CURRENT LITERATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16925, 10 August 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

CURRENT LITERATURE.

, NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. v , ; »r enrno. .~. . ; 'r~r i , ;. .*;.; ',-',' ■ S>p Cep,s{ant. has-been In the habit of claim, ing for herself all tho scientific discoveries; of Europo. Other nations have not, thought it worth while to attempt to Sis-' prove tho assertion, though eomo months ego a leading Scottish university professor accurately proved that, whereas Germans had systematically methodised the findings of modern science, the real work of &- covery had been done by Italians, French, and Britishers. A very cursory glance into the records of this comprehensive subject quickly reveals the fact that the work done by British scientists in tho last half-century is tremendous in importance as well as in quantity. But these men are notoriously modest and free from selfadvertisement and so, although to those intimately acquainted with the subject of research, tho names of these great leaders are known and by them duly revered, tho notice of tho man in the street,is attracted by. the advertisement of the others, and the scientific world of his own nation k a book on which no glories ore blazoned. Wo select a modem scientific worker as typical of the great men torn to Britain. SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY. Sir W. Til den has written this account of tho life and the work of " Sir William Ramsay"—(Macmillan, London) —and, knowing more than most people the value of the research work of his friend and colleague, the author has laid his readers under a debt of gratitude for his 'so ablo, so, detailed., and so interesting a volume. His is practically a resume of Ramsay's chemical researches, giving with infinite care the tests and studies which led up to Ramsay's discover)', coincident with Lord Rayfeigh's discovery of a now gas, which he named ovcon. Of lite demonstrations of this at Paris, Berlin, and in America very full account Ii given, and these follow his labours in tue production of radium, after Madame Curie's separation of this in 1902, to produce in Britain what had formerly been porcurable only from Austria. Lightness is added to the story of Ramsay's life by the publication of his gonial and natural letters, written from various places to which ho travelled, and' the human element is well emphasised. Sir William Ramsay's views on education are worth noting. One notable feature of' hia life will evident to anyone—that combined with labour— has made bis name famous in the sciontifio ciroles of tho world. Ramsay could, and' did, amuse himself with the trivial things of life. He smoked, he read,. he danced, ho whistled and his bonhomie reveals itself in every page of his biography. STERLING DECIMAL COINAGE. Walter Lennox Craig, late of the Lands Department. '■ New South Wales, is the author of " Sterling Decimal Coinage"—, (Effingham Wilson, London).—As everyone knows, many attempts have been made to place the Imperial coinage on a decimal ' fooling. Parliament, however, haa never ; seen fit to ratify the change, partly because too great dislocation of certain financial questions might arise. Craig vory ably demonstrates the methods by which difficulties can be avoided in making the transition. . His scheme shows how the penny and the sovereign may circulate permanently • side by. side in ' complete harmony with the florin decimal, system. He allown for nine coins—looo mils (20s), 250 mils (ss), 100 mils IM, 50 mils (Is, 25- mils (lid, 10 mils (2.4 d), 4 1-6. mils [Id), 2J mils (0.6 d), and 1 mil (0.24 d), The 2J mil piece "i? larger, though not lees, in value than : the halfpenny., Over 30 reasons for the inclusion of a 2i mil piece are given. He suggests the total disuse of' half-crowns, and the coinage of a new and handy five-shilling piece.'.: As" an alternative he suggests a three-shilling coin,' round ',- which ;he builds an alternative [ decimal scheme. : : His book is candid in its derision of present awkwardness, and exceedingly, rank. in its, 'invitation to criticism. . ■•■■{:. :' : /\'y/ : "■'■■■'■■'-v'''"-.''. &ss& """. r .•' ''>-'-''' '■: '■}' "TTnV- ; "■'•'•'■■',." /-■■'■' ;SOME NOVELS. '• ':" The Singer"—by W. J. Eccott : (Blaok-' wood, Edinburgh).—From being a slightly tedious writer of historical novels Mr. Eopott has become ' a facile writer 'of the modem novel. All ? - the stiffness .of \ ten ■ years ago has gone from his pen j he is" fluent, ' satirical, national—three diverse attributes which 'he uses ' with :' complete' harmony, to produce on excellent novel, carrying all the features of immediately-' preceding-war % days, and .reflecting , the mind of a certain: Englishcclas s . with i thej war-cloud -already burst. ■ Very skilfully does he study the pioblom of the English? girl, married to the high-placed German. • Carhovius, the - said - Gorman. ' In:: Britain jj for '■ the v. purpose Vof - studying ,; "coastcrwion," is : attracted by Pauline ! CSinten- - Fiennes, and introduces her to & famous impresario, • who ( places her for :. voctl < tuition. with leading teacher, She is then \ sent to Germany to make hbr ' debut, and \ meets with rapid success. Carndvius is much ■'■ In ' love with | her,' "and persuades I her to marry him. Another farcify, that' of the Bftrbaores,' are'. woven through the ; story. They -are friends of Pauline,', and friends, too lof Jules ■ do 'Hermitage, a young Frenchman, who suspects Carnorlus" of being a spy, and watches him accord-■" ingly, finding sufficient evidence the work of the German"• and' of ■a " ; certain, beautiful baroness. When yonng Bar-.' baere, secretary to a Cabinet minister, ens'pecta the baroness of having stolon a certain code paper, he writes to Paulino at Berlin, asking her to watch her husband's correspondence. Jules appears in Berlin.. By strategy Pauline gets the paper on a„ visit of the baroness. Discovered by Carnovius, he offer;' her life on condition that she secures ; certain information from the s . Americans. Belgians, however,'. revenge themselves upon Carnovius by interfering \ with the electric fittings, and in his own study he is electrocuted. ; , '■'/.

