BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 27

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

.(By

"LIBER.")

Give a man a pipe he can smoke. Give a man a book he can reads And his home is bright with a calm delight Though the room be poor indeed. JAMES THOMSON.

BOOKS OF THE DAY

The Rise of Czccho-Siovakia.

Air. Henry .Wickham Steed, formerly editor of “The Times,’.’ and admittedly one of the best informed and most thoughtfuLand honest writers on postwar conditions, deserves the thanks of all who are interested in Eastern European affairs and their future developments, for having translated into English, under the title of “The Making of a State” (Allen and Unwin), a very remarkable book, “The World Revolution, written by Thomas Garrique Masaryk, President of the Czechoslovakian Republic. Mr. Steed states that the book is in reality a detailed account of the movement for Czechoslovakian independence, a movement in which Masaryk played for years a leading part, and, too, a .monumental contribution to public knowledge of the world’s war, its causes, and its consequences, and of the essentials of democratic freedom.’’ Mtsaryk is held to stand with Huss and' Ziska in Bohemia, with Mazzini and Garibaldi in Italy, with John Knox in Scotland, and with William the Silent in Holland, as one of those national

heroes who have been champions of liberty. The fact that the author is allied by marriage to an American lady to the English-speaking world probably led to a keen study and to the application in the new'state of the principles laid down in the American Declaration of Independence. English political economy he studied in the pages of Locke, 'Hume and Herbert Spencer. His book is remarkable for the frankness of its criticism upon not a few European statesmen, and the breadth and width of his own point of view, which evidentlj' inspired his spirit of charity and sincerity, which resulted in his welding together of many seemingly diverse peoples, the Slovaks, the Serbs and the Croats. He is to-day specially engaged in fostering and "building'up Czecho-Slova-kian industry and foreign commerce, never losing sight of his country’s political future, but wisely recognising the wisdom and value' of material progress. (275. 6d.) The comedy of Poland.

.The author of “The Comedy of Poland,” Captain Oliver D’Etchegoyen (J. Al. Dent and Co.) was a member of the French MiJtary Expedition which visited Poland in •192-1, anj had ample opportunities of observing national habits and characteristics. Upon these the author writes briskly and piqvantly, not infrequently seeming to confirm the truth of the expression, “Fqlnische Wirtschaft,’ proverbiai in Germany as a synonym [or extreme disorder. The Poles he found to be vastly enamoured of gorgeous uniforms. “You encounter for instance, a gentleman encased in a gorgeous and shining unifoim, gold buttons, heavy gold epaulettes, a lavishly embroidered gold collar, a cap with a gold chin-strap, aid adorned with

the Polish eagle, enormous boots and spurs, an immense sword hanging from a double gold belt, a levolver in his belt, and a riding whip under his arm. As a matter fact, he is not a real live General, as the visitor might have thought' but a pacificallyminded solicitor or perh ips a peaceable regis’rar. He doesn’t own a horse, but the author thinks that “his great cavalry sword has probably never been drawn from its sheath. But he scares

the sparrows, and is certain of the gaping admiration of the riff-raff.” Polish army oil eers never show themselves without ' that confounded 1 great sword—thev must go to bed with it. As to their “decorations,” their chests are simply plastered therewith. Some announce gymnastic prizes, others are given to those who have fought the Bolsheviks, and others to “honour those who have not done so.” The author is evidently not an uncritical observer of Poland’s military men, but he looks forward to good results from firmer discipline. Polish statesmen and their pettyfogging intrigues ccine in for some drastic criticism'; indeed, Captain D’EetchegOs'.en clearly considers it to be open to much question whether the Franco-Polish alliance, largely due to French sentimental sympathy with Poland’s past, is not a mistake. The book is probably unfair to Poland, which, it 1 is fair to remember, has but so lately regained her freedom, but the sprightly wit arrl powers of satirical description mtike'lhe book decidedly readable. (10s.)

Italy Under Mussolini. Sir Frank Fox, an Australian journalist, who has done much fine work by describing national and international post-war conditions, devotes, in his “Italy To-day” (Herbert Jenkins) special attention to latter-day Italy, discussing, among other questions, the part played by Signor Mussohni in Italy's later renaissance. A review of his book, taken from a London newspaper, was reprinted in The Dominion a lew weeks ago, and it is not necessary to say much more here, save to remark that Sir Frank Fox rather curiously ignores Mussolini’s attempt, yet to be proved of lasting effect, to stamp out freedom of political opinion in the Peninsula. 1 note, however, that the author expresses some uneasiness ss to the effect upon European peaceful relations, of Mussolini’s encon-age-ment of what Sir Frank calls “exalted egoism.” “Can,” he asks, “a nation be trained on a principle of exalted egoism, and yet be t estrained from allowing that egoism to bring it into conflict with its neighbours?" “That,” he continues, “will be the crucial test of Mussolini’s- wisdom.” (13s. fid.). Tom Paine.

