BOOKS AND BOOKMEN

Evening Star, Issue 19127, 19 December 1925, Page 13

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN

LONDON, 1924. Dauntless, unravished, purple-clad, Tho victors’ laurels crowning thee. Thy couriers on land and sea, Thy arms outstretched in welcome glad. Endowcr of the arts of peace,. Wise Pythoness of things unborn, They bring to thee their wine and corn. In Argosies that never cease. For thy appraisal known of old, Unerring, to the soul of worth, Brings wisdom older than the earth. Ere Time began wert thou cnscroll’d. Tho crowd-surf murmuring at thy feet. With ear inclined thou bendcst low, For every chord of joy or woe, Blends with thy deep-toned ’cello, sweet. Tho zest of youth—the hoar of age, Unchided hold thy parent hand; For only thou dost understand, Freedom’s immortal heritage. For only thou canst understand, The Rubicons they may not cross; Yet they who dare, and leap across, Still foci thy shepherding at hand. No Vandal dares, no war bound bays, No challenger thy worth denies, For thou withhold’st not the prize, Nor grudg’st thou the raced of praise. —By Hewson Cowcn, in ‘The Britisli Empire, New York, and Other Poems.’ THE PATH TO TOYTOWN. Over the hill where tho white moon shines, And a soft breeze kisses the swaying pines, There’s a. silver path that wends its way Down where the Ellin people play. Past tiny houses ail yellow and green And the shining homo of the Fairy Queen. Through pearly fields its bright path leads, By golden lakes with shimmering reeds, O’er sugar mountains, gloaming white, And will-o’-the-wisps’ bright’ magic light. And still yon follow the luminous strand Till you come at last to a wonderful larid, Visioned in dreams by girls and boys;

The mythical, magical Land of Toys. —Marjorie Collett, in ‘ Elizabeth in Toyland.’ A TREMENDOUS FORGERY? BEN JONSON’* 1 CONVERSATIONS.’ One of the most records of literary opinions is that of Ben Jenson’s ‘ Conversations,’ ascribed to Drummond of Hawthorndcn, in which tho burly dramatist who was Shakespeare's Iriend and rival, expresses his downright judgments on his contemporaries. The hook has been valued for the light it throws on the character of Jonson, as well as those of other -writers of his time. And now Mr C. L. Stainer has written a book tho object of which is to show that tho ‘ Conversations ’ from beginning to end are no more than a forger? . “ Let not the reader he irritated at the suggestion” (Mr J. C. Squire writes in tho ‘Observer’). “it is not akin to the Bacon-Shakcspearo suppositions. and stranger things have happened. 'Theobald forged a Shakespeare play; Ireland forged a Shakespeare play, and got it acted at Drury Lane; John Payne Collier, a scholar of real eminence, faked a whole multitude of facts and emendations, which it took years of controversy to expose, and lived to tho ago of ninoly-four alter all his crimes. Mr Stainer merely suggests that to the infamous names of Ireland and Collier wo should add that of Sir Robert Sibbald, a Scotch antiquary who died in tho early part of the eighteenth century. Somebody, he maintains, forged the whole of those celebrated 4 Conversations,’ and Sibbald was presumably the man. On the question of motive he is somewhat vague. Sibbald may have wanted to claim Jonson for Scotland (tho Annandalo ancestry comes in), or to glorify the father of his contemporary, Sir William Drummond, or (one might conjecture from certain sentences in which Jonson is severe ou his friends jyid confesses to misdemeanors) to denigrate Jonson; or all throe. He may have wished to help the sale of tho big Drummond Eoiio of 1041. Or he may have merely wished to amuse himself and pull the legs of his follow scholars; after all as creditable a motive as most, and as powerful. But nothing directly bearing' on this has yet come to light; nor docs Mr Stainer claim to have demonstrated that Sibbald was tho forger. What he has done is to bring forward certain evidence which suggests That the work itself is a forgery; and if this evidence, with any more that can be brought to support it, bo accepted as satisfactory, all the lives of Bon Jonson will have to bo rewritten and, alas 1 sensibly reduced.”

