LITERATURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 4

LITERATURE.

EVERY INCH A QUEEN* A ROYAL LETTER WRITER. By Constant Eeadee. Qnoon Victoria was a great letter writer, and to read her correspondence is to bo admitted to close intimacy with a leinurkablo women. Considerable insight into the character of Quo >.i Victoria is given in Mr I.ytton Straohey’s brilliant biography, whilst Mr Laurence Housman, in his ingenious plays, “ Angels and Ministers," throws not a little light upon some of her more feminine traits. Yet in her letters, the average man gets closer to the Qnoon than along any other avenue. The first scries of letters. “ A selection from her Majesty’s correspondence between the years 183 V and 1361,” edited by A. G. Benson and Viscount Esher, appeared in three volumes in 1907. It was intended that the second series should include the correspondence from 1862 to 1885, but it was not found possible to carry out the scheme in its entirety, and in February, 1926, two volumes were published, edited by Mr George Earle Buckle, covering the years 1862-1878. A third volume containing the j correspondence from 1879-1885 has now been issued, completing the original piau and also under Mr Buckie's editorship. Covering as it does the days of Mr Gladstone's political triumphs, this latest volume possesses extraordinary pre-sent-day interest. The year 1879, the date at which the letters begin, saw Lord Boaoonsfield still at the head of affairs with a general election ponding, and Mr Gladstone on tbe Opposition warpath. The frequent exchange of courtesies between the Queen and Lord Beaconsfiold testify to the affection of Iheir respective relationships. On February 18, 1879. Lord Beaconslield wrote to the Queen : Lord Beaconsfiekl with his humble duty to your Majesty. Ho is greatly distressed at not having the honour and the happiness of an audience of your Majesty to-day, but he is really quite prostrate, though Ur Kidd assures him that his malaise will pass away and even speedily. Still be cannot shut his eyes to the fact that ho has rarely left his room for the last. three months, and be feels that so great a Sovereign as your Majesty should not have a sick Minister. This is tho anniversary of the fifth year of the existing administration. lie liopes ho has not altogether failed in devotion to your Majesty, and in some accomplishment of your Majesty’s policy, but he feels deeply how much in any efforts he owes to your Majesty’s support and experience and confidence. The Queen was exceedingly jealous of any attempted invasion by Parliament of the Royal prerogatives. In May, 1879, Lord Beaconsfiold reported to tho Queen that the Cabinet was strongly of opinion that tho cruise of the two young Princes in U.o Bac chante, would greatly disquiet the public mind, and if anything happened to them tho Government would justly be called to severe account. At once the Queen sent a telegram to Lord Beaconsfiold: —“ I entirely approve tho plan for my grandsons’ going, which ought never to have been brought before the Cabinet.” ■ This drew an apologetic letter from Lord Beaconsfleid with* an assurance that the subject had been withdrawn from the consideration of Ministers and pointing out that no records were kept of Cabinet councils. There was trouble in Egypt in 1379. and in view of the existing situation, the following letter addressed to Queen Victoria by Lord Beaconsfiold possesses much interest ; The events of Egypt ari» momentous, but Lord Beaconsfiold thinks, to the advantage and, he will presum® to say, to tho credit, of your Majesty’s Government. The charges of tho Opposition that your Majesty’s" Government has succeeded in Egypt only at tho cost cf introducing the influence of the other Great Powers io that country, where before that of Great Britain was not only paramount but isolated, have no foundation whatever. Tho Egyptian malaise lasted much longer, and was much more serious in the time of Lord Palmerston, when ho was Foreign Secretary under Lord Melbourne, and was eventually settled by Lord Palmerston inducing’ Russia, Austria, Prussia, the Porte, to enter into a convention to terminate' them and finally by a general Treaty, to which France was a