"Dream Child Dome True"— Marjory Royce (Hodder-Stoughton, London)—is a fileasant. wholesome story of English amity life, treating of the adoption of two young boys by a childless woman. It displays very sincere affection ■ for children, and unusual interest in their healthy upbringing. '■'

" Naval Intelligence"—(Hodder-Stough-ton, London).—lf you, have read "The Northern Miste" and " Grand Fleet Days" you , will be ' glad to again meet their author in this collection 'of naval anecdotes about hoys and men in the service. Boats, seaplanes, ammunition, and decorations all come in for,their share of stories,. all written in the popular sailor fashion,' with good-numoured tolerance for everybody and honest laughter throughout". •

" From Snotty to Sub"—(Heinemann, London).—'Written by tho mother of, a naval officer, who. she tolls us, is not allowed to keep a diary, this book gives in very direct.form the ■ actual ' experiences of a young midshipman at tho Battle of Jutland and during the subsequent months in the North Sea, It Is gTaphio laid terse and exceedingly sailor-like. .

MISCELLANEOUS WORK. ; , J "New Zcalanders in Samoa"— L. J?. ',"'•; Leary (Heinemann, Londoa).—A humorous account of /he enlistment and the , ■ life of our men in Samoa by one of them. ,:'$ The author displays vigorous patriotism, and a strong sense. of tho /esprit/'deviS corps" of the army fa occupation . in, ? ;•, Samoa. His admiration for the island it- ; self is deep, and as he is an incorrigible -'; E' ster, his book is light and readable, .-'.' e introduces types which must be unfamiliar and interesting to, the British '.",: public, and his ; unconventionally,, will, ! :■ .' no. doubt, attract a large inner "of readers. •. .'-,'>"--* V* ,: '■'■' -':~ : ':'*:\-■<■'•<'■ j .0-:'"S "Records of the Baids"-S.P.OX, London).—This booklet is.;", put together t by the Bishop of Stepney, with >an intro- ! ,-■ duction ', by ;; Lieut.-General Sir Fruicis \im Lloyd ana a conclusion by '. the ,ford '"' *■ Bishop of London, It is a spall took, packed frill vof incident concerning the . effect of : Zeppelin; air ;raids inAjSaat ;lxhii.4|f| don anil ■ should give to'readers fii very .{ good idea of what - the Hun's attempts aV ■ bombing tie poorer quarters ■ have ! meant to the population there. '