THE BOOKMAN

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 141, 17 June 1922, Page 15

THE BOOKMAN

THREE BOOKS BY LAWYERS.

"The' Truisms of Statecraft." By Hon. Bruce Smith, K.C. London: Longmans, Green, and Co.

This book is dedicated "to the youth of Australia, in whose restless hands lies the destiny of the 'newer world.' " It could be equally dedicated to the youth of New Zealand, for Mr. Bruce Smith—who was for nineteen years a representative of a New South Wales constituency in the Federal Parliament seeks to expound the principles of popular Government. He says in his preface: "By 'Truisms' I mean to convey to my readers that I am not proposing to propound any new truths, but only to be presenting in something like comprehensive form the various factors that go to qualify a man to take an intelligent part in public life—in short, collecting and collating old truths that every well-read man already knows." He does not contend, however, that all legislators, chosen by popular favour on quite a different standard .of capacity-, are in possession of this knowledge. Holding with Herbert Spencer the importance of understanding human nature, Mr. ■ Bruce writes: — "There can be no understanding of social actions without some knowledge of human nature; there can be no deep knowledge of human nature without some knowledge of the laws of mind; there can be no adequate knowledge of the laws of mind.without some knowledge of the laws of life, and in order that knowledge of tho laws of life, as exhibited in man, may be properly grasped, attention must be given to the laws of life in general." He shows the bearing of human nature on the art of statecraft, and shows how the modern community became organised by slow degrees, law built upon law, regulation on regulation, custom on custom, from prehistoric times; each community striving to realise the fulfilment of its desires. Knowledge of human nature in the author's view is absolutely essential for the politician or statesman. The want of it, as history shows, has been deplorable in its results. "The Truisms of Statecraft" is an exceedingly valuable work for the times. It is clearly written, convincing, arid informative, and covers a wide field of subjects, Mr. Bruce Smith has an agreeable way _of stating serious facts, and of driving them home to find permanent lodgement in the minds of thoughtful readers. "Letters to My Grandson." By the Hon. Stephen Coleridge. London : Mills and Boon. Here is a book that ought to take its place in the ivpper classes of eyeTy Grammar or High School in New Zealand. It was compiled for Mr. Coleridge's grandson, Antony ; for whom was written "Letters to My Grandson on the World About Him." In the interval between that work and this under review Antony has moved- up to the sixth form in his public school. The burden of the cost of school books in New Zealand somewhat reduces the advantages of fret education, if all that many parents say is correct; but these letters could pevhaps supersede some other work on English literature. They include quotations from the Bible (authorised version), "The Pilgrim's Progress," the writings or utterances of Dr. Johnson, Jeremy Taylor, Sir Walter Baleigli, . Henry Gratten, Edmund Burke, Cardinal Newman,' Thomas Carlyle, John Buskin, Lord Morloy. and Sir William Butler, concluding with an extract from TTilaire Belloc on the ancient monarchy of France, and on' Napoleon the Great. The object of Mr. Coleridge is, as he writes to his grandson, "To rouse in your heart, if I can, a love, admiration, and reverence for the wonders to be found in the treasure house of English prose literature." He believes, and so he assures his grandson, that "the famous and living literature of England, that lias survived all the shocks of time and changes of modern life, is the best and properest study for a man to fit him for life, to refine his taste, to aggravate his wisdom and consolidate his character." These letters may be commended to readers who have passed through school and collesre out into the -world where there is little opportunity for reading requiring time and quiet; and any foreigner, desirous of knowing what the best English prose is like will gain from them a clear and accurate understanding. '' The Coming General Election; an Appeal to the Electors of New Zealand." By F. G. Dalziell, Wellington: New Zealand Times, The reader of Mr. Dalziell's works, "The Christian Doctrine" and "The Truth of Life," will well understand why as the author admits, these writings "have so far had little practical effect." It is quite apparent to Mr. Dalziell, and he says so. "People do not understand what I am driving at. Many people say to me: 1 reaci everything you write. I agree with all you say; but I don't understand it. This must be rather trying to Mr. Dal-i-icll, of whose earnestness and conviction that he iias discovered " The Way the careful reader is never in doubt for a moment. Perhaps it is the effect of his legal training that make his explanations seem so involved as to extract from people the confession that they agree with all he says but don't understand it. No wonder he is forced to the conclusion that things hidden from the wise and prudent arc revealed to babes and sucklings. He has arrived at the point where he perceives that " the difficulty in explaining the whole plan and purpose of God's Kingdom .does not lie in the nature of that plan and purpose; for they are perfectly simple / and _ obvious in the daily operation of our lives. It lies wholly in" inducing people to give up thoughts in their minds which are inconsistent with perfect _ simplicity, which is the combination of infinite variety in perfect oneness of association." His idea is the existence of one body of life or power or thoughts composed of one ruler or parent, and his creatures or family. Each member of that family (including tho atom and every body of atoms, and each association of such bodies) is designed on the samo plan as the ruler, so that each riiay understand the plan 'of the ruler- and. of one another. If that fundamental principle is- recognised, Mr. Dalziell is convinced that all thoughts will be directed in harmony to one end. The world would be imleed a paradise if all worked together in helping the K'iiler and helping one another in developing new combinations of ideas on the same plan, formed by the ruler out of their, associations with one another. This Mr. Dalziell holds to be God's plan, the creature being glorified in Him and He in the creature. The author is quite certain that this was what Jesus Christ meant'when He said He and His Father wore One, Nind that those in Him, Jesus, were one. The thought of following any plan other than that of God was tho one evil in life, represented by the Devil. Mr. Dalziell avows that of what he preaches Ijr lias practical experience. He comine^i his central idea to all , electors in view of the coming Genera] Election. Prcaum-.-'bly lie includes candidates for election. Some of them will require to be reminded, as Mi1. Dalaiell would puteit,

that "this dark cloud of false schemes of Government and learned complexity prevents people seeing life as I have described it." Mr. Dalziell is a thoughtful writer, and has a good cla»n .. to respectful reading.