party, definitely to settle them. Lord Beaconslield ventures to think that in the present instance your Majesty’s affairs ip Egypt have been conducted with promptitude, secrecy, and success. Writing to Lord Boaconsfield towards th-i end of Julv, 1873, the Qnoon said, referring to the Zulu War:—” One groat lesson is again taught ns; but it is never followed; never let the Army and Navy down so iow as to be obliged to go to groat expense in a hurry. This was the case in tho Crimean War. We wore not prepared. We had but small forces at the Capo; hence tno great amount having to bo somout in a hurry. Tho means of transport (whicn seemed to have greatly improved) were inefficient already at Cyprus. All this caused us groat trouble and expense afterwards. If we are to maintain our position as a first rate Power—and of that no one (but people of the Bright or rattier Anderson Jenkins, etc.; school) can doubt—wo must with our Indian Empire and large colonies, be prepared for attack am wars somewhere or other continually. And ihe true economy will bo to be always ready. Lord Beaconshthl can do ins country tho greatest service by repealing this again and again, and by seeing it carried out. It will nrevent war.” ' , , Ouoen* Victoria was not afraid to take side* in pol> tics ’ as the following letter to the Marchioness of Fly, written on the eve of the general election of 1880, goes io show:— , ~, Balmoral Castle, 21st September, 1879. Dear Janie.—l wish it were possible for Sir H. Ponsonby to got at some of the Opposition and point out the extreme danger of binding themselves liv foolish, violent declarations about their policy beforehand. I hope and trust the Government will be able to go on after the election, as change is so disagreeable and so bad lor the country; hut if it should not, I wish the principal people of the Opposition should know there are certain things which I never consent to. . L Any lowering of tho position of this country by letting Russia have her way in the East, or bv letting down our Empire in India and in the colonies. This was done under Mr Gladstone, quite contrary to Lord Palmeratonc s policy, which, whatever faults he had, was always for keening np England, winch of late years had. quite gone down so that we were dos-pised abroad. 2. inai I would never give wav about the Scotch Church, which in the real and true stronghold of Protestantism. These are points which I never could allow to be trifled and I could have no confidence in any men who attempted this. Our position in India and in tho colonics must be upheld. 1 wish to trust my Government, whoever it is, but they should he well aware beforehand I ivsvcv could if they intend | to try and undo what has been done. In'the same way I never could**take Mr Gladstone or Mr Lowe as my Minister again, for I never could have the slightest particle of confidence in Mr Gladstone after his violent, mischievous, and dangerous conduct for the last three years, nor could I take the latter, after the very offensive language he used th ree years ago against me. I never could take Sir G. Duke as a Minister. In April, 1889. Lord Beaconsfiekl telegraphed to the Queen, who was at Baden Baden; “The result of yesterday’s polling leaves no doubt of the defeat of your Majesty's present Ministry.” This Queen Victoria described it as ‘‘a terrible telegram.” and said: The Queen is greatly distressed at the news of the election. If the Opposition had only behaved as they ought —without advancing opinions which must fill her with terror for the good of the country and the peace of. the world, she would be comparatively easy. ... Tho Queen fears all her messages and warnings have been of no avail. If the Opposition force themselves upon her. it will bo quite impossible fojr tho Queen not to express in VERY STRONG terms her views and feelings, and she must bide by the views she , expressed on certain points and people. ... <• " Tho betters of Queen Victoria.” Sccon-1 Series (Third Volume). A selection from . her Majesty's correspondence end journal, between • the yours ISC2 anil 188->. Published by authority of his Majesty (he King. Edited 'by Georne E.irle Pnckle. In three volumes. Vol. 111, 13701885. Loudon: John Murray. (25s net.)

