LITERARY COLUMN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 17

LITERARY COLUMN.

«a. NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS. "A Modern Ulysses." By Justin Miles Forman. Illustrations by Claude Shepperten. London : Ward, Lock and Co., Limited (Gordon and Gotch). This book is a collection of eleven short stories nheady published in magazines, and save the first, which gives its name to the collection, and consists of six chapters, they are short single-chap-tor episodes. With one or two exceptions, wo hold them to be unworthy of the author who would write such a, book as "Tommy Carteret." Especially is ; this the case with "A Modern Ulysses," which is as gruesome as it is unconvincing. Each of its six chapters, by th« way, it is a, distinct opisode, and the link connecting them is slight. Each begins, in a manner too common nowadays, with a brief rehearsal of tho earlier ' sections. The "synopsis of preceding chapters" — first introduced by periodicals of the penny dreadful time, and gradually working upwards, is a nuisanco which should, if tolerated at all, be relegated "to the advertising pages ; but when incorporated for serial purposes with a, story, the narrative "drags at each remove a lengthening chain," In reprinting such a scries in volume form it is at least due to the reader that this clog should be removed. One little sketch, "The Kingdom of Exile," is a pleasant exception to the general run of the sketches, none of which can be said to rise to a really high level. "The Churches and Modern Thought," an Enquiry into the Grounds of . Modern Belief and an Appeal for Candour." By Philip Vivian. Second and Revised Edition. London: Watts and Co. 'xhe present volume is not, and does not profess to be, a work of original research, nor would it be possible for any maUi in tho course of an ordinary lifetimo, to have investigated and duly verified the data by which the conclusion are supported. In such a book, authorities of all degrees of valuo, and sometimes conflicting, must be accepted, and in some cases considerable faith is required, and no little ingenuity in harmonising. For any one who should dosiio a compendious summary of the contents of the large number of books issued during the last few years by the Rationalistic Press, Mr. Vivian's book should supply all that was required. No man who has troubled to investigate tho foundations ,of his creed will bo peltuibed by it, and tho man who has never sought for nnd) found foundation principles, has no leal creed at all, whatever his profession may be. In that case, Mr. Vivian's book may shatter his old structures, but it will give him nothing in its place — not oven the "solid ground" to which the author alludes in his prcfaco. As tho autlvro asks : '"How can ha believe- in and worship tho Unknown ?" The fresh matter, in the present edition, which tho author thinks will prove illuminative, relates largely to supposed parallels between the Go-pels and old myths — the Krishna, story and that of Buddha in particular. The best remedy for the notion that, fliere is any real parallel is to read the sacred books of the East in theiT genuine and unexpurgateiJ forms. It is -easy, by careful selection, to find parallels, especially in philosophic ethics, and to compile attractive and suggestive anthologies ; but the leading of even one of the books of the Krishna myth, in its native nakedness, would be sufficient to show, not parallel, but diametric opposition, on. tlio fundun. mentals of religion and morality. Out author hold 3 philosophy in as light esteem as religion. He quotes the very dogmatic pronouncement- oi an omniscient Frenchman, who declares that "psychology is only a branch of physiology," an example of confusion of ideas as well as of terms. Tho author is to nil appear* auco sincere, but wholly indiscrimiuatiug. He adopts an old fallacy which rests on the assumption that bign-ass is greatness. In point of size the earth is a speck in the universe, therefore its importance is in equal ratio. Palestine* was a distiict insignificant in size — theTeforo events that happened there arc neglisibls. The inconsequence of such deductions places them outsic.j the range of rational discussion. The sixth chapter is perhap3 the most interesting in th-s book ; it is so self-destructive. "The World's Week of Human His,tory." By W. H. London : James Nisbot and Co., Limited, 21 Bcr-ners-stret. Cabalistic and astrological methods have been used from the earliest times in tha endeavour to interpret the prophetic Scriptures, and the pursuit, once engaged in, has had a singular fascination, even for men of great intellect and exalted scientific attainment, among whom it will be sufficient to note, in