WITH PAPER-KNIFE AND PEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 17

WITH PAPER-KNIFE AND PEN.

" Chronicles of the Garden of New Zealand (known as Taranaki)," by W. H. J. iSeil'erri. (New Plymouth : Taranaki Herald Office) Mr Seffern, who recently retired from the editorial chair of the Taranaki Herald —a position he had occupied for over a quarter of a century with credit to himself and advantage to his fellow colonists —has given us, in the volume before us, an interesting and valuable contribution to the history of this island, and, incidentally, to that of the whole Colony. Starting with the earliest days of settlement in Taranaki, he carries the reader along alike through the troublous period of the Maori wars and " piping times of peace/' describing with graphic and facile pen the growth of the district in whose welfare and prosperity it is so agreeably evident by his book his whole heart is wrapped up. The majority of the articles which compose the volume have appeared in the columns of the journal with which Mr Seffern was so long and honourably connected, but the record is brought thoroughly up to date, and the whole work deserves a wide circulation. The book contains a number of sot called illustrations as to the artistic merits of which the less said the better. Some of the sketches, however, rudely executed as they are, possess a certain value as records, and, in any case, Mr Seffern's own work is too good, too faithfully, honestly idone to be spoilt by the rude cuts with which the volume has so unfortunately . been handicapped. The typographical part of the work has been well executed at the Taranaki Herald office. We hope, for the author's sake, that this useful and interesting work will have a large sale. As the years pass by, the younger generation grows up and knows little of the privations and dangers to which the older colonists were subjected. Mr Seffern's book is one which should find a place in every public library in the Colony, and, once on the shelves, will, we trust, be often taken down and carefully studied. " The Eed Cockade," by Stanley Weyman. Longman's Colonial Library. (.London: Longman and Co.) Mr Weyman is turning out novel after novel with surprising rapidity. Up to the present, however, there is happily, both for the novelist and his readers, little sign of any falling off in quality. <'The Eed Cockade" is, if anything, superior to <( A Gentleman of France" and "Under the Eed Robe"; it is certainly far more interesting than "My Lady Eotha" and "The Memoirs of a Minister of France." Mr Weyman - introduces to us a company of French aristocrats, met together at that critical time when the Bastille had fallen and France from end to end was a prey to

discord. The young Vicomte de Saux, the hero of the story, sympathises with the people, and having been obliged to openly declare himself as against his own "order," incurs the deadly hostility of his fellow nobles and, for a time at least, loses the favour of his fiancee, Denise de St. Alais, who is far and away the sweetest, most lovable heroine to whom Mr Weyman has yet introduced ns. Chateaux are burnt by the mob, and time after time does the gallant young Vicomte save his love from the fury of the revolutionaries. Eventally he finds himself at Nimes, where a few aristocrats have banded themselves together against the so-called Committee of Public Safety, and where a desperate fight —the best fight Mr Weyman has given us —takes place, in which the Vicomte and Denise's brother, the Marquis St. Alais, take a leading part. In the end the Vicomte wins his love, but not until he has gone through a series of adventures of the most thrilling character. The story is full of fine portraits. The old aristocrat, the Marquise de St. Alais, who cannot believe it possible that the people can triumph over the nobility, is wonderfully well drawn, and her two sons, Victor and Louis, are each in their way distinctly novel and vivid creations. The best character in the book, however, is a certain Froinent who for a time is the Vicomte's rival, a daring, gallant man, whose brave exploits against a bloodthirsty mob are described in such a fashion as to win the reader's unreserved admiration. There is not a dull page in this capital story, which will add considerably to Mr Weyman's reputation, and which, as a pure romance, is one of the best stories published for some time past. On his own ground, Mr Weyman is at present unrivalled. "The Red Cockade" should not be missed by those who like a story of adventure, full of original and stirring incidents, and told with a vigour and brilliancy which are most captivating.

" His First Kangaroo," by Arthur Ferris London and Melbourne : Blackie and Son

This is a capital story of up-country life in Australia. An English lad who comes out to gain " colonial experience," goes up to a station and had a series of adventures, some of which are of a very stirring character. The riding of buckjumpers, the hunting of kangaroos, an up-country race meeting, a gold robbery and conflicts with the inevitable bushrangers are all features of the story, which goes with a good swing from first page to last, and is much superior in literary style to most boys' books. Although primarily intended for the delectation of the youthful reader, " His First Kangaroo " will be found equally interesting by adults. The book is embellished by six full page engravings from sketches by the clever Australian artist, Mr Percy Spenco, Mr Spence's illustrations are excellent, his horses especially being admirably drawn. We can highly recommend " His First Kangaroo " as a gift book. The tone of the story is manly, and altogether excellent, and the book is well printed and most tastefully bound.

" Lady Boknie's Experiment," by Tigho Hopkins. Cassell's Pocket Library. (Melbourne: Cassells and Co. Wellington : H. and J. Baillie.)

Mr Hopkins' story is slight in plot, but it is delicately, wittily told, and will serve to pass away a couple of spare hours very pleasantly. Lady Bonnie, a very charming, if somewhat eccentric lady, whose husband looks on with, amused toleration at her fantastic escapades, conceives the idea of reviving the days of old romance. She has troubadours and knights errant on the brain, and gravely attempts to establish a " Court of Love." She. omits, however to acquaint her husband with hor determination, and that gentleman, arriving at a critical moment, somewhat rudely but effectually dispels the charm, and the " Court of Love " breaks up rather precipitately. The story is grotesquely improbable, but the phantasy is not badly worked out. Interwoven with the main plot—if plot it can be called—is the love story of a clever young gentleman and a very charming young lady. Altogether, the story is very readable. The dainty little volume which contains it will no doubt find a goodly number of purchasers,

Several other notices are held over

SOME MAGAZINES.

