THE BOOKMAN

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 16

THE BOOKMAN

"The Murder of Nurse Cavell," and "The Cnrse of the Hohenzollern;" By Dr. Charles Sarolea. George

and Unwin, Ltd., London.

These are a pair of little books, small in bulk, but strong in character. The first named is a powerful arraignment of the German character as expressed in the callous execution of Nurse Cavell, and the crooked tactics adopted by the German authorities to secure the smooth operation of the machine of Prussian justice. The book contains a very interesting appendix in the shape of copies of tho official letters exchanged between the Embassies during the futile efforts of the American and Spanish representatives to secure a reprieve. The second book is a brief analysis!' of the history of Prussia and the Prussian kings. It shows the,one as an upstart nation, tho other as an upstart dynasty, and both forced to the adoption of extraordinary measures to secure that recognition among the nations' which their brief existence hindered them from getting. Dr. Sarolea challenges in vigorous terms the morality of the German State, and writes in very unflattering terms of the Hohenzollern" monarchs. JTe closes the book with a remarkable chapter translated from the French historian, M. Albert Sorel, on the private morality of the Prussian kings. "A Chateau in Picardy." By HaJliwell Suteliffe. Ward, Lock, and Co., London. This is a war story in which the war recedes far into the background.' _ It_ is a far-off circumstance that sends its influence abroad, shaping tho lives of all, but not blazing forth rudely and bloodily in Picardy as it does in Artois. The author has made'.a most charming story about the quiet and peaceful Picardians and their, beautiful country. Notwithstanding that Picardy is as it were on the fringe of the war zone, _ the author leaves it untrampled by soldiers and unshaken by the roll of supply trains for the good'of his story. It is all a very pretty love-tale; but the best of the book is in the careful and affectionate drawing of a tiny French community. The lady of, the chateau, an aged human guardian-angel who is always "Madame," is the figure- round whom the whole life of the village centres. But the Cure, who in spite of his years has f;one to the war,' breaking a tie of peculiar friendship between himself and madame, and a host of quaint villagers all live clearly and naturally in the gentle atmosphere of the story. ■ Some quaint and touching stories of "visions" seen by French soldiers are introducedr with a'warm sense of respect for the people who relate the incidents. The book is a welcome change from the war story which depends for its effects upon attempts at realism. " Betty Grier." By Joseph Laing Waugh. W. and 'R. Chambers, Edinburgh. The quiet humour and homely pathos of this charming story will make it sure of a welcome from all readers who delight in the tales of Sir James Barrie and lan Maclaren. 1 Betty Grier and her husband are Teal people, and deserve a place among the- best-loved characters of recent Scottish fiction. Mr. Waugh depicts present^lay Scottish life with rare sympathy and fidelity. The frontispiece in colour is' by Henry W. Ken-, B.S.A. " Fairy Tales.'' Edited by Harry Golding. "Ward, Lock, and Co., Melbourne. 1 "•'" • There are many of us who could find it in our hearts to envy the children who can, even in these days, enter the gates of tlie land of Make Believe wherein dwell such delightful people as Dick Whittington' and - His Cat, Cinderella, Tom Thumb, Beauty and, the Beast, Puss in Boots, Snowdrop, and the Seven Little Men. All these old.friends of childhood, and many others, may be mei with in the^- delightful volume of fairy tales, edited by Harry Golding. Each story is told in such language, that the. youngest child could understand, and the many illustrations by Margaret W. Tarrant have all'the beauty and charm of tho stories themselves. The volume deserves to be one of the most popular Of gift books.