PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 75

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

The Christmas double number of the Windsor Magazine is a sumptuous one, with varied contents and numerous illustrations. There is -a long- and attractive story by A. E. W. Mason, and complete stories by such important authors as Mrs Thurston, W. B. Maxwell, Eden Phillpotts, W. ; J. Locke, Mrs F. A. Steel, C. J. Cutlift© Hyne, Barry Pain, and Robert Barr, in addition to the opening chapters of a new serial novel, “Bianca’s Daughter,” by' Justus Miles Forman, which promise wel{ for a repetition of the success of those extremely popular Windsor serials, “The Garden of Lies” and “The Quest.” No fewer than 15 finely-printed coloured plates acI company the various articles, which include* I a survey of the work of W. Dendy Sadleig.i with four coloured facsimiles from th# ; originals and 17 reproductions from the I famous etchings of his pictures, while further coloured plates are from masterpieces by Millais, George Hitchcock, B. W. Leader, R.A., Alfred Parsons, A.R.A., Lucy Kemp-Weigh, Sigismund Goetze, George W. Joy, J. J. Tissot, and other distinguished painters. Some of these plates accompany an article on “The Children of the Bible,” which also includes 21 black and white reproductions of notable pictures; and another subject that includes coloured plates is the first of a new series of articles on “England’s Story in Portrait and Picture.” The Earl of Meath contributes an eloquent paper on “What the Boy Scout Movement may do for Britain,” and Charles G. D. Roberts is represented by a new story of animal life. The number is a surprising shilling’s worth. In the January number of the Review of Reviews for Australia one of Hie features is a character sketch of Lord Lansdowne, i the Unionist leader who precipitated a general election by leading the House of j Lords to reject "the Budget. Lieutenant Shaeklaton’s book, “The Heart of the Antarctic,” is reviewed at some length and illustrated with several photographs. The month’s magazines are reviewed and summaries given of the principal articles and many of the principal caricatures of the month reproduced. “Blue and White” is the name of tha journal of St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, a copy of which is to hand. It contains a record of the doings of the students for tiie year 1809. and in addition a number of articles on various subjects by past and present students. It is profusely illustrated, several of the half-tone pictures being reproductions of photographs by members of tho Students’ Camera Club. From Messrs Watts and Co., as agents for tho Rationalist Press Association, we have received the R.P.A. Annual for 1910. The contents are varied, but mainly of solid! and serious kind. From a literary point of view a long poem, “From the Shades,” by the well-known, novelist, Eden PhilU petts, takes obvious place as the most striking contribution; The poem is in blank 1 verse, and the poet drew his inspiration; from tho spectacle- of Paul’s statue, which now stands on the triumphal pillar of Marcus Aurelius at Rome. Readers with a leaning towards science will find matter of great interest in an article, “Tho Origin of Life in the Light of Recent Knowledge,’ l by Dr H. Charlton Bastian, F.R.S., etc. A' number of passages are quoted from great, naturalists, and these show well the tren(, of opinion as to the origin of life on tilt* earth. Among quite a number of other' notable things is a meet illuminative essay on “Seme Early Superstitions,” by Mr JA. Farrar; “Common Sense v. Science; a Doubt in Dialogue,” by Mrs? H. Bradlaugh Bonner; “A Brief Note or* i the Religion of George Meredith,” by Mr Edward Clodd; “Freewill in Modern Psychology,” by Mr Joseph M'Cabe; "On/ Dissolving views of Jesus,” by Dr F. C. Conyheare; and “The Utility of tho Gods,” by Mr Charles Callaway, M.A., D. Several other papers go to Jo making of this well-got-up and permanent! valuable annual. From Messrs Watt and Co. we hav t also received a copy of “The MartyrdoiU' of Ferrer: a True Account of His Lifu and Work,” by Mr Joseph M'Cabe. In hife) introduction the author says: “I write a? one who, after laborious search for the true' features of the case, feels that a man of noble aspirations has been murdered bjf corrupt politicians, at the instigation of a*’ equally corrupt Church, and I trust that ax, exposure of their corruption will enable English men and women to- keep in memory the name of one more man. who has died,, in what he believed to be the cause of humanity, and to watch the course of events in Spain with more enlightened interest.” It is a soul-racking story he has 1 to tell—one that seems almost incredible as an episode of the twentieth century. That, however, makes all the more reason for if being known. It is to bo hoped that all. who have sympathy with the aims of pros gressivo civilisation will read and ponder the terrible account of things still possible in a European country to-day. Tc do so will be to emphasise in a powerful degree the thought of the blessed state of freedom, religous and political, to which w« have happily attained, and of which it is unlikely that any force, however malign, can ever deprive us. The terrible st<\ r A of Ferrer’s martyrdom—one of the m;\l horrible crimes that stains human history —should, above all, be read and pondered everywhere as an object-lesson in clericalism and its baneful fruits. (Watts and Co., each 6d not.)