NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 12

NOTES.

The following example of "slashing" criticism is from tho New Yrok "Nation," the foremost literary review in America. It refers to the Hon. R. A. Loughnan's recent book, "Now Zealand at Home": — Mr. Loughnan's book is ono in which, in spite of the interest of tho subject, it is difficult to ta,ko much pleasure. His cheap, smart, illogical stylo abounds in jewels liko the following: "When their wives are with them, they do exactly as they do, and the influence is doubled"; "Before tnis the wifo and mother came to tho front, and taking command, the towns wero not so often painted red, and the colour was loss lurid." His geographical chapters are bo ill-planned as to bo almost unintelligiblo in the absenco of a map, his opening chapter on the population tells the reader absolutely nothing about it, and his'moral tono in treating of gambling and intemperance suggests the jauntiness of tho man with a. largo cigar tipped up between his teeth and his hat on one side of his head. Those institutions of Now Zealand—her old age pensions, labour legislation, tvnd various other adventures in State Socialism-which aro just now of greatest general interest receivo no particular light from Mr. Loughnan, who views them all with a complacent optimism on which the best comment is afforded by Henry Broadhead's ."Stato Regulation of Labour and Labour Disputes in New Zealand," commented on in tho "Nation" of July 23, pace 67, and tho statement in the ' London "Spectator" of July 18 that the arbitration law is regarded with despair by the loaders of both political parties.

Tho October numbers of three New Zealand monthlies are to hand. "Progress" maintains the high standard set by its printers, and tho pictures and articles aro as interesting and good as usual. An excellent featuro is a colloction of the latest intelligence respecting the progress of what wo must make up our minds to call "aviation." The Manawatu Railway is the 'subject of pictures and comment, and tho "Mono-Rail" is made romantic through two' striking "fancy" pictures. "Motors and Motoring" and "Architecture and Building" aro specially good features of this excellent publication.— Tho second number of "Current Thought" is hardly an improvement on tho first. What the editor must do is to improve the appearance of his journal—ho could not better the paper or the printing—but the matter is not well arranged, and the general appearance is rather scrappy. The story of "Pelorns Jack" is made into a most interesting legend. "Four Days" is not, as might bo supposed, a novel by Victoria Cross, but a criticism of Parliament in tho shape of a rather heavy review of "Hansard." Tho comments 'on current events are bright and sensible. —The "Triad," with which is issued a musical supplement, contains a fine picture of Sir Robert Stout, and a great deal of trashy stuff in prose and verso, which may please the peoplo who like something that is neither literature nor journalism, and that lias neither wit nor wisdom. The editor, it is proper to add, demonstrates anew his extreme skill in detecting tho more obvious faults in pronunciation committed by singers and elocutionists.

There will shortly be issued by Messrs. Ward, Lock and Co. a life of tho late Mr. David Syme, of the Melbourne "Age," by Mr. Ambrose Pratt, who was supplied by Mr. Syme with material for the purpose. Mr. Deakin has written a lengthy introduction to tho work, which will have a photogravure frontispiece portrait of Mr. Symo and several other full-page illustrations.

Tbo art of writing is discussed by Mr. Archibald Dunn in tho September number of the "Westminster Review." In the 'matter of stylo tho novelist was held to bo an eminent and callous sinner; but Mr. Dunn, considering tho matter of technique, finds him more sinned against than sinning. To judge from the amount_ published, the writing of fiction is in a fair way to becoming either a staple industry or a favourite recreation; and so Mr. Dunn thinks it is "the strangest thing on earth that the science of fiction has no teacher." There is not even a textbook. Works on "How to writo" are familiar to us all. Their failuro to tell us what we want to, know is equally familiar. Mr. Dunn examines three classic works of tho kind—R. L. Stevenson's "Art of Writing," George Henry Lewes's "Principles of Success in Literature," and Sir Walter Besant's "Art of Fiction." In the last alone can he find anything of practical value to tho apprentice in fiction. Sir Walter Ilesant really does tackle the question of technique, simply becauso ho was essentially a workmanhko writer. He had a clear apprehension of the principles of construction, "character drawing, and tho use of incident. Stevenson's technique, on tho other hand, was vory uncertain, and he accordingly wrote on what interested him most, the aesthetics of story-telling. Similarly Lewes, who was notoriously lacking in invention, writes as if tho wholo art of writing woro a matter of word arrangement.