A LITERARY CORNER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 5

A LITERARY CORNER

BOOKS

(By "Liber.")

“The Haunters of the Silences: A Bools of Animal Life." By Cha tlc-b O. If. Roberts. Ulustratiouft by Charles Livingston Bull. Clm.-teh inch: Not!;, Woodd and Co. Boston ; L C. Logo and Co.

All who hnvo been fortunate enough to oorno across any of M r Lubcrlr. s previous Looks, more especially hm •’Kindred of the Wild" .and "Red !’<>*> TviJi tdvo a hearty welcome to his latest production. Hitherto Air Jipboitu has dealt with tho animal liio of the great American forests and wilds, to-day, m certain of his new stones, ho makes 4 new departure and endeavours (to bring home to Ins readers Die liio of the dwoiims in and on tho shores or tin* deep sen and Iho great lakes, lie apologises, rather needlessly to us, tor any mistakes ho may make, but truthfully observes that "it Ls not easy tor any observer to \yo intimate, say, with a sawfish." "My own knowledge of tho orca, the shark, tho narwhal or tho colossal cuttlefish of the ocean depths i*s not," ho continues, "of the same kind a* my knowledge of the hear, the moose, tho eagle. and other of tho furtive U-xho of our New Brunswick wilderness. fJut although ho has now to *rcly upon the collated results of oilier üb..ervms, ho has ftp a rod no pains to make his *u»rus accord, ms far as the tacts ol scieutiiic history are concerned, with the latent scientific information. Alter such ami similar explanation wo turn to the lust stOxy, ••■Xue Mimujons of the XsorLh, ' nml nml in this short lile-liislory ol u young polar bear, tatid, by an evil (roaK. ol misfortune, to end ms days in a zoological garden, all tno old pxeturftsqueness of description, nil tho old charm which fascinated go many wao have read Air Roueris's earlier wonts, indeed, there is not a dull page in the book. W aether KouerU writed ol tho oalmon. and his journeys v iho Last Barrier or describe© a desperate combat between a moose and a bear ("AuBwcna to tho hall") or, yet again, a still more exciting light between a shark and a saw-fish, or relates certain weird experiences in which tho eagle plays a leading pail; ("in tho Dee*p,ot tho fchlcucfvO or tells a dozen oilier stories equally notable, alike for their novelty of incident or tho literary charm of their narration, ho at onco wrests, grasps, and firmly retains the attention ol his readers. Perhaps tho beet thing in a volume where nil is good, and choico is difficult, is his study of boaver life iu iho chapter entitled "Under the Ice Hoof." A finer exposition of tho marvellous instinct inch which the Creator has so generously dowered these curious animals has surely never been penned. Per this story and that of tho young polar bear, the volume is well worth purchasing. To young people who aro old enough to appreciate good literature, and intelligent enough to grasp tho delicately disguised psychological theories set forth hero and there by tho author, hero indeed is a feast of varied delights for a week of winter evenings. Even younger folk still ("Liber" has tried tho efiect of tho polar bear story upon an. audience of three small boys, eldest ten, and found that a condensed version thereof was received with, rapturous plaudits) can enjoy tho book, for they will miss, or "skip," tho psychological divagations and stick to tho story pur© and simple. As for tho average educated man or woman, ospfeOialiy those who have sympathy with and affection for animals, he or sho .who cannot enjoy "Tho Haunters of tho Silences" is to b© pitied.

Certain American writers on animal life, and of what aro conveniently called “Nature Studies/' have recently, as uiy readers may remember, incurred tiio displeasure of President Roosevelt (himself n “mighty hunter") for their neglect of the practical side of big game hunting and/ their alleged exaggeration of the powers and extent of animal instinct. But even if it be granted—the present writer cannot so grant it—that 'Hr Heberts may at times attribute greater mental powers or a greater extent of instinct to some of the wild creatures whose life and habits ho describes, and may. too, indulge a too much in what is called “fine writing," the merits of these beautiful stories, in which the pathetic is often eo cleverly intermingled with the dramatic* vastly outweigh their faults. E’en though it be, ns Mr Roosevelt contends, that imagination plays too prominent a part in Mr Roberts's description of big game, both qu sea and Land, wo greatly prefer thorn to the dull narrative®, in which powder and blood play the leading part, and the number of “heads" secured by the hunters is apparently the main thing thought of, narratives, some of which have been perpetrated by the captious presidential critic himself. Mr Roberts’s book i« beautifully got up, and Mr Livingston Bull's strongly drawn but sometimes rather weirdly conceived pictures servo to greatly enhance the interest of tho text. American publishers seem to, make a special feature of artistic aud novel “end-papers." Those in the volume before us depict two of the most exciting incidents that Mr Roberts has described with his pen, and aro fin© example© of powerful pen drawing.

