ABOUT BOOKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12588, 24 August 1901, Page 4

ABOUT BOOKS.

“Talcs From Natal,” by A. R. R. Turnbull. (London : T. Either Unwin,.), These are stories hot from th© war, not war stories, but sketches of Boer and native life and character with til© very brand of truth on every page. Honest, humorous, often sympathetic, but always true, they endeavour, with no mean measure of success, to tell the reader what they are like, these people with whom Britain has bfen fighting so long. One turns with most Interest to the Boer tales, to “Boer Bespiodere,” a slight, humorous sketch, “De Schoelmeisje,” the story of a governess, and “ Paul Kniher and Piet Yubftir,” a more pretentious effort. The style has the merit of being , straightforward, though, the free us© of the Taal is a little confusing, in spite of the liberal translation notes. The stories of natives are far from uninteresting, and on the whole this little volume from Natal ought to meet with a very kindly reception. “Th© Relief of Kuinari,” by Captain H. O. J. Biss. (Methuen’s Colonial Library. Christchurch; Whitoombe and Tombs.) Apart from the interest of the marrative and the description of Ashanti and its people, this is the sort of book a Britisher ought to read. The Empire really knows nothing.of its “little wars” until they are things Of the past, and even then one is dependent mainly on official despatches and Government publications. Captain Biss, of the West African Frontier Force, was one of the few British officers who were engaged in the recent Ashanti campaign, and this story of the war is therefore firsthand and reliable'. Ho takes the justice of the .affair largely for granted, hut explains clearly and nob at too great length the causes of the Ashanti outbreak, the organisation of the force for the relief of Kumasi, and the subsequent punishment of the natives. Outside the actual narrative Captain Biss has written an exceedingly interesting introductory note on the general position of the British in the Nigerian region and on, the organisation of “the native troops. The story of the catfipaigu is told in» au easy, ii-citiiral with frequent by-the-ways and incidental references to people and country. Tho operations and movements are rendered comprehensible by the inclusion of the Intelligence Department’s map, and there are reveral excellent illustrations. “The Mcteialtehip of Shakspere,” by “ CM».” (London; Greening and Co. Christchurch: Whitcombc and! Tombs } ss). Mr Charles Downing’s previous publications, “God in ’Shakspere,” and “Great Pan Lives,” attracted oonsidenabl© attention, partly on account of the author’s intimate and accurate textual knowledge of Shakspere, but mainly because of his theories with regard to the meaning and inspiration of the sonmets and the great ■dramas. “The Messiahshiip of Shakspere” is a further attempt to elucidate the personality and religion of the poet. ■ The sonnets, ho contends, reveal him as the impersonation of the Universal Spirit, and as the new Messiah, or expo under of Christianity, in “The Tempest.” Especially with regard) to the sonnets, these essays will! be found lull of suggestion, and th© notes of the symbolism of “The Tempest,” “ Winter’s Tale” and “ Ovmbelino,” if occasionally obscure’, are fraught with sincerity and sympathy. Whether “ Ckfe ” has at length, found the true explanation of Shakspere’s inspiration is a question, more ini doubt. The value to Students of his comparisons and crons-read-ino's of texts roust he considerable, but the volume is not to be taken up merely to, pass an idle half-hlour. Truth being often, stranger than fiction, it follows that there must be a whole! literature of interesting and exciting stories in the daily life of men and 1 women, and it was to induce some of these men and women to tell their (dories that the “Wide World Magazine” was Arab started. Once in a decade, of course, a Rougemont may appear on the scene, hut taking the fat with the lean, the “ Wide World ” has turned out a wonderfully interesting budget of adventure stories. Some of theise have been reprinted in volume form ax "Wide World Sea. Adventure.” (Stories like “For the'Company’s Credit.” “Adrift in the Arctic Sea,” and “The Wreck of the General Grant,” to choose a trio at random, are healthy enough and exciting 'enough for any young render. (Whitcomhe find Tombs). The revival of the “ Tatler,” an old name for a new journal, reminds a London journal that it ia 190 years since Dick Stacie wrote; —'“The printer having informed me that there are as many of these papers printed as will make four volumes, I am now come to the end of my ambition in this matter, and have nothing further to. say to the world under the character of Isaac Bickerstaff.” But Stella, in Dublin, had the blunt truth from Swift :V‘ Steele’s last ‘Tatler’ came out tu-day. You will ?e-‘ it before this comes to you, and how ho takes his leave of the world. He never told sc much as Addison of it, who was surprised, as much ax I; but, to. say the truth, it was teiie, for he grew cruel dull, and day. To

my knowledge, he had several go j od hinte to go upon; bub he was too lazy, and weary of the work, that he could not improve them.” To do Steele justice, he expressly states that the personation of Mr Bickerstaff had become “an irksome task” to ■him. Mr George Meredith, as president of the Society of Authors, pays a warn tribute t 6 tho late Sir Walter Besanfc in the July “ Author,” describing him as “ a valorous, alert, persistent advocate ” in the cause of the literary profession. Sir Walter’s object, he says, was “ simply to establish ft system of fair dealing between the Sagacious publishers of books attd the inexperienced, often heedless, producers.” “We have lost in him,” adds Mt Meredith, “ the very beating heart of our society, and it is by holding his name in grateful remembrance that' we my best hope to hav| something of his energies remai&mg with us.” The society's organ, by the way, has been suspended for two months, until arrangements are made for a successor to feir Walter Besanfc as editor. * rvrr ' w ’ Why should Mrs Brown-Potter go down to Gorkston, the seaside suburb of Great Yarmouth, to give recitations at a church service on Sunday evening? asks the Daily Chronicle.” Gorleston has lovely sands,, ami there is no more pleasant place for quiet people oil a fin© summer day.* There is, however, another attraction. The vicar is the Rev Forbes Phillips, better known in the literary world as, “Athol Forbes,” of “ Cassock and Comedy ” fame. Fcr Mrs Brown-Potter “ Athol Forbes ” is Writing ft play. The vicar of Gorleston did nut treat his congregation at Sunday’s evensong to selections from his new play. Mrs BrownPotter came to help his Organ Fund, and with that object recited to a crowded congregation “ Abide with Me,” and the once popular address of the Dying Christian to his Souli THE QUEST!. {“ Pall Mall 'Gazette.”) Thou little Child with naked ieet That walked in the noisy street, ■Whence boniest 'Thou, and whither goest/ Say, it Thou knowest. ■By muddy curb and haring gas, I see uuy tiny footsteps pass; On sodden fa<m and ragged singer Thy wide eyes linger. Thou stayest not hy the windows bright, That flaunt their gaudy wares to-night, From gold and gems that show so bravely, Thou turnest gravely. Ivor dainty food nor glittering toy Allure Thy glance* Thou little Boy; ■O, where, bareheaded, dost Thou wander, On what dost ponder? Then said the Child, “ In wind and, wet I seek and seek a dwelling yet: Here is no .stable and no manger ■For Me the stranger. “The flower-girl on whose tawdry gown The drops of rain are soaking down, — Beneath her tattered shawl, unbidden, Whiles have I hidden, “ The shabby, weary, faded folk, •Bowed down bene&th the accustomed yolk, With coarsened hands aild laces hollow, Homeward ’ I follow; “And I will enter all unknown Across their dingy threshold stone; Poor, tired, obscure, they shall be blest there, For I will rest there.”