LITERATURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 78

LITERATURE.

BOOK NOTICES.. “The Son of His Mother.” By Clara Yiebig. Authorised translation by H. Raahauge. London: John Lane, "ihe Bodley Head.” (3s 6d, 2s 6d.) This is a story of heredity, almost Zolaesque in its realism. Paul Schlieben and his wife Kate have no children. After 15 years of married life that hope is still denied them. Mrs Schlieben falls into a bad state of health, becomes nervous and restless, and her husband is ordered to take her away for constant change. As he is a fairly independent man, he does this easily and willingly. But no change of scene will still the aching of Kate’s heart. The passionate desire for a child becomes an obsession. At last, when they are wandering in a specially lonely district on the borders of Belgium and Prussia, inhabited by none but the very poorest people—charcoal-burners, etc., — they find a baby lying in a small hollow on the desolate hillside in the midst of a patch of cranberries. “The child was lying on the ground. It had no pillow, no covering, and was miserably wrapped up in a woman’s old torn skirt. The little head with its dark hair lay in the heather that was covered with hoar-frost; tire child was gazing fixedly into the luminous heavens. It was not crying, only talking to itself as quiet, contented children generally do. It had stretched out its little hands, which were not wrapped up like the rest of its body, and had seized hold of some" of the red cranberries and squashed them. Then its little fists had wandered up to the hungry mouth. There were drops of juice from the berries on its baby lips.” The Schliebens naturally think that the child has been abandoned. Paul calls aloud for the mother or guardian ; Kate regards the vision with clasped hands and adoring eyes. The child seems to have been sent in direct answer to her prayers. Then the mother appears, a coarse, strong peasant, roughly claims the babe, and carries it off. Kate is more unhappy then ever. The vision of the child so nearly her own haunts her. Why should they not adopt it? They made inquiries. The mother is a widow with five children to support. Her husband died a violent death before the youngest was born. She belongs to the lowest type of sturdy peasant, only one remove from the animal. Paul foresees difficulties; but his wife will not listen. Finally he legally adopts the child, pays its mother a large sum of money, and they carry it off. Kate is now happy, and in attending to the child regains health and beauty. Paul, too, returns to his business with added zest; he has now a son to whom he can bequeath it. For a time all goes well. Then the adopted child begins to show his heredity. He is fierce, revengeful, passionate, with little real affection. A liar, dishonest, greedy, torn by primitive passions, which should have been driven out of him by hard work, hal’d living, hard blows; but which are only increased and accentuated by the easy life of the well-to-do Schliebens. Wolfgang (for so the boy has been named) early shows a preference for the society of persons in a lower rank than that of his putative parents, and absolutely refuses to make himself agreeable to the friends of the family. He is a peasant in thought, instincts, desires, and not the best type of peasant either. The violent temper which caused his father’s death appears.in him; he becomes the terror of his school and neighbours. Kate adores him. She covers and excuses his faults. She refhses to see them. But though she is so good to him, he never really loves her. In time, chiefly owing to his own evil nature, the secret partially oozes out, and Wolfgang demands the truth, and, above all, ‘‘Who is my mother?” He turns from Kate with indifference, from Paul with anger. Ho is at first inclined to set out and seek for his family, especially his mother; but when lie finds how poor they are he flings himself into a course of wild extravagance and debauchery, and finally dies, while still a boy. of “serious organic disease of the heart,” because “he lived too gay a life.” Too late Kate realises her mistake. She makes excuses for the boy, for now she understands. He was torn from his right environment and forced into an alien home. Heredity was too strong for him. Nature asserted her claim. And as “the hands of husband and wife were clasped together over the son they had lost, they whispered, deeply repentant, and as though if came from one mouth, ‘Forgive us our trespasses.’ ”

“Patricia Plays a Part.” By Mrs Barnes Grundy. London : Hutchinson and Co,

(3s 6d, 2s 6d.)

This is a lively story, full of delicious touches of spontaneous humour. Patricia herself is a delightful young person bubbling over with fun and frolic and the spirit of adventure; “ Ten offers of marriage,” addressed to her purse rather than her person, have distrusted liar with her position as a rich heiress; and in a fit of pique she resolves to leave all the comforts and luxuries of wealth behind her and go alone and unchaperoned for a trip on the Continent, travelling second-class, staying at secondclass inns and pensions, and posing as a poor, hard-np girl out for a. holiday. The scenes which tell the story are really excellent. and not in the least exaggerated; Patricia is a natural, unspoiled girl and enjoys everything, even when the laugh is turned against her. and her elaborate pose breaks down with careless references to “coachmen and footmen, hunters,” or the wearing of “ real lace petticoats, silk stockings,” and similar extravagances. To keep up the part assumed and prevent any display of extravagance Patricia puts herself on a strict allowance and ekes it ont by selling various personal belongings to chamber-maids and others, at most ridiculous prices. Of course, a young man is provided to fall in love with this damsel errant. He also has a secret which he guards very carefully, and Milv reveals when secrecy is no loneor

