ALL SORTS OF SUBJECTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18625, 5 August 1922, Page 16

ALL SORTS OF SUBJECTS.

A MEDLEY OF BOOKS. . By Constant Rbaubb. “THE GOOD OLD TIMES.” As time advances and the years pass the authentic literature relating to the early days of the dominion becomes of greater value. Among such books the volume entitled “Old New Zealand,” by “A PakehaMaori”—a pseudonym scarcely concealing the identity of Judge Maning—easily assumes a prominent place. “Old New Zealand,” described as “A Tale of the Good Old Time,” to which was appended “A History of the War in the North Against the Chief Heke in the year 1845, told by an old chief of the Ngapuhi Tribe.” as well os a number of “Maori Traditions,” was first published in 1853, but almost all the copies of this original edition were collected and burnt by the author on the banks of the Hokiaugn River under circumstances described by Dr Hockon in an introduction to the 1906 edition of the book. Dr Hocken also relates how, thanks to the intervention of the Earl of Pembroke, who visited Now Zealand in 1871 arid made Maning’s friendship, a second edition of the book was issued; but today copies of the 1876 edition with Lord Pembroke’s introduction ore comparatively rare. An Australian edition was also published in 1895. It was not until 1906, however, that nil the writings of Judge Maning were collected into one volume and issued vtith an introduction by Dr Hocken, by Messrs Whitcombo and,Tombs., The present volume is a re-issue of the 1906 edition—now out of print—but entirely revised ana with a number of additional illustrations. Stoutly bound and printed in fine bold type, the book is a marvel of cheapness at the price charged, which places it within the reach of all students of New Zealand history. , The opportunity now afforded of securing a valuable volume at a reasonable price is likely to be widely availed of. H.—“PUSSYFOOT” JOHNSON. Whatever opinion may be held regarding the, Prohibition controversy, a great deal of interest—adverse or otherwise—will be taken in the personality of “Pussyfoot” Johnson, who (will shortly visit the dominion as a' Prohibition advocate. The story of the career of William Eugene Johnson from boyhood up, including his exploits in the States, are graphically' told by Mr F. A. M'Kenzio, the wellknown London journalist and special correspondent, in a book simply entitled “ ‘Pussyfoot’ Johnson.” On the title page of the book is a sentence ascribed to Theodore Roosevelt: “Let Johnson alone; more power to his elbovi” Mr M'Kenzie, whose advocacy of the Koreans in their struggle against Japanese domination may be remembered, is a whole-hearted admirer of

“Pussyfoot,” and that admiration naturally colours the whole book. It is a- breezy, racy chronicle which will be read with mixed feelings according to the convictions, prejudices, or standpoint of the reader. The book concludes by quoting “Pussyfoot’s” prophecy that England, following the example of America, wall be “dry” by 1930, this prophecy being based on an alleged statement by Mr Lloyd George that “if America stands firm and makes good on Prohibition, England will adopt the same policy within ten years.” HI.—PEACE AND SERENITY. It is a token of th e times in which we live that a wide demand exists for essays of the soothing, solacing sort, the typo of detached essay’ of which, in the present generation. Mr A. C. Benson has given perhaps the best examples. In the wake of A. C. Benson there have followed David Grayson, Richard King, Henry Shawcross, John Crawley,. Cranstoun Metcalfe, “Alpha | of the Plough” (A. G. Gardiner), and the ] anonymous author of those essays and reflections published under the titles i respectively of “Peace and Mind” and “Serenity.” “Peace of Mind” consisted of essays covering the period August, 1914, to September, 1917, whjle “Serenity” continued the series from October, 1918, to June, 1919. There has now been issued, in Melrose’s Pocket Series a collection of the best of the essays from those two books entitled “Shaded Lights on Men and Books,” carrying the following dedication: —“To the Friend who rescued these papers from the oblivion of an obscure journal, who selected, revised,' and in face of much opposition succeeded in publishing two volumes.” The collection comprises 3o essays, and deals with subjects as various as “On Careless Beading” and “Should Books Be Taxed” to “A Taste for Poverty” and “Can Life Be Prolonged?” A number of the essays are literary in their character and treat of Sir Walter Scott, "Arnold Bennett, W. H. Davies, and the author of “The House With the Green Shutters.” The essays are pleasantly written and contain just the sort of comforting and comfortable reflections which please the majority who dislike, above all things, being disturbed.; , IV.—AN ANTI-SEMITIC DIATRIBE. “The Much Chosen Race,” by Sydnoy A. Moseley, has had a certain notoriety owing to a law oaae between the author and the publisher in regard to the picture on the jacket or paper cover in which the book was enclosed. The picture represented a Jew pedlar offering for sale a number of toy-pigs, and Mr Moseley objected to the cover as misrepresenting the nature of his books. The publishers, on their part, contended that the subject matter of the book fully justified the wrapper. The ver diet was in favour pf the author, and eventually a compromise was reached by which the offending picture was partially covered by a gummed strip of paper on which was printed the verdict in the case. Inasmuch, however, as the slip is easily detachable, revealing the offending picture, the question arises whether this was not in the nature of a clever piece of advertising. Mr MoSeley covers ground alroadv occupied by writers like Mr John Foster Fraser and Mr Hilaire Belloc, and by no means to such good effect. The evident animus of the hook detracts from its value, and the sweeping nature of many of the statements lacks well-founded support. In hit, efforts after smartness Mr Moseley merely achieves vulgarity. The book mav possibly have a vogue among the more violent Anti-Semites, but the fair-minded reader will turn from it with feelings akin to disgust.