NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 22

NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

“The tittle Giants of the East, or Our New Allies.” By 'Col. George W. Bell. New South Wales Bookstall Company, Sydney. This is a book of twenty-one short chapters by a gentleman who is wellknown in Australasia, both as a late Consular Representative of the United States, and as a writer and speaker on many public questions. Whatever Colonel Bell has to say either in speech or writing is usually worthy of consideration, and the present work is no exception to the rule. During the greater part of last year Colonel Bell toured the East, and sought to learn by personal observation and inquiry all that he could concerning the social life and political ambitions of the Japanese and Chinese. “Let us reason together,” he says frequently to his readers, and proceeds to instruct them in the par-a-mount part which the Anglo-Saxon people has had in the recasting of Asiatic civilisation. That Japan received a constitution at the hands of its present Mikado arouses Colonel Bell's highest admiration for that ruler. 'Listen!” he says; “Here was a monarch, the loved and worshipped ruler of a people, whose loyalty was their religion—a monarch probably believed by himself, and certainly believed by his subjects, to be one of Divine parentage, whose mission and duty it was to rule —and this man freely, voluntarily, yes, of his own volition, promulgated a manifesto, than in which nobler sentiments never emanated from the human brain or fell from human flips. In fact, so surpassingly grand ,are the principles expressed in this immortal document; so elevated and noble in their purpose; so unselfish and patriotic in their far reaching results, as almost to justify a faith in the Divine character of this wonderful man.”

In similar language of rhapsody Colonel Bell proceeds to examine clause by clause the manifesto by which, the Mikado under the advice of his wisest statesmen declared for progress instead of stagnation, and for a deliberative assembly instead of a continuance of feudal tyranny. There is in this and the extension of like praise to the Dannies who surrendered their feudal rignts' something of the same spirit of astonishment with which it has ever been the habit of the Anglo-Saxon to regard any evidence of high intellect on the part of dark-skin-ned people. It was truly enough a somewhat wonderful thing that the Japanese should in such a short period cast aside their political habits of conservatism and exclusiveness like an old coat, but it is to be observed that the Japanese were never like the Chinese a people in which exclusiveness and disdain of outer knowledge had become ingrained. The story of their first intercourse with Europeans proves that they were always ready to learn from any source, and were quick to perceive the advantages of knowledge, no matter whence it was obtained.

In a rapid review of Japan’s industrial improvement under the modem regime Colonel Bell traverses familiar ground, but does so in a concise and pointed fashion which makes every paragraph worth reading. In the matter of the war with Russia the world at large is fairly agreed xiiar Japan was as the writer contends “compelled to war.” It is when Colonel Bell takes up the subject of the future relationship between Australasia and Japan that there is room for much difference from his opinions. After declaring and proving to his own satisfaction that the Japanese are essentially a people of industry and peace—men who love peace so well that “they will fight to secure it,” —'Colonel Bell proceeds to argue that no intelligent student can conceive of" J apan making war save when “compelled to draw the sword in defence of her rights.” The force of this contention, in as far as it is meant to soothe Australasian ajjrehensions, depends wholly upon the exact definition of the word “rights.” Probably most wars, and certainly all modern wars have been waged on the strength of the real or alleged “rights” of the combatants. Therefore Colonel Bell’s pronouncement is merely to say that Japan does not fight except when her rulers conceive that she should do so, which is suspiciously like a platitude. In view of the fact that Japanese are found in large numbers in China and the adjacent countries of the mainland, in the islands of the Malay Archipelago, in Australia, in the Sandwich Islands, and on the Pacific Coast of the United

States and Canada, one finds it hard to accept Colonel Bell’s conclusion that “they are not inclined to emigrate in large numbers” from their own land. In his survey of China, Colonel Bell tells us that “notwithstanding Gordon and other muscular dreamers the martial spirit is non-existent.” For this alleged reason he sees no grounds for the fear that the Japanese may one day organise the teeming millions of China into a military machine. This is as it may be, but many competent judges with much longer experience of the East think differently, and as a matter of sociological fact, it is impossible to conceive of any race of humanity without the essential fighting instinct. The Kashmiri, as a human unit, is from the military point of view a thing of scorn, but that fact has not prevented the Indian military authorities from drilling him into excellent fighting material. Further the Egyptian fellah was for centuries a, by-word for craven cowardice, but it needed only British drili-gergeants to make a fighting man of him. “The ‘Yellow Peril’ is,” says Colonel Bell, “an economic fallacy.” It was a countryman of the gallant Colonel who originated the warning, “Never prophesy unless you know,” and, since there are no real means of knowing, we incline to think that the subject is not one to be disposed of pro or con by a few polished oracular utterances. However, one may doubt the soundness of Colonel Belts political conclusions, and economic arguments, there is no gainsaying the fine sincerity with which they are enunciated. • The Colonel is an optimist and an orator, and, like a late great British historian and statesman may be said to “write speeches” if not to “speak essays.” “With our race, America and Britain,” he says, “holding most of the salient points of the globe; with the Suez and Panama canals in our care; with the universal feeling that ‘war is dreadful,’ and that there should he surcease from slaughter, and a happy combination of circumstances and conditions that strongly suggest co-opera-tion between ourselves, and an alliance with Japan —as I remarked, the most potent power on earth for the purpose in view—as a member of this holy trinity, the future should be promising indeed. And unless these projects are defeated by some 'jealous thoughtless, or jarring element within the pale of our own circle, the present century should see the barbarism of war abolished, with Anglo-Saxon ideas, methods, language, and civilisation, the dominant force in the world’s progress.” . . As an example of- oratorical vaticination this is well sustained, if a trifle mixed. As for the sentiment, no good Anglo-Saxon can refrain from adding, “So may it be!”