AH Stainer cites a number of errors, inconsistencies, and anomalies to support his opinion that tho 1 Conversations ’ are a forgery. Mr Squire, who admits that a “ strong priina facie impression ” has been made on his own mind, leaves the question to tho experts for final decision, and concludes: “ Mr Stainer makes a .great point of Jonson’a habitual spelling of his name. When ho wrote ho was unacquainted with any letters to anyone except Drummond which Jonson had signed 4 Johnson.’ In tho Herford-Simpson edition there appears a group of ‘ new ’ letters in the possession of Mr White, of Now York, and by an odd coincidence these are signed ‘ Johnson.’ Either Air Stainer’s argument falls or those, too, must bo questioned. For mo, I like to believe as much as I can; hut 1 am ready for the truth, however unpalatable; and in the last resort one can take off one’s hat to Sir Robert Sibbald for having hoaxed two hundred of us. However, there is still an answer to be made to Air Stainer, and there may be a fault, in his armor over a vital spot.”

LITERARY LAMPOONS. Mr Humbert Wolfe’s ‘ Lampoons,’ just published, contains the follow ingi— G. K. Chesterton. Here lies Mr Chesterton, who to heaven might have gone but didn’t, when he heard the news that tho place was run by .lows, John Gaj.sworthy. Ash to ash, to earth the earthy, was not spoken of Galsworthy. Like his hooks, tho soul of John goes marching on, and on, and on., D. H. Lawrence and James Joyce. Lawrence here for ever blames Joyce’s reticence, and James goes on stilting his abhorrence of the prudery of Lawrence. Dean Inch. Hark! tho herald angels sing timidly, because Dean Inge has arrived, ami seems to be bored with immortality.

A LITERARY CORNER

NEW BOONS MAORI FAIRY TALES. His lellow-New Zealanders have reason to bo grateful to Air James Cowan for Ids efforts to preserve the Maori legends of their country, and tho facts, apart from fiction, of those portions of its history which involve the struggle of “brave,white and braver brown.” He was not the first in the field, but ho has done more, perhaps, than anyone to restore the presences of gods and heroes, tho association of “old, unhappy [or not so unhappy] far-off things ” to cape and vale and mountain which were thought by our Pilgrim Fathers to be without them. His ‘ History of tho Now Zealand Wars ’ is probably the most thorough piece of work, consisting mainly of revoarch, that has been done in that kind in this dominion, and it is certainly among tho most readable. Now he givcs_ us 4 Fairy Folk Tales of the Maori,’ and out debt to bun is appreciably increased. There were two kinds of fairies for tho Maori, Air Cowan tolls ns, corresponding to the benevolent and fearsome abstractions of Ireland and other lands. They are tho Patu-paiarehe, or enchanted forest dwellers, not generally invested with a diminutive stature, and the Maorooro, who were like ogres and giants. The tales of tho first no doubt originated in the actual existence of numerous tribes of aborigines who dwelt for safety in tho more inaccessible parts of these islands. Many of them were reddish-haired, with fairer complexions than those of the Maori, the remnants of an immeasurably ancient people. The Alaerocro were the more numerous folk in the South Island. Tho tales which Air Cowan has collected of both races deal with all parts of Now Zealand. As they are a trifle Joss sophisticated even in his tolling of thorn, than the fairy tales of older lands, they may not bo so suitable for all children, but they are rich in the qualities of imagination and adventure which have made the others beloved. The meaning ol Alount Takitimu, in the lake region of Southland, to tho Maoris may not bo well known even now to their successors in the country. It was the upturned hull of their pilgrims’ ship which came from the far Hawaiki. The great lake of Wakalipu was supposed to have been scooped out of tire mountains by their old navigator, Rakaihaitu, with his “ Ko,” or hoe, and the whole region in which Nature has worked on_ her mightiest plan was a land of giants and demons. Air Cowan tolls ns the stories, mild and tragic, that arc associated with these and other scones, and his book is generously illustrated with portraits and views that add not a little to its attractiveness. Published _by Whitcombo and Tombs, Ltd. Price, Js Gd. ‘ ADVENTURES IN UNDERSTANDING, What better for a Christinas present than a volume of David Grayson’s, an author who is simply saturated with tho milk of human kindness, and who has the faculty of making friends with everybody? His characters arc always wonderfully human, and those in his latest book, ‘ Adventures in Understanding,’ are no exception to the rule. These arc stories of the city, whence went Air Grayson during the war period to “do his bit” with pen when ho canid not do it with the sword, and where ho met with folk who, as Grayson lovers will readily understand, fairly excited him to description. The describing could not he done right away —plain, often irksome, duties had first to ho performed—but the memories remained, and, helped by notes, gave birth to the delightful book of which we Im’e a copy before us. In tho ‘ Wicked City’ Air Grayson, avowedly “a countryman to the bone,” had low expectations of finding suitable material in his spare time; but Nature is over up to her trick of springing surprises, and there, right at his own doorstop, ho meets with his first “ adventure ” with the Jensens; Jonson, who plants vegetables in a tiny wooden box. “This year his vegetable is punkin,” says Mrs Jensen; which remark explains itself. And then follow adventures with tho stranger met in the old book shop, and who turns out to be wealthy but by no moans happy; the adventure with the bootblack who has hootblackcd for twenty-seven years and is quite content because he “ mak’ money”; tho adventure with “ the man in tho glass case,” who controls enormous engines hut has no imagination ; the adventure of a ride into the country in Jonas Jensen’s ‘ llivvor ’ —a dozen adventures in all, and all radiating tho same full-hearted, tense desire to make friends with his fellow-creatures. “ What is your business?” Mr Grayson was asked, and it jumped out of him before ho could consider: “Ham a man trying to understand.” And this is the spirit of these 4 Adventures in Understanding,’ a volume, wo repeat, that is admirably adapted for a Christmas-box. The price is 6s, and our copy comes from Alcssrs Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.

