CURRENT LITERATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17276, 27 September 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

CURRENT LITERATURE.

NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. by critic. Much criticism has of late years been directed against the system of education in vogue in English schools. This criticism has, at least, had the result of airing the views of publicists upon the particular question of British public schools and upon the general matter of education universally. That the boys raised at Rugbv, Eton. Harrow, and the rest did and died splendidly at the war is undeniable; and aUu undeniable is it that in our ■whole system, there is much room for improvement. There is a general tendency to shift from the parent to the school the business of mentally and morally equipping the child. Whether or not this is the ideal state of a fairs is one of the most-questioned doctrines of the age. Public spirit is largely .red in the public school, and this must he he'd responsible for much heroism .md endurance. As to the problems of personality and the more modern one of sex hrgiene these are yet matters of open discussion m the educational world. But, whatever the isMie if, is certain that wen-written novels of school life will ventilate the matters in debate more thoroughly than most of the academic discussion. SOME PUBLIC SCHOOL NOVELS. " Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill"—by Hut-h Walpole (.Macmillan, London). Walpolo is inclined to pessimism, bat in some of his previous novels is this as evident a* in his new one. " Mr. Perrin and Mr lrail!." written with a purposethat of exposing the unhappy conditions under which masters work in pretentious and illestablished schools. '• Moffat V is prosided over by the Rev. Mr. -Thompson, a mean man, who encourages the telltale and tyrannises over the meek. Perrin s dreams of a better position are stirred to life by the advent of Isabel Desart. who comee to visit Mrs. Combe--A younger man an-iveg, Traill, fresh from Cambridge, and. like all the others, thinkin? to stay at Moffat's only a short while till some better position presents itself. The ft rain produced by lack of leisure, and cramped quarters, 'has badly affected the jiierves of all the older roasters, and Perrin and Traill eventually quarrel. All Traill's youthful optimism" is unable to prevail against the sordid atmosphere. He is saved, however, by the love of Isabel Desart. The whole thing, aggravated bv jealousy of Traill, causes Perrin to become mental," and he follows Traill intending to kill him. On a cliff edga they quarrel; Traill falls over, and, thinking _ him dend, the eld>-r master drowns himself. This is a sordid, miserable story, with no reedemincr light except that of its purpose—to secure better conditions of salary, housing, etc., for the harassed masters of boys' public schools. " Young Enjland" —bv Doughs Strong (Methuen, London).—This is vet. another novel of public school life, 'in which the world of boys is revealed—thei-rough-and-tumble form of education, a* revealed by the Latin translation lesmn : their dormitory quarrels, their game* th&ir reflections to one another, and the many discussions. There is the bov v! Ie voted a rotter and proves to he a go,sort with high ideals, there is the master who disliked the head and showed his dislike very plainly to the boys of his house there is the foul-mouthed' bov who becomes earnest about religion, and ex [ plains that "religion as taught is " enough to bore a cow—a dull divinity lesson, a string of meaningless praverp and psalms, a _ quarter of an hour's drivel about righteousness or meekness." The war appropriates many of the bovs. and thev die as Britehers should. But the author leaves no doubt of his condemnation of the haphazard training : fc e looks for higher ideals, for a sounder teaching of religion, for the better handling of this great mass of plastic- material which these boys offer to those who will know better than the schools of the past have known

j " Tales Out ol School"—by Edit]) Howpg (Whitcombe. Tombs, Christchurch). —My school's an ugly and ignoble place." Such is the text of Kdith Howes' "book. Some of the stories told in it havt» already appeared in the Xt:w Zealand Herat.ii, and have been deservedly popular. All stories that, deprecate E<rly. insan:'~rv. and generally "ignoble" "conditions for children demand our cose attention and our determination for reform. There should ba no need for such complaints in a y n::i£ and appnrently progressive country, _ and, as the authoress points out, only aj enlightened parenthood can ensure that abuses are impossible. Her earnest efforts deserve all commendation.

" The Secret Battle"—by A. P. Herbert (Methuen, London)- —Almost- in the same category, this tale of young Oxford men at the front presents a very moving picture of the conditions which made life very hard. The presentment of Gallipoli is a terrible, and yet. we know, a true one. The author does not spare details. Then he shifts the scene to France. His story centre? round Harry Penrose, an ardent soul whose enthusiasm is gradually but stead'-Iy quenched. The bravest of men, he begins to loee his nerve, and though by a timely hint from a friend he is removed from scouting to Lewis gun. he does not really recover it. Hp refuses a tempting " soft job" at home, and falls unhappily under the direction of a Colonel Philpotts, whose displeasure he has previously incurred. The colonel sends him, again and again, on hazardous, nerve-trying exped'tions, and at last has the satisfaction of reporting him for cowardice and failure. He is courtmartialied, condemned, and shot, a most pathetic finale to the life of a courageous man, nervous by temperament, and in action one of the very bravest. Mr. Herbert's novel is a strong condemnation of the unfit superior officer.

THE PACIFIC. " The Pacific— Past and Future," by Guy H. Scholefield (Murray, London). Mr. Scholefield is a New Zealand journalist now resident in London. He has made a special study of Pacific Island questions; and having access to mounmental works of reference, he has been able to produce a striking and educative volume. The story of the relations of Europe and America with these insular peoples is historically and graphically related. He denounces the diplomatic blunders of the past and exposes the secret policy adopted by former State officials. The strong hostility of the authorities shown by English politicians towards our annexations is related, and the aggressions of the German Government and it insidious colonisations are succinctly written. He suggests that "it is an interesting conjecture whether there is in existence to-day the machinery, which will absolutely prevent recurrence of transactions so prejudicial to the good of the Empire amongst its own parts." Much of the work is of necessity, critical, and by suggestion of an advisory nature. But the great bulk in historical. And it is the accuracy of this historical matter, coupled with the unimpeachable nature of the sources from which it is

taken, that make Mr. Scholefield'e a most interesting and valuable study. He has covered a wide field, bnt he has known how to discriminate wisely, so that in dn« porportione the importance of each insular kingdom and colony is placed.