modern times, Sir Isaac Newton, John Napier, and the late Piazzi Smyth. The fact that these illustrious men, and many othei'3 of less fame, did not ajjroe with each other, und invariably failed when they ottomptsd to forecast the future, has discredited the pursuit among all save the literalist group of interpreters ; but it has still many exponents, among whom Lieut. Totto'n is porhaps tha most conspicuous and thoroughgoing. The anonymous author of the neatlyprinted little book before us has devised a theory which has some points of novelty. Accepting in its moct literal f ovm the statement that one day is with the Almighty an n. thousand years, he differs from a currant idea that the millennium will be (ho seventh day; hold- | inpc thnt the first thousand years of human history corrrepoaded to tho "first day of tho week," and that tho Millennium will bs tho eighth, 01 first dny of a ii3w v.-eok. The contra, not tho beginning, of each inillonium, he holds to have been marked by some epochal event, the Crucifixion occurring in OiiOO A.M., the middle of the "sixth day" or "Friday." Thsse conclusions are developed with much ingenuity ; but authorities like Tottcn and Giictan Guineas may, be expecteu to set about their demolition with might nnd main. We sod no rational basis for such a notion a3 that the periodic returns of Halloy's comet (what this one in psrticular ?) should synchronize with ooochs in tho history of tho world and tho church ; and j v.-o suspect that this lino of investigation ie ononeous and unprofitable, as tending to distract attention from thr gieat spiritual verities which, as all acknowledge, constitute tho essence of inspired literature. Messrs. .Angus and Robertson, Sydney, have added two inoro books to their popular shilling "Commonwealth" scries of reprints, which now extends to some twenty volumes. One is, "How He Died, and other Poems," by the lato Joim Farrell, to which an excellent portrait of tho poet is prefixed. Farrcil's work, whether serious or humorous, was always thoughtful, finished, and scholarly. Th« book opens appropriately with his splendid 'patriotic poem "Australia." originally written as a prelude to the great «nd costly "Pieturefiquo Atlas." Tho other volume is "Send Round the Hat," and other shoit stories, by Ilcmy Lawson. •Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs have begun tho publication of a very pretty series of illustrated booklets, enclosed in sDccial envekmes £ov the Dost. Tho

first, "Feathered Friends of tho Bush," contains representations of many of the most remarkable specimens of New Zealand birds, with brief accounts of their structure and habits. Tho second, "New Zealand in Picture and Song," consists of views of the chief cities and gems of scenery, with choice descriptive verse by New Zealand poets. "New Zealand Wild Flowers" is an octavo booklet, containing Ufelilce studies of the most characteristic native flowers, reproduced from photographs, with descriptive letterpress. Any one of these books would be a fitting memento of a visit to tho colony, or an acceptable token to send to a distant friend. Other booklets of uais attractive- series are in course of preparation. No. 21 of Spalding's Athletic Library is a valuable addition to the series. It is entitled . "How to Swim and Save Life," by high authorities, Q. M. Daniels, H. Johannson, and Archibald Sinclair; and like the rest of this excellent sixpenny series, is well illustrated. It is issued by tho British Sports Publishing Company, 2, Hind Court, Fleet-street, London. The Australian Business Wo^rld (with which is incorporated "Business") is a practical "monthly newspaper for business men," of which No. 5 of vol. 3 is to hand. It is published by John Andrew and C0.,'21, Phillip-itreet, Sydney. We have received a copy of t "A Guide to tho Bankruptcy Law of New Zealand, including the law relating to Bills, of Sale," by F. W. Shortland, barrister and solicitor, and author of "A Pocket Guide for Justices and Police Officers." Tho book is an octavo of four hundred pages, well printed, well bound, and fully indexed. The Bankruptcy Act of 1892 and the Chattels Transfer Act of 1889, with their respective schedules, are reprinted in full with the author's annotations and citatious of four or five hundred cases, as well as provisions of Imperial and local statutes bearing on the subject. Four pages of Addenda bring the work up to date of publication by including important decisions recorded while the volume was passing through the press. The work gives evidence of much industrious research, and will, we think, be prized by members of the profession. It is so well printed that tho few blemishes are tho more conspicuous — especially the extraordinary