BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16946, 30 January 1926, Page 10

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

•‘NOW IS THE TIME.” “Nobody can read Mr. Fonsonby’s pages without a strong and moving sense of their passionate sincerity. His book will serve a good purpose because the qualities that have won for its writer the respect due to character give it a force and authority of its own.” says the Manchester (tuardiau in its notice of “Now is the lime,” by Arthur J’onsonby, .VI.I*. “'Mr. Ponsonby’s reflections on history and his own experiences of public life have led him to form a dramatic and almost despairing vision of a power lie calls * Authority ’ disposing of the lives and destinies ol nations at its pleasure. He postulates of ‘Authority’ which lie describes as something greater 'and wider than any single institution or even any complex of institutions, that it has ‘ the lixed and sustained determination to popularise war.’ “Tills malign and unceasing power can. ho believes, only be combated by a. pacifist elforl not less unceasing and unrelenting.” “WHO’S WHO IN THE BIBLE.” Mr. G. Fletcher Allen is U> be congratulated on Iris book “Who’s Who in the Bible. ’ ’ The Bible contains more characters than any other book in |he world; Biblical names and allusions abound in the speech of every dav as well as in all forms of literature. How often have you found yourself vainly struggling to identify one of these names, In place it in Biblical history, and to associate its bearer with tin l events in which he participated, if is asked? This book .furnishes the answers to all such questions; and in every ease the biographical sketches are accompanied by references to the original sources of information. For religions teachers and for schools this' volume should prove invaluable, ft should be equally useful lo the general reader as well as the preacher. It is just one of those useful books ■which, it is surprising has not been prepared and issued years ago. The short, concise' Bible biographies are well done. It is indeed a, book to place as a, volume of reference on the bookshelves. THE SCIENCE OF U At’BEN ESS. “MORNING BEAMS.” DOCTOR’S GUIDE TO LIVING. THE SCIENCE OF 11 AI’FINESS—(By Harold Bearden). The pursuit of happiness, say's Dr. Bearden, lias absorbed mankind at all time and in all place, and he argues that happiness should be more than a 'windfall; and to obtain some knowledge of the mind and its requirements is sorely to increase one’s chances in the search. In the most interesting book he sets himself to provide the required knowledge, add whether the reader agrees with all his conclusions or not. lie has unquestionably’set down a great many important considerations based on what, must have been wide research. It is possible Co refer only to a few of Ur. Dearden’s chapters, for he covers much ground in laying out what is really a sort of guide to everyday life. There is probably, lie says, no more common feature of presentday life than that which is called “the hump,” and a man may possess all the. treasures of the universe and yet not escape this really' monstrous affliction. Its distinguishing feature, in fact, .is that you can assign no cause for it. Dr.’ Bearden deals at length with this affliction, and asserts that it you adopt a cheerful and confident bearing and carriage, you will iind yourself, for no apparent reason, cheerful and confident in your mind. 1 WANT TO BE HAPPY. Tie advocates a “Morning Beam” — on rising from your bed, “go to your looking-glass and force yourself to greet with a beaming smile that curiously complex fellow who is yourself. .... 1 1, is perfectly' true that you cannot. lie happy lo order, but you can pretend to bo happy at any rate. . . . You may say . . . that no good is likely lo come from such ridiculous behavior on your part, but very much the same might be said of kissing.” Dr. Bearden gives this hint to wives: — There are few things more pleasant to the normal male than an atmosphere of'complete independence; an opportunity to be “himself,” such as it is, without: regard to tlm opinions or desires of any other creature. This is the secret of the mysterious lure jus club holds for him; for there his egotism can run riot and no one will complain! lit till its splendor there is no one to placate or entice; and it is not for nothing that he resents so bitterly the intrusion of Indies into llie sanctity of its gloom. See to it, t]ien, if you are a woman, that your husband keeps his man friends, for they are the surest amulet for your own dominion. Opinions, as we have said, will differ iis, to some of Dr. Deardeti’s conclusions, but his book is a real attempt to grapple with some of the most difficult problems of existence. QUOTATION”MADE TITLES OF MANY FAMOUS BOOKS. That, Mr. A. S. At. Hutchinson reads aud remembers poetry is clear from the titles lie'has chosen for Ills books. Though most people knew without telling that the name of his new novel “One Increasing Purpose,” was taken from Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall,” it seems safe to suggest that Shelley’s immortal “Ode to the West Wind” was much less familiar to the ordinary mail before the tremendous, far-reach-ing popularity of “ if Wilder Comes,’’ while the New Testament origin of “This Freedom” passed undetected by numerous church-going readers. At nil events, it can not be denied that, the novelist who takes his title from the classics generally does well for

himself. The fancy is modern, and its charms passed unrealised by .Inlie Austen, ,'Scott and Dickens, though the exact person niiiy contend that, Thackeray s “Vanity Fair.” inspired by “Pilgrim's Progress.” was in advance of Us period. ' Thomas Hardy succumbed lo it early, and gleaned those two felicitous headings for scenes ol countrv life. '“Under the Greenwood Tree ’’’ from ‘' As You Like IE” and “1.-.,,, from Hie Madding Crowd, ” from Grttv 's ‘ ‘ Elegy. One pleasing cousequeuce ol the fashion is that beautiful quotations which might have been forgotten arc now on everyone’s lips. Thus Jew students of poetry could stale olHiaud i„ which of Longfellow T works tinphrase “Ships that pass in the night, Hi,, title uMlcatrice Hurnuleu’s once widelv-read novel, appears, yet it anuy be found in his lillle-kiiown poem “Elisabeth” in the third part 01. the Tales from a Wayside Inn. \Mother famous book which has rendered a poet’s thought famous also is James Lane Allen’s “Ehoir luvisi 1,1,..” Not all recollect, that George Eliot, the authoress of “Adam. Bede, was responsible for those lovely lines: O in sty I juiii the choir invisible ()l ! those immortal (loud who livo In minds made better, by their presTennvson was the inspire!' ot ol.hu.s before Mr. Hutchinson, ami bomeIh,w Good.” the name ol’ tlie lato All Willian Be Morgan’s delightful story, was gathered from a verse m ‘ 111 Memoriain”: Oli yet we trust that somehow good Will'lie the final goal of all. Even a “best seller” like Miss Ethel M. Bell has not escaped the infection, and for that much appreciated Inie “The Wav of an Eagle, which is now enjoying a second course ol popular favor on the films, she sought and found a, godfather in the book ol the Proverbs of Solomon. \ I toother it forms tin interesting con lecture whether, in these various instances, the author considered th( Quotation appropriate to his story after it was finished, or whctliu a beloved quotation inspired the story in the first place.