NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12365, 2 December 1905, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

The calamities and commotions which convulse Russia at the present time continue to rivet the attention of the civilised world, and anything which throws a light on the tremendous crisis through which the empire of the Czar ie now passing cannot fail to be of general interest. Among recent publications on the subject few are more informing and enlightening than 'The Rureian Revolutionary Movement," by Konni Zilh'ocus, a Finnish author, an English translation of which is now before us. » It was originally written for the purpose of enlightening pirblic opinion in Finland. Up to within a few years ago tho Finns wore among the most loyal of the Russian subjects. In 1899, however, the present Caar, led by

his advisers, departed from the compact under which Finland was allowed a certain measure of autonomy, and the Finns, knowing it was hopeless to expect aid from outside, sought allies among the revolutionary loaders in Russia itself. Advanced membere of the iinnifib Opposition took upon themselves to enlighten their compatriots as to the movement in Russia, end this book is in reality a summary of the information thus obtained and disseminated m papers clandestinely printed and circulated in Finiand with this object vi view Tire book may be described ns : a history of the worlring of revolutionary iorces. the policy of the autocracy and the progress of reform in Ru»na from the time of Peter the Great onward. It is, on tne .whole, n tragic story, punctuated with bombehells, and "many of tho pages are written in b'ood. The narrative is brought down to the present year, and tho writer allows himself to speculate Oβ to the came of the future. Prior to the massacre of tho 22nd January la«t he thinks the Car could, of his own free will, have given to his Empire a conetitution which he might have limited at pleasure, and wherein he could have found tho best guarantees pcc-siblc for the safety of his throne niid cf his dynsstv. "Now this is no longer possible." Now he miut put the decision with regard to tho Constitution into the hands or the people; he must leave it to tho people to decide whether or no he ehall continue to reign ns a con-vi-turional monarch, and so preserve the throne for himself and family. lio goes on to say that the revolutionists have naturally no course open to them ■but to incite'to revolt to the greatest extent pcssiblo, end throughout tho , Russian Empire, tho matses of workers, I who only wait for an opportunity to , revenge'themselves for the acts of vio--1 lence on Vladimir's Day W hot her the bloodshed connected with it will cause Czardom to yield or no it is impossible to say; but, if not, in M. ZilUcus* opinion tho revolutionists will bo reinforced by a mighty ograrian revolt. (London: Alston Rirere, Arundel street, W.C. Christchurch: Simpson and Wil- : Hams, 7s 6d.) No more delicate"" study of human nature has yet been prest-u-ted to us b> Air Anthony Hope than that contained in his latest novel, "A Servant of the Public. , ' Tho heroine, Ora Piasent, is a young and popular actress, impulsive, fickle, oharnung, weak-in short, with all the weaknesses and the attractions of the artistic temperament. In some respects, particularly in the dangorous ; fascination die exorcises over men, she i reminds us of Mrs Humphry Wards latest feminine creation, ihe nuddlea~«d Whig nobleman, Lord Bowdon, irlio first falls a victim to her wiles, pulls himself up in time, and almost in Belt-defence, as it would seem, marries en older -flame," Lady Kilnorton, a delightful widow, whose character is depicted with almost as much skill as tho heroines. A younger man, Ashley Mead, gets more hopelessly enmeshed, makes great sacrifices on her account, and then discovers that she already has ! a husband—a good-for-nothing sort of fellow—living in America. The end of the story is in keeping with the heroine'e character throughout. As regards psychological interest, this is the most Brilliant piece of work which Mr Hawkins has yet done, and the dialogue is full of tho spirkling freshness which seems to flow spontaneously from his pen. (London: Mcthuen and Co. Christohurch: Fountnin Barber, 2s 6d.) "The Passport," by Richard Bagot. is a medern lovo story, with Rome and the Sabine Mountains ne the principle I