A LITERARY CORNER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9788, 11 October 1917, Page 8

A LITERARY CORNER

CR.A.L.) “ENGLAND’S EFFORT,” Mrs Humphry Ward. (Smith, Elder and Co., 15, Waterloo Place, London.) In this magnificent little book Mrs Humphry Ward has paid her debt to the public that has so consistently received her many works with generous appi eolation, An American friend had written to her, giving her tho general opinion in America of England’s effort in tho war. It was not complimentary. England was taking things too easy, making no real e.tlort v/orrl'y of the name. The derogatory opinion fired the soul of tho accomplished authoress, who knew her countrymen and countrywomen, had watched n hat they were doing in field and workshop and conuting-houso; and was in earnest, enthusiastic sympathy with them. She determined that the world should know the truth, and sue put herself in communication with the Government, asking for facilities to see every tiling. The Government responded promptly, and very soon Mrs Ward saw everything. At the front she covered hundreds of miles, even to the firing lino among the shells, bhe saw the fleet in many places under many circumstances. She visited tbs whole of tho munition factories in the numerous centres. Everywhere she was received with courtesy, everywhere she observed, she noted, she got to the very core of everything. The result is this hook—a living, vivid presentment of the marvellous effort ot the nation. It presents the “Kitchener Miracle’’• to tho life; it places the Navy high for all to see; it tells tho vast story of the national industrial organisation with a marvellous illumination. On every page there is tho touch of genius, displaying the principles, realising details with extraordinary strokes of personal illustration, giving life to the whole with the spirit animating all ranks and both sexes. We see the men fighting at the front, and the women in the workshops making the shells and passing them on, as it were, with feverish energy, for fear lest their efforts be hindered by want of hands. “These letters,” says the warmhearted writer, “are the fruit of three months’ travelling and thinking.” Tho fruit is very good. As for the title, “England’s Effort,” she explains:— Will any gallant son of Scotland, or loyalist Ireland, or of those great Dominions, whose share in the war jhas knit them closer than ever to the Mother Country—should he come across .this little hook—forgive me that I have finally chosen "England” to stand for us all? That name .is more steeped in history—world-his-tory—than any other. It is used here not geographically, or politically, but as representing the English-speaking nations of the Empire, and.ia the sens© of Browning’s famous line: “Here and here did England help me : howcan I.help England?—say.’’ Lord Rosebery, in a remarkable preface which deserves reading, says: “Airs Humphry “Ward has struck an effective blow for our country.” No ; oue could say more. It is a very effective blow, putting the most marvellous effort made by any nation in historic times in its proper light. In taking off our hat to the great writer who has, done this incomparable service, we venture to suggest that her presentment of the case has done much to secure the national support which is a great feature of President yvilson’s intervention, in, the war. The book was published, in. 1916, but it is so good that a review at this late hour needs no apology. It is good for all 'men to know what this great novelist has, done for her country in its hour of need. “AT VANCOUVER'S WELL.” .Laurence Rentoiil. (Macmillan - and ; 00., St. Martin street, London.) When some years ago the famous Professor of Ormond College (Melbourne University) published a book oI verse —.writing over the name of Gervais Gage—the world was astonished, never having suspected that he bad drunk deep at the Pierian spring. The world did nob know this at first; knew it only after his work had been acclaimed by critics of light and leading. Of these, the first and greatest appraiser was the late Professor Dowdon, of Trinity College, Dublin, who wrote without knowledge of the personality of “Gervais Gago.” Ho stamped his approval with “vitality and vigour—vigour of imagination embodying itself in vigour of versification.” Others spoke of the manly style of tho poems and their manly tenderness. “Achonry,” "Dunluce,” “By an Austral River,” “Sam Perry,” were the poems selected for special commendation. .Professor Paterson, the “Literary Digest” of New York, the . “Freeman’s Journal” of Dublin, and the “Irish Times,” agreeing for once with its political rival, the “Daily News,” Dr Strong (of Melbourne), Dr Pitobett (of the “Fights that Won the Empire” series, and much more), ail these joined together and made the name of Eentoul famous, with catholic impartiality of approval, for by that time tho real name of “Gervais Gage” had become known. In “Vancouver’s Well” the author has given us a historical rhapsody. Reading in Vancouver’s voyage how he bad found, on entering King George’s Sound, a. fine spring of water which greatly refreshed his weary crew, he was struck with the idea 'that a spring of water had played

