YESTERDAY’S BOOKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 15

YESTERDAY’S BOOKS

AN OMNIBUS VOLUME.. Omnibus volumes are the order of the day at present, and “The Death of Yesterday,” is the name Mr Stephen Graham has given to the complete collection of all his literary essays, written during a course of 20 years of active authorship. One of the most interesting articles in the book is on another of the many Grahams who wield the pen. “The name is not so common out of Scotland, but it abounds ill the literary world. There is Cunningham Graham and Kenneth Graham, and there is Harry Graham and Winifred Graham, William Graham, the economist, and then “I too have laboured somewhat in my time.” Cunningham Graham whom he calls “Laird and Caballero,” is shown to be a curious mixture of aristocrat and sans-culotte, the most dangerous type of revolutionary, because his brain is more finely tempered. Stephen Graham is a man of wide literary sympathies, and he can appreciate in Rudyard Kipling a type at the other pole from Cunningham Graham. “Our uncrowned kings of letters have generally been greater than our crowned, Kipling never was laureate, but he wore the invisible laurel . . To the ascetic Liberal, Kipling is a sort of Mark Antony appealing to the lower instincts of the crowd. It considers Brutus to have been the better Roman, and certainly Kipling is no Brutus. Thomas Hardy was our Brutus; Kipling is our Antony. Let it stand! We are more a nation of potential Kiplings than of potential Hardys.” The writer’s final tribute is as just as it is discerning. “Strong-worded as is Kipling’s contribution to our literature, and though strident his voice, one should realise a very humble, noble soul behind it all, one utterly worthy of the national affection which goes out to him.”

The saddest paper is that on “Yesterday’s Books,” which gives the title to the whole book. Forgotten, dusty volumes, which once rode forth so gaily in their bright jockets .... Warn all future Robert Brownings and Carlyles It will interest them to hunt among the files . . . That Kensal Green of greatness called the files In our newspapere-la-chaise, the office files. —“The Death of Yesterday,” by Sephen Graham (Benn).