IN THE LIBRARY

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1926, Page 9

IN THE LIBRARY

A LYRIC POET. 7 The lyric gift is one which has been exercised in its English form since the lays of Wyatt and Spenser to the present time by a long list of poets. Amongst these the name of Richard Lovelace shines brightly. Mingling with a company keenly appreciative of this beautiful poetic form and capable of giving exquisite expression to some sentiment, young Lovelace himself was able to add lustre to the assembly. The poet who, when 18 years of age, was present at a visitation to Oxford by the court of Charles, was first a soldier before he turned to verse-mak-ing and distinguished himself in both fields of activity. Hence the title of a book, “The Cavalier Spirit on the Life and Work of Richard Lovelace,” by Cyril Hughes Hartmann. This furnishes us with an interesting portrait of the poet who though he wrote so little is seldom so widely quoted. Everyone for instance knows the lines from “To Althea from Prison”: Stone Walls do not a Prison make Nor Iron Bars a Cage, or the ending of “To Lucasta, Going to the Warms,” ' „ I could not love thee Deare so much,. Lov’d I not Honour more.

‘‘ Mr Hartmann, ’ ’ says the ‘ Christian Science Monitor,’ ’'has been partien* larly happy in the arrangement of his material. , He paints rapidly a picture of the stirring events in which the young Lovelace took part, the gay and witty companions, the petitionihgs and counter-petitionings of a populace demonstrations, imprisonments, and then sets forth the poet’s comments. History was not dates and facts,’ but glowing, living companions and their deeds in which one .joined. Verse and song were threads in the shimmering fabric hourly woven. This arrangement of material, the delineation of the»oe easions, followed by poems they brought forth, helps the reader to catch the poet’s own white heat. "It is touching to think upon, the youth of Lovelace, plunged so pitiably soon in political affrays” which beggared his joy in life and shattered his fortunes. It was a swif 4 change from a life of colourful display, of white and scarlet uniforms and plumes, of song - and liberality to gray days of poverty, however softened by the kindness of friends."

Much has been written of the inn? of London. The eating places of New York in turn are making a' claim upon public attention and their champio” and delineator is George S. Chappell, who has written a hook on the subject entitled "The Restaurants of New York.’’ As the famous inns of England have an atmosphere and association of their own so 'have the restaurants of the Manhattan Island city a distinctive note. Something of this .is sensed by such stories with which O. Henry has delighted us arid now Mr. Chappell has particularised in what should prove a very interesting book.

"The True Stevenson," by George S. Heilman, is the latest addition in the realm of%X.S. biography. As the title indicates the book purports to give us an intimate and accurate picture of that lovable and heroic figure in literature, Tusitala.

NOTES AND COMMENT, A charming book of essays ■ and travel sketches in Sicily is "Sicilian Noon” by Louis Golding which has been published by Chatto and Windus. The author shows his powers of description in numerous fine passages while his sense of humour is also much in evidence.

It is a failing of these times to dispffrageanodem poetry and to think that the art departed with the last century. With most people it would seem that verse like wine must be old before it is mellowed and takes upon itself a form that can best be appreciated. In these days of wireless, aeroplanes' and general advancement they think there is something incongruous in writing poetry which somehow is associated with more romantic things. But Keats and Wordsworth and Bryon in their day, while they had their admirers, had their many detractors and therefore it would appear that the appreciation of poetry is along conservative lines and no matter what the age any innovation is resented. While of course there are some phases of modern verse such as free verse, if it can be called poetry, which must ultimately be condemned, nevertheless when properly judged, perhaps by a later generation, many of our present day poets will take high rank. In an essay in pamphlet form “Poetry and Criticism,” Miss Edith Sitwell takes the modern critic to task and enters a defence of modern poetry which should make interesting reading.

Kathleen Norris has already established her reputation as a writer who depicts actual human beings. She is always at her best in California, and in her latest boak “Little Ships” she gives us, with that deep human sympathy, tho absence of which is so fatal to mere cleverness, life stories of many youths maidens. She sketches their futures with the artistry born of artless love. The book, as, a whole, is steeped in the activities of normal life and refreshingly oblivions of pathological problems, gives a picture of tumultuous struggle and realisable achievement which, somehow or other, conveys the illusion of collective reality.

(By the -Bookman.l

A history m' the Women Polic<r r Volunteers iirpabsed in 1914 by the late Miss Tkinui Dawson is furnished by “Tin-' pioneer Policewoman.” This corps did valuable work during the war but afterwards its services appear to b:,\< b'on passed over when there was a Twinge of Chief Commissioners nr i the official Women Police Patrols u established.

