A CHAT ON BOOKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 65

A CHAT ON BOOKS.

-- v There 'is' a charmingly 'irresponsible feeling about all we undertake in holiday time, which .lends, even— to labour the unaccustomed flavour of play. It is holiday time, ~and we dont need to work — are not expected to do so. Therefore, for weeks and months beforehand N we -have planned as much to do as would effectually

turn our holiday into a "hard-labour senlence!" But we don't do it, thank goodf ness ; and anything thatirwe do accomplish irr "holiday time/however- strenuoiTs, being voluntary, takes- .on much of the illusion of play. Now, my theory is that we should never, within our household or with- , outbreak -by- our .personal activity the general .resolution, to rest; mar, by our personal sadness, the" general impulse to -gaiety. That is' why I concluded we would not attempt to seriously consider any one book at "length to-day; we would not disturb our holiday illusions, but permit ourselves a brief, desultory chat, ranging far and wide, as the whim of the moment .dictates. - - So\ I Wonder, among the many books which. have fulfilled their mission of remeinbrance. as Christmas or ssew Year gifts-to you- this, year, what type has predominated! Not* poems, for' this is not an age of poetry, nor are we New Zealanders as fond of reading poetry as of writing ' it—which is unfortunate for ourselves, and more so for others! Travels? Noj for books of travel are naturally expensive, and thus only a few of us are lucky enough to install as honoured occupants of our shelves the books of Sir Harry Johnstone or the works of Sven Hedin, tnat great, Swedish traveller, whose personality appeals so strongly io one. Even Miss Kingsley's charming.books on West Africa, Naujen's arid Borehgrevink's Arctic explorations, and Diosy's "New Far East" are sparingly bought. "Two guineas, or even six shillings, seems a fearful lot to spend on a b00k,," we protest, though it goes, easily enough on a fascinating bit of lace or a little morning blouse that we don't really need one atom-"only it's so j awfully sweet! j So, then, is it novels that our friends have been sending us? —something to while away the hours of a rainy day or the tedium of a long railway journey; such, at anyrate, seems to have been my portion, It. is a goodly pile, that lies sufficiently near to tempt my forgetting my appoint- •

ment with you and turning to their seductive pages. First and foremost come three of Seton Merriinan's — he whose plaje among modern novelists will be hard to fill. "Barlasch of the Guard," no longer a new book, but which we hastened to read or to re-read when the hand that wrote it had! finished work here, a>nd passed on to where > . . . ah , hapny f utui-e ! The Master of all good workmen Shall put U3 to work anew, is fortunately one friend's souvenir. Already its pages 'are lined and interlined, for I love Seton Merriman's philosophy of life. Beside it lies his final book, "The Last Hope," of which we will talk at length on a future day, for in holiday time I shall think of you, and note treasures of reflection, description, and philosophy for your pleasure. Then "The Relentless City," by Benson, shows in its paper coveis symptoms of days in the open and runs in the train. Like all Benson's books, it is. smart, and concerns smart people — up-to-date, as we phrase it ; "snappy," as the brief American term goes. Indeed, an American word seems fittest, for "The Relentless City" is much, concerned! with American life and people, starting with "Mrs Lew)is H. Palmer," whose multimillionaire husband is the typical American, as novelists and magazine writers portray him for us. One thing always puzzles me. The American husband being the ideal creature he evidently is, whose business is to accumulate millions, and whose happiness is to give them to his womenkind to spend, why is -he not at a premium in the marriage market all over the world? Why do we hear 'the one unvarying tale of

English titles bought by American millions,, of American beauty bargaining for Continental nobility? Apparently their . own counirymen would make much betterhusbands. And how is it beauty all >ver the world does not invade American society in the hope of annexing some of these wonderful American nien, these .potential purveyors of ■ everything, from 'millions to self-effacement? The puzzle is beyond) me, and "Th& -Relentless City" does not solve it. c , """ Still on my holiday medley, I see "Olive Latham," most powerful and most fascinati ng of all my holiday reading. It, is by Mrs E. L. Voynich, a reserved ' but. strenuous writer, whose only other- works have been "The Gadfly" and "Jack Rayniond." "Olive Latham" is as strong a book as either of her Iforegoing novels —in a word, if it is real men and women of unusual types whom you wish to study, read it. So much for the novels. Let us turn to Goodnight Books. You smile. "Goodnigbt books! What cfo you mean?" 11l ear you question. It is my own name for what some people call '"'bedside books," a phrase I detest, because it seeing in some subtle way to be linked with "a bedside manner," that peculiar expression which is used to describe what all doctors should, and; so few do, possess in full and stimulating perfection. But for the books! You see holidays do deteriorate, for it is not .mv custom to wander thus from-my topic! ; (First, then, of my "good-night" volumes, one whose leaves I never turn without being the richer for treasure-trove, comes "Golden String." These are the lines which explain its quaint title: T the rf a Only wind it into a Ball; Ii will lead yoa in at Heaven's gate, Buili in Jerusalem's wall, It is a book of extracts from great writers, ancient and modern. In its wide margins lie subtle suggestions for pencilled notes —eveiy page has its allotted day ; but ' when I am not in tune with the menu for

