BOOKS AND BOOKMEN

Evening Star, Issue 20020, 10 November 1928, Page 14

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN

VERSES LOST. High out of Tima they,fly, Beauties the poets lost— Their dreams that soared too high. Lonely and strange and clear, Shakespeare’s nncaptiircd bird Sings the note he died to hear. Too fierce for Greece or Rome. Up, up their visions sped To this inirnenser home. Here, tho Keats ceased to bo, And prisoned lies in dust, His nightingale went free. Call, anguished poet, call To these wanderers in the vast. . . Does a broken echo fall P Grotchen Warren, in the ‘ Atlantic Monthly.' BEGGARS. What noise of viols is so sweet _ As when our merry clappers ring? What mirth doth want when beggars meet? A beggar’s life is for a king. Eat, drink, and play, sleep when we list, _ , , Go where wo will—-so stocks be missed. Bright shines the sun; play, beggars play! Here’s scraps enough to servo today. Tho world is ours, and ours alone; For we alone have vyorld at wall. We purchase not—all'is our own; Both fields and street we beggars fill. , , Bright shines the sun ; play, beggars, play! Here’s scraps enough to serve today. Frank Davidson. HEW BOOKS A MIRACLE PLAY ‘The Hostage,’ a miracle plav, by Rev, Eris O’Brien, has been published by Messrs Angus ami Robertson, it tells in delightful manner an imaginary storv based on an incident in early Australian history. Under Governor Macquarie tho only religious services in the colonv were Anglican. Hie first act of the play shows a group ol Roman Catholics praying; as they had done tor years, that a nnest bo sent to minister ’in their faith Tho announcement to them of the arrival of Father O l'lyim is like rain after drought. But early hopes are shattered when Macquarie deports the unauthorised missionary. The priest, how'ever, had left behind “ some sonsecratcd Hosts ” —“ the bacra mental God ami “Our Lord Jesus Christ, verily present in the sacred species then reposing in the cottage ol William Davis at Sydney, had made Himself ‘ The Hostage,’ who would secure terms ol peace whereby liberty of conscience and Catholic missionaries w'ould speedily bo granted to the colonists of Australia.” In his introduction father 0 Bnon espressos the fear that “ those who are not members ol the Catholic Church may not understand the awe which Catholics feel at contemplation ol the incident.” There are some other things that outsiders will not appreciate.'" One is the suggestion that the only way in which the prisoners attending the Anglican services could avoid harm was to mend their clothes while the parson preached. And in the third act, where the voice of God is made to say that ‘lawful worship ” would yet he established “ in the southern world,’ the author’s prejudice leads him perilously near to giving offence. It sectarianises the Deity. There arc tnanv beautiful passages, and in the historical portions the characters are skilfully drawn. These sections make interesting rending, and the whole work will prove an inspiration to those who share the theological views of the author. •THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM 1 * There They Crucified Him ’ is the title given to a booklet containing four studies of Jesus and His Cross by Rev. Tulloch Yuille. M.A., 8.D., of Knox Church, Dunedin, published by the New Zealand Bible vnd Book Society. Quite evidently Mr Yuille is in love with his subject, and he writes in a way which must lead others to a deeper appreciation oi the world’s supreme act of self-sacrifice. While the studies show acquaintance with recent Christology they are not intended as a contribution to theology. They are popular and inspirational, written in a style that is free and familiar, sometimes colloquial and ejaculatory. For Mr Yuille is preacher rather than author.

The tremendous increase in tho number of books on the life and message of Jesus in the last fifteen years is one of the most significant features of the religious situation. A higher emphasis has never been put upon Jesus Christ without a renewed power resulting within the group concerned. The One who at times has been treated as the myth of creed-makers or the transcendent magician of the superstitious stands out more clearly to-day as the world’s supremo challenge to thinking men. This is iho burden of Mr Yuille’s booklet. “ When Jesus began His ministry of redemption He began it in this way; that by the force of His personality, by tho perfect obedience of His life, by the absolute surrender of His spirit to the will of God He would reveal God to the people and challenge them to follow His example. Ho called the people out to do the will of God. ‘See God in me,’ he cried; ‘what will yo do with God?’ That was His twofold challenge to the people of His nation.” These studies can bo heartily recommended to those who would hoar tho challenge more clearly. TALE OF RURAL ENGLAND ‘The Judas Tree,’ by Miss Almcy St. John Adcock (Hodder and Stoughton). is a story of the rural districts of Buckinghamshire. Her characters are drawn exclusively from the village people. She writes with an intimate knowledge of their manners and customs. habits of thought, and hopes ana fears. In some ways it is a depressing hook, and makes one wonder if the country folk of England are fairly represented. We know that among them nobility of character and self-sacrifice are not uncommon, but that aspect is not 1 feature of this book. At the same time it is written with quiet power and humour and apt descriptive phrases, and there are moments of dramatic intensity There is much rustic philosophy. Many of the characters are admirably drawn, and it there is little of real beauty in tho lives of the people tho writer gives little pictures that reveal her deep and abiding love of Nature and consummate skill in depicting the loveliness ol the fields and woods and hedgerows that lie about the scattered village of Tawny Ridge.

