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Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 12

Cries of “Down with ignorant Wells!” and “Allah is great!” were heard when between 300 and 400 Moslems marched through the City of London recently in protest against Mr. H. G. Wells's book, “A Short History of the World.” The book, Moslems say. insults the memory of the prophet Mohammed and the Koran. The procession was composed of merchants, pedlars, clerks, sailors, and others, mostly from Poplar, some wearing the turban and some the fez. Six of the leaders went to the Aldwych office of Sir Firoz Khan Noon, High Commissioner for India. One of the leaders told a reporter: “We handed him a written representation, which he said he would pass on to His Majesty’s Government. Now we are satisfied.”

“Scotland, 1938,” is a composite volume. It consists of 25 articles edited by John R. Allan, which deal with variout aspects of present-day Scotland. The writers are competent literary men.

and the book they have unitedly produced is both informative and interesting. It is excellently printed, and is enriched with 15 fine illustrations. Four of the articles deal with the country itself, three with its chief cities, others with its trades, its arts, its amusement, its educational system, and its peculiar characters. The editor says the volume is intended for those who would like to come but cannot spare the time, and for all others who are good enough to buy or borrow it. He says the book omits the misery and degradation, of which Scotland has a full share, and concentrates on things that seem essentially Scottish. All the authors are young, capable, and intelligent. Their combined efforts present us with a picture of North Britain as it is to-day, which will greatly delight those who know the land best and love It most, and will enlighten those who know but little of its true character. “Scotland, 1938,” was edited by J. R. Allan.

The current number of “Art in New Zealand” as usual contains a number of interesting features. A section o.' the issue is devoted to children's art, prompted by the exhibition of this class of work initiated and organised by the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Occupying eight rooms in the National Art Gallery, it presented, says “Art in New Zealand,” a most comprehensive and stimulating display of an international character. The work of New Zealand children was adequately represented, and it was gratifying to see such enlivening and beautiful examples of child art in a great variety of media. The exhibition is described in a comprehensive article from the pen of Mr Roland Hipkins, and interesting examples are given in reproductions of pictures in colour and in black and white. Poems, short stories, and topical articles complete an attractive number. The editor says that to the best of its ability “Art in New Zealand” has laboured indefatlgably and impartially in the interest of art—and letters. Its promoters have made sacrifices year after year in order that the causes it espoused should not weaken and die. It has been a medium through which New Zealand artists have been, each in his turn, given the publicity to which he was entitled. All this notwithstanding, the quarterly is still, in a material sense, a losing proposition. This is said more in sorrow than in anger, but in the hope that the day will come when the sacrifices will be lessened. The journal devotes itself to a worthy cultural cause, a most attractive magazine is produced, and the subscription is small. It is to be regretted tHht it is not getting the support that it deserves.