my day (or night), I turn elsewhere, sure to' find something to soothe or stimulate mo Hera on this page a fine quartet bears mo company — Emerson, Chaucer, good and pious Richard Baxter, and virile open-air Theodore Roosevelt. "God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose. Take which you please ; you can never have both," is what Emerson tells me ; and beneuilr these lines Chaucer sets forth: Thera is na -workeman That .can worken both well and hastilie. This must be done at leisure paifitly. While Richard Baxter, good man, sings the orison of toil in high, yet simple, sentences. "We labour but for a moment, but we shall rest for ever. Who would n^t put forth his strength for one hour, when he may be a prince while he lives for that day's work?" Space I have not to quote all the extracts which stand above the- name of the American President — only a sentence. "Wo turn scornfully aside from the paths of mere ease and idleness, and, with unfaltering steps, tread the rough road of endeavour, smiting iown the wrong and bj'ttling for the right, us Greatheart smote and battled in Bunyan's immortal story." Always in my pile of good-night books I keep "The Open Road," for that is full of pros© and poems chosen just _to fit me. I love all that is ready for my good-night thoughts In this "little bcolcfor wayfarers," which breathes of the country, the open road, and all its beauties. Then there-is a little booklet in white and gold, quaintly lettered in black and red", — "A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts," by Frederick Langbridge, and the very first great thought which greet® your

"apostle of the commonplace," as I ha long sinos christened myself, is — God speaketh to the heart in common thinj And often in the things we love the best. His Word may find thee while woman sings A song of youth and! green rememberings, Or while a baby cheek to thine is p-rest; His Light may reach -thee from a linnet's win< Or the fulled sweetness of a daisy's breast. Last, but not, least, of my little compai lies "The Sermon in the Hospital" — a love thing ; you know it, for long ago I i member telling you something of its beaut Lest, however, you should -find my goo right books somewhat, too serious for yo individual taste, I must explain that n bedside table has other occupants, always stream of " week-end " visitors in nove and magazines, which are the "snapp; things of the passing hour: the good-nig books are those more intimate friends wi whom, in my busy life, I have, in all tl long day's engagements, no time for coi pi-nionship.

