PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 70

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

The Monthly Review for November (London : John Murray, 2s 6d, net) opens with an article entitled "Japanese Barbarism," which may well be described as a vivid study in comparative history. Even while admitting the variotis atrocities which Japan has committed in the past, the anonymous writer is strongly of the opinion that the charge of barbarism which is so frequently brought forward against Japan on the continent of Europe has little or no foundation in fact. And in treating of the six-teenth-century episodes of massacre, where 300,000 native and foreign Christians were put to death, he very easily shows that in Europe, during the same period, worsa things were being done in the name of religion. The Japanese were goaded by insidious attempts to destroy their state as such, were not averse to Christianity, and were, as they still are, wholeheartedly favourable to individual freedom of thought. A letter of Sf. Francis Xavier, dated 1550, is quoted: *I really think that among barbarian nations there can be none that has more natural goodness than Japan. The Japanese are wonderfully inclined to all that is good and honest, and have eagerness to learn." This is followed by a critical and appreciative paper upon "Sir William Harcourt," from the pen of his Tory contemporary in the House of Commons, Sir Herbert Maxwell. In "Ihe Presidential Election," Mr Sydney Brookes has his say about the clan feud of Republican and Democrat and what is likely to spring from it among our friends of the United States. "The Salvation Army: A Review," is the title of a somewhat searching analysis of "army" methods, claims, and official ad-

ministration. The writer, Mr John Manson, uses a number of statistical tables, and draws from them and from his facts generally the disparaging inference that much of the social and religious success claimed for General Booth and his subordinates has no actual existence. Mr F. Legge writes of "The Secret of the Temtriars" ; Mr T. O. Russell, of "The Revival of Gaelic in Ireland" ; a Turkish gentleman, Khalil Saadeh, contributes an interesting sketch of Sultan Murad V; "Tibet: The Treaty and Trade." is the subject of an instructive article by Mr Charles E. D. Black. The subject of "Evil" is very ably discussed by Mr Norman Pearson, while "Instinct in the Making " is the title of a fresh and pleasing study of grotxse and their ways among the heather of northern moors. The editorial department, "On the Line," contains a deal of excellent criticism of recent literature, -books by W. B. Yeates, Swinburne, Kipling, and others forming the texts. The most striking contribution to this splendid monthly volume is, undoubtedly, a fragment of fiction entitled, "Concerning One Old Woman," by the Russian author, Gleb Ouspensky. The New Idea, for December bears upon its over an indication of the season in an enormous plum pudding picture. Inward contents are quite up to the usual standard, with the sauce of a Christmas flavour in the shape of plenty of hints in womanly knick-knackery. Selections from current magazines are wisely made, and comprise an excellent variety of topics — grave and gay, pursuits useful and ornamental, and literary matter chosen for the tastes that are humorous, as well as the tastes are sentimental.

The second number of the Sixth Contingent Magazine, edited by Mr F. G-. Beamish, "W-ellington, is just to hand. It is full of news of the different members of the contingent, and is altogether an interesting production. It is issued halfyearly, and the annual subscription is 2s od. It might be imagined that the numbers 1 of troopers scattered over the colony would rally round the enterprising editor, and give him hearty support, but it appears that this is not the case, as not only is the subscribers' list limited, but extreme difficulty is experienced in getting in the subscriptions, on which the future of the magazine depends. Indeed, the editor threatens to suspend publication unless subscribers are more considerate in future.

Messrs Hallenstein Bros, and Co. recently held a competition amon^ children, the subject being a verse extolling the virtues of the New Zealand Clothing Factory's manufactures. Several thousand comr>etitors entered for the prizes, out of which over 200 were of decided merit. The firm have published over 200 of the rhymes in the form of a little book, which bears evidence to the versatility of the youth of the colony. Many of the verses display not only ingenuity in bringing in the factory's products, but considerable talent on the part of the rhymsters.