BOOKS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18042, 8 March 1919, Page 4

BOOKS OF THE DAY.

(By LTBER.) A GERMAN SOCIALIST'S VIEW OP THE "WAR. Paul Lensch, author of "Three Years of World-Revolution" (Constable and Co.), is a typical representative of "educated" German Socialism. Born at Potsdam in 1873, Lensoli had a publio school and university training, after which he served in the army, did journalistic work at Strasburg, and afterwards travelled extensively, spending a consiueraDitt wnie in jMigianu. iu ii/OH no joined the staff of tue Leipzig Socialist organ, the " Volks-2ioi-tung," ana was its clnof editor for some years. Since lLUii he lias been a member of Mie lleiclistag, but has been cnieiiy prominent as a leading contributor to a very influential ouciaitic journal, " uio Llocke." Lonsoli's book is astonishingly outspoken in its, criticism ot the war, but he makes it abundantly clear that Gorman feudalism, as he would have it be, would perpetuate and .intensify somo of the worst evils of old-time* Prussianism. His book shows that a German Socialist can bo just as intolerant, arrogant and race-selhsh and prejudiced as the most reactionary Junker. Also, now that certain German Soaialists profess a desire to throw all the blame for the war on the Hohenzollern and military party, it is interesting and instructive to notice that Lensch .is evidently obsessed by just as deejpi-seated hatred of England as was ever manifested by Prussian militarists. To English readers Lensch's glorification of Germany as the champion of small nations, the saviour of the world from English domination, may appear positively grotesque, but ninety-nine Germans out of every hundred hold this grossly distorted view of the case, and believe with the brilliant Socialist journalist that Germany's struggle, which Bhe had to wage against the wholo world', became a on behalf of the wholo world. Thoso who were to ho liberated fought against their liberator; the oppressed ranged themselves on the side of the oppressor. Clearly there are none go blind as those who refuse to see. The depths of the average German concetit are unfathomable. Written early in 1918, the book discloses the author's desire to spread the good gospel of German propaganda, and proves that clever journalist and shrewd and subtle as is Lensch in certain of his political previsions, he could blunder, as a prophet, as badly as the "All Mightiest" himself. After declaring that the "pronounced antiEnglish tendency of the watchword, "No annexations," "compels England to disclose herself as a universal plunderer . . . who intended to utilise

this war as an opportunity for establishing her word-domination on an unshakable foundation for centuries to come," Lensch argues that German propaganda should not fail to paint Germany " as liberator of the nations." Curious how these Huns have so little sense of humour. Figure to yourself, as the French say, a Belgian, or a Serb, a Pole, a Czech, being calmly informed he must regard) the Hun as a liberator I But Lensch does not seem to have any idea, he) is talking nonsense, for he continues: Hero (in " Germany as Liberator") is an idea which must be made to speak on Gcrn/any's behalf which is capable of rendering; the same service to hor cause as did the ideas of " Freedom " and " Equality " to the Fronch Eevolution in 1789. This idea will trje.mph, and Germany will triumph. Bub neither the idea nor the nation on whose behalf such a mendacious plea was to be circulated has triumphed. Even so prejudiced nnd unscrupulous a writer as Lensch can, by accident it may be, hit upon truth at times. As a tribute to the splendid way in which Great Britain, that effete worn-out, stupid country, according to so many Cennan publicists, rose to the occasion and, discarding old precedents and systems, courageously faced her difficulties, certain passages in this book are made very interesting reading. " Again and again," he writes, " we are impressed by the elasticity and vigour with which old England grappled with tho effects of the World-Revolution (the war) upon her antiquated social constitution. In this Germany may well learn much from her." Lensch praises the marvellous revival in English agriculture, and sees in it a coming social revolution in England, a revolution which will affect tho very foundations of society, and prepare the way for " the first great examplo of an agriculture systematically organised in accordance with social and national needs." " The building up of a new England, which is thus taking place," is ho says, " tho greatest revolutionary phenomenon of the present day." The author writes nt great length on the annexation question. As to Alsace-Lorraine he is pleased to remark that "if in addition to fill their other misfortunes, the French were to suffer the further misfortune of obtaining German Alsace-Lorraine after this war, they would very soon discover what a cross they had thereby laid upon themselves. No doubt the French will regard the threatened misfortune with a typical Gallic sangfroid. The crocodile tears shed by Lensch over the "coloured races" who have fought for the Allies—these "poor creatures who havo perished in the war like patient cattle in tho service of the English and the French " —will only evoke contempt from those who have read how the Huns have treated the "coloured races" in Eastern and South-Westem Africa. In this and several other passages Lensch only proves himself a master of the national German art of hypocrisy. The book concludes with an excursion into the risky domain of prophecy. After admitting that " in the public opinion of Europe, Germany has much for which <to make amends, for it is declared that the forces of Germany were always at the service of reaotion and that wherever a nation fought its way to freedom, the Germans were its opponents^—in America, in France, in Poland," the author consoles himself with the thoughtAll this it now wiped out and forgotten in view of the service which Germany Is now rendering to the world. What does tho French Revolution of 1789 Rmount to compared with the huge dimensions of tho World Revolution (the Great War) of today? The only parallel which history affords to the overthrow of tho English world domination by the Germans of to-day is tho overthrow of the Roman world domination by the Germanic races of that time. Then, as now, the wholo of the known world reeled under tho shock. As then, so now. And then will dawn a new epoch for humanity. As a counter of unhatohed chickens there is little to choose between this Pan-German Socialist and tho ex-Im-perial despot at Berlin and present exile of Amerongen. LIBER'S NOTE-BOOK. Clever Mr Barry Pain suggests, I see, in his Futurist book, that in time to come novels , should be in four classes—mild (grey cover), medium (pink cover), full (blue cover), extra strength (asbestos cover). " Books in the asbestos class," ho says, " will not be accepted at the libraries of cash chemists, in spite of the factthat salvolatile and other restoratives are ready at hand on the premises.". It would seem, relates Barry Pain, that a young man was 6ent by his aunt —from whom he had expectations—to select a, book for her at the library. He chose a novel entitled "The Vicar's Voice," the title presenting such an assurance of safety that he made no further examination. It proved to he like Mr Arnold Bennett's highly popular work, "The Pretty Lady," and on the following day his aunt executed a codicil and refused to ac-

