NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11955, 6 August 1904, Page 8

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

A remhrkably fine specimen of ft "Colonial edition" comes to hand in the shape of the two large well-bonnd «ndl well i printed volumes of- Sir Franci* Burnand]" "Record* and Reminucenoee." In tJieir 800 odd page* this, genial—for one* thie much adjective is tbe only word possible—editor of "Punch" chaU pSeaewitly with hie reader* of all the chief incidents in hie career from bit birth in 1836 up to a few years ago. In the course of his busy and varied life, he hae met practically everybody worth knowing in social London, and especially everybody in literary and theatrical circle* whose acquaintance wa* worth making. Membership of the coterie of "Punch.' which Sir Frank has known since the day* of Mark [ Lemon's editorship, wai in itself an open ' sesame to many etrong friendihip*, and his penchant for the stage, to which he once intended to devote his talenta, has enabled him to brighten hi* page* with many a good etory. Sir Frank Burnand was educated at Eton and Cambridge, he studied law, read for the Church, became a Roman Catholic, was disowned in consequence by hie father, decided eventually that he had no "vocation" for the priesthood, practised aa a barrister, wrote pkye and acted in them, and at laet adopted the profeseion of literature and play-wrifmg, in which he has made his name famous wherever "Punch" ie read. He knew Cambridge when Magdalen was the headquarter* of a faster set than the University would countenance nowadays. The Boliemian life of London was an open book to him what time the "Coalhole" and the "Cider Cellars," and many other social resorts that are now mere matters of history, were in their hey-day. A list of the men and women be has seen and met and known and worked with would fill a column. Tliey range from Widdicomb, the immortal ringmaster at Astky'e circus, to Cardinal Manning, from George Meredith to the celebrated Adah Menken. They include Thackeray, Sullivan. Du Maurier, Keene, Montagu Williams, Shirley Brooks, Mrs Keeley, Buckstone, "the poet Bunn," Tom Taylor, Sothera, Sala, Taglioni, John Bright, Du Chaillu, and all the celebrities of the day from the middle to the end of the last century, and of almost everyone 'he has something interesting or amusing to tell. Hb spirits never fail, and his criticisms lack nothing of force to make them readable. Altogether a delightful book to anyone who is interested, as eo many are, in the gossip of the world in which the author is a prominent figure. (London: Methuen and Co. Christchurch: Fountain Barber, two vols. 10a 6d.)

There is a very fair amount of ability displayed in Mr *D. M. Rose's volume of poems, a copy of which haa reached us from the author at Hamilton. If Mr Roes cannot lay claim to a place in the front ranks of New Zealand poets, he shows in his poem* the possession of a cftmmand of language above the average, and no inconsiderable imagination. Most of his 123 poems deal with love or religion. His love poems are full of feeling, but are marked by a conventional touch, and his best poetry seems to Uβ to lie in his religious work. A blank verse poem entitled "Immanuel," on the subject of • Christ's temptation, is exceptionally good. Above all Mr N Ro«s's aims and ideals are high. (Auckland: Wilson and Horton.)

Mass Helen Mathers liae eeen her early novel, 'V3omin' Thro , the Rye," in nineteen editions since first, in June, 1875, ite crinolined heroine delighted youth and shocked; jsage elders by her presentation of family scrapes, the grotesque and tyrannical father, perfervid love-makings,. jokes, kisses, and tears. This year one popular edition came opt in February, and in March Messrs Simpkin, Marshall .and 00. published the v<ll7 neat shilling volume now before us. Mbe Mathers has always rather over-mnch quantity for the sixpenny reprint, which implies in her case & distinctly trying Bmallnese of .type. This book is in the ordinary "colonial edition" «ize, and will be found far the most satisfactory form amongst the cheap ietuee of this ipopular favourite. (London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; Chrietchurch; Wliitcomibe and Tombs. Is.)

"Under Suspicion" is one of the pleasantly written unpretentious etories by which Miss Adeline Sergeant holds her place in the esteem of a (air proportion of novel readers. The .person tinder suspicion, we regret to say, is the heroine, Laurence Boudinot; and the accusation that she, in. a moment of stress, cut the rope by which suspended her brother and two guides, in order to save herself and the otherwise' doomed companions above, seems eerloue enotgh to warrant a good deal of attention. This is, however, but an introductory episode, and the etory proceed* to much milder matter in "the heroine's experiences aa companion to a London fine lady, and then to a beautiful, neurotic, and hoydenish girl. The last, Daphne, enpplies the chief movement in later chapters. Also there appeals a doctor, living "under suspicion" of being concerned in a poisoning case, -and, therefore, full of sympathy for suffering of a like kind. Th« truth is made olear only in Laurence's case, but in the end "love is enough,"' and hero and heroine ore left content, "looking into the depths of one another** eyee." (London: Methnen't Colonial Library j Chrietchnpch: Whitcomibe and Tombs. 2e 6d.)