“Captain Sheen, A Romance of New Zealand History,” by Charles Owen. T. Fisher Unwin, London. This story, which was well received when it appeared in serial form in the “New Zealand Mail” and other journals, weaves together the warp Ox and the woof of fact in such fashion as to make good reading. It is a tale of treasure seeking, and strange adventure by sea and land. The nortorious fighting chief, Te Raupanaha, is one of the characters in the story, and his infamous descent on Akaroa. and treacherous capture of its chief is fully described. By the license of romance Rauparaha’s capture of Tamaharanui and his attack on the pah at O'nawe are blent into one episode. This is hardly fair to either the memory of the great northern warrior or to the sufficiently execrated pa k eh a who aided him in the first mentioned savagery. The pah was really taken after a canoe expedition made for the purpose, and its inhabitants had all the 'time during which the siege of Kaiapohia was going; on to make ready their defence. It fell in fair fight. That portion of the tale which has to do with the overland expedition to the West Coast is particularly well told, but the search for pirate treasure is now too worn a theme to admit of anything novel or startling in its treatment. As long, of course, as humanity retains its “accursed thirst for - gold” tales of adventure in search of it will find plenty of appreciative readers. Mr Owen’s story will reward these as well as many a hook by more widely known authors, and, among lads especially, is sure to be in wide demand. It can be recommended as well worth the modest half-crown asked for it. As a matter of mere formal criticism it must he mentioned! that there are mistakes in spelling which are probably due. to the unfamiliarity of an Einglish proof-reader with Maori orthography. “Rienga” (twice repeated) for “Reinga,” “Kaipai” for “Kapai,” “atuat” for “atua,” are examples which doubtless are even more annoying to the author than to the reader. “The ‘Herald’ Portfolio of New Zea- \ land Scenery.” \We have received from Mr J. W. Davidson, bookseller and stationer, of this city, a copy of this artistic production, of which be bolds the sole Wellington rights. The portfolio is of gilt lettered cloth, and contains a dozen separate sheets, each of which is a beautiful half-tone engraving of a New Zealand subject. These are all truly typical and well chosen, and the. technical finish of each is of the highest

class. The first picture, “A Belle of the Arawas,” is a portrait of a Maori girl. This is a work of real art, no detail requisite for the production of a faithful picture having been omitted. The portrait is surrounded with a bold border composed from photographs of Maori carvings, the finest lines of which come out clearly. The other pictures consist of country views and city panoramas, ranging from Northern Auckland to far south-western Otago. Seacoast, bush, mountain, river, and lake, are all depicted, and it'may be mentioned as a special merit that Waimangu, with its eruption of inky mud, is conspicuous by its absence. Unlike many former pictorial souvenirs of New Zealand, the present publication is not misleading to persons outside the colony. So much has been made of esque opportunities afforded fcy Maori subjects, and by hot lakes and geysers, that the world at large may stand excused if it for the most part regards New Zealand as an unstable patch of territory where tattooed warriors and wahines of exceeding embonpoint constitute the bulk of the population. The “ ‘Herald’ portfolio” does nothing to perpetuate this misconception. Every one of its scenic pictures, from those representing the snowy majesty of Mount Cook and Mitre Peak to the pretty view of Tarakura Bay in North Auckland, has been chosen purely for artistic merit. “Hauling Logs in the Bush” is the title of one typical picture which alone is worth the six shillings charged for the whole portfolio. The sheets of white enamelled paper, on which the pictures are engraved are uniformly twenty-six inches by twenty, and this bold size gives scope for the display of minute detail. As a true New Zealand souvenir for friends at a distance the “Herald’ Portfolio” is unexcelled.