NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 27

NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

“How ]YrDouga.ll Topped the Score, and other Verses and Sketches. By Tlioe. E. Spencer. The New South Wales Bookstall Co.

The piece of comic verse from which this book takes its main title is too well known as a popular recitation to need any reviewer’s recommendation, but it may be mentioned as typifying the qualities of several lees known sketches which are 'now printed with it. Among these may he cited “o’Mul.ligan’s Wallaby Drive,” “OTcolo and McSharry,” “A Nieht wi’ Burns in Yaekundandie.”

and “Brogan’s Plat,” “A Bush Bred Youngster” and “Mount Kenubia” are pitched in another key, recounting as they do, acts of heroism such as readily appeal to the emotions of popular audiences. The second part of Mr Spencer’s book consists of a reprint of a number of Sydney sketches in ;»n allegedly Irish brogue, which owe a deal of their humour to local references. “Mrs McSweeney” and “Mrs Tacitus” are at times just a trifle tiresome, but in the repertoire of a really able reciter their talk might sound amusing enough. The hook is well printed, and bound, and is l published at 3s Gd per copy.

“Fables and Things Fabulous.” By John Hynde Cotton. London: C. W. Daniel.

The title of this book, which is printed and hound in agreeable antique fashion, is not sufficiently explicit. In reading a catalogue one might very well assume that it designated some more or less dry-as-dust antiquarian disquisition. In so assuming one would err, for, as a matter of fact, Sir John is himself the fabulist, and a fabulist, too, with a nice literary touch and a quaint and appropriate turn of satire and humour. Mis book contains some fifty odd original fable© or modern variants of classic favourites. As an example we may quote “Hercules and the Waggoner.” The waggon had stuck fast once more in the same mud. “Can I help you out?” said Hercules to the waggoner. “No thank you,” he replied. “I thought I heard you putting up something like a petition to me,” said Hercules. “Oh. no/’ laughed the Waggoner, anything but that. My remarks, as a matter of fact, were addressed to the horses. I will not repeat them, for I must confess they were not quite parliamentary. “i should bo glad of a job.” said Hercules. “Mortals are growing so independent now-a-daye, that I really don’t know where to turn to get an honest living/ 5 “I am very sorry to hear it,” said the Waggoner, “but I am quite unable to advise you. Wliat can you do?” “I was very clever at cleaning stables once,” said Hercules. “I would do them vew cliean.” “They clean themselves automatically now-a-days,” said the Waggoner. “You just put a penny—and so on.” “If you knew of any Dragons anywhere that wanted to be killed,” said Hercules.

“They are worth more alive/’ said the Waggoner. “There is no sale for dead Dragons about here, ©o far as I know. Can you write short stories ?” “I spun a good many yarns once,” said Hercules and sighed. “Dear! dear}” said the Waggoner, “what an unfortunate remark of mine. I forgot that stwoid tale about Omphale. Take this trifle for the good advice .you gave me once.” “Alas!” said Hercules, "was it you ? I fancied that I recognised the old waggon. I fear that was very bad advice indeed —for me. I never thought you would have taken me at my word in that way.” Then he went and spent the money. Throughout, the “Fables” are amusing, the author not despising the aid of subtle puns and the contrast of decidedly modern phraseology. In witness whereof we may quote once more—this time from the fable of “The Wolf and the Lamb.”

“How are you off for mint sauce?” said the Wolf. In reply the Lamb inquired in his most serene manner if the Wolf’s current account w£& still unsettled, adding, “I think we had a little misunderstanding about that so-me time ago hadn’t we? My father ha© been on the look out for you ever since to clear the matter up.” While the Wblf was thinking what to say next, a giganti'o R*am appeared from behind a bush. After an interchange of ironical courtesies the Wolf bolted, and “Ha! ha” said the Lamb, “I thought there would be a run on the bank when the Governor put in an appearance.” The book is published at Is, and contains much more than the value of

its price in pleasing quip and humorous jibe at modern foibles.

“Six Women.” .By ‘Victoria Crces.” T. Werner Laurie’s Colonial. Library.

Tho author of “Six Chapters of a Man’s Life,” “Paula,” and “The Woman who Didn’t,” has a forte for stories of a sort which embody the strong portrayal of human emotions, and the description of actions performed under primitive impulses. “Six Women” consists of half a dozen complete stories, each of which is woven of the materials afforded by the love of men and women. With the exception of one, their scenes are pitched in Asia or Africa, .'.'ml the local oolour bears all the appearance of personal acquaintance with the countries and peoplo depicted. The first and longest, tale, though powerfully told, has qualities which are repellent, and portrays characters which are obviously unreal. The remaining stories escape this reproach, while losing nothing in human interest or vividness of dialogue and description. With the exception of a tale of Jerusalem, which recounts the elopement of a Greek monk with a Jewish maiden, and another which tells, and does so prettily, of the sisterly saorifice made by a Bishareen maiden, there is nothing in the volume to constitute literary pabulum for “the boarding school miss.”