PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 18

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

BOOKS OF THE WEEK .

The Chief Librarian of the Wellington Public Libraries has chosen "MidAtlantic," by "Taflrail," as the book of the weeK, and has furnished the following review:— Captain Taprell Dorling, D.5.0., who writes under the name of "Taffrail," and who recently paid a visit to New Zealand, has added another stirring story of the sea to his already lengthy list of similar novels. "Mid-Atlantic" is the title of this new book, and it is a gripping account of a wreck and rescue. Though the narrative is very simple and straightforward, it is intensely dramatic. It is an epic of endurance, courage, and resource against the elements of sea and storm told with authenticity, and an economy of words that is highly effective. The story opens at three minutes past four in the morning of the s.s. Moorhaven's tenth day out from Swansea. The ship, laden with 5000 tons of anthracite, was bound for Boston, Massachusetts. The Moorhaven, by the way, was a "wall-sided tramp of the 'three island' type, one of those ships that the irreverent averred were built at so much the yard and i;old at so much the fathom—a perambulating steel box with a slightly sharpened bow and rounded stern, and engines that had originally driven her at nine knots when she had done her trials as a new ship away back before the war." Thus we are given the history of the Moorhaven, with her thin vertical black funnel, and stumpy masts. Unpainted and rusty, she was anything but beautiful to look at, and to reproduce the author's apt simile "reminded one of a bedraggled beldame who had long since ceased to care for her personal appearance."

The Moorhaven, whose gross registered tonnage was 3214, net register 2116; deadweight, 5907, was owned by a parsimonious profiteering company which took full advantage of the economic depression to ill-pay its men and ill-equip its ships. The ships belonging to the Haven Steam Shipping Company were certainly unpleasant boats upon which to sail in every way. They were unsafe, the food was poor, and the living conditions on board were thoroughly uncomfortable. Nevertheless, with so much unemployment on land the men were glad to have any kind of job at sea. As the story progresses we follow the Moorhaven into one of those famous mid-Atlantic storms which has meant the end of many a more seaworthy ship. A storm at sea is one of the most dramatic things of Nature and ■when it is described by one who knows and understands the sea so thoroughly as "Taffrail" it becomes exciting reading. Against the majestic fury of the ocean, man appears a puny and helpless creature and this aspect is portrayed with skill and insight in "Mid-Atlantic." _ "Taffrail" knows men in general and seamen in particular. We become acquainted with every member of the crew from the master, Leonard George Gamblin, who lives up to the highest traditions of his calling; down to Nigel Farnsworth, the junior apprentice who had come to sea with high hopes of speedy promotion to the rank of officer on a crack liner. Nigel had imagined that he would soon have the pleasure of seeing himself decked out in a goldbraided suit pacing to and fro on a snowy deck with a telescope under his arm. but so far his experience had fallen far short of his aspirations. With the exception of the cook and the steward, the crew are all fine fellows at heart, though to hear them grumbling and growling one might think otherwise. To grumble and growl, however, is a privilege all sailors assume when things are progressing smoothly. In a crisis they never complain and their inherent courage, generosity, and heroism come uppermost. The climax in the story comes when the worn and out-of-date steering gear of the Moorhaven is put out of action by the violence of the storm. The crew, led by Nick Cudworth, the first mate, fight desperately to repair the damage, but without success, and.the ship plunges about helplessly in the huge seas. This part of the story is wireless operator, Percy John Denten and reveals how well the author knows the sea in all its moods. With her rudder out of action and her pumps refusing to work, the Moorhaven is a doomed ship. Frantic appeals for help are sent out by the wireless operator, Percy John Denholm, a rather blase young man, who, however, is not without courage and resource when he finds himself on a quickly sinking ship. The period of waiting until their rescuer arrives and the difficulty experienced in this task, is splendidly described and most exciting reading. "Mid-Atlantic" is a thoroughly enjoyable book and offers splendid entertainment for holiday reading. RECENT LIBRARY ADDITIONS. Other titles selected from recent accession lists are as follows:—General: "Rand Riches and South Africa," by Sir H. Graumann; "Left Wings over Europe," by P. W. Lewis; "Adventure in Algeria," by B. Stewart. Fiction: "We Live to Learn," by S. Fairway; "Paths of Glory," by H. Cobb; "The Familiar Strangsr," by F. E. Penny. THE FIRST~SOUND BOOK The first sound book—i.e., a book illustrated by sound as well as by pictures —has been published in London. It is "Songs of Wild Birds," by E. M. Nicholson and Ludwig Koch, with an introduction by Dr. Julian Huxley. Incorporated in the book are two doublesided ten-inch records, which are as integral a part of the book as are coloured plates. Speaking about this new publishing departure, Dr. Julian Huxley remarked on the fact that the use of the gramophone in the biological field was bound to increase, and that in the future a book about birds without sound illustrations would be regarded as inadequate. Some idea of the difficulties of "illustration" of such a book can be gathered from the confession of its authors that to secure the two doublesided records 500 records were made.

