WHAT LONDON IS READING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 12 (Supplement)

WHAT LONDON IS READING

'A GENIUS IN THE FAMILY MODERN YOUTH IN FICTION By Charles Pilgrim LONDON, January 19. In these anxious days when there is to much talk of another, a greater and a far worse war, there may be no little interest in turning to a life of Hiram Maxim, whose name is so intimately associated with the making of those war weapons which were once accounted so deadly, but are things Of the past. The study of the famous Inventor has been written by his son, who calls his book "A Genius In the Family” (Michael Joseph). This study may not appeal to any one in search of technical secrets, but to the student of humanity it will appear as one of the most Interesting books published recently. For one thing, the son is as good as a writer as his father was as an inventor. Clearly there was a great bond of affection between the two, and, to judge by these pages, the bond was justified. The world at large may be inclined to think that a man who could spend so much energy and concentration in the making of deadly weapons must be a bad man. There is often an acute paradox in these affairs. Hiram Maxim was a whimsical, loveable creature, who In his family relations had nothing of scientific efficiency. His children were seemingly a puzzle to his whimsical mind and his wife was the stern partner. One good story relates how Mrs Maxim insisted on her husband whipping his son, the author of the book. Father and son wandered about a wood together for a suitable whip which could be cut from a tree and used effectively. The son became as interested in the search as the father and pointed out several likely branches. But in the end they came to the conclusion that there was nothing that was really good and walked home again. The pages are full of such touches as this and one cannot avoid a reminder of Mark Twain in contemplating his fellow countrymen whose reputation is so sinister but whose nature was so sunny. Clowns and Horses Even to-day there can be no denying that a large number of grown-ups are still so childish that they can flock at least once a year to a circus and there enjoy the old, traditional tricks. It is true that some of them may entertain qualms of conscience about the way in which some of the animals are trained. But, in spite of humanitarianism, the circus goes on century after century. In ‘‘Circus Parade” (Baxford) Mr John S. Clarke tells the tale of the circus in its ancient and modern guises and his tale is illustrated with a number of very attractive photographs. Mr Clarke writes from intimate knowledge, for he has spent thirty-five years more or less In the ring and has trained a number of its animals of all kinds. Naturally, he docs not speak altogether without bias on the subject of training, but he declares that captivity is no hardship to animals so long as they are fed sufficiently and housed comfortably. Lady Eleanor Smith In her books and Dame Laura Knight with her paintings have made circus folk behind the scene familiar figures to the outside public. To Mr Clarke they are even more familiar and ih no way mysterious. In spite of their lives of continual danger, either from a sudden failure of nerve or partner on the trapeze or sudden outbreak of violence by one of the animals, the circus folk are. he says, much as others. Which is what one would expect. The Interest Of this book is to give us a picture behind the flood-light, the cracking whip and the Mating band. Tragedy of a Mill Hand Mr Eric Knight is already known for his study of Yorkshire life and his second novel, ‘‘Song on your Bugles” (Boriswood) takes us into the world of a West Riding factory where Herrie Champion, one of the mill hands, cultivates an early artistic temperament. H 6 is shown us as an unusual boy whose soul is caught up by the colour of flowers. He paints because he must. He paints until a one man exhibition shows to the world that he is something of a genius. There is every sign that the mill routine has been left behind; he is about to marry the owner's daughter when frustration and tragedy falls on him. The marriage shows itself to be impossible. His spirit is broken and he turns back to the old life to marry a sluttish mill hand who was his companion in the earlier days. It is not a cheerful tale and Mr Knight has made no attempt to lighten its colours. The Yorkshire setting and background are given us with sure touches and a number of the characters grouped around the fortunes of Herrie Champion are drawn to the life. Altogether it is a skilful and outstanding novel. Biff and Netta It Is always a particular pleasure to glance through a new novel and see at once that in its pages is Contained the story of children whom one has been glad to meet in an earlier book and that one will watch these children grow from childhood to womanhood and manhood. It is so with “Close at Play” (Putman) by N. Warner Hooke. Many readers will remember Miss Hooke’s previous novel, “Striplings,” frqpi which they learned a great deal about Biff Tamlin and his half-sister, Netta, who lived a gloriously wild sort of life in a big country house, with their penniless parents. In "Close of Play,” Biff and Netta take the stage again. Biff runs away to earn his living and Netta is sent to a boarding school. But Netta struggles hard to be loyal in her “first and only” love and to wait patiently for his return to her side. He does, eventually, though a lot of things happen to the young girl and her parents before Biff makes his reappearance. There is a love episode and a family crisis to mention a few. And Biff and Netta, In the meantime, pass out of childhood. Miss Hooke is very outspoken, and reveals a refreshing lack of sentimentality when she writes of youth. Her youngsters ate devastatingly real and one cannot easily forget them. They are moderns, too, so one inust be prepared fbr shcoks from their language, arid much of their general behaviour. But “Close of Play” is an honest and praiseworthy novel.