LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3179, 1 September 1917, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Stray Leaves. / The July number of "Tho Bookman" (flodder anil Stoughtoii) contains a long and interesting articlo on Sir llabindranath Tagore, the famous Indian poet, by Captain M. Macnicol. There is ako an articlo on "Tagore's New Books" by ITeginald Buckley. Mr. Tho/nus Seccombe contributes a oriticjsm of H. G. Wells's now book, "God the Invisible King," anil two articles of special interest to Shakesspearean students, "Shakespeare's Understudy,"- by Professor George Kaiiitsbury, and "Shakespeare and America," l>y Major Putnam, Litt.D., should not be overlooked. An enthusiastic—a trifle over-enthusiastic—appreciation of tho realistic stories and poems of Thomas Burke; the author of "Nights in Town" and "Limehonso Nights: Tales of Chinatown," und an appreciation of the poetry of Ralph' Hodgson by George Landor are also pleasant features of an exceptionally strong number.

"The Times" (Literary Supplement, ifiuie 14) has a full, column review of what seems to be a very remarkable novel by Norman Douglns, entitled "The South Wind." The reviewer compares Mr. Douglas's work with that of two such curiously different writers as Peacock and Oscar Wilde. . Tho author's idea seems to have been to collect all the interesting and "eccentric peoplo he could remember or imagine, and placo them on a little island in the Mediterranean, thereto discourse to each other on their individual fancies and fads and foibles. This certainly suggests Peacock's "Crotchet Castle" and "Nightmare Abbey," . thoso wise and witty books, so neglected, alas, by'.-present-day readers. . I wish that space would permit me to quote-at length from the "Times'" review. Clearly, the book is one quite out of tho common. Whether thoso extraordinary peoplo who "select" in London for the. New Zealand booksellers will 6end out a few copies, Is, however, very doubtful. They aro too busy, I am afraid, pocking, up cases full of tlio latest effusions of William LeQueux and similar ovcr-indus-trioua manufacturers of third-rato sonsational fiction.

Ernest Thompson Sctou, the wellknown writer ,on natural ..history and life in tho American and Canadian wilds, is making what is for. him a now literary departure, having written a hovel, "The Preacher of Cedar Mountain," which is being published by Hoddor and fftoughton. .

Several English, papers, received by last week's mail, award high praise to a novel, or series of stories, entitled "The lioridon,. Nights of Bclsize," by Mr. V° v " non Kendall, for several years sub-editor of "The Athenaeum." One reviewer describes tho book as combining tSe sensational interest of tho Sherlock Holmes stories with a strong dash of that quaint fancy whioh mado Stevenson's "New Arabian' Nights" such delight M rending. Tho Hon. Maurice Baring, the wellknown writer oh Russian affairs, and the author of those delightfully humorous .books (immeasurably better, in nty opinion, than anything the clever but over-boomed Stephen '.cacock has given us) "Dead Letters,". "Lost. Diaries." and Diminutive Dramas," is now serving in France, as a captain in tho British Flying Corps. iMr. Baring, it may be remembered, visited New Zealand in 1!)!2, and was for some weeks a guest at Government House, being a groat personal friond of Lord and Lady Islington. ■ He has recently revised his most important book on Russia. ' Lord Eversley (at one time well known as Mr. Shaw Lefevro, being member of more than one Liberal Administration) has followed up his book on "The Partition of Poland" by a yet more lmporant historical work, 'Tho Turkish Empire: Its Growth and Decay." The financial handbooks of Mr. Hartley Withers have always been popular with latter-day students of economics. Mr. Withers has, I read, a now book, Our Money and the. State," nearly ready tor publication by Mr. John Murray. The object of the book is to describe tho purposes for which and the means u> which the Stato takes money from-the citizens, as well as the limits of its powers to do so." I should imagino it to be someivhat difficult in these days to keep such information well up to date. Some humourist recently declared' that 'Lloyd George will soon have a new tax for every day in the year." An ei-Wellingtonian, Mr. Guy Scholefield, now in London, as a representative of tho New Zealand Press Association, is to write a little book on.New Zealand for the new "International Information" series published by Messrs. Allen and Unwin. Mr. Scholefield, it will be remembered, is the author of- that excellent work, "New Zealand in Evolution." Tho admirable social work- done by tho members of that admirable organisation, "The Little Sisters of tho Poor," or to givo its correct title, "Little Sistors of tho Assumption," is well known iii Now Zealand. Many people, however, do not know who founded the association. Some interesting information concerning the organisation is to be given in an illustrated "Life of Mere Marie de Jesus, Foundress of the Little Sisters of tho Assumption," to be published shortly by Messrs. Longmans. Tho work will deal not only with the work of the Little Sisters among tho poor of Paris down to the death of the foundress in 1883, but also with "tho later foundations and developments of the organisation, in England and elsewhere."