NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15002, 25 May 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

NEWS AND NOTES.

" Eve," a new story by Maarten Maartens, the Dutch novelist, is nearly ready with Constable.

"Lady Z" is the title of a story by Mrs. Baillie Saunders which the house of Hutchinson is publishing.

Mr. C. B. Fry has written a good deal on cricket, the English game of which he is a master. As it happens, however, he has never written a book about cricket. Now he has done one for Nash's National Library of Sports, and it may bo looked for in June. The book is at once a history and an exposition of the game, and both texts are refreshed by Mr. Fry's personality.

Mr. Heinemann has arranged for the publication in English of Mme. Montessori's book on the training of infants. She is the founder of several infant schools in Rome, and her methods— striking feature of which is the endeavour to allow children to develop along their own lines without restraint—are being rapidly taken up in other countries. Indeed, Switzerland passed a law in June, 1911, establishing the Montessori system in all its public schools.

No writer in our time has laboured harder at the cause of prison reform than Mr. Tighe Hopkins, and anything that he has to say upon the subject invites the most earnest consideration. For Messrs. Herbert and Daniel he has just finished a critical study of the modern prison system, which will appear under the title, "Wards of the State." Not only will the reader be introduced to a series of brilliant pen-pictures of the misery of imprisonment ; Mr. Hopkins also offers a way of escape, in the shape of a rational system of reform.

The announcement of Miss Olive Macleod's engagement gives a charming interest to the book of her African travels, which Blackwood will publish almost at once. Probably tho most valuable side of the book is the information it contains as to the manners and customs of the natives in the region of Lake Chad, the condition of the country, and the possibility of its development. Miss Macleod's fiance, Mr. C. L. Temple, has, like herself, literary taste, as would be natural in the younger son of that very considerable writer, the late Sir Richard Temple.

That class of school and university examiner who rejoices in confounding his victims by a string of isolated quotations, which have to be referred to their proper context, would find material for his skill in the title of Miss Beatrice Harraden's new novel, which is to be published by Messrs. Nelson and Sons in a few weeks' time. " Out of the Wreck I Rise" is the title this clever authoress has chosen, and there will not be many readers, outside the circle of passionate admirers of Browning, who will be able to place the reference, and complete the line. Miss Harraden has shown before now a liking for lengthy titles; and in these days of prolific book-production, it is becoming very difficult to hit upon a striking name which has not been used before. She certainly seems to have done so this time, however.

"The vessels commanded by Captain Crutchley were happy ships." Such is Earl Brassey's hearty tribute to the author of a breezy volume of reminiscences, " My Life at Sea," which Messrs. Chapman and Hall have ready. Indeed, Lord Brassey summarises the author's career in a few generous and accurate phrases. " After years of service at sea," he savs, " Captain Crutchley passed from sail to steam. Me filled important commands with distinguished success. . . He earned a deserved popularity as a representative seaman. Ho began his work as an Empirebuilder while serving at sea. It was continued ashore for a period of many years in the capacity of secretary to the Navy League. ' Captain Crutchley has plenty of adventures to relate, and tells his stories with the sure swing of the experienced and cheery salt.