IRISH YARNS. Air Lyon Doyle knows how to write an Irish humorous story, the purely mirthful story that appeals to everyone, no matter what his nationality. He demonstrated this in his collection published under the title ol ‘ Ballygullion,’ and now lie has come out with another bunch quite as good bearing the title ‘Dear Ducks.’ Those stories, as were tho others, were told him, ho informs us, by his friend, Air Patrick Murphy, and many of them are about a certain Mr Anthony, a wee, shortsighted solicitor, of whom it is said that “ outside of his own office or tho Petty Sessions Court law never troubled him; he just, passed Iris final examination, and then placed the whole business in the hands of the divil.” Sport was his weakness (in more senses than one), wild duck shooting in particular, and in this he scored as many misses as he had scored in his attempts at cricket, tennis, and golf. But he was undismayed by “ accidents,” such as the shooting of the Pom. dog belonging to the lady he had hoped to marry, or tho equally fatal encounter with Mr Birmingham’s thoroughbred horse. Golfing readers—especially golfing lawyers—will enjoy ‘Link Law.’ In this wee Anthony and his rival, Fitzsimons, play a wonderful match, in which a ball-chewing, hull, an eccentric lady client, and much legal argument intrude. Then there is Lanty. the tinker, who was given over-much to indulgence in whisky (which made him heat his wife) and porter (which turned his anger towards his donkey). Read how Lanly’s cart and ass got into his bedroom, and when yAu’ve laughed your way through this you will believe tho publisher’s statement that a critic has declared “ ‘Dear Ducks ’ to be the only book he ever met with that would make a man reading alone in his study laugh out loud.” There is certainly not a yarn in the hook that can fail to make one chuckle. Onr copy is from the publishers (Gerald Duckworth and Co., Ltd.).

CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. We have received from Messrs Cassell and Co., per Messrs Duncan and Simpson, four books lor the younger generation that are most suitable lor the Christmas tree or the Christmas “ stocking.” ‘ Chums,’ which is primarily a boy’s book, but which will also bo read eagerly by the sisters in the house, contains an immense amount of reading. It can bo imagined that_ the intention of the publishers in compiling ibis publication is to provide reading for the whole year, for it contains 832 pages of letterpress. This includes twelve serials; well over 100 complete stories; a series of articles on such subjects as wireless in all its branches, sport, camping out, athletics, stamps, and many other bobbies in which boys take delight. In addition, there are special articles on various topics, and when it is stated that the illustrations are numerous and excellent and the tone wholesome and instructive, it will be seen that the way of the p irout is made easy in selecting a suitable Christmas gift. The editor of the ‘ Now Zealand Girls’ Annual’'has taken pains to keep this year’s number up to the high standard for which this publication is noted; indeed, tho claim that it is bigger, better, and more attractive than ever is justified. Great care has been taken to secure writer's of repute throughout tho Empire, and when such names as those of Nancy Hayes and May Wynne appear among the list of contributors it can be imagined that the literary quality is high. The stories, articles, and illustrations cover a wide field of interest, and tbe success which attended last year’s competitions has encouraged the editor to widen his horizon and to make an even greater feature of them this year. ‘ Tiny Tots ’ and ‘ Bo Peep’s Bumper Book ’ are meant for those new adventurers into life to whose eager young eyes everything in tho world is new and most things a source of wonder and delight. Fairy stories and verses, beautifully printed, fill the pages of these books., and tbe illustrations—many done in color, tho work of accomplished artists—are of extreme delicacy and beauty. ‘A Pixie’s Day,’ ‘Santa Claus’s Castle,’ ‘ The Lovely Party,’ ‘Cuddle and Chip,’ ‘Bagged Robin.’ 1 Dinkio tho Donkey,’ ‘The Truth About Georgy Porgy,’_ are alluring titles to stories of irresistible charm. ‘ The Felix Annual ’ describes the comic adventures of Felix, i.lie linn <ai. The experiences of Felix and a diminutive boy in the house, as rotated iu about 600 funny pictures, are such as will delight the average small boy. ‘ The Big Surprise,’ winch cnutuii s a mechanical “ Squeaker ” on the inside, is a. book for very little children, containing appropriate pictures, versos, and stories. Both of these books are published by tho Middleton Publications. Limited, London. ‘ Tno .Lone Guide of Moriield,’ by Lillian M. Pyke (Ward, Lock, and Co.), is a book that cun be recommended to those who wish to make a present of wholesome and interesting reading lor tho holidays. This is the work of a writer who has achieved distimfuon in this lino of work, and is of (he kind that girls like to possess when making a library for themselves. ‘ Tho Lone Guide of Meriield ’ is a story of a girl who is forced to take a position as a mother’s help, but who breasts the blows of circumstance with success.

‘ The House of the Eagle/ by Mary Grant Bruce (Ward, Loci:, and Co.). — Hiss, Bruce will bo remembered as tho author of books that have been (ami still are) widely read. In this tale she shows the same ability to write of incidents in tho lives of people that have a never-failing interest. 'The differences between the Browne children and a maiden lady next door can be imagined, but when unders Landing comes harsh words and bitterness give place to friendship and good-will. / Tho Black Star/ by Andrew H. Walpole (Angus and Robertson, Sydney), is a school story for boys. It describes very effectively that world which to them is so real and so absorbing. Their chief interests lie in sport, in holidays, in adventure, in the personalities of their masters, and in plans for evading tho regulations and getting iheir own way. Tho writer knows buys and their desires, and ho has presented a tale, that will be appreciated by the hoys of this generation, tor it is quite up to date in all respects.

To those who like the ‘Sporting Times ’ touch, and with pleasure accompany .Pitcher to Paradise, a Lively little volume by Adair Diphton entitled * Moralisiugs of a Medico ’ will have a strong appeal. Tho author (an E.H.C.S.) describes himself as “ once a slave ol the scalpel, now a servant ol the Press.” lie is certainly no slave to literary tradition as far as composition is concerned; but doubtless the happy-go-lucky punctuation, the paragraphs begun with lower case letters, tho slipshod grammar arc deliberate, and intended to emphasise tho careless, rattling stylo of the whole thing, which is certainly in accord with the rollicking, staggering, voluptuous stories of student days of which the writer tells: tho wild, devil-may-care Edinburgh days before final examinations and the fading away into tho respectable heights of Harley street. Included in the twenty “ effusions ” (which tho author frankly admits are “intended neither to educate, .elevate, or inform ”) are many hilariously entertaining rather—in widely champagne, ladies and oratorio, nr “Seoteli,” women and song, according to financial circumstances—loom very large indeed. The reading of them will probably cause those in whom the young blond still stirs to cast longing thoughts towards Edinburgh (far, of course, such “goings on” would bo impossible in our own University city!), and make the older amongst, ns chuckle and wag our heads and magnify onr own little frolics of tho “good old days.” The appropriate design on this 3s 6d hook of youth and liveliness is by Starr Wood. Our copy is from Whitcomhe and Tombs, Ltd.

