ABOUT BOOKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12534, 22 June 1901, Page 9

ABOUT BOOKS.

“ The Baron’s Sons,” by Maurus Jokai, (Bell's Colonial Library. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs.)

Mr Percy Bicknell’s translation of Maurus Jokai’s splendid Hungarian romance makes admirable reading. ‘lt is questionable whether any other of Jokai’s novels equals this one in sustained interest. One wants to read it at a sitting. It is a story of the Hungarian revolt of 1848-9, in which Maurus Jokai was himself concerned, the fortunes of’the three sons of a stern old baron being the subject of the plot. The eldest is a man of flue mind and high intellectual standard, the second is a soldier, and the third, still a mere youth, is of the artistic temperament. All are heroes, but the supreme sacrifice is made by the youngest and weakest. .He dies for his eldest brother. Jokai, himself, has no more vivid narrative than the story of the flight of the 220 hussars over the Carpathians into Hungary, and this is not the only notable passage in the novel. The whole romance moves with vigorous life, and the reader is carried along with a rush in spite of himself. This is not characteristic of all Jokai’s work;.ho appears to bear translation rather badly, so that some- of his books are tedious to English readers. It can hardly be urged against Mr Bicknell, however, that he is at fault in this in--1 stance, for “ The Baron’s Sons ” will be found quite the reverse of tedious. Mr William Watson evidently finds dyspepsia inspiring,- and expresses bis feelings in four lines in the “ Westminster” : On an Exotic Dinner. Strange sauce,. that dominates mysterious moat, Strange meat, that struggles against -sauce ■in vain;— I eat, and wondering why and what I eat, Yearn tor the porridge of my youth again. The name and fame of “ Christopher North,” once the leading figure in Edinburgh, seem to be held cheap by the pre-sent-day , niagistrales. These gentlemen have just decreed the destruction of the old-time tavern in , Gabriel’s Row—now called St Vincent Street—-where the •“ nqotes ambro danse ” were wont to be holden. And that, too, despite the appeal of counsel to let it live for the sake of a great memory. It was condemned on the simple ground that it was little else than a cellar, approached by a flight of “ downstairs,” and -so hopelessly out of date 4 n 'd dhsuited to its aristeeratic Surroundings.

Readers of recent American novel's ■ will remember the-references to the early , days of- the New York “ Tribune.”, The journal has Just been, celebrating -its sixtieth anniversary. When Horace' Greeley issued the first' 1 number of the “ Tribune,” the Holy Alliance still dominated the , Continent of Europe.- England still suffered, from the Corn Laws, and slavery was rampant in America. Mr G, W. Smalley won his first great success as war correspondent of the “ Tribune,” and later on sent from London record-breaking reports of, Sedan and Gravelotte. Bayard Taylor’s “Views Afoot,” the first of: a series of travel notes, covering all parts of,.the, world, first a.ppeared in the “ Tribune,” in the forties. Colonel Hay, now Secretary cf State, was another of the “ Tribune’s ” contributors, and it is pleasant* though n‘ot surprising, to learn" that Dr George Ripley, one of the “Tribune’s” literary critics, exercised the utmost vigilance in everything that concerned the dignity of the language. “ The v nibst trifling hint of slang br bad English that crept into the paper was sufficient to rouse his wrath.” What, however, the “Tribune” most prides itself upon is, no doubt, ' the influence it exercised in the great movement for the abolition of slavery.

‘Among the many successful Irish journalists oil the London Press, says “ M.A.P.” no bn© has done better work, or is more popular, than Mrs Humphry—the universally, read “Madge,” of Truth.” The daughter of a North of Ireland clergyman, Miss Graham cam© to London as a mere girl, add by her talent and energy soon made for , herself an assured position. By starting “ Girls’ Gossip ” in “ Truth ” nearly twenty years ago, “ Madge ” may be regarded as the originator of the chatty ladies’ letter, which has since found so many imitators. That the Writer of this popular column still contrives to keep it as fresh and readable as evef in spite of the immense amount of other work for which she is responsible, is a striking proof of the wonderful versatility and lightness of touch which makes every subject she deals with crisp, and’ a pleasure to read. Mrs Humphry'' is a many-sided Woman, excelling ;as mUch in matters domestic as in matters literary'. She is ‘also an excellent musician.

Maurice Maeterlinck’S latest work is “ The Life of. the Bee.” For twenty' years M, Maeterlinck lias been a keeper of bees, but the notes and experiments he has made during that period are- to be reserved for a mofe technical work. Like "many other authors, he has written; a description of his book. In this ho observes; —“I myself have now for a long time ceased to look for anything more beautiful in this world, or more interesting, than th© truth; Of, at least, than the effort‘one is able to make towards the truth. I shall state nothing, therefore, ‘ that I have not verified myself, or that is not so fully accepted in the textbooks as to render further verification superflous.’

kicssrs Archibald Constable and Co. are publishing a volume of hitherto unprinted autograph poems by King James I. of England, and Sixth of Scotland, the existence of which, in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, has recently bean discovered. The title-page is’ air exact reproduction of the beautiful title-page especially designed- and engraved for the folio editions of the King’s Works, published under Ms own supervision in 1616. The test is accompanied by- several collotype reproductions of the pages of the book, and, by, the permission cf Sir Robert Gresley, Bart., the frontispiece is a portrait of King James, which has never hitherto been’ published. The volume will be edited by Mr Robert S. Rait, and only ■250 1 • copies will be for sale.

Messrs George Bell and Sons will publish shortly a colonial edition of “The Siege of Kinnassi,” by , Lady Hodgson:, wife of Sir Frederic Hodgson, late Governor of the Gold Coast. It •will be profusely illustrated. The hook has been very well received in England. The price will bo 10s 6d. The same publishers also announce a colonial edition of a new work by Louise Jordan Milo, author of “ When We Were strolling Players in the. East.” It will-be- entitled “ Weddings arid Wooingsdti Many Climes,” and will be published, shortly. It will be illustrated, and the price will be 9s.