LITERATURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19375, 10 January 1925, Page 4

LITERATURE.

USEFDI3 MANUALS, 0® DINERS SUBJECTS. By Obama* Tfotama. L-HDW TO PLAT MAEWONB. Whether “Mah-Joag” will ever oust bridge may be open to question, but Mr Homy Peterson's book oa “Mah JougSimr plifiea; Elementary and Advanced” (Thornton Butterworth; 2s 6d netj gives an opportunity lor everyone to become acquainted with the rales of the game. In a “Foreword” Mr Peterson says:— The gam© itself may aptly be said to bo a true epitome of the sonl of the oldest race on earth, .Do not those best acquainted with it call it a thing strangely compounded of naked honesty and a ' dervious mentality. For a child may loam the redes of Mah Jong in a few hours, and in the fullness of time will go to hia grave solemnly regretting many unplayed hands The shrewdest of calculations ore often upset by chances that seemed a moment before too fantastic to entertain. Further, it is of all games the one that makes the subtlest appeal to optimism, perhaps the most treacherous attribute. of man. The distinguishing characteristic tha creators of Mah Jong seemed to have kept well in mind. As in bridge, there are four players, bat these are no partners, for which dispensation most of na who play bridge indifferently should be grateful. Moreover, the original hand does not remain intact throughout a game os in bridge, so often a burden and an eyesore. It ia constantly improved by the drawing of fresh pieces. This form of a gam© keeps hope ever olive. Add to this the almost infinite variety of hands the composition of Mah Jong provides, and one can understand why so many Chinese officials have been cashiered ip tho last sixty years for neglect of duty. Hero a word may bo said on the ago of tho game. Enterprising merchants advertise it is being two thousand years old. Mr Petersen, by the plentiful us© of dia/grams, describes the Mah Jong pack, details the procedure, the manner of play, and the way to score, afterwards analysing the game. He then dwells on the secrets of good play, its intricacies being very wonderful, The Queen's dub rules are appended together with some notes on the etiquette of the game. . Would he Mah Jong players will'find this manual complete in every particular and comprehensive to a degree. IL—MOTHERS AND BABIES.

Mr usd Mrs H. H. Schula, of the University of Sooth Africa, have compiled a book on “Mothers and Babies” (T. G. and E. C. Jock, ss) described as “a practical book about the Everyday Laio of the Baby from birth to four years old.” The book is dedicated “To one mother who always had faith in the work of her children, and to the memory of another who made her motherhood a profession.” The authors start with the axiom that “Motherhood is a profession no leas than or engineering,” and they declare: “Once it is acknowledged to be on the same plane as other professions, even from the intellectual point of view, a stronger race will bo produced and much of the discontent amoog_ women will disappear.” The suggestion is made that “Training for motherhood should run through the whole of a woman’s life; it begins even before marriage or the conception of children.” And the book has been planned so as to bo of use to infant welfare workers and infant teachers, as well as to women with children of their own. It is interesting to note that storytelling it doomed as valuable aa clothing in the development of the child and the acquirement of self-control aa important as the avoidance of illnees. The opening chapter, on Motherhood” is couched throughout in a lofty strain. The authors write j The main difficulty Is that psychological and economic and many other considerations have crept into onr conception of parentage. We tend to regard motherhood as something rather strange and unusual Instead of recognising frankly that parenthood, both for men and for women Is the big essential fact of life. Girls are educated to self-con-donsness in thla matter, and they are often ashamed to confess, even to themselves, desire for children until the “right man comes along.” Frequently there la constraint between the man and the woman upon this most important question of their married life. Tet women who feel the urge of motherhood have every right to confess to it—should Indeed find glory In doing so—for It means they are natural and normal. And to be thoroughly normal is .the greatest thing in life. Could we get over false Belf-oonscionsneea, motherhood would far more enlightened than it Is now. Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of birth is a great help to any woman about to become a mother. The fact that she h«« taken the trouble to acquire It means that she has realised that birth is a natural process. The possession of this knowledge is a great safeguard against the fears and fancies of mothers-to-be. The book Is fun of the most valuable hints and Ideas concerning the care of mothers and their babies; not only the care of their babies, but the Influences which at the earliest age go to mould their character and develop their natures- There are chapters on “Infants and Toddlers.'’ on “The Child's Discovery of the World,” on “Ideals," and even on “Fathers and Babies.” As a present to an engaged girl or one about to bo married this book can scarcely bo bettered. Written simply and clearly the pages are enlivened with a number of illustrations. UX —NEW ZEALAND SEA SECraXS. Conchology la a science, and collectors of the marine shells of the dominion will be grateful to Mr C. B. K. Bncknill for his monograph on the “Sea Shells of New iSealand” (Whitcombo and Tombs, 7s Gay, the value of which is greatly enhanced by a large number of photographs, from nature, of the shells themselves. Mr BuckniD reminds his readers that it Is 16 years since a book was published in the dominion for the amateur collector of marine shells, and that In the interval there have been alterations in names, modification of ‘ species, and the discovery of some small and hitherto unknown Molluscs, nil of which are included in the present pnblicatiou, bringing it therefore right up to date. The greater part of the book is occupied with detailed descriptions of the different varieties of shells, of which , there is a very great number, the name and its derivation being given in every case, together with particulars enabling exact identification and the locality where the shell has been found. A reference to the plate at the end of the book ia useful in giving the exact appearance of each she** when photographed. Mr Bncknill also contributes an essay on the “Marine Shells of New Zealand,” in the course of which he says:— Some captious critics toll us that our New Zealand shells are not to be compared to those from tropical waters, and perhaps in some respects they are right. A riot of colour and a tendency to the flamboyant appeal to some, while to others they are far too stimulating, nob to say aggressive in appearance, and a more subdued mode is to be preferred. But whatever shape, decoration, or colour scheme is displaced, there is always something to be admired, even in the lowliest of shell fish. There is no single species in all the seven seas but presents some superlative quality. It may bo its highly glazed or enamelled surface; its iridescent and pearly interior; the symmetry and detail of its sculpture; the solidity or delicate fragility of the shell; the dazzling white or the intense black, that appeals. Everything is of the best, for Nature has no second grade, and any imperfections are rated with those of the nnfit which do not survive. Even as the most Esthetic tastes can always bo gratified, so earn the physical appetite, for we have a range* of edible shell fish unsurpassed in any other quarter of the globe. The Auckland Rock Dystor is. without fear of contradiction, second to none, and is quite equal to, if it docs not excel, the famous Colchester native, prized by the Romans, and to this dav considered worthy of a Tmcullmn feast, held annually at the opening of the oyster season and attended with great ceremony Iby a largo and distinguished company. IV.—TABES OT PIRATES. Many books have been written * about pirates, notably the late Bovat Fraser’s compilation with his own illustrations, and Mr John Masefield’s vividly-written records. Pirates have figured profusely in fictionin “Treasure Island,” to wit, while Mr Sabntini’s “Captain Blood’’ affords a more recent instance. It bus been loft for Mr-, .Arthur M- .Harris ,iu “Pirate jlalea irons’