The debt collectors met on the doorstep of their quarry. "Hullo, greeted the first, "what are you chasing him for?" "For a golfing suit made five years ago!" "You'll be lucky if you get it. My bill is for a sailor suit with brass buttons, made in 1900! Joan: So you have married your employer. How long did you work for him? Jean: Until I got him. "Well, my dear," said Mr. Henpeck, "I had my life insured this afternoon. "Just like you!" snapped his wife.. "Never think of anyone but yourself. A certain minister who was conducting a service in an asylum was interrupted by one of the patients crying out wildly: "I say, have, we got to listen to this?" The minister, surprised and confused, turned to an attendant, and asked, "Shall I stop speaking?" "No, no, go on," said the attendant. "That will not happen again. That man has only one lucid interval every seven years!' Landlady: The room's Just a little on the small side, sir. Prospective Boarder: Small! why, when I'm in bed my feet will be out of that window! Landlady: Oh, that doesn't matter, sir—there's no glass in it. ALL SHE ASKED. "Will you let me have my way in everything?" she asked. "Of course I will, darling." "Will you permit me to go home to mother whenever I want to?" "I should never think of being cruel enough to keep you away from your mother." "And may I have a regular allowance to spend just as I like?" "Certainly. I shall be as liberal as possible." , . , "You are awfully nice, dear. And may I call you up on the 'phone during business hours?" ~«_„« "I should be unhappy if you didn't. "I'm afraid you will forget your promises after we are married." "No, I won't. Is there anything else you want me to promise?" "I can't think of anything just now. Oh, yes. There's one other thing. Will you promise not to be cross if I sometimes call you by the name of someone else I've been engaged to? I'm so lorgetful about such things."

Mrs. Meeker: John: Mr. Meeker: Yes, my dear. Mrs. Meeker: There's a corner torn off your pay cheak. What did you spend it for? ONE WEEK IS ENOUGH! "I suppose that you make a better rate for the room in the event a guest decides to remain longer than a week." , "To be honest with you, replied the hotel clerk, "the question has never arisen before!" SURE SIGN. ! She: They must be engaged. That's her fourth dance with him this ingHe: That's no sign. She: Isn't it? You don't know how he dances. CASE OF DOUBT. "I hear there are twins at the Bates house—boys or girls?" "i think one's a boy and the other a girl—but it may be the other way round." j THE SELLING POINT. "How did you come to choose that "The salesman told my wife that it was the last word." A PREFERENCE. "Bill, I 'ates a bad loser." '• "Yus, Jim. So do I. But I'd rather play with a bad loser any day . than with any sort o' winner." SWANK. Angry motorist: Some of you pedestrians walk along just as if you owned the streets* Aggrieved Pedestrian: Yes, and some of you motorists drive around just as if you owned the car! THE REAL TROUBLE. Tim met a friend hobbling along the street and asked him what was wrong. . , Bob: Well, Tim, I've had a corn on the sole of my foot for three weeks now. Tim: Well, there's a chiropodist over the road; have it out, man. Presently Bob came out,, all smiles. Tim: Well, did you have it out? Bob: No, lad, as soon as I got my sock off I found the collar stud I lost two weeks ago!

