ROYAL GIFT-BOOK FOR CHILDREN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20153, 6 July 1935, Page 21

ROYAL GIFT-BOOK FOR CHILDREN

INSCRIBED TO PRINCESS ELIZABETH NOTABLE ENGLISH PUBLICATION “For the first time since the war,” writes Mr R. Percy Hodder-Williams, of the publishing house of Hodder and Stoughton, London, “we are presenting a book that looks like a half a million sale. A Royal Gift Book for children entitled ‘The Princess Elizabeth Gift Book.’

The publishers hope to raise £20,000 from the sale of the book which will be published in the English autumn in aid of the Princess Elizabeth of York Hospital for children.

Real Book for Children The profits arising from the sale of the book to the public will be handed over to that hospital. The editors are Lady Cynthia Asquith and Eileen Bigland and a truly remarkable list of contributors is headed by Sir James Barrie and Mr Rudyard Kipling. The Duchess of York has graciously given permission for Mr de Lazto’s famous portrait of Princess Elizabeth to be reproduced as a frontispiece. The special feature of the Royal Gift Book is that it is really written for children and nearly all the children’s favourites are in its pages. Talented Contributors The authors who make contributions to the Royal Gift Book include Sir James Barrie, who opens the book with a letter to the Princess; Mr Rudyard Kipling, who tells a new "Just So” story; Mr Denis Mackail, who describes the adventures of “Rather Greedy Little Hugh;” Mr L. A. G. Strong, who gives the story of Mr. Wacksparrow and Mr Deebles and how a seagull helped them; Mr James Hilton, who tells again of “Mr Chips” in an episode from the school career of Young Waveney; Miss Jan Struther. with a poem entitled "Princess Jane of London Town;” “Teddy Tail” from “The Daily Mail;” who tells of how he arranged a Christmas Circus;” Miss Shirley. Cooke of “The News Chronicle;” with an adventure of “Woolly Bear” and an airplane; Mr Walter de la Mare, who writes a poem about the stars; Miss Elizabeth Bohen, who tells the story of an Unromantic Princess: Pip, Squeak and Wilfred from “The Daily Mirror;” who go adventuring together; Mr Francis Brett Young, who tells how the cuckoos flew from Africa; Lord David Cecil, who writes a poem about a XVlth Century Princess; Mr W. H. Davis, with a poem entitled “Street Criers;” Miss Margaret Irwin, who gives a one-act historical play for children, entitled “Check to the King of France;” Mr Herbert Asquith, who writes a poem about the sort of Magician all children love; “Rupert the Bear” from “The Daily Express” tells of his adventures in the Robbers’ Cave; Miss Olwen Bowen, who writes •gain of “Hepzibath, the Hen;” “Uncle Oojah” from “The Daily Sketch,” who holds a magnificent Jubilee celebration of his own; Mr Compton Mackenzie, who tells a queer story of Big Hector; Mr John'Drinkwater, with a poem to a Princess; Mr Algernon Blackwood, who tells how Alexander the Great, the Chow dog, saw the Silver Jubilee; Miss Enid Bagnold, who tells a story of “Jackanerbeanstalk;” Mr G. K. Chesterton, in a poem called “The Good Grocer.” Inimitable “Mickey Mouse” goes to a party at the hospital with his retinue.

Distinguished Artists Among the artists whose work will appear in the book are: Mr Frank Salisbury, A.R.A., who paints a picture entitled “Childhood;” Mrs A. H. Watson, who paints a picture of Mr Asquith’s Magician; Miss Sylvia Salisbury, who paints pictures of . Miss Strifther’s “Princess Jane of London Town” and Mr W. H. Davies’ "Street Criers;" Mr Rex Whistler, who provides the end-papers and the titlepage design; Mr Paul Bloomfield, who illustrates many of the stories with black-and-white drawings; The Artists from the Daily Newspapers, who kindly illustrate their respective stories; Mr R. L. Brightwell, who illustrates Miss Bowen’s "Hepzibah, the Hen;’’ and Miss Laurel Jones, who illustrates Miss Enid Bagnold’s story. Empire Wide Interest Considerable interest has already been aroused in England among all sections of the community, who are anxious to do their part in assisting the most popular Princess in the Empire to-day, in her endeavour to help the sick children in the heart of the Empire. It is anticipated that New Zealand and other parts of the Empire will do their part in substantially extending the sale of the Princess Elizabeth Gift Book, which the publishers anticipate will make a popular and Empire-wide appeal as the most popular Children’s Book this Christmas.

Belgrade announces the publication of “what is believed to be the first newspaper in the gipsy tongue.” It seems a hazardous enterprise, for the conditions of gipsy life do not lend themselves to the systematic study of • the Press, and the language itself is of wide diversity and local variation. The origin of the tongue has long been a problem to etymologists. It is supposed to have come from India (perhaps the Nazis tolerate the gipsies as Aryans), but as there is no trace of either Arabic or Greek influence, it is inferred that the tribe reached Europe by a more northerly route. They seem always to have been Interested in music and the occult, but civilisation owes little to them, unless (as some suppose) it was they who introduced playingcards mto Europe. But certainly the “Romano Lil” will have to be content with a limited circulation.