AMONG THE BOOKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 31

AMONG THE BOOKS.

"A Short Life of Christ for Old and Young," by Cunningham Geikie, D.D. — Dr Geikie has already written a "Life of Christ," but this volume', he tells us, is a new book, not ari abridgment of the old. To put the matter briefly, it is written for the general reader rather than the student. The author brings several qualifications to his task. First and foremost is a very thorough knowledge of his subject, a knowledge that is acquired not only in the library, but by the actual experiences and observations of travel in Palestine. Every page of the volume before us supplies instances of illustrations of Scripture from the circumstances of ltfe in the East, illustrations which are collected in such abundance in that singularly interesting work of Dr Geikie, " The Land and the Book." The pictures of Jericho, of Machaarus, the Dead Sea fortress where the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded, of the supposed site of Bethsaida (with a representation of the Lake of Galilee fish), of the journey Into the " regions of Tyre and Sidon, " are only a few instances out of many that might^be'quoted. Add to this a style that is sober without being dull, good taste, sound judgment, a felicitous avoidance of controversy by a simple narrative treatment of disputed points, and a happy way of edifying ' without preaching, and we have a union of many excellencies in this " Short Life of Christ." "Studies in India Ink."— To read this colleotion of Southern India folk tales is to enter a charmed child-paradise ; a region of enchantment, where mystery keeps open house, and wonder waits at table. A nursery library provided with Mias Frere's^ diverting volume possesses a talisman against dulness, a cure for ennui, and a charm for discontent. Of a work that has reached a fourth edition, and has been translated into several European languages, commendation and criticism are almost superfluous. In gathering up these old Lingaet legends, Miss Frere has done something more than preserve mere tradition's fragments, she has rendered a distinct service to ethnology. The illustrations have a certain prettiness, some of the tail pieces a pleasing quaintness, but nothing distinctively grotesque oi graceful, 1

" Pecuniary Difficulties." — Bimetallism, the restoration of the value of silver currency and the removal of coinage and " legal tender" restrictions, has an advocate of great ability in the author of this book. Although the question is of commanding importance — deeply so to the landowner and farmer — public feeling does not warm to it in commensurate degree. To some extent the subject is abstruse, but Mr Jordan treats it lucidly, comprehensively, and concisely. He is cogent in his argument, painstaking in his statistics, and fair in discussing opposing theories.' These qualities make his book readable generally. Those anxious to understand the position assumed by the bimetallist cannot do better than consult it. Space prevents us entering into question of "The Standard of Value"; briefly, we do not agree with Mr Jordan's definition ; a standard o£ value implies not only that which is immutable in itself, but a fixity of value in the things thereto related. < It is hopeless to look for these ; ' commercial expansion forbids them. Financially it is a pleasant dream, and would save infinite trouble to mankind in general.

"By a Way She Knew Not" is the title of a story by Margaret M. Robertson, who is perhaps better known as the author of "The Bairns." Always pensive in style, /Miss Robertson has a peculiar charm of graceful method, which exercises a fascinating power over her 'readers. The story of Allison Bain as told in " By a Way She Knew Not," is touohed with pathos from the beginning. Allison believes her beloved brother Willie to be in the power of an unscrupulous man, who makes his silence depend ■ upon her marriage with himself. The wedding has barely taken place when shelearns that she has been mistaken. It has been part of her compact that she shall be allowed to return to her home to nurse the sick mother, who shortly dies of a broken heart. When her father follows, Allison takes her future into her own hands, and retires into the concealment of service of a minister's family, Brownrig seeks her in vain, while Allison, in the friendly shelter of the minister's house, slowly recovers the faith and courage that trouble has pressed out of her. By a way she knows not, Allison is led to renewed hope in God, so that when a strong test of faith comes, she is able to take up the duty that waits her, and to fulfil it, in spite of fears and shrinking. The lesson of obedience without sight is admirably set forth in patient following of Divine guidance. The whole story is charming in incident and purpose. It is impossible to conceive of two books which differ more widely than Miss Robertson's story and another which lies before us, with the .title of "The Blossom and the Fruit." Its author, Miss Mabel Collins, belongs to the mysterious company who name themselves Theosophists, and is, we believe, co-editress with Madame Blavatsky of a journal devoted to the study of Theosophy. It is, fortunately not within our province to explain jjthe remarkable tenets, of this new sect. Those who care to inquire will find in " The Blossom and the Fruit " some indications of the doctrines which form, the basis of Theosophic creed. It appears to us something of a jumble of Buddhism according to Arnold, with a slight touch of Swedenborgian doctrine and a dash of "The Arabian Nights.", As to the story, it is a remarkable production, full of vivid, sensuous colouring, and with a definite thread of purpose running through it. The idea of two great contending forces of Good and Evil for mastery in the human soul is the story; but Fleta's search after the ideal good loses much of its sublimity as we realise that her ideal is, after all, only, the soulless abstraction, the absolute nothingness of Buddhist endeavour. " The Blossom and the Fruit " is not a work calculated to raise our opinion of the sanity of Theosophic teaching.

Don't «it too near the footlights At the theatre, tor it has been observed that nearly all the men, who do i ' have become bald and grey, evidently from the effects of the glare. The beet Way, however, to' prevthL the' hair from turning grey, or to restore >lti natural colour and fmhnew when the silver streak* iug has already begun, i* to me Mn S. A. Alien*, World's Hair Restorer, <*hich never fall* to abwiutelj ' renew tbe colour of youta, Bold wry wnere, '