misc-en-sceno. Tho leading "dramatis E 1 arsoiiJß" are Bianca, tho daughter• ot a aughty Roman Princess, and Silvio I Roestro, the eon of a bourgeois scientistBy a domswtio arrangement not uncommon in Italian cities, the Princess, who lives on the first floor of her gloomy old I palace, behind the Piazzv Campitelh, in Rome, lets tho upper floor to the ( "'sntist, while tho ground floor is oecu-μ-jd by a cobbler, a charoonl denier, and other humble tradesmen. The Princess while glad t«o get' the fciontist's rent, haughtily repeis and discourages 'anything in the shape of social intercourse I between the two families. Love, however, as usual in romances, manages to overleap all obstacles, although its course- in this particular narrative is anything but smooth. (London: ! Methneh and Co. Christchurch: Whit- . combe and Tombs, 2s 6d.) Messrs Whitcombo and Tombs fend us (specimens of their well-known diaries for 1906. thus reminding us how near we nre to tho com'ng of a n«w year. These include tho Now Zenlind Rough 'Diary, No. 2; a handy littlo Pocket Diary, with wallet and fhp, and a Tab- ! let Diary, containing seven : dayis on a pace. The information con- ! tamed in there dinrie.i is, ."fi usual, full and accurate, and altogether they reflect great credit on the publishers. The fiction in £he November 'Tall Mali" is weak, but the excellence of the aiticL-6 irakfe n good number. The fhird adventure of Commander McTurn. —which hardly does credit to Mr Cutcljffe flyne—givre us n trlimpse of our old friend, Captain Ket le. Admirers of Thonise Ffardy nnd the 'ana of Wossox, will welcome an artiole ot that novelis% with sorao very interesting phetr g aphs of scenes in which eomo of his characters move. The Living Moon" s a very interesting expositicn of the thuory that the Moon is not an entirely dcvrl world. Accounts of Mr Bodriclcs p.chool-cays, and of the progress of tho Oap? to Cairo telegiaph ore among the other articles. A feature of th? "November number of the "R v'eff of Revews" fcr\Ausi:nalia. Ik an article by S!r R->Vrt Strut Chief JiKtio? of Npw Z atono*. entitled "A True Imperial'sm. , ' in winch he ro n tends thflt if the Empire is to be sived. it" must be reformed by our living a simpler and higher life. New Zealand i 5 a , so represented by an article on pWer-c'imb'ng on fie W<vt C<:a«t. The eubj'-cr of tho sketch is Dr. Zamenhof, the inventor of Esperanto: Tlie n'lniber is altogether a very readable cne. The "E<np : re* Rov : ew" for October, is ful of interest to stucl?ntfi of Imperial affairs. Mr Arthur Snw l ell wrtjrs a very readab'e aHicJe on the Royal Tour in India, and there aro artie'ee on britwh Eat Africa, the Objective of the -VcKtral'in I/abour Par'y. the Damper of « Back Church in Africa. Colonisation IWofm. an,d North-Wβ t Professor Dic-y writep an article entitled "After the "War is Over." It is (srwwhat to review Mr Pfrcv White in inoffensive language. il : e 1-teist vo'ume. "The Patient Man, describee the proceedi.njrs of _ » society who. having of an intr'gue w : th a dangerously at l r cfve widow, pleasure in entangling fiiVlv maj-v----ing. her innocent daughter. fho on d ; ."Cov<»rm.e.fheiw rennfcivo cirenmrtances. fi'S to ths o'otection of a lover previously scorned : and after the n"c"«iry divorce raw. t"hU " Patient Min'fi" tr : umph is to Tve corn= : d<»red romrl°+e. There is a eurronndine croim of more to LotkWs r l - 0^!,, . or to a d p een f iv normal Mr White w-?*vfi a fit-lv ab!f» pon nn H.:« of + p : n<r. wltV>> <wn« i.imenFnblv "ut "f "'are in j> rolon^ l sene»=. A»«t^»o n '-» Cilonifl , *^i- r i=f'hnrch: Whitcombe end Tombs. s* β-n. "Ombra the Mrrt-rv* , beHn.s UTifo r tn-a l elv, by In its title a nov* l ff msr ns L '«. T™ "O'l-b-a ,, Xv no'hinp "n vr'i*t- i l « *»xc?pt o S~itt : *"H nnt>'nn» v: n f>n'' rnVV-cr T v " V«V j s evidently a nrt» f ptf->rt. a*"* ,n 7 :M awniint ° "mvfltery" iivlvd harflly e~ntriv«! to keep on- : it'r«ft to an «>nd whe-e nothing is discovered, and no especial rea-

eon eupplied for any happening* of tha j past. Itol> et feature 6an occasional ; digression upon medical life in JSdin- . burgh. One imagines thcee to be con- | scientious traneciiots by a young writer, wno hoe had come Voepital experience, either a3 nurse or TJniyeisity student. , but who is poorly equipped for the I career of (Ed nbnreh : Geo. ! A Morton. CTT : :;tchurch: Whitcombe and Tombe. 2s 6d).