their bids t-er crew in the mornin', the wild giraffes!'" (London: Grant Richards Colonial Library. Christchurch: Whitcomibe and Tombs, 2s '6d.)

Apparently in preparation for the Coronation, the London "Graphic" has issued a copiously illustrated "Life of King Edward VII." The letterpress is a "sketchbiography" by the late Sir Walter Besiint, and is written with all bis felicitous lightness of style. It contrasts very favourably, therefore, with the hack-work compilations which so often are made to do duty for biographies of this kind. A very handsome picture of the King and Queen from the drawing specially made for the "Graphic" by W. Hatherell, R. 1., is given as a supplement (London: 190 Strand, W.C. Christchurch: Fountain Barber. Is.)

"In the Spirit World," is the title of a booklet containing three sermons preached by the Rev. Joseph Campbell, M.A., vicar, in St. Paul's Church, Papanui:—(l)"Some Characteristics of the Spirit World;" (2) "Our Dear On«s in the Spirit World;" (3) "Seeing Angels in the Way." Obviously their teaching cannot very well be criticised in a secular newspaper. Tlte view taken by the preacher is that the spirit world interpenetrates the natural world, and that those who have died are in "Sunny Paradise," yet not so very far away from us. To some it is even permitted to visit this earth again. He also adopts the view held by Farrar and others that our present existence is only one of a series of successive states erf probation. His arguments are eloquently and forcibly expressed. (Christchurch: Simpson and Williams.)

From Mr Fountain Barber we have received the following sixpenny reprints : — "Nellie's Memories," by Rosa Nouchette Carey (London: Macmillan and Co.); "A Honeymoon in Space," by George Griffith (London: C. Arthur Pearson)—an ingenious and amusing romance, compounded as to style of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells; and three of Nat Gould's ever-popular sporting novels—"The Double Event," "Running it Off," and "Golden Ruin." (London: George Routledge and Sons, Limited.)

Mr 0. T. J. Alpers, of Christchurch, contributes an article on "A Young Maori Party" to the " Empire Review" for July. He gives an interesting sketch, of the" history and objects of the movement for the amelioration of the condition of the Maori race, started by the Te Aute students. Glancing at the tendency towards the fusion of the tribes—towards kotahitangp. or national "one-ness," Mr Alpers expresses the opinion that should' it result in the growth of _ genuine national sentiment, it may '' enable the race to snatch from the new civilisation something of its buoyancy and to float on eddying current that threatened to enguif it." The " Review" also contains the usual variety of articles of general Imperial interest. (London: Macmillan and Co., Limited) Another article or" especial interest to New Zealand readers is to be found in "Temple Bar" for July. It is entitled •' Maori Runangas," and is an interesting description of the famous carved meeting house belonging to Mr Nelson at Whakarewarewa. The writer states that the New Zealand Government offered £10,000 for it when it was ooened. Then some authorities at Berlin" offered £12.000, but both proposals were declined, Mr Nelson considering the price insufficient. We agree with the opinions expressed at the conclusion of the article, namely, that the Government ought to prevent the runanga bouses being sent away to other countries —in fact, as our readers are aware, an Act has recently been passed with) the object of keeping Maori antiquities in the colony. We also agree with the writer that the younger Maoris should be encouraged by technical schools to emulate the talent of bygone artists. Among tie general contents of the magazine may be mentioned an

interesting article en "Tin?- Stone of Destiny/'. an, i another on Popular Universities in France. (London: Macmillan and Co., Limited.)

"Knowledge" for July is an excellent number. Dr. Water Kidd writes on ihe> human hair, treating it largely from the point of view of evolution and heredity. The astronomical articles are unusually interesting, especially- Mr Walter Maunders on. "New Sta.^."