BOOKS OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 74

BOOKS OF THE DAY.

A RACY TALK. “ What I Know.” Reflections by a Philosophic Punter. With an extraordinary dream of “ The Comic Mystery Cup Run at Randwick.” Australia: Cornstalk Publishing Company, Sydney. This little book is very entertaining. It deals with racecourses and racing men, but unless we are mistaken it will be widely read by people who never visit a racecourse. “ No child could have known less of racing and betting than I did when I ventured on the racecourse,” say-s the author, “ for it should be understood that I am not a racing man nor, indeed, a sporting man. By profession I am a philosopher, and my’ work in life is to try and understand the various systems of philosophy, ancient and modern, and to expound them to perplexed students.” That may or may not be true, but the book is obviously written by’ one who has much more than a passing acquaintance with philosophy. Moreover, the writer has a keen sense of humour. He tells, for instance, of his first visit to a race meeting. He was bewildered, and knew not what to do or where to go. “ However, my Condition seems not to have passed unnoticed, for several gentlemen who were complete strangers to me made themselves known, and seemed" to be interested in my welfare. I remember that I was agreeably surprised to find on the racecourse so many men of goodwill who were prepared to go out of their way to help a stranger and a newcomer.” These friends invariably put the question—“ What do you know? ” He was reminded that a racecourse was like a philosophy class, for he was asked what he knew. But when he replied to his racecourse friends as he did to his students and attempted to expound his beliefs, they made it clear that their interest was in the next racing event, and not in the Universe. “ Soon, however, I discovered that there was a difference between my’ new friends and my students, for the former, on learning my ignorance, began to impart to me assured knowledge. My students never do this. My racecourse friends invariably did.” And the knowledge of his new friends was imparted in the language of the turf—a certain horse could not “ get beat,” or that he was “a moral” or a “dead cert,” or that he would be “ home and dry.” He rather liked the latter phrase as suggestive of comfort and repose. And then he was made familiar with the reasons why the “ moral ” and the “ dead cert ” ’did not always win, the excuses being legion. “ Thus I soon recognised,” he adds, “ that philosophers and punters are brethren in distress, for they are both engaged in a search for the unknown.” Once a friend confided to him that he had discovered an infallible

system. He assured the author that it worked like magic, and then added more seriously, “ I am afraid of what I discovered. The secret is so wonderful, and the amount of money I am destined to make is so great, it positively frightens me.” He promised to explain it on some future occasion. Later he saw the inventor of the system in the paddock, and later the acquaintance was cemented further by the loan of a fiver. The remarkable dream takes up many pages, but these must be read to be appreciated. The “ Punter’s ” counsel of perfection to his fellowcitizens may well conclude this notice:— 1. Don’t go to the races at all. It is a game for mugs and millionaires. 2. If you must go, don’t bet. 3. If you can’t help betting, don’t bet on every race, but only on one. 4. If you can’t help betting on every race, then begin small, stop when you show a profit, and go home. It is tempting Providence to expect more. YOUTH AND ART. “ The Kopper Kettle. ” By Irene Stiles. (Cloth, 6s net.) London: Cassell and Co., Ltd. (per Whitcombe and Tombs, Dunedin). At the sign of “The Kopper Kettle” are met the youthful exponents of art, of painting, of music, of the drama; youth full of aspirations, of endeavour to great things. It is evolved and founded and run by some of them; a little coterie, who, desirous of better and wider means towards self-expression, hit upon this idea of refreshment with sociability for furthering their ends. The three prime movers are Pauline March and her brother, Conrad, and Blaize Harvey, and it is round them that the story centres—Pauline and Blaize particularly. It is a story of youth; the older people, like the chorus in an opera, figure only in the background— youth, with its high hopes, its keen appreciation of life, its brisk, but often futile endeavour, its disappointments and disillusionments. Pauline and Blaize are lovable creatures, and “ The Kopper Kettle ” a fascinating rendezvous. It is a centre of warmth and light and love, and prospers exceedingly for a time. Then trouble begins; there are doubts and dissensions among the moving spirits of the institution, love is turned to discord, and at last tragedy, horrible and disintegrating, descends on the erstwhile joyous “ Kopper Kettle.” The story develops great surprises, but for Pauline and Blaize there is triumphant issue; the fires of tribulation and doubt serve but to refine and anneal their love; to show them, indeed, that nothing else but love really matters. GENTLEMAN CRIMINAL. “ The Crimson Clown Again.” By Johnston M'Culley. (Cloth, Gs net.) London: Cassell and Co., Ltd. (per Whitcombe and Tombs, Dunedin). In this book the famous gentlemancriminal, Mr Delton Prouse, continues his usual escapades in the gentle art of stealing from dishonest people in order to benefit deserving charities—and himself. Among his victims are receivers of stolen goods, cheaters of the Customs, shady financiers, and other crooks. Mr Prouse wins his nickname of the Crimson Clown by always appearing in a clown costume of this colour when engaged in his business operations; and he is so clever in devising means of escaping after committing his thefts that the nolice have no suspicion that the genial man-about-town and the daring criminal are one and the same person. He makes his reappearance in New York. Detective Dave Donler, to whom has been entrusted the task of arresting the Crimson Clown, though always on the spot when he is conducting operations, never has the luck to trap him; and the detective’s snares and failures invariably give rise to amusing and exciting situations, in which the quickworking brain of his opponent never was found at fault. Although on one occasion he apologises for having had unworthy suspicions about Mr Prouse’s identity, he regularly writes him to help in catching himself, with the result that Mr Prouse always has a good and sufficient reason for being on the scene of the crime. The whole book forms a romance of detective fiction, in which the hero acts the part of Nemesis to a great number of people by removing from them money and jewels which they had obtained by underhand means. GENTLEMAN BURGLAR. “ The Picaroon Does Justice.” By Herman Landon. (Cloth, 6s net.) London: Cassell and Co., Ltd. (per Whitcombe and Tombs, Dunedin). This book contains a new series of adventures of the famous gentleman burglar, Martin Dale, better known as the “ Elusive Picaroon,” who steals from the. rich in order to supply the necessities of the needy; but will always allow his victims to buy back their lost property by means of a generous donation to charity. According to custom, his private friend and professional enemy, Detective. Summers, is hot on his track all the time, but is unable to effect a capture. With Dale’s new adventures several women are connected, and beauty in distress always finds the chivalrous bandit a sure and reliable help in time of need when more respectable friends can do nothing. Many thrilling mysteries are unravelled by the Picaroon’s activities; the unexpected is continually happening to him and his opponents; and though jus-