Upon the jacket of Mrs. Mary Agnes Best’s biography of “Thomas Paine, Prophet and Martyr of Democracy” (George Allen and Unwin) are printed tributes to Paine’s work as an exponent and champion of democracy from two such very different men as Napoleon Bonaparte and Abraham - Lincoln. The first of- these is credited with declaring that “a statue of gold should be erected to him in every city of the' world.” Rather a curious opinion, this, to, be expressed by one as to the sinceritv of whose democratic views

there must naturally be some suspicion. Abraham Lincoln, immeasurably a far more honest man than ever was Napoleon, and a man upon whose genuine democracy there can be no taint, stated : “I never tire of reading Paine." When “Liber” was a boy the very name of Tom Paine was held more than suspect. I would have scarce been caught reading Paine’s “Rights of Man” or his “Age of Reason,” as Lamb’s good Frenchman being encountered so perusing “Candidc” in a cathedral. Tom Paine was, in my youth,' deemed a sort of “raw head and bloody bones,” a virulent Atheist, an apostle of all that was awful, and worse than awful, improper. Mrs. Best gives us at last an honest and impartial view oG.a man tvlirt wliah»vAr Inc faiilfa nnH

did in his day real honest work for the cause of true democracy. She is, of course, specially insistent upon Paine’s great services to French democracy. That he quite honestly endeavoured to bring the French revolutionary movement into the path of true democracy and had keenest regard for that ganuine liberty which many of the French revolutionary leaders had ever on their tongues and never in their hearts, is

made clear by Mrs. Best’s book. He never was an actual atheist—if such a creature really exists save in name — he was shockingly ill-treated towards the close of the Revolution, because of views which were far too sane and moderate for his time and his associations, and he narrowly escaped death during the Terror. His name was for many years in America “a symbol of infamy,” but he has slowly come into his own. Mrs. Best now puts forward in her biography “a complete analvsis of liim as one of the greatest thinkers, and as one of the true founders of the American Republic.” Mrs. Best’s biography, which lias been the subject of many long and quite enthusiastic reviews in American journals of emin-

ence, gives a deeply interesting account of Paine’s career, to some few points in which dettiled reference was made a few weeks age in “Liber’s” Note Book. The book contains a large number of illustrations, well reproduced from contemporary' prints. It is unquestionably the first tnd best full-length portrait, detailed and authoritative account of Paine vet published, and as such deserves an honoured place iu every good library. (N.Z., 10s.) “Cheek, Wit, and Laughter.” Unquestionably Mr. Beverley Nichols, the author of “Are They the Same at Home?” (Jonathan Cape), can be, antf is, quite astoundingly impudent and impertinent in his pen sketches of celebrities. mainly literary, musical, and theatrical, his prose portraits being in their way comparable to the famous Cartoons of Pcllgrini (“Ape” of the old time “Vanity Fair”), or the latter-day

pictorial satires of the New Zealander, Low, and that witty Parisian, Sent. It is impossible to deny them an almost “divine insolence,” a gay insouciance to the outraged feelings of the author’s victims, and a really delightful entertainment to all others. After all, though there be a “cheekiness” which is posi-

vely shameless, .the barbed arrows are free from all suspicion of poison, and one considers that once the’ birbs are extracted, not without much discomfort, and, in some cases, possible pain, the

most egotistical victim will give way to _ laughter at himself, and readily pardon the attacker. Mr. Nichols’ "pokes borak,” as a colloquialism goes, at all sorts of well-

known men. On one page he is “rubbing it in” to H. G. Wells, on another to Michael Arlen, or to Arnold Bennett, whom he describes as “a person to whom a necktie is as exciting as a flag to Gilbert Chesterton, for it sets his mind thinking of the neck that it will encircle.” Mr. Aldous Huxley’s lengthy attenuation is hit off in the picture of the author as he “re-

clined on my sofa, spreading over the cushions and stretching long tentacles on the floor,” and his sketch- of the much self-advertised Suzanne Lenglen is headed, “Much To Do About Nothing.” Margaret Kennedy, of “Constant Nymph” fame,” Osbert Sitwell, the “superior person,” Hilaire Belloc are among the writers; also Father Ronald Knox, the religious doctrinaire and "scribbler of funniositles” for Punch, “or every other inch a saint.” Lloyd George is pi itured as ‘‘the world’s spell binder,” Sir William Orpen, “tea and technique.” All these and dozens of others are keenly but, after all, never ill-naturedly satirised,

