LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

The Irish Peasant Poet. Francis Ledwidge, "the Irish peasa'nt Poet," was killed by shell-fire in Handera early in August last. Lord Dunsany, the colonel of the poet's regiment, the Inniskillinge, and himself a writer of both drama and poetry of great literary distinction, hails Ledwidge as ono who, had he lived, "would have surpassed even flurnsi and Ireland would have lawfully claimed, as she iuny even do yet, the greatest of peasant e'ingere." This is, so I should say, after looking through LedwidgeV "Songs of the Fields," a somewhat exaggerated eulogy, but there is somo fine stuff, both in the volume just mentioned and in its successor, "Songs of Peace,", tho latter published eariyithis year. In a recent issue of "The Sphere/' Mr. Clement Shorter guotes from a letter written by Ledwidge (in May, 1915): I would not like the book ("Songs of the Field") spoiled by a reference to my having joined the Army. I could not have stopped out of the Army and faced the world as a man, and I would sooner bo known as a man when the world's trouble, is over than as a poet. I am eight months in the Army now, and hardly yet feel I have done my duty, since I have not been where I thought I was most wanted. On another occasion he writes: . I would sooner "Songs of tho Field' , Bad never been published than that a man should buy it because I am in tho Army. That would be the greatest ineult my Muse could be given as well as being a flight on the Great Cause on tho little fields on which I am lighting. Ledwidge eaid that his reason for enlisting was that he saw nothing but the British Navy botwaen the Germans and his beloved Irish fields, and therefore he joined the Army whilst "many of my countrymen were passing resolutions y. Evidently a noble, modest spirit. He served in Serbia, Macedonia, »nd again in France, and though twice invalided home insisted on returning to his third front. To Have a "Grouch." Patrons of kinenu plays, and fiction of American origin, will J>e familiar enough with tho expression "to grouch," or "to have a grouch," meaning to be discontented, to grumble. It appears that "to" grouch" is synonymous with tho popular Knglish phrase "to grouse, to grumble." Old forms are to "gi'ucche," or to "grutch." Writing- to the "Times Literary Supplement," Mr. Paget Toynbee points out that in its altered form, "grudge," it appears in the Psalms, in exactly tho same sense ot the supposed "Army slang" word, "grouse" (viz., in Psalm 59:15, "Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge" According to Jlr. Toynbbe, to "grutch" or to "groueo"—American "grouch"—is borrowed from the Old French "grucier," later "grousser." So that this supposed latter-day slang fhrase is really nothing new after all. t has, however, only conio into use again of late years, for "grouch" is not to be found either in Farmer and Henley's groat "Slang Dictionary," or in that excellent and most amusing little work, "Current Americanisms." Stray Leaves. It is some time singe any additions wero made to "Everyman's Library." Fivo new volumes are, however, now announced. These are Maine's "Ancient Law," "Memoirs of the Cardinal do Kotz," Duruy's "History of Prance" (with appendix bringing tho chief facts down to the opening of the Great War), a representative selection from William James's "Papers on Philosophy," and a volume of stories by the Russian novelist Gogol, including whit is generally esteemed his masterpiece, "Taras Bulba."

The. appearance of a new novel by Mr. Winston Churchill, tho author of "Richard Carvel" and "Coniston," ia quite a 'welcomo event, The title of Mr. Churchill's new story is "Tho Dwelling Placo of Light." Another American novelist of tho first rank, Mrs. Edith Wharton, Will be represented by a story called "Summer," the scenes of which are laid in a'romote New England village. Other new books in Messrs. Macmillftu's autumn, list are a now 6tory, "The Green Mirror," by that clever ndyelist, Mr. Hugh Walpole, tho motive being the impact of an outsido influenco upon a British family; and "Christine," l»y Miss Alice Cholmondeley, tho heroine being a gifted young English lady who is stranded in Berlin on the outbreak ef the war. Quite-a promising list.

Both Mr. Holman, the New South Wales Premier, and his wife liavo a strong litorary bent. Both aro keen etudents of French literature. Mrs. Holman is, I eee, now appearing us author, having written a latter-day children's story,. "Littlo Miss Anzac, the Truo Story of aii Australian Doll." The book is to lie illustrated in colour and black ond wliiti) by an Australian artist, JSV.'iie Kodd. ... . . Major Corbet-Smith, whose "Retreatfrom Mons" was so popular a war-book, has written a' sequel to his first work, entitled "The Marne and After," devoted to. the campaign, concluding at .Ypres, in,which the author himself.took part. -Amongst recent additions to Nelson's Shilling Library I notioe Erskine. Chiliiers's famous story "The Kiddle of the' Sands," in which a singularly prop'hetic vision is given of Germany's preparation for sea warfare with England. The work soon went out. of print when its sonsatiounl character was pointed out by one of the leading English reviews, but was afterwards issued as a sevenponny reprint. This edition also ifi now obtainable, so that Nelson's new reprint is very welcome. Mi , . Childcrs's description of. the wonderful organisation of the Huns,, in utilising Iho shallow waters of the Gorman coast as bases for small craft oifensivea against Great 'Britain, is as. readable to-day as when tho book was first published—three or four years hei'oro the war broke- out. ..' Othor good titles in Nelson's. Shilling Library iiro "Prester John," ono of Mr. (now 'Colonel) John Buchan's earliest and best novels, and an excellent story by Stanley Woyinan, "Tho Wild. Geese." Mrs. Dorothea Conyers, tho well-known Irish novelist, was recently married to Captain John White, of Nantenan, Co. Limerick. Her first husband, Colonel vVny.ers, of the Royal' Irish Fusiliers, was fatally wounded in the Somiiie advance lust yenr, nnd died of his wounds in Fiance. Her son, Captain Oahnm Conyers,. of the- Hoyat- Field Artillery, was wounded about the same time. 'Ine Strnyings of Sandy," perhaps her most popular novel, is going into its fiiteenlli edition. Messrs. Hiitchinson have just published her latest book, "Tho trading uf Gannymede Bun."