title-page, which violates every tvnorrraphic canon, and into which the compositor has contrived to introduce seven incongruous stylos of type. The headings, such as "Preface," are too "loud," and are not uniform, and a fancy hairline Italian is injudiciously used in the text instead of tho standard italic. In future editions, which wo think will be called for, the tables of statutes and cases cited might with advantage bo transferred to the end. They should immediately precede the general index. It is not usual to include "Title-page" in a table of contents. The hook is published by E. U. Waddington, Queenstreet, Musterton. Those acquainted with the life and writings of James Kussell Lowell know that he was greatly influenced at the be ginning of his literary career by Miss Maria- White, the lady whom ho married at the age of twenty-five, she being three years his junior. They were married in 1844, but she developed consumption, and the happy union after nine yyears was dissolved by death. S&veral of his early poems are addressed directly to her, and the shadow caused by hor death is vory evident in' his work in the autumn of 1853^ and for long. afterwards. Miss White was also a writer of graceful verso, and a collection of her poems was published) soon after her death, but has long been unobtainable. Messrs. Houghton, Mifllin, and Co. have recently reprinted them, and the British Weekly states that an English edition is likely to bo published by Mossrs. Constable. As a specimen of Mi3s White's work, it quotes one of her sonnets, which will bo found reprinted in our column of verse in last week's Post. The new "double* section" of the Oxford English Dictionary, edited by Dr. J. A. H. Murray, comprises tho words "Misbode — Monopoly" (Volume VI.), by Mr. Henrj Biadley (Oxford, at tho Clarendon Press). From the prefatory note (says tho Westminster Gazette), it appears thai moro than a thud of this new instalment of the Dictionaiy is occupied by tho words beginning with the profix "mis-," which are partly of native English, partly of Romanic origin. In tho depaitmc.it of etymology, Mr. Bradley remarks, "tho mo3u noteworthy point is tha derivation of tho verb 'mix,' which is not, as has hitherto been commonly nssorted, tho representative of tho Old English ' misdan,' but a development from the Latin participle 'mixtus.' " The valuable collections relating to gypsy life and manners rormcd"by tho late Charles Godfrey Leland have been given by Mrs. Pennall, his nie^ie, to the British Museum. But a noto in the index to tho manuscripts states that they are "reserved" for twenty-five years from the public use. They contain, among otheis, a Romany vocabulary, and j a book, "Itomiuiy Wit and Wisdom," which was uovor published. The Pall Mall Magazine for the current month is, as it professes to bo, "full of holiday reading," and the striking cover ia a dainty study of yachts, by Xorman Wilkinson, printed ■in colours. "Mr. Speaker at Ilome," ia tho title of the opening article by Oakley Williams —an account with portrait and illustrations of- the Right Hon. James William. Lov.-thor, M.P., P. 0., the First Commoner in tho Realm. Mr. W. Kacmpffcrt writes on the cyclic phenomenon of tun-spots, I'fid its fcuppotfed effect on the weiitlier. Mr. P. T. M'Graih contributes an article, with striking illus : Ira lions, on "Tho Icebergs of "the Grand Bank." Fiction includes the usual instalment of Btiiley's "God of Clay," and Mario Vav Voorst's "The Pardon," and short stories by Laurence Mott, E. Temple Thurston, and Frances Harrod; and tho poetry includes two good sonnets — a form of vcr.se thnt has now .come so fully into its. own that tlis product is almost bewildering in its profusion. We have an accumulation of pamphlets of which, for the most part, littlo need be said. Wo begin with New Zealand publications. No. 2 of the second volume of the "Waitakian" the organ of thu Wiiilaki Iligh School, U to hand. In the Grst issue, in .emphasising tho progress of tho school under its lnte houdmnstcr, tho editors made the mistake of disparaging tho work of his predecessors. Complaints from "old boys" have been tho result, and tho imputations are now withdrawn. The , Nelson Inland Communication Lt-iiguo has scut us "Nolson and tho Trunk Railway System of tho Colony," advocating "the unfulfilled part of a sulcrnn bargain," "that tho railway system be extended immediately to the Hope Junction," an extension which tho leaguo maintains would he justified on economic grounds. "Two Common Men," by P. E. Taylor, is further doscribed as "a sketch from life." it contains portraits and tho author's impressions of two aged men in humble life whose names are not given, furIbar than that due is "Old Jiiuxuv,"