We have ha 1 r.iuajf delightful books written for merely comprising philosophic dir nrses on various subjects. Prom the days of Hazlitt’a “Table Talk. ’ to Holmes’ delightful Breakfast Table series and Gissihg’s “Private Pap n- i of Henry Ryecroft”’ the list ,is a rich one. Not the least charming of this "ornr of literature are the jottings of Richard King under the title of “iv-th Silent Friends.” Now that talented author has issued a fresh collection o? papers Friends,” which has a wide range- of subjects treated r, it,h all the power of a fertile fancy an 1 a happy mixture of humour and «e-„ -nonsense. Originally the “silent frivr-.is” were books but in dealing with g-aeml life, Mr. King; has gone -beycr.il this meaning.

Tht Bodlcy !‘■ has always had a liking for books about London, and it has three n»\v cn«» coming along. Mr Kenneth ITar writes on "London’s. Latin Quarter" meaning where Bohemian, literary;, and artistic life may be - found. Outstanding personalties are mentioned and descriptions are given of centres like the BriMfrogs Club and the Ham-Bone Mr Enroll Sherson deals with London,’s Lost Theatres of the Nineteenth- r 'entury, ’’ their plays, their actors, and their' audiences. Finally, Mr. George Byron Gordon, has done a book or "Rambles in Old London, ’’ which ie fully illustrated.

It would need a man of very exceptional gifts indeed to succeed' fully irt the task Mr o"cr.ham has 1 set himself in "The Hidden Years.’’ This id no less than to tell the story of tho childbed and the youth of Christ, with a very short account of His ministry and . crucifixion. But as j the title indicates, the writer is mainly concerned with Christ’s early days. The narrative is put into the mouth of one Azor, who ip described as living With his mother in a cottage next door to that occupied by Joseph and Mary, and the devoted playmate and friend of Jesus. The "author has certainly avoided many pitfalls and carried out his work with taste, discretion, and entire sincerity, so that we cannot imagine anyone’s susceptibilities being wounded, say? the "Daily Telegraphy’’ in reviewing -the book. But we cannot pretend that he has succeeded in giving us;more than a picture of a gentle and entirely upright boy. There are certain descriptions of. the carpenter’s shop, glimpses of tho surrounding country, and tiny incidents a quiet charm, But ' the - general effect |C.f the- story is somewhatthin and monotonous. The whole narrative is purposely kept on a low and tender note, but too often the impression left on the- reader is one of flatness rather than of reverence. In especial we foci that in the meeting between John tho Baptist and 'Christ, then a boy of 16, the. writer has failed to rise to- his opportunity. The book, in our opinion, would have gained enormously in artistic power if that meeting had been made the turning point in the story and a deeper note of mysticism, a new shnse of power; and' expectancy, bad been introduced. But we do not imagine that Mr. Oxenham expected to utt. . otherwise than fail, at least partially, in a labour of love where .entire success is almost unthinkable.

delightful nurture of humour and sentiment is revealed in “Mr. Bottleby Does Something,” by E. Temple Thurston. Ms hero is a devoted scientist. still veil on the sunny side o£ middle ago, who, while avoiding , specialisation as a “constricting process of the mind,-” teas directed a verylarge part of ■ ’us researches to the “evolution of desire,” a subject on which, in spite of inveterate shyness, he is ready to discourse ■ volubly to women ns well 'as to men, with a naiveobliviousness of the possibility of prudery finding something, improper in his discussion of *3* impulses. He Is himself apparently s-J devoid of any such promo firms that mothers in search™ of eligible -njitors far their daughters', hands soml give him ro as a hopeless celibate. That .they arc wrong in their conclusion, rd that there is really a strong hue - . ity .'mdorlving his* frosty exterior, but then will nom '.lie loss follow with unflagging intcrc.'-t r.'.' l amusement the gradual process if ?iis humanisation under the influence of a beautiful girl, whoso attraction .for 1 ’m he believes to be purely intellcctnoh There are some capital-pictures >" life in,a small provincial town, red a slight vein of mysticism intir/bi-md through the medium of an ? c'/r.iiiTi mummy adds piquancy fo ti c story without -being made obtrusive.

Dr. Basumssi”.i > IVfur explorer, is engaged upon > a book "’escribing his latest expedition.. "It will be published by Putnam..