The Queen cannot deny she (Liberal as she has ever been, but never Radical or democratic) thinks it a great calamity for the country and- the peace of Kurone. The Queen feels and has for long felt so strongly and bitterly on the unpatriotic conduct of the Opposition aiid their want of feeling towards her, that she feels it will be very long before she can trust those who have brought her to this pass, and she wishes they should know and feel this. _ ■_ It will make her quite ill. From Baden the Queen wired to Lord Boaconsfield: •' What your loss to mo as a Minister would be, it is impossible to estimate. But I trust you will always remain my friend to whom I can turn and on whom 1 can rely.” The Queen naively added: “Hope you will come to Windsor in the forenoon of Sunday and stop all day and dine and sleep.” In a second telegram the Queen said: “It is of the utmost importance to prevent speculations and combinations and great alarms that it should be known (unofficially of course) that it is believed that I shall send for Lord Harrington in case of your , resignation Pray find moans to let this bo known.” In a subsequent letter to Sir Henry Ponsonby, whom she utilised as a medium for conveying her views and opinions to the Opposition leaders, the Queen wrote: " What the Queen is especially anxious to have impressed on Lords Harrington and Granville is firstly that Mr Gladstone she could hove nothing to do with, for she considers his whole conduct since ’76 to have boon one series of violent passionate invective against and abuse of Lord Beaconstield and that he caused the Russian W ar and made the task of the Government of this country most difficult in times of the greatest difficulty and anxiety, and'did ail to trv and prevent England from holding the position, which, thanks to Lord Beaconsfield’s firmness, has been restored to her. The Queen charged the Opposition with having boon “ unusually and very factious and to have caused her a great annoyance and anxiety, and deep regret. She explicitly stated the terms on which she would" bo willing to support the now Government, and said:—There must bo no democratic leaning, no attempt to change the foreign policy (and the Continent are tommy alarmed), no change in India, no hasty retreat from Afghanistan, and no cutting down of estimates. _ • ... m 111 short no lowering of the position this country holds and ought always to the Quocn will expect that consideration for her feelings and her health which she has received from the present Government and which her age and ihe great exertions and - tna.s she has gonthrough of late years, and which tell a good deal upon her, entitled hci to re Ce -\'jv Lowe she could not accept as a Minister—Sir C. Dilke she would only and unwillingly consent to havuur a subordinate office ff absolutely neocssarj. The Queen, however, was soon persuaded that no other alternative was before her save to send for Mr Gladstone, and this proved a bitter pill for her to swallow. She expressed regret to Mr Gladstone at seciiw amongst the names submitted to her as Cabinet Ministers those of such very advanced Radicals as Mr Chamber lain and Sir Charles Dilke. In anmitiy in her Journal dated April 28. IBBffi ” said- “Another letter from Mr Gladstone submitting mere unexpected names Mr Mundella (one of the most violent Rad - cals) for president of the Board of Agriculture (not in the Cabinet); the equally violent blind Mr Fawcett as Postmastergeneral (not in the Cabinet). r The close watch kept by the Queen on the conduct of affairs and especially her clear .grasp of foreign politics is evidenced throughout her correspondence. lor m.nice on May 30. 1880. she wired from Balmoral to Mr Gladstone: “In ronkin.g am- statement with respect to Afghanistan as alluded to m your letter of 2iltli. I must urge upon you to commit yoursel to no retrograde movement Remomber what happened in the case of the I un nb where wo fought for and reinstated the’ yourt? Sovereign and had atterwaids to annex it.” And in September of the same year the Queen wrote to Lord Granville:- . . The Queen fears Mr Goscnen is pushing to hostilities. Mie wishes Loid Granville should know how- much she denrooatea this and that she will consent to war with our old ally Turkey, for whom this country always stood UP Shc has repeatedly stated to Lord Granville that she will not sanction a reversal of the policy of the last few years, to which she had willingly given her consent, as she believed it to be (or the true interests of this Empire. We are now playing into the lianas of Russia. The Queen feels particularlv aggrieved, as Lord Granville on romi n- to office said that the Queen need be under no apprehension as to foreign affairs and asked hoi.to tell Mr Gladstone that sho_expected there would be no reversal of facts. Instead of which we have gradually gone nearer and nearer to war with Turkey, ino Queen will never consent to it. Queen Victoria kept a watchful eye on Mr Gladstone, and while she got to know him better as time went on she did not altogether trust,him. and she formed the habit of writing him a eautionavy ottci when he was announced to be making a policy speech. On November 7, 1880, she wrote from Balmoral: -. The Queen is extremely anxious to point out to Mr Gladstone the immense importance of the utmost caution on the part of all the Ministers, but especially of himself, at the coming dinner in the City. 