NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICCATIONS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICCATIONS.

It is so much a matter of course to look upon Ireland as a poverty-stricken land, with population steadily declining, ond except perrhaps in the north with industries falling into decay, that most people will bo surprised to loam that thero was a timo when it was coveted by foreign nations for itsr ichor*. As early as 1000 A.D. it was spoken of as "that very wealthy country in which thero wero twelve cities with wido bishoprics and a king, ar.d which ihad its own language and Latin letters." Hundreds of years of torwards it was still wealthy. As late as 1536 it was said that "from hence to Rome, in all Christendom, tvao no ground or land like to Ireland, co targe, so good, so plenteous, or so rich: mono other but a very Paradise, delicious of all pk__annc_, to respect and regard of any other land in. this world.'" Ireland as a land of bustling ports and thriving commerce, of busy industries, of skilled craftsmen, and learned selsoJara is an Ireland of which wo hear but little, wlvc__ history. fetf have cared to enquire into and est down. Ln "Tho MaKing of Ireland n- d its Undoing, 1300-1600," Mrs Alico Btopford Green, widow of tho historians who wrote "Tha Making of Englaind." has opened up for us theso hitherto untrodden paths. Wo may differ from her conclusions, but there is no doubt she has produced a book of fascinating interest. Part I. deals with Trade and Industries _ First vro aro presented with a glowing picture of tho prosperity of tho country in tho Middle Ages.' With extraordinary industry and unerring power of selection, Mir. Greon 'has reproduced frccn ok'l chronicles and records a m-vla of facts which give us a clear insight into tho conditions of tho people in thcoe days. Thoa with biting • pan .tho d-CG_ri.be-; tho ruthlc-v.s'fashion in. which tho Enrr.lifh oor-nu-crcrs of Ireland est thorn-•-..?!ves deliberately to make war on th? Ir_._ trado. and ruin tlv> prosperity of tho people. Part 11. deals with Education and Learning, end the £fI!M melmnftho'ly story is reoeatcd** A fair edifice built up in tho Middle Ages was ruined in tho immense destructionof tho Tudor Wars. It is well, when we hear oo much Of the indolence and incompetenco of the Irish people, when they are always spoken of as a rooo of 'barbarians in the past, that wo should be reminded that thero is another erda to the picture. This is shown in Mrs Green's book which, wo venture to think, is ono of the mest important of recent contributions to scientific history. (London: Mocmiilan and Co., Ltd. 10s net). "Tht* Flemings," by Jrs<io and Cherlos Fielding Marsh, is n story mainly of an artist and his wife. For her sake ho paints' picture- to sell, the need of money being urgent, and gradually all the finer feeling for art dies out of his soul. Tho death of a. rich godfather brings him a considerable fortune, and then lu> desire is for a. child. Ultimately a girl is born and the wife, always of a jealous, unsatisfied disposition, becomes jealous of her husband's devotion to tho "daughter. An accident, during tho illness of tho girl, reveals to the,wife tho fact that she still retains first place in her husband's affections. In her remorse sho kisses tho daughter—although, as the case was one" of diphtheria, she had been warned not to do so—and, taking the disease, dies from one of its after effects, paralysis of the heart. Tho daughter grows up to gladden thefather by developing artistic tastes such as he once had and lost. It is a somewhnt pathetic story, on the whole. The descriptions of artist-life in Brittany are charming. (London: Smith, Eider and Co. 3s 6d). "in "The Scul of Dominic Wildthorne," Mr Joseph Hocking transfers his customary onslaughts upon tho Church of Rome to those societies ivithin the Church of England which adopt the Roman Catholic teaching and act as recruiting grounds for tbe Roman Catholic Church. The hero, who was left an orphan, was taken up by one of tho societies in question, "The Community cf the Incarnation." As the result "of the teaching ho received he actual!,' wont to Rome with the object of >rin" I-reived into the Roman Church. Repelled by some or the things which came under his notice be next became

an agnostic, but. thanks to the influence of the girl ho marries, wo aro led to belicvo in tho end his face is set towards tho light. Like all Mr Hocking's books, this ono is marred by.sectarian bitterness. It is, however, vigorously written, and will no doubt find a. largo number of admirers. \Vo do not know, however, that they will appreciate a definition of English Dissentas "Politics touched with emotion. (London: Hodder and Stoughton. Christchurch: Fountain Barber; 3s6dj The 'Tall Mall 'Maga-gine" for September is. as usual, full of good things. Mr H. G. "Wells's 'Tho War in tho Air" reaches a most exciting crisis. Among tho illustrated articles of general interest may bo mentioned a personal sketch of Sir Bobert Hart by his niece, "Tho Most. Difficult Climbs m tho Alps.'' being tales of adventure ansoiK- the Chamonix Aiguilles, "Tolntov's* 80th Birthday and his English Colony," and "The Joys of tho Surf Bider" by Jack London. The '-Empire "Review" maintains its reputation ns a magazine most interesting to students of Imperial affairs. In the August number Sir Gilbert Parker ' deals with the tercentenary celebrations in Canada, Colonel I. G. with the questions of feoutn African federation ana defence, and Dr. Duffiold with Australia's share m solr-r research. Commander the Hon. Hupert Guinness deals with that useful but little-known body, the Royal Xaval Volunteer Reserve. There aro articles on Rhodesia, "West Australia, and India. "Chambers's Journal" for August h.-.s some very readable articles, and the fiction' is up to the standard. Burns relics, old mansions of Pans, decoration and health, unemployment. Consols nud Rentes, the Sininlon tunnel, and tomb exploration in Egypt are some of the articles. The Science and Arts section is .as well edited as usual.