' Tho Three-cornered Hat.’ a copy 0 f which we have received from Messrs Aligns and Robertson, Sydney, is a famous Spanish story, 1 Sombrero de Tres Ricos,’ by D. Pedro De Alarcon. ]r, is translated into English by Lady Goodenough. The book is vivacious and witty. and reveals minute observa tion of the Spanish .people and their manners and customs. It relates incidents in the lives of a well-to-do and worldly-wise but ugly miller and his beautiful young wife. Because of the miller’s ugliness it is assumed that bis wife cannot possibly be true fo him, and tho author relates with malicious humor the attempts of many high personages in tho district. —clerical, official, and lay—to win their way into the good graces of Scn.i Frasquita. Only a writer with a very gifted imagination could produce such a tale as ‘ Murderers’ Island,’ which, as well as providing a thrilling and entertaining story, is highly interesting because of its suggested methods of dealing with people who have offended against the law. Tho storv deals ivith the affairs of Catherine Hewart, a young woman who murders her uncle for her own pecuniary benefit, and who, is -Bonit*

mitted to life exile on Murderers’ Island. Her unsuccessful attempt to place the guilt on her cousin provides some enthralling situations. The story is sot in an age far in tho future, when, Incidentally, flying machines are a commonplace. In the existing state of society people who commit murder are branded and incarcerated for life, and those. who commit any other kind of crime are also branded indelibly for life on the forehead. In the case of forgery or theft the offender has to pay hack what ho has taken before he can regain a place in society. Those who have retrieved themselves are marked with a crown to efface the criminal brand. Thus speaks a man in the novel who was branded, but who atoned for his crime: “ The offender is branded so that others may beware of him; bui he pays back what be has taken so that ho may feel ho has paid his debt to society. In the old days a man never did that. He was punished, bnt he never repaid in kind. It was a foolish system and horrible.” The writer ol this entertaining novel is Yate Tregarron, and the publishers are Messrs Methuen and Co. ‘Laughing Ann and Other Poems, b? A, P. Herbert, and illustrated bv George Morrow, is a little hook of ballads that is likely to become popular, as those two noted contributors to ‘ Punch ’ do work that has secured wide recognition. There is much subtle humor in Mr Herbert’s verse, and, ns can bo imagined, the value of his work is enhanced by Mr Morrow’s artistic skill. Mr Herbert, it will bo remembered, was a member of the Press delegation to Australia recently. He visited tho North Island, and wrote for his journal some bright and amusing impressions of the dominion, Tho pub" Ushers of the little volume referred to above arc Messrs T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd i( Stories which might he termed “ snappy’ ” are provided to the number ol ten in ‘ Little Dressmakers in Love,’ written by Yoi Moraini and published by Messrs Methuen and Co. They are romantic tales of tho young and alluring Florentine work girls. The youthful dressmakers of that city are noted for their prettiness and charm, and for the attire that a perfect taste in dress gives to a woman. In these romantic stories tho author, whose first two books were writ ten under the name of Yoi Pawlinka, exhibits an unusual insight, and knowledge of psychology _of these girls. Tho. stories are well written and. readable, hut hardly suitable, as the title of tho volume might seem to indicate, for the youthful mind. ‘The Flying Emerald,’ by Ethelrcda Lewis (Hodder and Stoughton) is a moving tale of South Africa. In it we have pathos, tragedy, brutality on oife side, on the other kindness, self-sacri-fice, and courage. Among the charmtors wo have Carl Schlosscr (a Prussian of the worst type), a German butterfly _ collector of the kind so much liked in days gone by; two fine British gentlemen._ a faithful Hottentot, a degraded British officer and his daughter (a girl of noble character), and a blind child. It will be seen that in judicious hands the material is provided for an enthralling narrative. Tho reader will not he disappointed, for tho author has done her work with more than average ability.

