PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 78

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Humour averages in each issue 150 jokes, 55 pictures, and three humorous long stories. With the whole world of witticisms to draw from every item has a laugh in it. The latest issue is to hand. * * * One of the cleverest features of the February issue of Aussie is a full page of drawings by Percy Lindsay, which set out to faithfully portray the real life of Norman Lindsay. In the light of the fierce controversies in English papers as to the propriety of some of Norman’s drawings, his brother’s delineations will he viewed with much interest. This is only one feature in a very fine issue, which contains over 50 humorous drawings, *a host of humorous stories, and a fine collection of verse. The number also contains a very interesting article on the Turnbull library by Mr Johannes C. Andersen. * * * The Christmas number of the New Magazine is an enlarged number of nearly 200 pages of entertaining fiction. Warwick Deeping, R. W. Chambers, and Frank 11. Shaw sign three good stories, vastly different in theme and treatment, yet all of them worth-while fiction. Louise Jordon Miln, author of “ Mr Wu,” has written a brilliant collection of stories of romance in Chinatown, entitled, “ But She Was Sweet.” The initial episode, “ Firebrand,” is in this number. Magazine readers who remember Bertram Atkey’s diverting story, “ Dimity Gay-Daddy’s Good Girl,” will welcome a further recounting of Dimity’s progress in life in the story “Dimity Gay-Grandpa’s Little Maid.” This month’s play is “ Mercenary Mary,” at tlio London Hippodrome. Rudyard Kipling is a name to conjure with in the literary world. How many thousands of readers have delighted in his tales of the jungle, of army life, and, aliove all, of school life! His vigorous stories of the escapades of Stalky and Co. came as a revelation to those who

had been brought up on a diet of milk-and-water school stories. And now his admirers have another pleasure in store, as a fresh adventure of Stalky, MTurk, and Beetle, told with all the power of the master’s hand, appears in the January number of the Strand Magazine. Besides Kipling, the Strand has a galaxy of authors, all well-known favourites of itti readers. There are Conan Doyle, with a gripping instalment of “ The Land of Mist,” in which Professor Challenger shows that passing years have no whit diminished his fiery intolerance; P. G. Wodehouse, funnier, if possible, than ever; E. Phillips Oppenlieim; Albert Kinross, and H. A. Vachell. Hall Caine, too, appears in this issue, with the second portion of his remarkably interesting account of his early life. * * * The Horne for February (“The Australian Journal of Quality”) is a house and garden number. Frank Middlemiss in “Kemember Your Odds and Ends,” gives some useful hints for brightening the modern brick bungalow. The plates of beautiful gardens and homes—especially the interiors of these Australian homes—are especially interesting. In most cases the garden path is edged each side with shrubs or flower beds. These flowers and trees make the residences “ houses of colour and light.” Melba’s London house, with its fontaine panels and colours of blue and ivory, shows how beautiful a home may be made. Photographs of many charming seasiders come under the heading “ Youth Goes Down to the Sea in Dips.” Other articles include “ Take Your Seats, Please,” “ Famous Visitors to Australia,” “ Melbourne Musings,” and “ Gardening as an Interpretive Art,” also two stories—“ The Methods of Mendosa,” by the author of “ Mendosa and a Little Lady,” and “ Cocktails,” by B. M. Patou. * * * We have to acknowledge “Through New Zealand,’’ the guide book of the White Star Tourist Company. An introduction is followed by brief paragraphs describing the places of interest on the route, beginning with Auckland, and ending with the Milford Sound district. Throughout there are pictures of animals, birds, houses, etc., and beautiful scenic spots. Tables of the company’s services, and a map of the two islands, with the route marked on in red, finish the guide.