From the publishers of the Pall Mall Magazine we have received the Christmas and New Year's numbers of that superblyillustrated periodical. Mrs Duncan's capital Anglo-Indian story, "His Honour and a Lady," nears completion, and when published in volume form will doubtless attract a wide circle of admirers; it is one of the best serial stories which have recently appeared in English magazines. In the Christmas number there is a most exciting story of the adventures of a young Englishman who foolishly joined a Continental secret society. The story, which is entitled " The Chess Club," is from the pen of Lord Ernest Hamilton, one of hte editors, and displays a vigour and freshness which are most creditable. The Duchess of Cleveland contributes an excellent article on " Raby Castle," and Mr W. W. Astor, the proprietor of the magazine, a very amusing skit on the detective , tales now so popular, entitled "Jack Shepj pard Up-to-Date." The best thing in the I Christmas number is an article on Monte Carlo, in which the balance-sheet—a most suggestive document of that famous gaming hell is given. In the New Year's issue there is a notable article on "Cal cutta, Past and Present," and in both numbers there is a wealth of well diversiaed reading matter to suit all tastes. The illustrations are very fine throughout, and the get-up generally of the magazine can only be properly described as sumptuous. Although the Pall Mall Magazine has only been established a couple of years, it has already achieved a reputation second.

to none in the ranks of English periodical literature.

CasselFs Magazine of Art for December, which we receive from the Melbourne branch of the publishers, contains as a frontispiece a fine etching by H. Macbeth Raeburn of Sir John Millais' famous picture, " Greenwich Pensioners at the Tomb of Nelson." "Sport in Art" is the title of a very interesting article by Mr J. Gr. Millais, and a special feature of the number is a beautifully - illustrated paper, entitled, "An Old Castilian Palace," the illustrations being by Mrs Seymour Lucas. Other articles deal respectively with "Mr Humphrey Roberts' Collection"; "Assyrian Art Three Thousand Years Ago"; "The Past and Present of Wood Engraving/*' and "Anton Mauve and the Dutch School."' The monthly "Chronicle of Art" is, as usual, both informative and very readable.

In Cassell's Magazine for December a new serial story, " A Missing Witness," from the experienced hand of Mr Frank Barrett, makes an excellent start, and Mr E. B. Hornung contributes a lengthy, but excellent, story of Australian adventure, entitled, " Irralie/s Bushranger." The new British Commander-in-Chief, Lord Wolseley, is the subject of an excellent article by Mr Archibald Forbes, Mr Fish contributes a readable and well-illustrated ap»

preciation of the work of some Russian; artists of to-day, and there are a number of other articles and short stories, all of an interesting character.- Cassell's for December is a capital sixpenny worth.

From Messrs Cassell we have also received the December numbers of theSaturday Journal, the Quiver and Chums. In each of these old-established and deservedly popular periodicals new serial! stories are commenced, and all maintain, their usual high' standard of literary and. artistic merit.

The Christmas number of the Review of Reviews, which is sent us by the Australian, publishers, contains a complete story by Mr W. T. Stead, entitled, "Blastus, the King's Chamberlain." Mr Stead's versatility has never been more agreeably evidenced than in this well-written and mosfe amusing skit on the possibilities of the English political future. Whether Mr Chamberlain will, quite see the joke is another matter. Mr Stoad has given full rein to his fancy and has produced a story which is worth a dozen of his previous) efforts in fiction. •

The December number of the Review M Reviews (Australian edition) is also t# hand. Dr Springthorpe contributes a W ful article on "The Medical Aspect M Australian Cycling," Professor Morris writes learnedly but none the less agreed ably on the "New Australian Poetry" The subject of the Character Sketch *M Mr Herbert Spencer, of whose life and' works a highly interesting account is given. In the " Book of the Month" we have a dryly humorous yet appre«iad|| review of Miss Mario Corelli's latest M already much discussed novel, " Tnß Sorrows of Satan." The snippet and comJ ment portion of the magazino is as usual! very well done, although personally wel should prefer longer extracts and shorteJ comments. With all its faults of omissioil and commission the'"Review of still well supports its claim to the title <M " the busy man's magazine," and is withoiH doubt one of the most generally interesting and useful periodicals now published •*■

The December number of Baily's Maga zme of Sports and Pastimes is to han< from the publishers, Messrs Vinton ani C 0.., London, Baily's is now in its 64tl volume and is just as good and reliable \ guide to \ all kinds of current sport as i was m the days of our grandfathers, i portrait of General Sir Evelyn Wood i accompanied by an excellent biographies sketch. In every department the articU are up to date, brightly written.. 3| interestingto lovers of sport. Three stM engraved portraits of popular EmrfH sportsmen are presented with the numbel 3Hv W f] la the high reputatiol of this old-established periodical. I

With the December number, just i hand from the publisher, A. Quanti Pans, that excellent French illustrate magazine, Le Monde Moderne, conclude its first year. Both in its artistic an tmued to make steady progress until it now quite on a level with The Cental Harper's, and other high-class magazSe In the variety of the subjects dealt wi and the excellent tone of J its ficttonli French magazine is much superior to ai a«TS g ? ° f the ■3s*ss?aa are studying one of the richest interesting of languages. * d