REVIEWS FOR READERS

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 3647, 2 December 1918, Page 4

REVIEWS FOR READERS

BY T.L.M.

DENNIS'S DIGGER SMITH

Tho legion of Now Zealand admirors of tho Sentimental Bioko and Doreen and Ginger Mick will bo delighted to learn that their creator, C. J. Dennis, has shaken tho clogs of Gosh off his pen and has returned to the vernacular with hia Christmas book, "Digger Smith" (Angus and Robertson, Sydney), which is bound to be a best seller. Readers of "Tho Moods of Ginger Mick will remember Little Smith of Collin'wood, who "'owled a fightin' tuno" at Sari Bair. This book tells of his return from Franco. Tho story grips from the start, and in some respects is tho best work Mr Dennis has given us. It has plenty of comic relief, plenty of tho humour that is close to tears, and, as ever, tho human-hoartodness that "gits us where wo live" The reader is introduced to capital types of Australian country folk, neighbours of our old friends Bill and Doreen, the latter as lovable as over, revealing quite unsuspected depths of quiet humour. Digger Smith thought a lot "Out There." Tho poem "West" is a gem, and Mr Donnis himself thinks that he has never done anything better. Digger, gazing on the sunset glory and thinking of "good mateß gone AVest," reasons inevitably that "there must be somethin' else —some'ow." "Gone AVest I" said Digger Smith. "Ah, lad, I've seen 'em goin' AVest, An' often wonder, when I look, If they 'aye 'ad it dealt 'em crook Or if they've got the rest , They earned twice over by the spoil They spent down in that dinkum 'Ell."

And here is another bit of the vernacular, from "Before the War," with the Bloke doing afternoon tea duties—

My wife 'as took the social 'abit bad. I ain't averse—one more new word I've learned— ; Averse to tea, when tea is to be 'ad; An' when it comes I reckon that it's earned. It's jist a drink, as fur as I'm concerned. Good for a bloke that's toilin' on the land; But when a caller comes, 'ere I am turned Into a social butterfly, off-'and.

Uv course, I've 'ad it all out with the wife, I argues that there's work that must be done, An' tells 'er that I 'ates this tony life. She sez there's jooties that we must not shun. You bet that ends it; so I joins the fun, An' puts 'em all at ease with silly grins— Slings bits uv repartee like "'Aye a bun," An' passes bread an' butter, for me sins.

THE TECHNICAL SERIES

j Two more of CasselPs practical j handbooks are to hand, per Wm. Carthew and Son. "Motor Cycles," fully illustrated, is edited by Bernard Jones. It deals in an understandable way with the building, care, and management of motor cycles. There are also special chapters on ignition, which are alone worth the price of this handy book. "Poultry and Profit" is a book of 125 pages, well illustrated, compiled by one of England's authorities, Wrh. Broomhead. There are chapters on the Why of keeping fowls. Accommodation, Selecting, Mating, Feeding, Breeds, Chickens, Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys. A sane and practical handbook.

CHRISTMAS BOOKLETS

Three beautiful little books, ideal presents for the Christmas and New Year season are to hand from Angus and Robertson, of Sydney. (1) "The Cit yof Riddle-me-Ree"—"l found it myself for my playmate next door"—

comprises a set of verses for' children by clever Zora Cross, beautifully illustrated by Alice Crane, who is as artistic as Miss Cross is poetic. (2) "Wattle Babies" is a further demonstration of the special gifts of May Gibbe in utilising Nature herself in "putting a face on things." (3) "The Charm of Sydney" is an artistic and literary tribute that should delight the Sydneysider at home and abroad. Clever Sydney Ure Smith, versatile in media, provides the pictures (each a gem), whilst Bertram Stevens,, has shown discrimination in selecting the letterpress.