"Christianity and tho Social Order.” By Hot. E. J. Campbell, SI.A. London : George 801 l and Sons.

Since the Eov. Mr Campbell firct bosame famous -hio opponents might perhaps uncharitably say notorious—by his advocacy of what he has been pleased to call "The New Theology,” ho must have devoted almost as much time to authorship as to preaching, for tho present in the third book from his pan to appear within the past twelve months or so. About one half of the contents is devoted to a further exposition of tho "Now Theology," a theology by the way which tho more wo learn of its nature, tho more it appears to bo curiously akin to other theologies set forth many years ago. The other half contains Mr Campbell's apologia for, or defence of the Socialist views of which ho has recently become a pronounced exponent. In the first part, however, ho so intermingles Socialist arguments and theories with hio religion# or theological views, that the book is more of a harmonious whole as regards tho general purport of its teaching than, might at first bo imagined. The first chapters wo may leave to clerical critics and other theologians. It is when Mr Campbell begins to enounce , and develop his views ns to what he contends should bo the new "social order" that we become more interested. Christian Socialism is nonew thing, as those who remember Charles Kingsley will agree, but Mr Campbell evidently desires to pose as a new and original Socialist prophet, and would probably class tho author of "Alton Locke" as a Tory. We have rend tho second part of his book very carefully, but with every desire to give the author credit for sincerity of feeling and honesty of purpose, wo fail to see that ho says much that is now, or much that is practically germane to the one freat issue. Individualism or Socialism, lo seems, curiously enough, to avoid a definition of his own particular brand of Socialism, and takes refuge in a long series of negations. Socialism, he points «ut, docs not moan this, that or the other thing—very many things indeed ho de■lares it does not mean—but a creed of negations is not enough. Believers and disciples want strong affirmations, backed up by even stronger arguments, and of jliMe the reverend gentleman affords a wry meagre and ur-satiafring supply. He parados a good many of the stale and *ften exploded arguments of Socialistic ■writers and orators, but propounds few theories that have oven the appearance et economic stability. ■ Ho calmly advocates tho "appropriation by tho community of tho whole of tho wealth at

nrcM-rt rr-pi-c.-ciiiiM by natural r<wamw L v.-.-ll «... by rt’iit «ml man-., :..«l indulge.', iu aurh t.'toiuaii gviK-raj;>oti«u» in ilia I'aliouinß i '- 11. | I lu. <'«iii:iiiiuity 1 .shau tiK-n Im/wiU.' the /■oir'r t naval mi- ('..' (-wry iiKli\idan 1 in tin- -11> ikl.i i'll <’£ rouiluH, rn,.l ivi-li-bniug Jo al.u-Ii liij <jiuubo1 * 'uu""<Tro»‘i.fl Vi. !!>'■ iuv- • • • Tbfro ivouM bo no idle nob and no iillo r*o-n Mr ('.impbi'M ..mil" !« explain W ito would niakf Ihr .Iron.-, work. nrosp'-fl; o? imv p.-r-o.ial yamomif'on D not V->- 1 rai.r.lina rv. for a f oiutiou'of sunk a probboa i* not eaty to lind. ills D-.n.ip .--.ml. hoycvcr-uml Ik-ivi ho appeara to I kink he is prouiu Iga tllig M.nv,. until-.-ly not froiioir.n'al ooyma, is fxpr.'Sfd linn : "Tiierf is a M>lt«r >«iy ol doing things 111... i I hat. In a ua lJ |»> '■-Oil!. I ... . -j I! 1 11 o its (111.1, };;! by inf. hi buying out Iho mono! (.lists, and it^.iiM I VoriTv,' :\r.- '< k.iDplK'll's i'lan is simplicity itsflf on nawr. bill: lit; overlooks t-. H-h a jiiaVl.-r of 'fact that to buy out (!'.<■ inU-rest in one great Hyitis . I ij.dn.-trv alone fi.al foukl l.e meat .oiled, 1 would bniit.leaHy bankrupt tho State. ! Tils book in fill! of serious contrndic- ! lions, and well-meaning and .--arncst thong!, he lie—-and we eheertn. ly rcoog-ni-e his sir.rerity-we i-.-m l.ardly l:ouoeive his Is'ing aceeptfd as a sale guide to f he sol ntion of the many great ijouia,! and oeonon.ic problems, so intricately intermingled, over whieti hundreds of far abler economists and far deeper thinkers have so long pondered, sl-.id.td and written, with so little practical result, fly the party of Socialists which is pleased to label itself "Christian,” no doubt M r Campbell's latest effusion will be haded ns a valuable addition to its propaganda, but we fancy .Mr Iflatchford and tho terribly m-acticnl Soria lists of the “Clarion” aciuxH will laugh it to ocorn.