tested: "What made you guess I came from Aberdeen? It wasn't my accent." "Oh, no, sir. It was the toothmarks on this threepenny bit you gave me." NECESSARY ASSET. "Why did you spend so much time on the crease of your pants?" asked the rural father of his college son. "It is very important, dad. not to wear baggy trousers," he said. ! "Important, is it? Did you ever see I a statue of a famous man who didn't wear baggy trousers?" THE TRUTH. One of two fishermen was telling about a fish caught on a recent trip. "I tell you," he emphasised, "I never saw such a fish." "He's right," added his companion. i | MATCHLESS. It was a dark and stormy night when the weary husband returned home. "I've been to every shop in town, and they can't match that bit of ribbon for you anywhere, dear," he said to his wife. "Splendid!" she cried. "I just wanted to make sure that it really was unique." A BROAD HINT. Mrs. Rigg-Marole My dear, you look tired out. Have you had a lot of boring visitors today? Her Victim (wearily): Oh, no, you are the first. NOT KNOWN. School Inspector (pointing to a boy): You look intelligent. Can you tell me where Ben Nevis is? Boy: No, sir. I don't think he attends this school. MM-M! The teacher was hearing the youthful class in mathematics. "Now." she said, "in order to subtract, things have to be in the same denomination. For instance, we couldn't take three pears from four peaches, nor eight horses from ten cats. Do you understand?" There was assent from the majority of pupils. One little boy in the rear raised a timid hand. "Well, Bobby, what is it?" asked the tG3.cliGr. > "Please, teacher," said Bobby, "couldn't you take three quarts of milk from/two cows?" AHA! On exhibit at the Missouri Historical Society, in St. Louis, is a Mark Twain collection. Among the papers is an envelope addressed to the'author's wife and marked: "Opened by mistake to see what was inside.—S.L.C." A GIFT. Editor: You must remember that poetry is a .gift. The Poet: It is; you cant sell it nowadays. . EASY. An Irishman crossed the Atlantic to try his luck in America. When he arrived in New York a sailor came up to him and inquired: "Are you a stranger here, buddy?" "Sure I am!" "Well," continued the other, "whenever you travel in a train on this side, never ride in the last coach." "But why shouldn't I ride in the last ■ ' • "Because that's where all the accide Th S e h In P shman scratched his head for a moment. Then his-face -brightened as he exclaimed: "Begorrah! H Jttl the accidents happen to the last coach, why don't you leave it oft? FIRE! "Yo* sells fire insurance?" asked the coloured woman. "Certainly," replied the insurance agent. "What.premises do you want covered?" „ ... „ „,j "Naw premises at all; its ma old man Oh wants fixed up." . "Oh, then you want' life insurance "No sir, Ah do not. Ah wants fire insurance. That no-good nigger has been fired fo' times in da last fo weeks." . ___i_" ."■»'■•■— A PRETTY MONTH. A little girl of four questioned her mother: "Why did you name me 'June'?" "Well you see, you were born on the first of June —and so I named you June," explained mother. "Well," said little miss. "I wished been born on the first of Rosemary. THE REASON. A very proper and careful old woman was engaging a new gardener. "Have you any references from your last place, my man?" she inquired. "No, mum," replied the applicant. "They wouldn't give me one." "Why?" "Oh," answered the man, absently, "I hit one of the warders." NOTHING CLEVER. Dobbs: I saw a man last night at the Empire who had no hands but could pl Hobbl: . nothing.. The girl next door to me has no voice, but she sings. ASKING FOR TROUBLE. "Don't they teach you to salute in your company?" roared the major .to Patrick Malone, who had passed him withofit raising his hand. "Yes, sir," replied Pat. "Then why didn't you salute? _ "Well, sir," was the candid reply,. I didn't want to attract more attention than I had to, 'cause I ain't supposed to be out here without a pass. THE MAIN POINT. Two burglars were intent on entering a house one night, and one of them had climbed on to the garden wall, but hesitated before dropping down on the other side. The second burglar said from below, 'Hurry up, Bill. I want to come." But the man on the wall queried in a hoarse ner "Do you hear that bloomm dawg'" "Yuss," said the other man, "but don't you know-that- a dawgs bark is always worse than his bite? "I know that, and you know it, said the man on the wall, "but does the dawg know it?" FLAT. She (gushingly): Tell me,. professor, what do you thinkjrf my voice? He (frankly): Well, madam, it reminds me of toothpaste. She: Er—toothpaste, professor? He: Yes! ■ You squeeze it, and it comes out flat! THE SAME WAY. Brown was bemoaning h'is hard luck with his football coupon. "Just one goal beat me for a weeks wages," he said gloomily to his wife. "And the centre-forward had the goal at his mercy in the last minute of the game, but the ball went over the bar." "Never mind," said the wife, "I expect the week's wages would have gone over the bar just the same." REVERSE ENGLISH. "So your son started talking at last?" "Yes—we're teaching him to keep quiet now." "MAN MUST WORK . . ." Said a wife: "My husband works all day and all night: and when the winter comes he will probably do a spot of overtime." TOO DRASTIC. A young wife who was rather ashamed of her ancient husband consulted Dr. Quackemoff, the famous rejuvenating specialist. , "You say your husband is seventy, madam?" said the doctor. "You would like him to appear younger. I guarantee that a box of my pills will take thirty years off his life. That night the young wife, eager for quick results, put the whole of the pills into the old man's nightly glass of hot milk. Next morning she woke early, and was surprised to find her husband missing. A general hullabaloo came from below. Drawers were being slammed to, cupboard doors opened and shut, and sounds of feet running from room to room. Her face lit up with joy: "Are you feeling sprightly, dear?" she shouted. Above the noise: "Sprightly be blowed," came the answer. "Where's my cap and satchel? I shall be.late jfor school."