A LITERARY CORNER

EDITH HOWES With Christman nearly here many grown-ups are beginning to wonder what they can give then youngsters. ‘ Silvei Island,’ uy Edith Howes, wii. help them to solve a part of their difficulty as a new book from this gut.; authoress is always hailed with joy. This book deals principally with to adventures of Kn 1, Jim, and Wufflcs, who maroon themselves on this islet to hunt for treasure There arc enougn adventures to satisfy even the most voracious appetite, what with a bu lire, the discovery of a deserted cave with a cryptic letter, a light with an octopus, a terrible thunder storm, and the sinking ol their boat. As to the success of their treasure hunt, ho who reads will find out’ One of the great charms and educational values of tin. book is the wealth ol delightful Nature pictures, all dealing with New Zealan flora and fauna. Wnflles, a naturalist by instinct, soon makes friends wn a bellbird and other feathered inhabitants Indeed, all through one sees the band of a close, accurate, and loving observer of our country. The various games (his trio makes up will no doubt be an inspiration for future parties. Messrs Whitcoinbe and Tombs have produced the work in good style, with comfortable print for young eyes and fine excellent illustrations. A THRILLING STORY I A really thrilling story is ‘ The Three ; Crows,’ by John Hunter (Cassell and Co.). and it will bo an exceptional reader who dawdles over it, as it is one of those stories where only the end satisfies the interest roused in the preceding chapters. The Three Crows arc certainly a villainous trio, and in their unscrupulous campaign against Maurice Gatterman they give rein to ’ their criminal passions. The uiniance of Virginia and Tony, with its adven- ! turous passage, heightens the interest of the story. It is a tale packed with dramatic happenings, and the plot is well thought out and executed • Rogues Fall Out.’ by Herbert Adams (Methuen mid Co.).—‘Rogues Fall Out ’ is a first-class mystery story vividly told and well written, and it is the kind ol tale that one docs not like to put down until one has readied the last page. Herbert Adams is a wellknowu writer ol mystery stones, and tho one he has evolved in this book makes most absorbing reading. The disappearance ol a lour-year-old child and che finding of the body of a doctor and another man under circumstances pointing to murder and suicide, would not appear at first glance to be very closely related. Tho author, however, has interwoven tho two problems mtu a mystery that baffles the best brains of the police, and is solved eventually only by tho efforts oi a young solicitor, well known as a criminal investigator, who is drawn into the ease on the pleas ol his friend, formerly,a padre at the war, whose fiancee’s father, the doctor, was suspected of murdering tho other man and of then committing suicide. This girl undergoes some trying ordeals and exciting happenings in her efforts to prove her father’s innocence in the eyes of tho world The love interest acids to tho enjoyment of a capital story, i • - HOTES Mussolini’s long-awaited autobiography, which is called ‘ Steps of Life,’ will he published in a week or two. Hilaire Belloc’s new book on ‘ Tho Tactics and Strategy of tho Great Duke of Marlborough ’ will shortly be published. It will astonish most people to learn that ‘ Peter Pan ’ has never been printed, Hodder and Stoughton are now bringing it out in tho uniform edition of Barrie’s plays, with all its whimsical stage directions and a special preface. The diary of Viscount D’Abemon while he was British Ambassador to Germany, from 1920 to 1920, will be published by Hoddor and Stoughton, beginning with the first volume. The diary has been set in order and annoj tated by Professor Gerothwolil, and will be found to be a contribution of first-rate importance to the post-war history. We have just had one life of the late Field-Marshal Earl Haig, by Sir George Arthur. Now comes news of another, to bo published (by General Charteris, who was at one time during the war head of the Intelligence Department at G.H.Q. He was also a personal friend of Lord Haig, so ho should have some interesting things to tell us about that great soldier.