and the candour of the author himself is shown when writing of George Moore, he honestly confesses that he reviewed “Celibate Livers” on the strength of having read “a preface and two out of the nine stories.” All perhaps not a little impudent but decidedly clever and vastly amusing HOs.) A Journalist’s Story. • In his “Since 1 Was Twenty-five” (Constable and Co.), Mr. Frank Rutter, journalist and art critic, tells very pleasantly, and with a freedom from egotism which is specially agreeable,

the story oi his life since shortly after arriving at manhood. Better known at the present as a singularly frank and well-informed critic on art, more particularly modern art, Mr. Rutter gives a series of very amusing pictures of the ’nineties when he took his first step in that “street of ink,” as Philip Gibbs once styled Fleet Street, being first on the “Daily Mail,” and, later, acting for some time as editor of- “Today.” The story of the rise to popularity, the decadence, and finally the downfall of this at one time capital weekly founded by Jerome K. Jerome, is told in an agreeably informative, often very amusing way. How Mr. Rutter drifted into art criticism, founded

the Allied Artists’ Association,- and finally became controller of the Leeds Art Gallery is told in a couple of chapters which include many excellent anecdotes, the account comprising pen portraits of several artists, famous art dealers, such as Durand Ruel, of Paris, collectors such as Duveen, Hugh Lane, of Dublin Art Gallery fame, the Werth-

eimers and others. A very jolly story throughout. (165.) “The Shaping of English Literature.” Perhaps the most interesting and by far the most readable of the many excellent papers on the rise of English literature which have been collected by Mrs. Cruse, under the heading “The Shaping of English Literature” and “The Reader’s Share in the Development of its Rorms” (Geo. C. Harrup ad Co.), are those essays to which the author imparts the flavour of personality. Thus’, in one article, “Air. Pepys and His Books,” Airs. Cruse takes us with the immortal diarist on one of. his bookhunting peregrinations, and. makes him meet and “have discourse” with that great bookman of the Merry Monarch’s time, good Master Evelyn. The author, too, writes “The Puritans and their In-

fluence on Literature,” “On the London Stage,” and “Performances of Plays,” so widely diverse as “Julius Caesar,” and Etheridge’s witty but rather naughty “The Comical Revenge, or Love in a Tub.” Later on she gives us a pleasant picture of “Evelina at the Play,” and her chapter on “Novels and Readers” of the time when Richardson’s was thrilling so many hearts by his “Clarissa” and “Pamela,” is very charming. Mrs. Cruse’s book gives many interesting pictures of the growth of literary taste in Englad)' and she’ has shown considerable' wisdom in the choice of <he illustrations, many reproduced from old prints, title pages, and so forth, and all usefully apposite to the subject which prompted their use. This is a very pleasant, most readable bock ■(IPs.).

LIBER’S NOTE BOOK

Miscellaneous. A capital reprint from humorous periodicals is Air. Charles Graves’ collection of sketches of “Jack Afloat and Ashore,” “Bluejackets and Others” (Methuen and Co.). To the special gilt of the artist his capacity tc penetrate into the nautical, and particularly the naval mind, no less an authority on naval life than the well-known writer called “Bartimeus” pays pleasantly-worded testimony in his preface. Mr. Graves, who knows full well how salloimen “toil obscurely that England may live and cat,’ adds, as he sharpens his pencil, “but surely jesting as they toil.” This cojlection oi his 'sketches is one long jest. That he owns not a little

to a Phil May influence is clear in many of the drawings, ,hS. Chinaman in particular, recals many a “Bulletin” type—but his humour is less—shall I say. brutal?—than Phil May’s. For sheer fun one cannot beat some of those

sketches, and the captions below are as lull of dry humour as a dockside yarn by W. W. Jacobs. This is one of the best collection of humorous sketches published for some time. (10s.) The ridiculous prominence given in America and Great Britain by a host of silly women to the personality of the film actor, Rudolph Valentino, has probably been responsible for the appearance of “Rudy: An Intimate Portrait of Rudolph Valentino,” by his wife, Natocha Rambora (Hutchinson and Company). The account by the wife of Valentino’s rise to fame as a

film star, the growth and extent of his popularity, and the part played in his life by his fellow investigators of “psyhic science,” will no doubt, be v.ery acceptable to his numberless admirers. In private life Valentino seems to have been a rather lovable

personage. His wife’s description of Hollywood and the film magnates is, perhaps, just a little acidulous, and her theories on psychic communications is a trifle tedious. The illustrations, however, are numerous and well done, and the book will probably have a great interest for what the .Americans call ‘‘movie fans.” (195.) Mr. Harold Begbie, whose interest in penology, and, indeed, all varieties of social and humanitarian reform, is well known, has written “Punishment and

