Reflections

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29850, 16 June 1962, Page 3

Reflections

The Street and Other Verses. By J. H. E. Schroder. Pegasus Press. 54 pp. What Mr Schroder has collected in his firs: book of verse reflects the interests of a life time. He has written a good deal of a topical and local nature, which will be of some interest to older residents of Christchurch; and, on the other hand, he has given much attention to the literary figures of the twenties and early thirties, many of them quite forgotten now. Within these covers Mr Schroder reprints the pointed comments that once transfixed such Christchurch worthies as Professor R. J. Scott, Mr R. B. Owen, the Rev. J. K. Archer, and Mr J. S. Barrett; and to ensure that a new generation of readers may appreciate the point, he has appended brief biographical notes, where necessary. In poems like “Lines to the Drama Society” something of the spirit of Canterbury University College is brought to light once more The more literary poems reflect the tastes of the Georgian era The “London Mercury” still maintained its precarious existence. The Sitwell family was notorious, not eminent;; Michael Arlen was a name to conjure with. H G Wells’s “God the Invisible King,’’ although published during the First World War, was still something of a sensation There are references here to G. K. Chesterton's weight. Dean Inge’s unsmiling demeanour, and the studied urbanity of Philip Guedalla Mr Schroder’s tastes, however. were not always so serious He found time to make searching comments on more ephemeral figures like Ethel M. Dell. Robert Keable. and Elinor Glyn In his poem. “Mr William le?” he expressed the bewilderment that was felt by many of those who had to utter the name William le Queux when inquiring about the latest in German spy stories The final poem in the book is addressed to Aunt Daisy In it the Director of Broadcasting thanks her m his inimitable style for the gift of her picture:

1 was touched and delighted by 'rour gift Vu got a special lift Our o’ what might he called the professions, milreness Of the likeness

As the publishers remark on the dust jacket of The Street." “JHE.S” was the “Whim Wham” of his day An unnoticed printer's error makes it difficult, at first reading, to attach any meaning to the -explanation of “Wild Fancy” on page 36.