a great part in the history of mankind. That idea he traced in living lines. “Gather the people,” he quotes from Numbers, “and I will give them water,” and forthwith we have “The Song of the Well.” “Sprincr up, O well I’’—the delvers sang. In that old Orient, long ago. When in the rock the mattock rang And haggard men with eyes aglow Saw, as the waters glanced and sprang, God in the glad outflow. So glad and strange the miracle, In that sun-smitton land of graves. The springing wonder of the well—(Scorched waste where now the runnel laves!) — Seemed wrought by eome weird princely spell “With sceptre and with staves.” 0, thanks to him who smote the rock! — The shepherd that, with wizard wand, Found Earth's young heart; whoso spiritshoek Broke drought’s despair; and sterile sand Leapt into Peoples, like a flock Led by his guiding hand! The “Well of the Wanderers’’ follows, which saved the life of Hagar the mother of Ishmael, and the great Arab race, that has played so great a part in history. Nest comes the well whereat Moses rescued the daughter of Jethro. Introductory these—they bring us to “Vancouver’s Well,” tto spring aforesaid on tho shore of the great sound of West Australia. It gives the poet a thought: O widened world! I sit to-day By marge of Oceans then unknown; And, west and east and far away, Tho broadening isles and lands are strewn: King David nevfcr poured his lay To heavens bright as our own! The thought loads him round vast spaces, oven to the South Pole, of which the latest story holds him spellbound. He sums it up: Brave Scott! The words thy fingers penned When numb and dying—well-nigh dead— Shall vibrate to the great world’s end. And crown each Briton’s heart and ' head . , With nobler birthright! Hero, Friend, We follow; thou hast led! He wanders back leisurely, telling of great deeds, of Drake, Rodney, Nelson, Blake, and the groat admirals, in lofty verse, till be sits again bv the well of Vancouver. Shrewd Vancouver, ho calls him, one of the “youngest eons of Drake,” youngest of the sons who kept our coast and made an Empire. So —sacred trust our coasts shall keep ! Came shrewd Vancouver, some loved name Of England’s great ones graving deep On crag and cape: words edged with flame Whose gleam may rouse us from the sleep Of dotard ease or shame. # Sfr * Staunch human-hearted mariner. Unbaffled, wakeful, unafraid.— _ . Cleaving, through sea-tidos dark or fair. Unhindered avenues of . trade, By such keen eye and tireless care ‘Was world-wide England made! From there he follows tho career of Vancouver in his famous voyages, and the end finds him So, brooding all alone, I sit By shores where South. Seas sway and swell, . , While my heart-memories range and. tut By many a Norland stream and dell: And SO this reverie is writ By brave Vancouver’s well. For who can bid the song be still. The glad love-glow make dull and com. That thrilled the soul by fount and hill In those great deathless daysof old. O tears, ye kept back bravely till The old well’s tale was told! And we have, of course, “L’Envoi. THE WELL OF THE HEART. O Thou—once weary by the well That lapsed—hast tidings sweet and strange , Of deep well-water, by no dell Or lull-sub found, no grassy grange. Kor changing, though men buy and sell. Unless ourselves can change! Ah. Love, the song, by delvers lk that old Syrian sun-smit de l, Sings still. The ages yet are ~ Hearts dig and tire: men buy and > Yet chant. Urn whispering palms among. "Spring up, spring up, O neii. Other poems fill the volume, strong and manly all. with groat tenderness, arid here and there remarkably - :a s f orwar?o e ngs and ballads of the great Tvar, and Australia s park* - Doctor Bentoul is ohaplam-goneral of rhn AIF and has much to say tor rim forces of Australia and tj to Ho says it in this senes entitled .At the Sign of the Sword,” a noble senes, •nspiriS vritb here and iherc a great 4wing of battle, and much of high icsolve and splendid endeavour read of which must make the norM better. The Doctor takes a high place among the singers under the Southern Cross. He has not forgotten to tell us of Vancouver, the midshipman who Picked up his trade Under the eye of Cook (the acerrimus oceam investigator ot 9b Paul’s), and practised it manfully in the light of his great example. How good was their school we know in New Zealand bv the accuracy of Cook a many surveys, and we are reminded by the chronicle of the great surveys made •hv Vancouver of t-K© Australian coast and the West Coast of North America from San Diego up almost to the Arctic Circle. This wo get in the historical memoir compiled from tho history in the Melbourne Public Library. It is interesting to learn that in Vancouver’s time the idea prevailed that there was a waiter passage through the American Continent across from Vancouver to tho Labrador coast. The school that held this idea hoped that one day tho navigator entering the strait of Juan do Fuoa would sail right through intricate and beautiful waterways to tho Atlantic Ocean. Vancouver entered the strait, and found the waterways intricate and beautiful. But instead of coming out into the Atlantic he circumnavigated the island of Vancouver and dispelled the hopeful legend of a through passage.