VARIOUS MAGAZINES. A wide choice in magazines is available to-day. Every phase of human activity is -.overed, so that at small cost one can obtain sufficient of these publications to cover the interests of bis household. Magazines are issued dealing with literary subjects, including fiction and poetry, science in all its branches : sport of many kinds, gardening, poultry-keeping, photography, motoring, physical culture, and the realm of woman in the ornamental, artistic, and domestic aspects. A judicious selection of magazines will keep the family amused and iustructa. throughout the year. Tho December issue of the ‘ Grand Magazine ’ :'s devoted chiefly to fiction The editor lias obtained the services of some of the most successful of presentday short story writers. Among familiar names are Edgar Wallace. Augustus ilnir, Hylton Cleaver, Fabian Tanner, .Roland Pertwee, William Freeman, and Albert Dorrlngtou. There are numerous illustrations by talented artists, and in addition there is a twocolor humorous supplement. ‘ Cassell’s Magazine’ for October contains a budget of short stories and a long complete novel by “ Barlimeus." George Robey provides the lighter side with an article entitled 1 More Don’ts for the Doubtful,’ and Captain Frank H Shaw relates a number of mysterious happenings of the sea which stir the imagination. 10. F. Denson, James M'Guinncss, Ernest .1:1. Robinson, Herbert Gale, and Morgan Johnson are some of tho authors contributing to this number. The 1 Business of Clothes,’ by Miss Grace Brown, will appeal to feminine readers, while B. Montgomery writes an amusing holiday articlo on scores on tho beach. Taken in its completeness, much will be found to amuse, interest, and enjoy in this issue. Thirl eon complete stories and an instalment of a serial story by E. Phillips Opponheim, together with sundry charming verses, give a varied choice of reading matter in the November ‘Story Teller.’ AH the contributors are well-known writers, and every story has boon carefully chosen and selected so that tho themes and subjects are entirely different. if tlic reader wants romance, it is there, if adventure is desired it is there, if light humor it is there also. A complete novel, ‘The Astonishing Bishop,’ by Frank Hubert, is of the bust class, and .a more entertaining story could not he desired. Captain Frank Shaw has a splendid tale of tho sea, written in his best style, and Warwick Deeping gives an example of his finished method and expression in 1 Restitution,’ a story of an Englishman who, having made a failure of life, dies a man. The November 1 Strand ’ is full of good things—short stories, interesting interviews with various celebrities, descriptive articles, and numerous illustrations. Among tho authors contributing to this issue are such well-known names as A Conan Doyle, P. G. Wodehouse. H. Do Vero Stacpoolo, E. Phillips Oppenheim, Thomas Burke, and Denis Mac.kail. ‘ Animals in Fiction ’ is an exceptionally interesting article by Caroline F. Richardson, in which she reviews the part played in literature by various animals, such as Pegasus, Anna Sewell’s “ Black Beauty,” ■Brer Fox’d and Brer Rabbit, tho Walms and Hie Carjjentcr, etc. Another good article is an interview with Vladimir do Pac.bma.nn, tho famous pianist. New inventions and discoveries and tho latest in the radio, motor, or aviation world, never fail to interest tho average man. woman, or child. The ‘ Popular Science Monthly ,’ an American publication, caters for this especially. Besides the _ latest scientific inventions, .this periodical contains articles on a variety of subjects, such as ‘ How I Unmasked tho Spirit Fakers,’ bv Houdini: ‘How a Cowboy-aviator Hunts Wild Horses,’ and ‘Every Day’s Work a Gamble With Death.’ The latter article deals with skyscraper builders and their dangerous occupation. There arc many other articles, and the whole magazine is profusely illustrated.

Miss Amy Lowell, the American writer, whose book on Keats was published shortly before her death last year, was an enthusiastic book collector. Her collections of Keats, Shelley, and Hardy are among the finest in the world. Miss Lowell possessed Mrs Thrale’s copy of Boswell’s ‘ Life of Samuel Johnson,’ with annotations and comments in Mrs Thrale’s handwriting. Her library will be presented to ths Harvard University.