tice seems many times to have laid hands upon the daring criminal, the latter is invariably found to have a trick or two in reserve which brings him off scot-free to commit further depicdations and be a thorn in the side of the police. “The Jade Green Brooch,” “The silver Slipper,” “The Picaroon Discovers Christmas,” “ The Cigarette bud,, and “ The Picaroon’s Exit ” are the interesting names of the main sections. •+i le^ ook . en ds * n a characteristic way, with the Picaroon making his exit in a manner that is as unexpected as satisfactory. FOR LOVERS OF SPORT. Ayres Lawn Tennis Almanack, 1928.” (Paper boards, 2s 6d net.) “Ayres’ Cricket Companion, 1928.” (Paper boards, Is net.) London: F. H. Ayres, Ltd. { The first of these books, a copy of the 1928 issue of Ayres’ “Lawn Tennis Almanack,” is edited by Mr A. Wallis Myers, probably the ablest writer on lawn tennis of our time. It forms a complete record of the game, and lawn tennis readers will be glad to have it brought to their notice. Since the first issue appeared in 1908 it has enjoyed a steadily-increasing circulation, until to-day it has the lawn tennis devotee’s x ade mecum.” The present year is the “coming of age” of the book, and Mr F. R. Burrows, the well-known referee, says: “In its one and twenty issues, indeed, the Almanack may fairly be said to cover the whole history of modern lawn tennis. . . . There" can hardly be a single change in the conditions under which the game is played that has not been noted and dated in its appropriate place.” “ Looking Round the World,” « 19081928,” “The World’s First Ten,” and Sorue Reflections on Ethics ” are four fascinating introductory articles, wliile the rest of the book, of which there are over 600 pages, deals with such subjects as the Davis Cup contest in all its phases, the 1927 British championships, the 1927 American championships, the 1927 French championships, the Wightman Cup, British hard court championships, principal tournaments abroad, covered court tournaments, and so on. Photographs of prominent players and bijou biographies add interest to a worthy volume. The second book is a copy of the Ajres Cricket Companion,” a careful record of public school and club cucket. In addition to the season’s record each year, the cricket history of one of our well-known public schools is fully and accurately dealt with, Brighton (England) being the school chosen for this issue. Like its companion the volume is illustrated. TWO BOY “SWACCIES.” “The Road to Widgewong.” By-Leslie Lee. (Cloth, 3s 6d net.) SydneyCornstalk Publishing Co. (per Angus and Robertson, Ltd). One gains a good idea of Australian scenery, animal life, and personal customs in this tale of Joe and Bob, who to escape justice, go forth on foot from Sydney to Widgewong. Joe has given £(>o of his employer’s money to a poor client, and Bob has accidentally hurt his guardian: so, both in terror for their lives, they join forces and set off for Joe’s home. They have some exciting but not at all improbable adventures. f( whose characters can be gleaned from the names the boys give to them “ Billy-can Swaggie,” “ Mad-Cook Swaggie,” Bad Swaggie’’—play an important part in their doings, while their friendship with King Billy, Charley, and Jacky, three Australian aborigines, is as fascinating as it is unusual. After escapes from a bush fire, drowning and death by starvation, the boys reach their destination, where fate proves kinder than they had expected she would. The book is one to appeal to all boys and girls in their early ’teens.