Personality” (Mills and Boon), a full account oL the investigations made by him into English prison methods of punishment, and so on, throwing much new light on one of the greatest problems of social psychology (75.). In his “Trade Unionism and the Trades Union Bill” (Williams and Norgate), Mr. Ramsay Muir examines in detail the details of the Trade Union Bill, concerning which there has been so much debate in English political and industrial circles, an appendis on the “Legal Position? of Trade Unions” being contributed by W. A. Jowell, K.C., A. D. McNair, LL.D., and Hubert Philip (Is. 6d.).

To Australian boys, indeed to all boys,

in many lands where Scouts are to be found and youthful outdoor life and adventure are in favour, a second edition of Air. Donald McDonald’s “The Bush Boys’ Book” (Cornstalk Publishing Company) should be a delightful possession, treating in detail, as it does with camping, camp cookery, and clothing, witli all varieties of shooting and fishing, trapping, reading of bush signs, with the utilisation of codes, cypher and signals, etc. Aluch of the information given w.ill, of course, primarily interest Australian boys, but

here in New Zealand youthful readers should greatly appreciate Mr. MacDonald’s excellent little handbook to bush life.

Two more volumes of Mr. John Laue’s tastefull}' produced Helicon Scries, to the merits of which I have previously alluded, are Milton’s masterpieces “L’Ailegro and II Penseroso,” illustrated by Peggy Northcote, and Matthew Arnold’s “Forsaken Mer-

man,” and his perennially popular “The Scholar Gipsy,” the latter with several quite notably fine woodcuts by Annabel Kidston. (3s. each.)

Hector Bolitho, the young New Zea-

land reporter who went to England to push his literary fortunes, and whose first novel, “Solemn Boy,” was -reviewed in these columns, is, I read in “a puff preliminary” sent me by Jonathan Cape, who publishes his books, issuing, under the title “Thistledown and Thunder,” a record of his travels in fourteen countries. I read also that

he is staying with Lord Elgin, at “Broomhall,” the home of the Bruces, where he is finishing a utw novel upon which he has been engaged for three years, and arranging the papers with which, with the Dean of Windsor, he is to write a life of Lord Elgin, who

brought? the famous marbles to England. The ex-New Zealand journalist' seems to have made some influential

friends at Home, for his publisher further informs iis that “Mr. Bolitho will go to Scotland again in the summer, to write an historical novel, which he planned last year when he was staying at Redcastle, as the guest of Baroness Burton on the 1 " “Black Isle,” Mr. Bolitho evidently appreciates the value to an author of self-advertisement. That clever daughter of a clever father, Miss Pamela Fraukau. whose first novel, “The Marriage of Harlequin,” has, I see, reached its eleventh edition, is to publish her new story, “The Fig Tree,” with Hurst and Blackett, very shortly. Cleverness in the Frankau family is clearly hereditary, for her grandmother, Julia Frankau, as well as being a great authority on eighteenth century mezzo-tints, made a big hit -with her first novel, “Dr. Phillips,” and, later on, with “Pigs in Clover,” and majy other stories. Gilbert Frankau, her son, made his-first success with a satirical story in verse, “One of Us,” in which he successfully used the metre of Byron’s “Don Juan.” Among the hundreds of tributes, in prose and verse to the memory of the late Lord Oxford, published in the British Press, a few “in mcnioriam” lines, written bv Hugh Macnaughton, vice-nrovost of Eton College, and published in the London "Sunday Times.” are not the last notable in their simple but highlv appreciative eloquence : This mav be said by one who never heard Your nrbh'c eloquence, or youi private word That, at the crisis of our England’s fate And all the world’s, your sentence saved the State : And this, which all men know; you lived to the etid A generous enemv and a faithful friend.

In “The Incredible Adventures of Rowland Hern’ (Heinemann), Mr. Nicholas Olde relates a number ot stories illustrative of the singular ingenuity and shrewdness displayed by an amateur crime investigator, in his wav quite as astonishingly gifted a detective as Mr. Chesterton’s famous Father Brown. The stories vary not a little as to possibility and to ways of detection, but one and all are markedly original in the subject and criminals dealt with, although Mr. Hern always succeeds in solving the seemingly most obscure and difficult of ! problems. , I