NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

NEWS AND NOTES.

-Mr. Charles Ffoulkes, author of "The Armourer and His Craft," has written"; a volume dealing with "Decorative Ironwork: From the Xlth tothe'XVlllth Century" (Methuen, London). The work considers the craft of the ironworker in relation to; the rules of design, construction, and ornament.

Mr. Unwin is adding to his Colonial Library a new volume containing Louis Becke s well-known collection of South Sea stories, "By Reef and Palm," together with "The lobbing of the Tide," and other, tales. The book may, bo regarded as a.Louis Becke memorial volume, for the' stories included represent the author's best work.

"Westways," a new novel •by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell (Unwin, London), is a story of Middle ■ Pennsylvania over a period of years embracing the American Civil War. Its interest lies _in its character-drawing and in the picture it gives of men and manners during an exciting period of history.

In the latest book by Mrs. Nesbit, " Wet Magic" (Laurie, London), the author takes for the scene of her drama the depths of the sea. Certain children have the good fortune to rescue a mermaid from a booth at a country fair, and she, in grateful recognition of the services they have rendered, takes them to visit her in Mer-Land, a wonderful garden-kingdom under the sea. Here, through the folly of one of the children, the Mcr-folk become involved in war— war in which the children bear their part bravely.

"Goldwin Smith: His Life and Opinions," by Arnold Haultain (Laurie, London), is a" biography drawn from life, and with innumerable intimate touches, by one who sat at his elbow for nearly a score of years. Goldwin Smith was a great man—as Oxford professor; as a member of two Royal Commissions; as politician, historian, publicist, and litterateur, he influenced many and left a deep mark upon his generation. Mr. Haultain was his secretary for eighteen years, and is now his literary executor. Besides a unity of narrative, much of tho work consists of verbatim records of Goldwin Smith's conversation.

Perhaps you are interested, says the Book Monthly, in the standing literary errors of tho world. Well, there is one in the "Te Deum"—an ancient blunder which goes on. It lies in the words: "Makes them to bo numbered with thy saints," which was so rendered when manuscript copies of tho "Te Deum" gave place to printed books. The mediaeval Latin word used was "nuracrari," "to be numbered," while the word which should actually havo been used was "munerari," "to be rewarded." All prayer-books would be printing that today and congregations would be singing it, were it not Tor a fifteenth-century printer's error.

The writings of Dr. George Brandos, >the famous Danish critic, upon British subjects are numerous, and the chief is his "William Shakespere'." In Florence he onco witnessed an Italian performance of "Hamlet/' and describes his impressions in these words :— I derived my chief enjoyment, not from the acting, but from the play. It suddenly rovealed itself to me in new aspects and I fell prostrate in 6uch an extreme admiration of Shakcspere thai. I felt I should never rise again." Ilia.'admiration for Shakespere has' never fagged. Not only has Dr. Brandes translated some of tho plays into Danish, bui has written of Shakespere, his work and hfe art, m a manner that lias taken' its place' among the most eminent/ contributions to Shakesperean literature in any language! ...