possible. Patricia goes first to Mentone, afterwards to Venice, and finally to Switzerland. And these places form a delightful setting for her quaint adventures, her dawning love-affair, and her very real appreciation of the beauties of Nature and of Art. Patricia, like all nice girls, has the art of making friends, and very early in the story wins the agreeable companionship of Miss Ruggle, the kindly spinster, and the esteem of Mr Pennant, the fiery Egyptologist. Mrs Barnes-Grundy wields a clever, facile pen ; her descriptions are good and not too long; her characters admirable, and her sense of humour a perpetual joy. She gives her readers many shrewd hits on modern society, men, and manners. She has a little, cut at most modern fads and fancies. Christian Science, Eastern Philosophy, and Post Impressionism serve as occasional targets for her wit; but she is never really unkind or sarcastic, and as she knows very little about the subjects in question, her small sparkles of malice burn as brightly and harmlessly as a_ flash in the pan.

“The Redeemer.’’ By Rene Bazin. London : Stanley Paul and Co. (3s 6d, 2s fid.)

This is the story of a beautiful young French girl who, fired by the desire "to be of some use in the world, leaves her home and becomes a teacher in the little village school of Ardesie. She is much attracted by one of the most delicate of her pupils. Further inquiries show- her that the cnild is really dying of grief because of her mother’s evil life. The young teacher tries to draw this woman back to the paths of virtue and fails, yet when the child dies the mother’s heart is touched for a time, and she leaves the village in search of the husband and child from whom she had fled, but she ultimately relapses into her immoral ways. The young teacher continues her efforts to help anil serve those among whom her lot is cast, and though she finds it a thankless task an occasional success rewards her efforts, and she endeavours to live up to her high ideal.

“ For Turon Gold.” By Don Delaney. Sydney : New South Wales Bookstall Co. (Picture cover; Is net.)

Another spirited story of digging times and digging ways, with a touch of bushranging thown in. In this spirited “ tale of the Fifties ” we have all the elements of a good, sensation story—life, action, hair-breadth adventure, gold seeking, police trapping, and the final love-tale with its happy ending. Like all the booksof this series it leaves nothing to be desired as a travelling companion by road or rail.

“ I Fasten a Bracelet.” By David Potter. Philadelphia and London : J. B. Lippincott and Co. (Cloth; coloured frontispiece; 3s fid.)

In this breezy, sparkling romance a mysterious situation is developed in which the hero and the reader are alike deceived and wonder greatly why Nell- Zutphen, the charming heroine, shoffid be under an obligation of obedience to Craig Schuyler of such a nature as to compel the wearing of an iron bracelet torn, from the arm of an African slave and bearing on its locked clasp the pathetic presentation of a Nubian slave. This is indeed an iron -fetter, and Craig’s cruelty in fixing it on the girl’s arm seems inexplicable until the unexpected denouement is reached, and we perceive how outraged love has “ worked, like madness on his brain.”

“Daughters of Ishmacl.” By Reginald Wright Kauffmann. London: T. Werner Laurie. (Cloth ;3s fid.)

This is a terrible story of the White Slave traffic cast into a narrative form that it may the more surely reach those for whom it is intended. These are classed under three heads :—“Those who- have to bring up children; those who have to bring up themselves; those, who in order that they may think of bettering the weaker, are, on their own part, strong enough to begin that task by bearing a knowledge of the truth.” To these three classes the book is dedicated: For them it is written. And it will be seen that a large number of persons are included — directly or indirectly—in this • category. For them, Mr Kauffmann marshals his facts ; often giving proof of his statements; always declaring that he can do so. For them he weaves these into a narrative so that the emotions, as well as the reason, may be touched to ardent and useful sympathy. Emphatically he tells his readers : —“lt is the truth only that I have told. Throughout this narrative there is no incident that is not a daily commonplace in the life of the underworld of every large city.” In a long preface by Mr John Masefield this statement is repeated and endorsed. There is nothing sensational or hysterical in the book. “Women with lives as suddenly interrupted and as tragically ruined as the life of his principal character may be found in every great city.” Though Mr Kauffmann writes chiefly of Xew York, as of the town that he knows best, evidence exists that this nefarious trade is an acknowledged part of the “economic conditions of the whole Christian world. And although police and their legal friends are not so corrupt everywhere as the.v_ are under the “graft” system of New York, this does not affect the salient facts cf the case. As Mr Masefield says:—“ .Mr Kauffmann’s story is not necessarily American. With' a few unimportant changes (the names of characters and streets, lesser social customs and observances, etc.) the book would apply very closely to every great city in the world.” Again and again both Mr Kauffmann and Mr Masefield emphasise the fact that Jt is cruel grinding poverty and the sweated condition of nearly all women’s trade which produce the condition? of which this book speaks, and of which, the case of Carrie Bcrkowicz is an example. Poverty is the great and chief cause-. Kemovc that, supply women with decent work under healthy natural conditions of work and play, and much of the danger would be

