BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

"THE GLUGS OF GOSH." "The Glugs of Gosli" is the quaint title of a new book of verso by Mr. C. J. Dennis, tho author of those 'immonsoly successful books of verso, "Tho Son"S of a Sentimental Blolco" and "Tho Aloo3s of Ginger Mick." Mi-. Dennis has now ventured upon -what is for him an entirely now and decidedly interesting experiment. His now book, which, liko its predecessors, is issued in a very attractive form by Messrs. Angus and Bc.bcrt.son, of Sydney (per Messrs. S. and W. Mackay,- Wellington), may bo described as a highly satirical allegory,' in. which tho poet jibes amusingly and most pointedly at tho foiblca and follies of the age. Ho hits hard at times, but no savagery influences his muse. His satire is 'more Aristophanio than Swiftian. What, itmay be asked, is a "Glug,"' and when) upon this earth is the Kingdom of ftoslt to be located? Well, a Glug may bo roughly defined hk the average 'man seen through other men's eyes. Tho average "G!ug -) is too commonly, or wan before tho war, an easy-going fellow, fond of material comfort, careless—alas, almost criminally careleey-of tho future, a being worshipping and yet tyrannised over by King Splosh, wbo represents money triumphant, supporting a vast army of "Swanks," otherwise State officials, and tho Lord High Stodge, whom I take to be meant for the politician in power. As for the land of Gosh, it may be in any part of tho Empire, but Mr. Dennis occasionally gives us some Australian local colour, as when ho writes:—

Wait till the clock in ( tho tower boomo three. And the big .bank opposite gnashes its

doors, Then glide with a.gait that is carefully free . .

By the great hrick building of seventeen floors; Haste by the draper who smirks at his

door, . . Straining to lure with sinister force, Turn up the lane by the second-hand store, And halt by the light bay carrier's horse.

Whioh seems to suggest Collins Street. Later on, too, the scene is the Australian bush.. "The Swanks" are tho State officials, Civil Servants, and the like. Dickens himself, in his pictures of the Circumlocution Department, was not more severe ■upon red-tape than is Mr.\Dennis-.— They lurk in every Gov'ment lair, "Mid docket dull and dusty file. Solemnly sguat in an eaßy chair, Penning a minute of rare hot air In Departmental style. In every office, on every floor. Are Swanks, and Swanks, distracting Swanks, And acting-Swanks a score, ■And coldly distant, sub-assistant Hnder-Swanks galore.

When evil days fall on the land of Gosh, the Swanks are assailed with popular discontent,' but all the reforming zeal of King Splosh is thwarted by the Lord High Swank, officialism incarnate: Then roared the King, with rage intense, "Oh, who can cope with their aiagio

trick 6?" , . . . But the Lord High Swank skipped nimbly hence, ~,-,» And hid him safely behind the fence Of Regulation VL And under Section Four Eight O The Swanks,'the Swanks, dim forms of Swanks, , , , : The swarms of Swanks lay lowThese most tenaoious, perspicacious, Spacious Swanks lay low. To Joi, a Gbff, is born a son, Sym, who ■wearies of his fellow-Glugs and their paltry little ambitions, and forswearing all thoughts of wealth and fame,, and even happiness-of the G\m% -variety--becomes a travelling tinker, and incidentally a Seer. He laughs at precedent, which is devoutly worshipped in tho Land of Gosh. His father, Joi, ... a Glug'with a twisted mind Of the nasty meditative kind, riad. already fallen' into trouble for the propounding, of social .heresies. He'd.meditate on the modes of Gosh And dared to'mnse on the ways of Hulostt; He dared to sneak, and, worse-than that. He spoko out'loud, arid he said it flat. "Why cUmb?'' said ho, "When youi reaoh the top , .- '■ . There's nowhere to go and you have W Btop, UnleEs you. drop,... And the higher you are,the wono you flop. ; So poor Joi was "banged on a Snufflebust Palm, and Sym,. his son, became a Seer, and had the audacity to tell the. Glugs even-.-uglier bomo-txuths than had his father.' I would I could quote in. full the "First Rhyme of Sym,'with its arraignment of the selfishness, the greed, the lack of real brotherhood which are all too common amongst the Glugs, but' space limits forbid. Here, however, are three verses, which show how far Mr. Dennis has got away, in this quamt new : book of his,.from tie argot of lho Bloke"-and "Ginger Mick"; We strive together In lifo's crowded mart,-Keen-eyed, with. oratching bands to.over-

reaoh; ■■-~" , ~ , We aohomo, we lie, .wo play the selfish part, ■■. ~, '.., Masking our lust for sain with gentle speech; ... . And masking, too-0 pity ignoranoe! - Our very selves behind a careless glance. Ah, foolish brothers, seeking e'er in vain The one dear gift that lies so near at hand, , . Hoping to barter gold we meanly gain For that the poorest beggar in tho land Holds for his own, to hoard whilo yet he spends; . Seeking fresh treasure in tho heart of friends.

Nay, brothers, look around your world to-day: A world to you so drab, so commonplace The flowers still are bloominE by the way, As blossom smiles upon tho sternest face. In evory hour is born somo thought of lovo; In every heart is hid some treasure-troT*.

"The Ogs of Podge" are clearly meant for tho Huns. In their commercial dealings with the far-too-guileless Glugs, tho 0"s display a truly Hun-like cunning. Mr. Dennis is evidently a strong Protectionist, and his description of how the Ogs supplied themselves with ammunition at tho expense of the Glugs is not only an exceedingly amusing same, but one which carries with it a very wholesome after-war moral. Interspersed with tho purely 'satirical passages aro many charming verses inspired hy what is the poofs passionate lovo of. Nature. These passages aro mostly placed in tho mouth of Sym, that merriest and wisest of travelling tinkers. Throughout the poem Mr. Dennis exhibits an astonishingly deft managomont of metres. His versatility in expression is as remarkablo as the fertility of his whimsical imagination. iWhothor his new book will bo so generally popular as its. predecessors is doubtful. It appeals moTO to the mind than to tho heart, nud its satire may at times bo just a little too clever for tho general reading public, to which the -homely sontiment of "Tho Bloke" and his Doreen made such strong appeal. It is, however, an artistic achievement of quite outstanding originality and merit. Mr. Hal Gyo provides some excellent illustrations, in colour and black and white. Some of the coloured plates remind wo of Arthur Raokham's fantastic drawings, but there is no slavish imitation. Mr Gyo's work can well afford to stand on its own morits. Such drawings as thoso of the Lord High Stodge and lho Lord Swank aro inimitably funny. Iho book is published in three editions, tlio ordinary edition at 45., tho Bluo Wren editiou' (with coloured illustrations) ns. fid., and n "trench editiou" in smaller formal.

Some curious examples of nnvnl slang aro given 1 in Patrick Vaux's book "Gadgels." Signalmen, it appears, are known as "Bunting Tossers"; "Old Blue Lights" indicates the gunner; and "Atmospheric Spark' or ".luicey" tho wireless operator or telegraphist. "Bullocks" or "Leathernecks" is the seaman's fond appellation for the men of the Royal Marines.