"JOY OF THE ROAD."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20372, 28 September 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

"JOY OF THE ROAD."

NEW BOOK BY MISS MORTON.

A " second hook of Now Zealand life and travel"—so Miss Elsie K. Morton describes her most recent literary venture, " Joy of tho Road," which has just found its way to booksellers' shelves, (hero to keep, doubtless, only brief and casual company with what few copies of " Along tho Road," her first book, may remain to greet inquiring purchasers. Tho sub-titlo is as fully justified as her similar description of that first book. This one 13 not wholly of New Zealand, for there are four glimpses of a sister land, across tho Tasman, and through it all runs a thread of thought that goes away from both writer's and reader's hand-hold into tho infinite spaces whero truth is eternally at homo. Yet its characteristic interest' lingers about what tho author so ardently calls " the land wo love."

Twenty pen-sketches, selected from those that have appeared in the Supplement columns of the Herald aud in tho Weekly News, cover a wide rauge of scene, lit up by many a gleam of musing fancy, in which facts become nob less, but more real. Those who know Miss Morton's aptitude for this sort of employ will revel again the appreciation, patriotic and artistic," of these bright wordpictures; those who do not —there cannot bo very many—need go wayfaring with her but once in these pages to want to go everywhere through the Dominion, and to see as she sees. A New Zealand book, indeed, in spirit as in theme, and its publishing a benefaction. Twenty more selected articles treat " of many things," with gaiety often and not seldom with whimsical mirth, but al ways, not for away, ready to enter the wayfarer's path at tho slightest beckoning" of the guide, is an insight into tho heart of things that can suddenly sober. This insight gets, in tho last four studies, its freest and most helpful scope. " Until Reveille" they are inclusively called, and thsv lovingly deal with the dear remembered dead. Back to the "author's note" and dedication they send tho reader's mini}; for this book is published by Miss Morton as a tribute to tho memory of a brother, Captain Alfred B. Morton, of tho New Zealand Staff Corps, who at Gallipoli " went into battle andwas seen no more." Many a reader will feel a comradeship of uplifting memory and hope in .theso tender and yet heartening chapters.' Again, as in " Along tho Road,' 1 Miss Morton's camera contributes delightful illustration, and the reproduction of the photographs, like all the rest of the work, reflects credit 011 the publishers. It is a book for which a great host will be grateful. " Joy of tho Road," by Elsie K, Morion (Wilson and Horton, Ltd.).