'There are such dangers in every direction that a too much miglit do irreparable mischief. bhe knows well how difficult it is m afterdinner speeches to avoid touching on dangerous ground, but she has always been in the habit of expressing her anxiety on the subject to her Ministers. She therefore earnestly warns Air Gladstone and his colleagues to be most careful as to what they say respecting Ireland, leaving no doubt as to their determination to maintain the law and put down the terrible spirit of lawlessness and violence, nothing to encourage the idea of war in the East, or any decided intention as to the abandonment of Camlabar, which would encourage our enenies to believe us ready to give up our position in India. The Capo is also in a most serious condition. It need not prevent (as regards India) our taking any course which we may think proper, but no decided or irrevocable opinion should be expressed in public. It is rather unfortunate that the Ministers have to attend the dinner in the City at this moment, but it constantly happens that the Lord Mayor's dinner falls at moments of great political excitement. The Queen’s warnings, however, had but little effect. Mr Gladstone's Government pursued i J way, and in the early part of 1885, following the motion of censure passed by Parliament on the Government for its failure to relievo and rescue GeneTal Gordon, the Queen wrote to Sir Henry Ponsonby:—“lt is this hopeless way of going on which would make me hail a change of Government. Otherwise, if they will but be firm, honest, and not so miserably undecided, and non-supporting or believing those whom they employ—l don’t, earn if they remain in. But I have no confidence left, and lose all heart, all hope. Why cling to office when they are so .discredited at home and abroad? It is so humiliating and dreadful for me.” A careful perusal of this most absorbing volume dissipates all idea of the British Monarchy being a mere figurehead, and it shows Victoria as every inch a Queen, and in the tradition of her great progenitor, Elizabeth, making felt the weight of a powerful personality in the conduct of the affairs of the Empire, both at home and abroad. The volume is discreetly and judiciously edited, and in suitably illustrated.

NOTABLE NOVELS. A LITTLE ABOVE THE AVERAGE. ].—A DANCER'S CAREER. Many attempts have been made to depict the life of a strolling player. Mr (Joorpe Moore has done it —sordidly enough—in “ A Mummer's Wife,” and Mr Compton Mackenzie has painted it in brighter lines in ‘‘Carnival.’' In “Tango” (Ernest Bonn) Mr Charles Rodda has taken a specialised section, in order to reveal the passion which music and dancing can inspire in the soul and body of a girl of a certain temperament,

when thrown entirely upon her own resources. The title of the story may suggest another of many novels dealing with the youth of the day obsessed with the craze for the modern bull room, with all its ugliness and antics. But “ Tango ” goes deeper and presents the psychology of the dance. With the true artist, dancing and music become part and parcel oi life; to their profession aught else is subordinated. Left in London penniless by her father, a brilliant but impecunious painter, Joyce Allen tells Tony; "If 1 have any luck I’m going to be a dancer. Tony was sincerely in love witb Joyce, and wanted to marry her, and her suddenly stated determination pleased him not one whit. Hoping it might be only a passing fancy, Tony grudgingly acquiesced when Joyce joined the troupe of Tanya Yanova, a reputedly Russian dancer, in reality a Cockney in disguise; but who had learned her profession at Moscow. While with the troupe Joyce became acquainted with Chris tophe Baraman, who wrote a tango in her honour, a barbaric piece of music, but which, when she danced to its wild and maddening strains, thrilled her througn and through, and carried her off her feet. The dancer’s life as depicted by air Rodda is far from a pathway of roses. It is characterised by much hard work, many exhausting rehearsals, occasional successes, punctuated by financial failures and a haud-to-month sort of existence. Sometimes Joyce was swept along by the fascination of her work; at other times she bad moments of depression when she pined for Tony and the peace of a well ordered married life. And ever in the background was Ohristophe with the maddening strains of the tango. Mr Rodda writes convincingly, and evident close acquaintance with the life he describes, so that the render follows Joyce’s career with close attrition. It would be scarcely fair to disclose who -wins in the end—Tony or Christophe;, the pleasure of discovery may safely be left to the expectant reader. 