CURRENT LITERATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

CURRENT LITERATURE.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. by cama The books of the day are indicative of the thoughts of the multitude. For what is vaguely commented on, then openly remarked, always seems to require public discussion before writers invade the field with their collected observations and their own finite conclusions upon the nn.tter. There are instances, isolated ones, of books and articles by men and women ahead of their time, but these are usually hidden lights to the multitude; and the path of the pioneer is solitary for long. Which brings us to the manuals of domestic science, which are now invading the bookshelves. Housekeepers will remind one of Mrs. Beeton, and her compeers. But while such works were very valuable arid vastly appreciated by those who could buy them, there was not till recently any varying supply of home literature "which was more than a collection of recipes for cookery and the most elementary, if practical, home necessities. Now note what the new books ire aiming at. MANUAL OP HOME-MASING. " A Manual of Eome - making," by Martha van Rensselaer, Flora Rose, Helen Canon {Macmillan, New York,).— For this volume the editor claims that it is " written and compiled primarily for those women who are managing households, not for those who are teaching or are students in the classroom." <; A thrifty and joyous life " for its readers is its object, and it is intended primarily for rural conditions. Its chapters treat such subjects as the planning of the house, its furnishingsthis latter being a commendable one, since it calls attention to the essential need for studying what one may call the "lines." and generally, the character of rooms. Then there is the planning of the kitchen. Helen Knowlton's chapter on " Cave ,A the House " gives many useful bints. Then there are articles on measurements, on household accounts, on heat and light, on stoves and cookers, on kitchen utensils', table-setting, and sewing. The lanndry comes in for its share, with more scientific erplanation than is usually given. The chapter cm textiles is good, and very good are those on the making of clothing and millinery. Food for the sick, salads, tho keeping and preservation of foods are among the topics discussed at length. While much of the advice is for American conditions, one is struck with the absence of mention of so many of the patent worksavers ( which hail from that country. There is a groat deal of useful information that is applicable to any country in this volume. A regret is that the editor saw fit to exclude the chapters on sanitation and hygiene, two topics which have been less studied by most housekeepers thar. much of the kitchen information given. POCKET FICTION. * "The White Linen Nurse," by Eleanor H. H. Abbott (Hodder, Stough'ton, London), is a small book, but very pleasant reading, with humour and abundant inci- ) dent, and quick, smooth action. In brief, j it is the story of a auras who is persuaded, j from compassion for Sis child, to marry | the senior surgeon. The marriage is a success, but it takes many months for the surgeon to discover it. However, therein lies the making of the tale. other good booklet is " Down Our Street/' by J. E. Bnckrose (Hodder, Stoughton, London), in which all this author's gift for kindly langhing at society is evident. His Mrs. Bean is exl cellent fun, and Miss White's poetry— have we not all suffered from it ? Sophia. las the central figure, is unite charming : and one smiles or laughs aloud all through the book. Others from the same source are Annie Swan's " The Stepmother," and " Out of the Wreck," by Joseph Hocking. HISOSXXAH'EOtJS WRITINGS. "The Australians," by F. M. Cutlack (Sampson, Low, London). Under this title ie given, by an official war correspondent with the A.I.F. in France, an account of the concluding operations of the Australian divisions. Id his vivid descriptions the author does full credit to the climatic conditions of Flanders. " Yon can strike water in most places by digging nine or ten feet down, and in many places at four or —the undelrverable accumulation of the rain of years. To dig a trench in snch a country in _ winter is to start another river; to put,in a dugout anywhere means that pomps have to keep going day and night to keep it dry. In January the whole landscape froze stiff, and the mud became like iron. In the following titaws everything oozed soft, dugouts foil in, and it was dangerous to touch the sides of an unrevetted trench; -metalled roads swelled and burst." Mr. Cutlack modestly avers that his book does not pretend to be history. All that one can say is that if all history were written in as lucid and graphic a manner as is his, many m-ve minds would be enriched by this "treasure of past years. His work is really good, vigorous reading; his material is excellently treated. "Productive Agriculture," by John Gehrs (Macmillan, New York).—While written for students in American schools, this text-book contains a very comprehensive survey of general farm knowledge. To the theoretical, the author adds much practical information, e.g., rationing for cattle, sheep, and other animals, notes on pruning, on afforestation, on vegetable gardening, on the various crops, and suet allied matters. " Sussia is 1914-1917," by General Gourko (Murray, London).—Read in the light of the present chaos in Russia, this description by a Russian genera.', of his • active part in the war is a pathetic ac- '. count. He was himself imprisoned under the Kerensky Government, and after his second arrest the Provisional Government allowed him to go to England, glad apparently, to have him out of Russia, the late commander-in-chief of the western armies. " Banger "—by A Conan Doyie (Murriy, London). Short stories, taking their name from the first one. This, which was written some years since, was intended is a warning to Britain to prepare for war. The author's imagination pictured England's commerce being ruined within a few weeks by the eight submarines of a small hostile Power. He does, not appear to have thought of Britain herself being adventurous enough to have her own submarines, nor her means of fighting them, " The 14th Point "—by Ernest Fayle (Murray, London)-A discussion of the "essential minimum'* of a League of Na- ; tions, with an analysis of the problems of tie immediate future. " Wai Lessons, New and Old "—by Major-General Sir George Aston, K.C.B. (Murray, London). Written before the end of the war, this book of a soldier is a very compact story of events since July, 1914, up to 1918, when, with the hope of victory in sight, the author concluded his task. .Although the events covered are i known to us, Sir George Alston has made a resume which is still interesting reading. " Twentieth Century Recipes and Processes"—(Henley, New York; Whitcombe and Tombs, Auckland)is a voluminous collection of ail kinds of manufacturing processes. Trade secrete are revealed, too, and the book is probably more valuable to the small manufacturer than to the private individual; although certain "home" recipes are included, as well as the more technical ones. The liqueurs of the Benedictines and of Chartreuse have here their ingredients made public, and very simple they are. Trade dentifrices are given, essences and extracts, jewellers' formulas, dves and polishes, complexion treatment. " A wide field is covered by this compendium of useful knowledge, which advertises itself as containing '• monev-making facts for everybody.