" -band, Mr Ritchie,' -was a member oi a pro^ '- ininent Boston family. LJ Her. marriage "to the late George' Edward Adair, DeputyJLieutenant of Donegal and' Sheriff of the J county, occurred, in 1867. Mrs Adair has lived in England for many years, and has. -r^een iidentifierd r with the most exclusive - get in English society.. One" of her sisters, formerly Mrs Arthur Post, is the wife of "_!Lord Barrymore, who is better known by ' fcis former style of JJx Smith-Barry, M.P., — A .general and very pronounced opinion. Among dressmakers inXParis is that French- " iwomen will soon rebel against the frilling , fussing 1 , -the ru'cM&g and -tie fl'ounc~s\hgs, of tue early Vicjborian 1 fashions, -jno-w '^:ho' extensively- revived". The - women; of r-JFranee think a good' deal of their- figures. -|The" early Victorian fussdness .converts the^ * *liM and tne neat into the big and bulky. -lOri "the other hand 1 , those .who are not tall - teind 1 ' slim are riot" rendered^ less-" presentable /Jby'the styles- now in vogue. 'The reaction-; against tm^ elaboration*- 'of;^ful-' - aiess^ flounce, and frill, when it does set £n, will be sudden and severe, affecting not . Wly Fdench elegantes, but their sisters jacross the Channel. Hence it will be wiseffoi" those who are- now buying gowns to avoid thfr emphatically - early Victorian.- - Btyks. **' — During the season recently ended, the* "IQueen has revived! a fashion in jewellery. Her Majesty has settled her choice in /colours for her gowns, almost exclusively son mauve and grey at present, and with -her mauve Court and other evening dresses i^jhe has frequently worn the splendid set of . i>ld amethysts that "she owns.. The consequence is that the stones hay© been brought finto favour again. Many, women of rank "who for years have kept their ancestresses' ornaments in amethysts locked -up, have siow brought ,them out and had them reset or repolished. — The Queen, who plays the game 'of fcridge regularly, has always set her face resolutely against gambling, and will .not allow any member of her entourage to x play, for even . moderately Jiigh- stakes. ..Her --Majesty invariably plays. jtlie> very:! modest igame of Is per 100 points!- Th« -Queen_'s mephew, on the other hand, tih» Crown tPrince ' of Greece, ■plays 1 bridge - for lfr points,' with 30fi on the rubber, and these are the usual stakes with a number pf foreign- royalties. Although there is still a large number of ueople who, like the play bridge for the- ioye of the ]game, there is a growing tendency to regard it- as a means >of nii'-ney-making pure and isimple^ At on» cxc! asiv© London, club_the' [points are" 2s 6d a-piece, with £10 on- the- " Rubber. With 'such points a member'can, With a run" of bad Juck, -retire after eight - rubbers the loser'-of about £300. — Lady Colebrooke, who- is one of the ■favoured Pagets, is perhaps the- most artisItio member of what may be called the royal -set — being one of the- King's hostesses. (She is-a fine painter, and- has exhibited at )tl>e Paris Salon. Her London house in Stratford "place is full of beautiful things. She. and Sir Edward Colebrooke are among Jthe most exclusive hosts and hostesses in {London society. „ — The use of perfume, which, so far as Bociety'.fqlk- are concerned, had fallen into desuetude, -is (says, a Paris correspondent Sri a Home paper) being revived again, and Iperfumers are doing a roaring trade. The fcause of this is due unmistakably to the iauifomobile craze. Everyone knows that ifche ttdour emitted from gasoline motors ibivthihg "- but -pleasant ; lovely woman, .therefore, does' -her best to overcome* jit by perfume. Nowadays, when a "motor tar 'whizzes past', one is almost sure to §et a whiff of perfume if a smartly-dressed .%<.man-is -one of its occupants* Women ittay be going in for athletics more than fever, but they or© going in, for perfumes 100, and of tihe most expensive kin<f. Surjprifiing though it may seem, many men, End presumably from the same cause, have flso the perfumery habit, though the use M th©' new fancy silk handkerchiefs may cave something to do with this. " — The latest fad is for the dog that goes Jnotoring with his master or jnistress to wear tixe regulation goggles, coat a and cap. One

dealer-has "set tailors to wort fashioning nine outfits for one customer, who- has dogs ranging from pug to. Great Dane. He has placed a "dog w model in his window attired ia the full up-to-date automobile accoutre- - inents. * - It, is affirmed -by-~ those who set the fashion that dogs need such protection quite as mucH as a. human being. It .is argued -that the dog's' eyes are even more susceptible to -the injurious effect of wind 1 and dust.^than are those of 'the motorist, and for this reason he is entitled to the protection afforded by goggles. Lap-dogs, accustomed to the atmosphere- of the house, cannot, "Stand the chilling effect of the .draught created' by- the swift 'movement of .the car on. country roads, and 1 for this reason they- must- have an automobile t coat. • .Another foible of season -'is the 'wearing of "waterproof boots by pet dogs. These bcots, r which are shaped to?- fit the dog's paws, .are sold in sets of -four: - I—-Eady1 — -Eady Algernon. 1 Gor^on'-JLennox, who Shas, secured "the contract for,'^supplying all -the ■wrought -iron lamps* .wfiic&i -will illuminate the Pyx Chapel . at. Westminster, is " as^energjetic and clever (says they Sketch) a» her- eld-ei^'sister, the Countess'of^Warwick. . Like-the,' latter, she' is-, extremdy^desirous of -%rihg)ng ■ tine country 'folk of ..England back'to villages, and, at North NcwL%toh^|neaf Broughtpri Castle, she has stafted'-what 'promises to be a very famous art .'industry." "Some"' of Lady Algernon's most .'profitable ' customers are American ; thus; .ttiei gifted creator of the "Gibson girl" — that is,' Mr' Charles Dana Gibson — ordered fall the woodwork and ironwork used in his new, house from, this little English village..- / . , —It is odd, but none the less true, asserted a well-known authoress, that, unobservant as a man usually is in feminine matters, ■ h© is generally a rigid "critic of his- -wife's , appearance. -- Many a -woman, after a few years of married life, ceases to study those little arts by which she formerly made herself attractive to -her hus- ' band. When she took pains with herself, she argues, the. man seemed quite oblivious of the fact. But the impression was made non« -the less; and; with the wife's self? neglect comes too often the waning of-the-husband's., affection, although so curiously are men constituted that' he himself would probably fail to * realise the true cause of hi? growing indifference towards her. With women the case is vastlj different. A n^an may grow slovenly in his appearance without diminishing his wife's affection. He may. slow signs of age, and, if anything, his partner will love him the more, for often the love* of the wife will increase I with the years, a maternal tenderness being ' r.dded to the conjugal devotion. Man, on. the other" hand, is less firm in his constancy. His love requires careful nurturing. Hence the importance of a wffe studying to please her husband's- eye by retaining as far as possible an. attractive appearance. —It is such -an easy thing to be courteous and gracious when in company, but unless this same beautiful spirit possesses you at home, and at all hours of th& day, it is but company manners, which only betray your veneer of good breeding. Cultivate graciousness at home, exercise it when with home folk-, especially when thing 9go wrong and the air is full of irritation. Be ever courteous. A woman who is truly gracious and courteous cannot be otherwise, whether she be speaking to her servants or to the most important people with whom she may be acquainted. Think of the woman who, never troubles about her manners or how she speaks. See her walk into a room without a thought as to the feelings and comfort of others. Notice how people,. wince under her speech, for although, she has no intention of hurtingthem, she wounds and offends right and left. This is tne egotistical woman who is thinking only of herself. She may bewitty and clever, but she will never charm nor ever attract the love and affection that is showered upon the woman who has a gracious, courteous manner. — In the Royal Family the Princess who plays the least conspicuous part in the