"Tho Awakening/* By Richard Sands. London: Macdonald and Evans. “And so I am a Socialist. I am a Socialist because I am a CiiriMmn; and a Christian because I am a Socialist/ These Hues are found at the commencement of the final chapter in whnfc is a simply told but curiously fascinating story. Tho story is nothing more nor less than that of the evolution of a well educated artisan's mind—and soul —from vague indifference to political, ethical and spiritual matters up to a state of beatific content with their s present moods and methods of thought, and proftuptijv's of soul. It is a story the writing of which it is easy to see, has given its author infinite contciitme.nl and pleasure, nml if ever sincerity were enshrined iu print, it is here. Various indeed aro the author’s religious experiences, and incidentally lie hits uponfomc of tho chief causes of the great indifference, if not actual dislike, in which the churches of to-day are so frequently held by tho British working classes. "Little Botholism"—which still prospers, despite the pointed arrows thrown so liberally of iat© years against its tough hide of sell esteem and smug complacency—comes in for some hard knocks, and hero and there aro signs most palpable that iho autuor is one of that class of modern Christians ’"iiich holds the "Now Criticism" in higher esteem than the long accepted dogmas still so dear to more than on© prominent Christian church. We cannot spare the space necessary for even a condensation of llio story, uiu c;;recommend it to the attention of our renders as an honest record of an exceptionally intelligent man*© mental and spiritual growth. Many problems of the-flay arc dealt withiby the authoiT and even where wo do not agree with his views it is impossible not to admire tho courage and lucidity with which he presents them.

“The Looker-On." By Willi am Lo Queux. London and Melbourne: Ward, Lock and Co. Really did we not honestly admit an incapacity to perpetrate even the kind of verse to which Mr Silas Wegg devoted his spare time, we should feci inclined to try our hand at a “Limerick" in which “clever Mr Le Queux" and "His usual lost clue" would be salient features. For a Le Queux story without an apparently deep and unfathomable mystery would bo a novelty indeed. As for his capacity for producing fiction —and nston.ishing good fiction of its own particular kind—ho bids fair to “break the record" oven that very high record “put up" by the Into, and bv many good people, greatly lamented Cruv Boothby, As he pours out novel after novel the panting reviewer “toils after him in vain/' indeed, were wo to read a now novel from his pen ©very mouth, wo honestly believe we should have missed two or three by the end of tho yeo.r. However, so long as ho keeps on writing a really good “mystery .story'/ ho will always have a teg public to encourage him to a further output from his '/Fiction. Factory," and assuredly his latest sfory, “Tho LookerOn" (a secondary title is “A Romance of Journalistic London.") .shows no falling off in tho clever writer's nower of imagination and skill in weaving and working out tho most complicated plot. Tho hero is a young Fleet street journalise, Victor Keene, who specialises with great success in writing up startling crimes, and is facetiously known in the “Morning Herald" office as “The Murder Monger." Young Keene is engaged to a music-hall star, Mies Daisy Marvin, the daughter of his and tho father, who dreams of some enamoured young proposing to and honouring his pretty Daisy with a coronet, is therefore kept in the dark by the young couple. Keene is told off to “do" the “Pimlico Murder Mystery," and speedily ho is launched upon a sea of troubles. For he at first suspects an old journalistic chum. Little, the “Herald's" war correspondent, and soon after becomes convinced, greatly to his horror, that the fair Daisy is not only untrue to him'but has been herself concerned in the crime, the brutality of which has, so shocked the public mind. is a situation in which Mr Le Queux positively revels, and he complicates matters by introducing a small army of minor characters more or less intimately concerned in the crime and its detection, and tho unfortunate Keene is thrown off the scent, first by one of them and then by another ingenious expedient until, as the Americans say, ho is “sidetracked" and perfectly at his wits’ end as to the true state of affairs. By the rascality of one of the characters, Daisy Marvin, who, needless to say, is quite innocent of any share in tho-crime, suspects Keene of unfaithfulness, and for a time the most experienced reader must fain conclude, though eoroly against his will, that the truth will’never bo discovered, and that Victor aud Daisy are pursued by so mischievous and malignant a fate as to render it impossible they can ever come together again. But Mr Le Queux knows his admirers too well io offend them by a “sad ending," and although it would bo unfair to say exactly how the “Pimlico Mystery" ceases to bo a mystery, and who the real criminal turns out to have been, wo can assure our readers that the solution of tho problem, savours in no way of the improbable. Keene is a manly young lover, and the sorely tried Daisy (who retires from the “halls" and does not marry a peer) is a very lovable heroine. Tho newspaper office scenes in Fleet trtreet are described with no small vivacity and humour. It is evident Mr Lo Queux “has been, at the game." as journalists say.