Tho late James Oliver Curwood will always bo remembered for his stories of the Canadian wild; but he left another memorial in_ his own life story, which is to be published by Hodder and Stoughton under the title ‘The Glory of Living.’ In this be told how, as a little boy, he rebelled against lb© confinement and discipline of school, and ran away to sea; how ho became interested in tho study of wild creatures, and how, out of that interest, he began to write—at first on a newspaper and then tho novels of tho open air which made him famous. Susan Buchan is the wife of John Buchan. She is also a great niece of the great Wellington. But that she has more than the mere warrant of that distant relationship for writing ‘ The Sword of State,’ a book about Wellington after Waterloo, may be judged by a few lines from the preface to the book, which is to be published ivy Hodder and Stoughton. “The fog of years rolls aside, and I see in clear detail a room in which an old lady in black is sitting sorting letters. . . . She hands the child at her feet a packet of her own childish correspondence to read; written in a well-defined script the letters describe the small incidents of family life. In nearly every ono a name occurs, as if inevitably. *We saw Uncle Arthur to-day.’ ‘ Unde Arthur passed on his horse to-day.’ ‘Alas! Uncle Arthur has left London ’—as if London was a desert without him. ‘Who was Uncle Arthur?’ asks the child with a child’s casual curiosity. ‘Your great-great uncle,’ is her grandmother’s reply, ‘the man who beat Boney.’ ” Since it was opened as a museum two years ago Stevenson’s birthplace at 8 Howard place. Edinburgh, has been visited by 3,000 pilgrims from all parts of the world (says ‘Church of England Newspaper’). The exhibits are well worth seeing. They include many letters, manuscripts, and personal belongings. and pictures of life in Samoa. One of the most interesting relics, however. is the inlaid linen press given by Stevenson to Henley. It was made by Deacon. Brodie, whose duplicity, it is said, suggested the story of Dr JekylJ and Mr Hyde. For Is 6d the visitor to Edinburgh can enjoy an excellent motor tour of the Stevenson country, covering Swanston. the Rentlands,'and Glencorse Church, which Stevenson attended as a boy and which is now in ruins.

Mr Rafael Sabatini recently finished a novel on England and Spain in Eli aboth’s time, and it will be published with the title ‘ The Hounds of God.’ - For some time before Thomas Hardy’s death his wife hud been collecting materia l\ for a record of his life from his ; birth to the year of ‘ Toss of the D’Urborvilles.’ Her volume will be issued by Messrs Macmillan on November 2 under the title ‘ Early Life of Thomas Hardy, 1841-1891: Compiled largely from Contemporary Notes. Letters, Diaries, and Biographical Memoranda, as well as from Oral Information in Conversations extending over many Years.’ A great part of the material was read and revised by Mr Hardy before it was prepared for press. Dorothy Caruso, wife of Enrico Caruso, with the aid of her sister, has written ‘ Wings of Song,’ a biography of the great singer. In this volume is given a glimpse of preparations behind the scenes- “ Just before he went on lie inhaled a quantity of tepid salt water. Drawing it deep into his lungs (sic) he expelled it before it strangled him,. I always watched this performance with some anxiety. Another rite followed that was almost religiously curried out His dresser and his valet stood on each side of him. One man handed him a tiny glass of whisky. As he finished it the other man gave him a small glass of sparkling water, and this ’was immediately followed by a quarter of an apple. Caruso believed that this cleared his throat In each of his costumes, at the point where his hands fell, were two shallow pockets. In each pocket lie carried a small vial of salt water. Fie had become expert in using this on the stage unperceived by the audience.” Buckingham Palace has seen many changes in the course of centuries, and has served several different purposes, ft was a silk-growing farm, planted by James 1. to promote the industry in this country, ft was the London residence of the Earl of Arlington, the Minister of Charles H., and then, and at other times, the resort of notable characters. Later it was the home of George IV., and its history since then lias been intimately associated with the Royal Family. Mr Bruce Graeme, in his ‘ Story of Buckingham Palace,’ has gone deeply into the history of the place, and he endeavours to present its human and dramatic sides.

At the annual congress of tbo National Union of Organists’ Associations at Lancaster recently, the delegates hoard an address on Wordsworth by Mr C. Hardman, president of the Cambridge Union Society in 1925. “It is the fashion to despise Wordsworth today,” said Mr Hardman. ” Young people do not read him because he is considered very moral in his teachings and prosy in his poetry. That is not thought a good thing, but how can young people judge poetry? In thirty years’ time perhaps Wordsworth will have regained his high place in literature. There is no one to-day who can write poems like ‘ Tintern Abbey,’ with its rich organ notes of luxuriant music.” To appreciate fully the beauty of the English lakes, continued Mr Hardman, it was necessary to leave efiars-a-banc. motor cars, and petrol pumps '"behind and climb and walk as Word'-worth did. Wordsworth had walked, on the whole, 170,009 miles in his lifetime.