2.—AN IDYLL OF BRAZIL. Miss Margaret Legge, author of “The Spell of Atlantis ” (Melrose) declares that she went to Brazil to write the novel and her descriptions of the beauties of this South American paradise are most fascinating, the fascination being all the more complete because that land is a terra incognita to the majority. This freshness gives a new interest to a wellconceived but slightly traditional plot. Helen Johnson was an orphan, her father, owner of a rubber plantation near the Amazon, having been carried off during an outbreak of yellow fever. Gawder, the foreman on the plantation, with his Portuguese wife, took charge of Helen, then a child in arms, and brought her up to the best of their ability. The girl was largely self-taught; she developed in the open air, keenly alive to the beauties and lavishness of tropical nature. When nearing young womanhood the tragedy took place which shadowed her after-life. In contrast to Brazil comes a sojourn in London, where the contrast between Helen and the fashionable modern girl is tellingly pictured. When happiness seems within her grasp, Helen is once more blighted by the shadow of her tragic past. Love comes to the rescue, and all ends well. W hue the story runs along conventional linos, it is redeemed by its freshness of treatment; the result being a novel from which the reader rises with a satisfied regret. 3.—IN THE NEW BALEARICS. Rido, the largest of the half dozen islands known as the Now Balearies, oft the coast of Northern Australia, is the scene selected by Mr J. M. Walsh for his latest story, “A Girl of the Islands (Angus and Robertson). Mr Walsh is known as author of one or two capital mystery yarns, but in his new book he breaks quite fresh ground. Clayton, one of the principal traders at Rido, baa a daughter who. having finished her education in Sydney, is returning home. Lyra Clayton, a beautiful girl, labours under the serious handicap of having a dash of the tar brush in her veins, a consideration which cornea between her and Vincent Dorn, a young Englishman who manages her father’s affairs. Clayton has a secret which took him into the interior, and which excited the cupidity of one Do GHon, an outcast of the island. By a ruse De Glion carried off Clayton ..and Lyra in his schooner; ho was about to put Clayton to the torture to force him to divulge his secret when "Vincent Dorn opportunely arrived. It is not owly an exciting yarn, but it is set amid unusual scenery, and the novel possesses unusual attraction because of its evident likeness to actual life. 4.— -SOME QUEER PEOPLE. The rage on the part of novelists for trilogies is reminiscent of the oldfashioned three-volumed novel, and is apt to put readers off. While “ The Facade (Jarrold’s) is announced as the thud or a trilogy-of which " £ Nobody Knows J and ■'Cuckoo” are the preceding volumes, it has the virtue of being quite readable as an independent story. Mr Douglas Goldring; essays to depict .life among the artists in present-day London; if it is true to fact, it is none the less unpleasant. The novelist, however, tells hjs story so sympathetically as to call for pitv rather than condemnation on the part of the reader. Moreover, he intersperses his narrative with shrewd and incisive comments on the situation. Besides its inherent interest, the story is well written, the characterisation is clever, and the types are well contrastedAs a study of a small section of contemporary life it is one of the best attempts of recent years. It deals, too, with the vexed question of “ ghosting ” in authorship. and sheds light upon the factor? which make for popular approval. 5. — A DRAMA OF THE PRAIRIES. “Long Haired Bill,” by J. Allan Dunn (Hurst and Blackett) is a Wild West yarn, with an historical background. It tells of the days following the civil war in America, when the Indians were on the warpath and when scalps and tomahawks Wore freely indulged in. “LongHaired Bill ” was contemporary with Buffalo Bill, and shared in his many exploits. It is a thrilling piece of work, and it has the virtue that it might all have happened.