"The Bed Year, a Story of the Indian Mutiny." By Louis Tracy. (Bell’s Indian and Colonial Library.) London : 801 l and Sons; Wellington: Whitoombo and Tombs. There is a very i skilful combination of history and Jetton in Mr Tracy's very readable story ot the Indian Mutiny. By an odd combination of circumstances, the hero. Frank Malcolm, a British officer in the 3rd Native Cavalry, stationed at Meerut at the outbreak of the Mutiny, takes part in quite a number of the moat exciting scenes not only at Meerut but at

Inn-know, Cawnpo.-o and Delhi. Di* go- -I as a unlive lie render- mo.-t vain alee -.-. h- to 5,, v ,., u l had;:.;; Dritisa ronraaedei-ri, and v.-'-il d.l-a-. v, s niif ranipromo,ion. Winifn.-I Mavirr, to whom :n i- engaged, andergo. e sat sUrtiing am.

dJ.ibfs eve,!; .Is- eo.n-tam-v U her lover, being jealous of (lie friendship si.ov.ii him In- a wi.3l-br.ru native ],) iil.x-.-s. if.e ,i-niivl" i-st aml - ng. however, is merely enln. and his betrothed sale and happy. l»rlpiii|imU U roie* and the atrccities for •wueh‘T.o wav' m-iU 1 eat Pawn pore, aro dosorib.d by IK- noon-si in a very, dra nia. in stvle, Vlie del euce-and repel of l-uekuow. and Urn lighting beiore Delhi al-o .-ei-ve In show that tae auflmr has gone to no small amount ol trouble in see-nriiig hislork-al accuracy; indeed the Whole stOj-y is much above the average of this class of fiction. Thoso who would fail! obtain a c-oiiiieclid idea or tlu- onlliroak ami spread of tho Mutiny could not do hoUer Utau huy a copy ox v.-hat uc pcivoiudly have found to ho a really capiiuJ. .^tory.

Baronetage, and Knightage, kauo." Loudo-a : Lean and Uompauy. “'Debret*' 1 - jV'•ra , "' ,, "rows more bulky every year. ; and^li-crc Um-m .who I^l° adniiiiisirati-on, tho pi to tno iiu;,.ings ueelnratmiis ol ties m.umro ut tliuy liulp UlcU Dot tnat urn pwn-iii baienl Ciover.uueiit have created iv.emy-iuO ; peers during the past two yours, wuicn is juseight more Uiuu the Honour Covcinineni ■•isi-i.-e-d ' -auruig me test two years ot iu e.Msltuee. it may be turn in the I...Pern! pnriy thoso jxuiticians who ham been of service fmonetary or other), -hu lifcewtoO -mom wno am m, a posiaou ot do.ug it hurt aro more ai.sssil m t ic> impAji-tunuig. and have to bo pnusuea boxueiiow. UuruLg last year ii\c* uyvv peers (wliich wad tho average yearly "creations" during Luo reign ox the late Queen) wore made, likewise- 1" now baronets and 17 6 knights. Altogether 455 new ■*Kmiour»” wore conforn-.-d during X’JUT. Quo result of nil this is that “Hebrctt’s, not including tho voluminou.s appendix and runnv Mvrote of advertisements, now extends to wnr.o UUO pages. The present issue shows the usual excellencies of such a work, the ocope of vJiich is fully cot forth lu the sub-title: "< 'ompndng inCoimatioii concerning all ixrsons bearing hereditary or courtesy titles. Privy Councillors, Knights, and Companions of all | the various Orders, and the Collateral Branches of all TWiv c,v.} Tte> r r-,n015." The book contains some 1500 illustrations of armorial bearings, and has the additional recommendation of having been "revised by the nobility and aristocracy/' This is a "net book,” but the price is not stated.

rr ßelowand Above the Water Line." By "Seafarer/* Christchurch and Wellington; Whitcomb© and Tombs, Limited.

