AMONG THE BOOKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15349, 9 July 1913, Page 12

AMONG THE BOOKS.

Mr. John- Masefikld has revised and greatly enlarged his nautical stories, "A Mainsail Haul." It will be published immediately in company and uniform with a new edition of Mr. Masefield's long out of print "Salt Water Ballads." Copies of this book have commanded high prices in the second-hand market.

Mr. John Collingridge, of the City Press, is issuing an appeal on behalf of the trustees of Cowper's house at Olney. It is hoped to raise a sum of £2000, so that the house may be put thoroughly in order and a small endowment fund provided for . the endowment of the Cowper and Newton Museum contained therein.

Those who have been puzzled by copies of the strange paintings of the CubLsts may like to know that Fisher Unwin lias published a volume entitled " Cubism," being a statement of the objects of that mystic method. The authors are two leading members of the school and whatever one may think of them as artiste there is no denying the courage and ability as pleaders of people who essay to put in black and white a defence of the methods of these anglers in yellows and purples-

The King has a large library at York Cottage, Sandringham, consisting of books which have been purchased by himself or presented to him. This library consists of books to read, not of show volumes. They are to be catalogued, and a part of the library will be removed to the private apartments at Windsor Castle. King Edward's private library, which is of the same, class of books, is at Sandringham Hall, and was settled by his late Majesty as an heirloom to pass with the house.

The art of Jack Ceilings Squire is akin to that of Max Beerbohm in one respect. The former in his prose and verse, like the latter in his drawings, sees that caricature at its best is very like the real thing. "Steps to Parnassus" contains a scene called "The Strife of the Blatherskites" that might have come straight from Galsworthy's play. It is a reproduction not only of the Galsworthy matter, but of the manner. Only the ' title and the grotesque ending betray the parody. In Pelissier and Mariano." one comes across the authentic Maeterlinck. More than one of that gentleman's plays read more liko caricature than this scene of Mr. Squire ''Pelissier: ' Hush, Mariano !' Manane : ' Pelissier !' Pelissier : 'Do vou not see them- Mariane : 'Who. Pelissier? Oh, I am afraid. ... Oh I am cold !' Pelissier (his voice is low and level and brooding and his eyes are fixed and sorrowful): 'They are over there, over behind that tree. They are coming this way. Do you not see them? It is tho six old men whom we saw jesterdav by the place where the old king lived Mariane: 'Oh, Pelissier! Oh. I see them' 01), they are horrible! I think I must have known them lung ago J think I must have known them before I was born.' " There is a critical value in such caricature, for it helps one to determine how far a mannerism may be clothed in real feeling. Mr. Squire's other dramatic skits show also the ease with which paradox can be rigged up to make antic wisdom.