the Law* (Hutchinson) to iwiinnts the fact ivt the fiction and to present some of tho more notable pirates of the eighteenth century, aa they acta ally were, devoid of either fancy or romance. .In turn is given tKe true history of Captain Kidd, John Quelch, “Blackboard,” Henry Avery, Tom Green, and John Gow, as disclosed by the document in tho cose, with tho result that pet illusions aro destroyed and the popular ideaa concerning “walking the plank,” etc., are completely dissipated. In a preface entitled “Ship Ahoy” Mr Harris says;— Here’s a book —a book about pirates, the grim old follows of the eighteenth century, who used to surge over the bulwarks of honest merchantmen in a wave of cutlasses, pistols, and general deviltry. Not all of them, not Lewis, Rackham, Davis, Xow, and others, bat of those who were caught, or some of whoso subordinate rascals were caught, by tho fierce messengers of Hia Most Gracious Majesty tho King, or taken in combat—dreadful combat-—by the oaken-hearted stalwarts of Authority, and brought to Justice, and hanged up at old Execution Dock, hard by Thames River, as it swirls mudaily from London Bridge. That’s the point about this book. , . . It’s the story of the Old Game, the Grand Account, aa those ruffians termed their wicked trade, stripped of legend, excised of exaggeration, and presented to you as it was adduced in the courts of law by the sworn witnesses, the probing counsel, the directing judges, and the juries who oast their capital verdicts. History, in other words; veritable history, but recounted—well, as you shall see for yourself. BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. A BELATED PARCEL. Too late to participate in the usual Christmas distribution, but nqji too late for presentation during the New Tear, comes a parcel of reward books from that oldestablished publishing house, the Religious Tract Society. Complaints are occasionally . heard of the quality of some of tho stories issued ag school prizes and included in Sunday. school libraries, but tho wellknown initials R.T.S. are a guarantee against anything mischievous or misleading in tho matter of story books. Tho books for boys include several handsome volumes. That popular author, Mr J. dorverdon Wood, writes a stirring tale of adventure in New Guinea entitled “Under the Serpent’s Fang,” tho scene of which is sot in the last century. The price is 5s net, and it is exceedingly good value. 1 Cricket, and especially English cricket, is much in the air at present, and “The Two Captains ot Tuxford,” by Mr Frank Elias, a story of English public schooj life, makes a timely appearance. Its price is 3s 6d not.. A treasure hunt never loses its fascination for boys, and “Tho Treasure of Trogudda,” by Mr C. J!'. Argyll Saxby, tells of a Cornish mystery and its unravelling. The price of this book is also 2s 6d net. . At tho same price, and equally attractive, ia “The Riders from tho Sea,” by G. Godfrey SoDick, a tale of smuggling and plotting days. ' All these books are handsomely bound and well illustrated, and tho type will not engender eye-trouble. Loss ambitious, but quite good of their kind, ore "Frank Lester’s Fortunes,” •by •Frederick Arnold, at 2* not; and “Willie’s Ordeal,” by Amy Grey, at Is 6d net. Nor are the girl readers forgotten in thia parcel. “The Right Reward,” by Edna Lake, is all that, a girl’s book ought to be; a well-told story and handsomely produced and illustrated. Tho price is 5s net. At 3s 6d not the R.T.S. offer “The Coming of Chloe," a story of the Australian bush by Daisy Darvill; and at 2s 6d net “That Awful Term,” by E. M. Chnnnon, an amusing tale of life at a girl’s boarding school. Amid tha torrent of new books there is always a demand for the old favourites, and a magnificent edition of Mrs Harriet Beeoher Stowe’s masterpiece, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” will oxoite tho envy of many a girl or boy. The book, edited and slightly abridged by C H. Irwin, and illustrated by R. H. Brock is a possession to glory in and holds delight and excitement for many a well-spent hour.