Now Zealand is a sea girt country, and its inhabitants are credited with making much more frequent use of tho ocean as a highway than countries possessing much larger populations. This being the case, there is all tho more reason for according a very hearty welcome to this modestly prefaced but excellent little work on tho Merchant .Service, and its personnel, and its manner of working, Tim author, who it is a pardonable indiscretion to say, hides the identity of a well-known coastal skipper under his nom-dc-pluino of “Seafarer/’ gives a very bright, readable and, in its way, most instructive description of the duties devolving upon every grade of worker on a passenger steamer, from the black-browed fireman right up to tho brass-buttoned and smart commander. Tho throe diopters dealing respectively with “The Fireman," “The Greaser,'" and “The Trimmer," will come us a perfect revelation to the thousands who travel long distances by boat and know a-j little of tho practical work of the men who keep tho boilers going With fuel and the engines Working easily ae does a native of Central xMTica. The engineers receive from “Seafarer" a consideration and an ample appreciation of the splendid work they do that it is not always accorded them by the navigating officers, and for this tho author deserves' a special meed of praise. In tho second part, of his interesting little hook we work up from the stewards, cooks, and sailors to tho subordinate officers, tho

“bosuns," and cjuartprinasters, until we are made acquainted with the work done bv the junior and senior officers. Special reference is made to tho “liner commander" and that sadly overworked man, “tho tramp skipper," and the concluding chapters deal, with the dangers of the seaman's calling and with the passengers, and, finally, the owners. ‘’'Seafarer's" book contains no attempt at fino writing, it ha,s none of either Mr Hulicn's heroics or hysterics, it is j ust a plain straightforward account by a plain spoken practical mariner, of tnose who “go down to the sea" in merchant steamers, and whose calling is one of the most honourable and useful that tho world knows. Some excellent illustrations, from photographs, add much to tho interest of a capital little book, which wo should like to see very widely read, especially by New’ Zealand youths. The 'price is a modest half-crown.

'The Oxford and Cambridge Review," No. 2. London: Archibald Constable and Co.

Messrs Constable and Co., London, eend us the second number of the “Oxford and Cambridge Review’." This new review is nothing if not very serious—tho captious might uso the term “heavy"—but many of the articles are or quite exceptional literary merit apart from the importance of the subject© dealt with. Mr Butler Burke's article on “Haeckel and Haeckelism/' Mr Schiller's lengthy aud thoughtful disquisition on “Freedom and Responsibility," and Hr Hussey Walsh's article on “Devolution in Austria-Hungary," are all three contributions which any editor might well be proud to announce. The second part of a hitherto unpublished essay, •'On Social Freedom," by John Stuart Mill, makes ono regret not having seen and read its predecessor. Mr John Bollock writes amusingly and with point on tho “Law's Delays," being specially satirical in his descriptions of the antiquated custom of eating dinners by budding barristers, and the headmaster of Eton, tho Kou. E. Lyttelton, makes eome rather pungent remarks upon the manner in which biometrical statistics are gathered and _ the poor practical uso that is made of tho information collected. Amongst other features are a very, enthusiastic review of tho new edition of "Captain John Smith’s Travels," and an article by I. B. Sollas, on tho alleged “Neglect of Education for

Wo:nni.” Mr Hilaire Belloc, M.P.. contributes ‘'llie Priest.” a stuoy ot prj.r-.j- ---< iv<, -auix and cf the worship oi tno iru.on. It is written in exquisite Buglush, i>ut s-orrjohov.- or other seems rathei out ol' .place in a magazine such as Uu*. 1 1 ' n■i f" flirt , '/ i w rrviow is beautli alij Pi iulcii t-oet ivitLout saying when the kuio of Constable is on me imprint. Xiio price is (id net.