Mrs C.JN. Williamson has achieved a reputation for briskly-moving, well-planned sensation stories, and her new volume, "The Sea Could Tell," makes a good average addition to the list. Wh'at only "the sea could tell," was tlie explanation of an ocean mystery—how to account for a derelict yacht, new, well cared for, gay with electric light, a catbin dinner spread, rich perrvnal belongings everywhere, all eail eetj yet found drifting deserted on a moon-lit summer niglit. Tlie finders take it upon themselves to discover the fate of the vanished owner and crew, and Dick Knight, the hero of the 'story, sete himself to detective work with all tlie more «et, because on its mooww depend? his favour with the millionaire father of the girl tie loves. There is an opposition gang of person*", more or lees in the eecret, wlio make themwlves disagreeable by carrying off and holding the girl as hostage, in hope* to divert the amateur detective* energy. And the yacht Itself devHope, in ita apparent desertion, an especially disagreeable form of ghost that lull* by stealth! But Dick comes safely and triumphantly through everything, "to be rewarded by a full discovery of all "the ,sea could tell" on this dark irubject, as well a» by making 'an incidental discovery an to hw own parentage highly pleasing to the millionaire. "I've much to thank you for," eaid Sir Peter. ''And I've evervthing to love you for," taid Eve. So romance and neneationa'um meet in a happy end. (London: Methnen and Co.'s Colonial Library; Chriftcjiurcb.: Whitcombe and TpmbY 2s 6d.)

"A 'Magdalen's Husband" is a powerful and pathetic story, far above the maw of ordinary novels. The author,. Vincent Brown, is keenly conscious of "the tears'of thinge," and in places the book has almost the simplicity and strength of a Greek tragedy. The events principally concern three humble lives— the reformed Magdalen, patient towards a brutal fau»band, whom she has accepted under the. consciousness of her past β-hame, the husband cruel because he dimly feel* the contrast between his own animal nature and the angel in bis wife, and the man, "Zeekel" Draicot, who lovpi flie""Magdalen too late; The'terrible slowness of just inter: f«rence with human suffering and wrong fills Zeekelji simple, noble eouL He tries to save-tlTe Magdalen from unhapniness by a crane, is compelled, moon afterwards, to f«l the terrible futility of his deed, which only necessitates a second

tragedr.'i vTfc* character* of th* woman a,nd,;ofVZ»k»i,«re finely drawn. Z«k«l* •»t«r, with htr family pride, the yicar, with ; iiisi worldly., wife, the penetrating Squire,' the priest,* *!»■ almort induces Zeekel to. «mfew,. end Zeekel, jwrple*ed with £omtt ; wioag, «re *IL good chetaeter ieatios*. Ifc. •■ pfinful, but a> aobl*,«*<«7(London; Duckworth'* Colonial Library, 8* 6d and 3* 6d.)

BITS FROM* NEW BOOKB.

"It is wry strange that fathers who fell! in love so naturally and comfortably wheu they were yoojig, should eo bitterly rceent, and feel so utterly dwguited, at their children doing the eame." , _ , "Comin , Thro" the Rye."—Helen Mather*. "Men and women bring into eociety.facee as carefully prepared to meet tHe world's, eye a* the dothea they wear; it is not often one can get a peep at them a* they really ane." Ibid. "Lord Hugh was of opinion that any one who trarted a eecret to a woman had given hhnsetf away irretrievably, and could never hope to be the master of hn own affairs again.", ■ ■ . 'TJnder Suspicion."—Adeline Sergeant. "People run about the country too much," said the doctor. "They overtax their etrcngth, and then they are s-or-prieed jirhen their hare a ihazp attack of influenza, or some other ailment, as *oon as they come home again, and declare very truly that the seaside hae done them no good at all. I often used to recommend people to etay in bed from Saturday till Tuesday, instead of going down to Brighton, and I found it did business men much more good in the end." Ibid. » Along a cyprees-patli, that ever lies Twixt moaning- streams that water the Wild West, I found the maiden of the Twilight Skies; The rose of sorrow was upon her breast, And yet she came to me with morning , '■ eyes And lips, to k«e me to Eternal Rest. "The Afterglow," by D. M. Row. It is enough the Love Is on the throne, Immortal and fair-faced as angel* are, Etcugh if I can see of Hers one star Within the litten-blue of heaven afar, Burning? for me aloof . • • elone. Ibid.