LITERARY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1923, Page 19

LITERARY NOTES

Sir G. Hunter, member for Waipawa, has asked the Minister of Internal Affairs, whether he will consider the'question of appointing a qualified person to compile the early history of New ■ Zealand? The Minister (Mr. Bollard) replied that the matter had received- careful attention, but it was not proposed, at all events at present, to appoint a person to compile an early history of New Zealand. . .

"Thoughts Day by Day" is a little book compiled by "Great Thoughts," the _ well-known journal that provides an inexhaustible table of quotation for preachers, politicians, and writers. The "Thoughts" in the little-book under notice have been gleaned from writers, ancient and modern, and there is a thought for every day in.the year. For 13th October the thought is furnished by Sir Lewis Morris : What power was this—chance will you say? But chance, what .else can it mean than the hidden Cause of things by human reason unseen." The book is one to keep handy by the bed-side for selection on waking of a thought for the day.

"Nuttybuband Nitteraing" (from Robertson and Mullens, Melbourne) is a reminder that Christmas is; coming. The book is by May Gibbs,: and: is specially written for children—goijd -"children, for the others do not deserve to have such a book. Miss Gibbs is extremely clever in her adaptation of Australian flora and fauna._ to both literary.and graphic treatment i n the form of fairy tales. Some of the plates are in colours—trees, flowers, insects, and birds—she uses all for her purposes of illustrations. Her work is characteristic of Australia, and is full ol a quaint humour of its own The publishers are Osboldstone and Co Melbourne. Although. "Nuttybub and Nittersing ' is suitable for a Christmas "ift ' it will be most aceptabls by children at other times of the year.

Skimming through the "Letters of Charles, kirfcpatrick Sharpe/' a. massive volume picked up for a shilling at a bookstall, writes a correspondent. I chanced upon a fine,- fervent expression of political animosity. Writing to Mrs ?v wn? .1839' Sharpß "n»rkß .—"I think Milton s 'Paradise Lost' a heap of blasphemy and obscenity, with, certainly numberless poetical beauties. Milton was a Whig, and, in my mind, an atheist. I am persuaded his-poem was composed to apologise for the Devil, who certainly was the first Whig on record "

In "Sailor Town Days" (Methuen), Mr. Fox Smith shows how,, in wellknown sailor phrase, "show a le"" originated. It was one of the most deeply-rooted prejudices of the oldfashioned shellback, explains Mr Smith, to class women with corpses (and Russian Finns) as unlucky shipmates, however attractive ashore. Not that the prejudice was always followed. "In port, of course, Nelson's men were allowed the society of their charmers. Hence the term "show a- le"' As follows : Sailors in those dSys never' wore stockings; and when it was time for Jack to turn out and b ; n h;s duties on deck his lady was allowed to continue, her slumbers a little longer. When the bo.sun came round to hunt out the laggards, the occupants of the hammocks were bidden to 'show a lep 1 —and if the leg had a stocking on it the owner was left undisturbed'"

f Miss Dorothy Brandon, whose drama Tire Outside/ has recently been produced , n London, was the daughter of a brewer. She had- no literary relates, but at 13 wanted to write. Her Uttle essays were not encouraged until she met a. man who said she would make good, "but I was not to send out W?£ until l was ia."w£K.: and the man made'me promise this. to ,1 th 6 1 Senfc onfc shorfc st°"^ v ,th; publishers I could find, .and desoni, / "I,"* uuce Pted- I did j,ot despair after three years, although 30 Albh were unwanted. Then I %ot , ny' yrr^ded> "f *<* SO my rejected works are now sold—all of novels, 'Beaur g de 'and « s^ess!^^ A™' --

-iir. j? rank C. Bowen and Mr P J 2>l Wfandtr^^^^: and * a remarkable production-a? once Wf O',™ e!'Mce an(l a picture galeiy, for photographs are reproduced of mm., ships of the mercantile marine of th.3 and other countries. It does not. discuss, out merely presents in well-eon--siaereo order an amazing assortment of isc- about- ships—tonnage, draught, spesc, ::u:r.ner m:,l size of holds, ier"fh anc. mi approprato oases. cleadwe?<*ht caryo opacity, together viih the date or _con£iructior. and the names of the • inudtrs. Thcrs 'is ;i complete a'phaboi;p* 4 judss oi e-ery ciewiighin afloat,

'"hf.thev devoted to the carriage of p'asfisagera or goods o."- both ; and in-each ia3e ita nationality is -specified and the page_ ai which it is describedl is indicated. This featura occupies ko fewer than twsKiy-Swo of the big pages of the nook !3ven if albv.-ance be made for tha assistance that the conpiiera must have obiajned from SioydViavaiuable and, indesc, '.ndispsncab.e RegUter Book, the ach:eveir.eat which they have to their oreari is a, notable one. They have added a, volume of an unprecedented character to the libraries of all who are in Kiy way concerned with our sea affairsshipbuilders, shipowners, and underwriters.