social life of London is iis Majesty's sister, the Duchess of Argyll. Her place in town, Argyll House, has been let for a term of years, and on the comparatively rare occasions on which they visit London, : Princess Louise and the Duke occupy quarters in Kensington Palace. There _ her Royal Highness lives a somewhat retired j life amid her artistic surroundings, which . are accumulated in a charming studiio. Her happiest hours are spent, it is said, at Roseneath. — A correspondence on the subject, "Are Girls Cleverer Than Boys?" has been running in the London Daily News. It is one of those questions (says "Gretcnen,'" in the Scottish Farmer) which, by its very nature, can never be answered definitely. To ask, "Are girls handsomer than boys?" would be equally to the point. The wellknown literary critic, G. K. Chesterton, contributes to the controversy such an excellent letter that I am tempted to quote a paragraph from it, the more as it expresses my own views. " After defining "cleverness" as ability or brain power directed towards some special end, and pointing out that the ancient and mediaeval' ideal was wisdom, not cleverness, he goes on:— "Now, women are the inheritors'" of this old) universal human wisdom. They have more sense than men, for the simple reason that a man has to be a specialist, and a- specialist has to be a fanatic. The normal man all over the-' 1 world is a hunter, or a fisher, or a banker, or a man of letters^ or some silly thing. If so, he has to be a wise hunter or a wise banker. But nobody with the smallest knowledge of a professional life would ever expect him to be a wise' man. But his ffife has to be a wise woman. She has to have an eye on everything, an eye on the things that fanatical bankers forget. If the banker" is melancholy, she must teach him ordinary cheerfulness • if the banker is too convivial, she must teach him ordinary caution. > If she has had four husbands — like Chaucer's Wife of Bath — she wouldi b* an optimist to the pessimist, a pessimist to the optimist, a Pagan to the Puritan, a Puritan to* the Pagan. {For she is the secret health of the world." When I go over ■ in my mind the mamed couples whose life and character 1 have known most inti_mately, while there is, of course, much diversity and disparity, I find that the balance of special knowledge andi business ability is in favour of the men, but that sound judgment in the conduct of life is more often found with the wives. The domestic woman who, in her time, has s had close association withT many men — ■ father', brother, husband, son — feels that they all, in their; several ways, have had to-concentrate their thoughts ancf energies from, 'boyhood on. winning their way in the' world- But' there -"are innumerable ' questions connected with the regulation of the family, with the wise conduct' of life generally, which daily arise to be faced and considered!. We find, most of us, at a very early day in -our life, that our men, however clever;- either - do- -not think of these, or are ill equipped to judge rightly — that is, with perfect balance and sanity. Our daily domestic tasks leave our minds largely at liberty, and, as we go about from, room to room, darn a stocking, or stir a sauce over the fife, we ponder these things in our hearts. — The Hon. Mrs Baillie, of Dochfour, who is the heiress of Tier father's peerage, still keeps her well-known love of fun and frolic, although she is the mother of , three children — two boys and a girl. Many amusing stories were told of her when she was Mjss Nellie Bass, and on© in particular is worth repeating. At a ball in i Scotland some stern^critic objeqted to her high spirits and lively style of dancing, and she overheard the sarcastic comment — "Hardly the manners of a Vere de Vere. ' Quick as thonght^the little lady made her critic a profound/ curtesy, and replied: "No;? but they , are the manners -of Beer de Beer — and very good beer it is, too !" — Lady Harris, now Mrs. Edward Terry, during the lifetime >f her first husband, was perhaps the most popular hostess in the- theatrical world. She was .mistress of ihe- beautiful old house near Regent's •Park,- London, famous as having been the 1 dwelling, of the great Madame Grisi, and there she entertained often on? a very large scale, ever showing herself the kindest and. most- sympathetic friend to those members of the profession who happened to be enjoying a spell" of bad luck. She has one. daughter, to whom she is much devoted. — English girls, as a whole, do their hair more neatly and give it more attention (says the Daily Telegraph) than do the girls' of any other nationality, unless perhaps the Spanish. It surprises our French and American, visitors, for instance, to see how prettily and well the- girls in the London tea-shops contrive to dress their hair. .7 A* fair visitor from the States declared recently that the shop girls in. town knew far more about hairdressing than the best of their customers. It would be extravagant to agree altogether with her,, but there is a good deal of truth in the criticism. In some shops especially the girls seem to take a pride in their hair, the results often exemplifying the latest style of the moment. The only fault lies in the general adoption of a stereotyped style. Why should not the prevailing modes be moderated more to suit the varying styles of face and feature? The query is not,, of course, addressed to shop girls — it is applicable to every class in the social scheme. The plea, then, is for the individuality ; and fashion, for once, entirely endorses its exercise. For, practically speaking, anyone who can tastefully arrange her hair with a light effect to suit her personality achieves the fashion. It may be either high or low, dressed on or below the crown, caught in a girdlet of curls above the forehead, or deftly plaited around) the head, for fashion favours all. One essential alone is imperative — the hair must have the slightest suggestion of the Marcel wave in its widest and lightest mood.