eliminated. But of course not all. There are other causes pointed out by the two authors, who, however, both agree that all women in positions of authority, especially those who are actively interested in the betterment of their own sex, such as school-mistresses, settlement workers, wives of clergymen, and “all women employing servants ” might do much good if they would point out to the women and girls in their employment the. risks and dangers to which they are exposed. It is the “trade” rather than the individual case to which our attention is directed, and which is exposed in all its inner working and its loathsome details. Youth, hope, purity, strength, the ability to work, all go down before this monstrous evil. “New York itself, with all its men slaves and women slaves, is but an illustration of what the other cities of the world are or have been.” The evil s widespread and rests on economic conditions of the worst kind. To correct these an enlightened public opinion is the first thing necessary, and it is for this cause that such books are written as “Daughters of Ishmael” and “Broken Pitchers,” by the same author, whose aim is to “stab” the indifferent into life and acting. LITERARY NOTES. Mrs Tin-ale, who was associated with Samuel Johnson, Fanny Burney, and Sir Joshua Reynold--, left three large autobiographical volumes of her impressions and opinions of current important peisonages ot the day. These were collected, and an extract was published by Mr Haywood in 1861, but it has been left to Mr Charles Hughes, the author of “Unpublished Chapters J rom Fynoa Moryson,” and other works, to extract some of the more brilliant opinions on Samuel Johnson. • Under the title of “ Mrs Piozzi’s Tbraliana,” these will bo published in a handsome 4to volume by Simpkin, Marshall. A new translation of the Bible, the “ Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures,” is about to be published by Messrs Longmans for the Roman Catholic authorities. The object of this new translation is stated to be twofold: First to reproduce in English exactly what the sacred authors wrote, with due regard to idiomatic differences of language ; secondly, to produce the sacred writings, as far as external appearance goes, in a manner more worthy of their character. Thic new translation does not aim or claim to be a substitute for the old and familiar " Douay ” version, “ but it responds to a widespread feeling, itself due to increased interest in liiblical studies, that the great advances made in textual criticism, the light throw., upon Now Tcsta"nicnt Greek by the Egyptian papyri, and the existence of many needless ,obscurities and faults in the current version, all demand a more accurate translation. —Mr Arthur Maltby, the tailor who is also a novelist, writes (says T.P.’s Weekly) in the dark. He afterwards cannot read what he has written, but luckily for the compositors his wife can, and she makes a fair copy for the printer. His latest book is entitled, “ Detained by the King.” and his beginning was the result of “ a pat on the head and a few of encouragement from Robert Browning. —Mr T. Lindcay Buick, the author of those interesting books —“Old Marlborough and “An Old New Zealander,’,—has arranged with Mccsrs S. and W. Mackay.tho well-known booksellers, of Lambton Quay, Wellington, to become the publishers of his latest work, which fells the story of how and why the Treaty of \\aitangi came to bo entered into between the Maori and tho British nations. The manuscript has been desoatchcd to London, where it w ill bo printed, and it is hoped the work will bo on the market before the end of tho year. The book, which will contain much interesting matter concerning tho foundation of the Dominion, will be freely illustrated by onginal photographs. ~ —ln an understanding book on fnd ;a and tho Indians ” Mr Edward F. Elwm saj -s: “ When drawing water from the wells the man in * charge of the opeiation invariably encourages the bullocks with a cheery sing-song, at flic critical moment when they are raising tho heavy leather pouch of ‘water from the well, and if ho wore to remain silent the Indian bullock, who is a strong conservative, would certainly refuse to start. ... I once listened to the song which the men sang when they were making mortar. It was -something like this: ‘ Oh. bullocks, what a work you are doing, going round and round making mortar for tho masons! Oh, bullocks, go faster, go faster! The masons will cry out. oh, bullocks, for more mortar —more mortar! So go faster, go fastei . by Ladv Macdonell, contains many interestin'' Dagos. When Lady Macdonell was with = her husband in Berlin (1875-8) she gavo; “The Grown Prince, now the Kaiser, was another frequent visitor; he was then a fine young man with a strong sense of fun and teasing. He liked our English teas, and afterwards used to claim me for a game of draughts. In the ealon there was a big window with a deep scat that he especially favoured; to this a small* tablo was drawn up and fine battles ensued oyer the board. I shall never forget one occasion when ho accused me of cheating. He eyas so apparently serious that I became infuriated. and, unmindful of his high estate or mv duty as hostess, I impulsively leant across the table and boxed his oars ! His sense of humour and the satisfaction of having l>een so successful in working upon mv feelings saved the situation. I received full punishment later, for ever afterwards when ho met mo he used to cry, ‘ I know a lady who cheats at draughts!’ At a 'atc-r stage.” says Lady Macdonell, “ the Emncror nrceontod his four sons to me, and bade rne not forget that I had known four generations of the family—the greatgrandfather, grandfather, EmncPo/. and Grown Prince. \Ve spent a delightful time; the Emperor, reminding me of the days of his youth and the dances, when he used to dance so energetically that he lifted me off mv foot, adding slyly and not without intention, ’ I am afraid I could not do that now !’ ”