cent an apology. An asbestos or even a blue cover would have prevented this catastrophe. " lan Hay," otherwise Major Tan Hay Beith, the popular Scots novelist, seems to havo established himself in firm popularity in the United States as a lecturer. In the winter 1917-18 he raised no less than £2BOO for various patriotio funds, as well as doing useful work in explaining to Americnn audiences the true meaning of Britain's national effort in the war. In December last he commenced a second lengthy lecturing tour in tho States. Another British novelist who is lecturing in America is tho Very Reverend Monsignor Biokcrstnffe Drew, bettor known by his pen name of " John Ayscought."

That clever literary gossiper, " Penguin," who was' at one timo a contributor to "The Nation," has transferred his activities to the " Observer," a London Sunday paper, which has always been famous for the attention it pays to literary matter. In a recent causerie, " Penguin " gossips agreeably upon a collection of novels " written by men who have won their fame in fields other than fiction." In his list appears Carlvle's unfinished romance, " Wolton Boinfried," which first appeared in 1827, and is now accessible in "The Last Words of Carlyle " ; John Sterling's three-volume novel,' "Arthur Coningsby " ; and Frederick Denison Maurice's " Eustace Conway." In the Tast-named there is a singularly unpleasant character entitled " Captain Mnrryat." The nuthor of "Peter Simple," essentially a choleric individual, waxed very wrnth, nnd had to be solemnly assured by Maurice that the use of his name was purely accidental. Few people know that Fronde, tho historian, wrote two other novels beside "The Chief of Dunboy." which appeared when he was a comparatively old nuin. One was "The Lieutennnt's Bnujrhter"; tho other was entitled " Shadows of tho Clouds," and is said to be largely autobiographical. Bean Hook (Theodore Hook's brother) wrote a brace of novels, and Lord Brougham was responsiblo for a romnnce entitled " Albert lanel," which ho tried hard to suppress. Rennn's " Patrice," Taine's unfinished " Etienne Mavran," are quoted by "Penguin," as also the usualiv staid and Rober Sainte Beuve's ."Volupte," the story of tho great French critic's love affair with Madame Victor Hugo. Ido not often come across the London "Observer," but for " Penguin's " articles alone it is well worth looking up by bookmen. The egregious self-conceit of the average German professor is by this timo world notorious, but it is too generally assumed that Hun megalomania had its origin in the victories of 1870. As a matter of fact tho egotistical and Conceited professorial Fritz of to-day is no worse thnn his forefathers of over a hundred years ago. A correspondent of the New York "Nation" writes to say that ho has unearthed n curious anecdote in an old book, " Exerc'ses to the Pules and Construction of French Speech." by Lewis Chnmbnnd, published in London in 1801. The anecdnto reads as follows:—" A German doctor in an assembly where he wanted to refute Rousseau's satire against sciences and arts thus began his speech: ' Brethren, wero Socrates to como back among us, and were ho to see the flourishing situation in which the sciences are in Europe, why do T say Europe? in Germany; why do I say Germany? in Snxony; why do I say Saxonv? at Leipzig; why do T snV at Leipzig? in this university. Then, struck with astonishment, and awed with respect, Socrates would modestly sit down among our scholars; and. receiving our lessons with humility, would soon lose amonrr us that, ignorance he so justly complained of."