I was lowered into the grave by the officers and officials connected with the Home. There was no volley-firing, no ( "Last Post," but an equally striking finish was given by the band playing and the. soldiers singing "Now £he labourer's task is o'er." — The other was" a humbler cor- . .tege only the Mineral of old) "Granny" i~White, the oldest member of that interestj ing class who journey through life on. wheels. Born in a caravan, married to a man also born, in a caravan^ Granny Whitedied, as was but fitting, in a caravan. Granny "VVhite never lived In an ordinary . house, but went from «how to show in. a caravan drawn by four strong dogs. .Her mourners came from all gaits of the British Isles and Norway — over 300 in all — and effectually stopped the traffic in. Princes street on their way to tiie cemetery. With Granny White there disappears one of the oldest links between the circus people of olden days and the present time. The Vare of the Fyes. The beauty of the eyes depends upon several details, the most conspicuous oi which is probably size. "How can 1 make my eyes larger?" is a question that is frequently asked. To make the eyes larger seems an almost impossible task, yet it can be done. People who are thin often appear to have eyes that are large and pretty, for fat crowds the eyes and makes them, look cramped, so the woman who has let. her face, get so fat that her eyes are made to look small' should begin uy - reducing- the size of her face by massage. Frowning lines on the forehead spoil the eyes, so they must be massaged away. To banish those -between- the eyes use a goorl wrinkle cream, made of mutton tallow, white wax, and almond oil in equal parts. Melt those ingredients together/scent them with oil of geranium, and the result will be a capital unguent. To make the eyes clear, bathe them, once a day in boracic acid lotion, made by adding a little powdered borax to a basin of warm water. This softens the water and makes it a very agreeable wash for the eyes. Don't try to read in a fading light, and dion't let the eyes pain, stopping the instant they begin to hurt. Don't read in •- rocking chair, for the constantly changing focus >vill in time make the eyes ache, and perhaps injure the optic nerve. Don't.read in the train for the same reason. Don't read when suffering from r indigestion, for this will result in a very severe headache Take care of the eyes if you want to look lovely. If the eyelashes are too short, don't cut them in the hope of increasing- their growth. The plan succeeds with children sometimes but not with adults. Bathe the eyes m boracic acid, keep the lids healthy, and the lashes will take care of themselves. As for the eyebrows, they can and must , be trained. Take a little of the best almond oil, and put it into a bottle. Set the bottle in a cup of boiling water, and when the almond oil has become* warm all the way through apply a little of it to th>? eyebrows. [