BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11282, 9 January 1915, Page 7

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

SOME RECENT WAR LITERATURE.

The Hr.MJ.Tt or Wa*.

Everybody h«* heard of Clausewite's famous treatise "On War," admittedly, in the opinion of military expert's, the most profound and enlightening study of war ever written, .lornim » almost equally famous book not won. excepted- But to read the whole work—i a its English translation it runs into three stout volumesis rather a severe task, and for the lavman much of the technical detail is niinaoessary. Two or three years ago, however, an English officer, Major Stewart L. Murray, produced a very useful digest of, or ll Companion to Clausewitz," in which are embodied the most striking and important passages of the original work. Major Murrav's book has now been republisnpd. at the popular price of half a crown, bv Messrs flodder and Stoughton, a new preface being added by Mr A. Billiard Atteridge, a well known writer on roilitorv subjects. A supplementary chapter, 'headed "Changes since ClaiisawiW is a specially interesting addition to the book. One good reason why the book should be read by the i-on-military public is afforded in the importance, upon which Olausewitz insists m a singularly convincing passage, of the fact that one oi the mam objects of a nation waging war is to force the enemy's population into a Bxatrt of mind favourable to submissiou. A* Mr Atteridge significantly adds, " this fact is sufficient proof of the importance of puW Jc opinion being well informed, not only as to the course of events, but al*> as to the principles that pive to these events their real .significance." A perusal of Major Murray's version of Clausewita should £ ive the reader a clear idea of the real character of modern war and die principles upon which success- or failure* depend. IMFBBUX G-E|tHA!«. For many years Prince- von Bulow;, the ex-German Imperial reefced the foreign policy of the Empire. Bven now, although no longer in the position which Bismarck mad<s bo famous, von Bulow is a man specially esteemed by the Kaioer for his diplomatic ability, aa witness, his recent and, fortunately for the Allies, unsuccessful mission to Bom©. The cheaper edition of his book, " Imperial Germany <Cassell and 0»., per S. W. MaokayK should be widely read, for we have it on the authority of Lord Oromer, no mean judge, that it "affords a perfectly truthful account of the present German aims and policy." A speoially interesting feature of the book, in view of what has happened since July last is the almost cynical frankness with which von Bulow champions the Junker and war party, and explains how small an influence the Gemnan people actuallv exercise in the haute politique of the empire. One passage in the concluding chapter seems to me to be invested with a peculiar significance when we remember it was written two years

or more ago:— Through the foundation of the Empire we acquired national life as a btftte. In so doing our political development embarked on a new and a safe course. But it has not yet reachad its goal. Our task, which hae been begun, but is by no means yet completed, must be the unity of our intel-

TREASURES OF THE SHELVES. (By "LIBER.")

Give a man * pips ?i« nan wwniM, Give a man a booh hr. can read; And his home is bright with a calm dtllsM

Nflrer compact -with, you to mak«,

leotual and political life, that is., tho fusion of the Prussian and the German spirit. What, T wonder, does Prince von Billow rea.lly think in his heart of hoards to-day of "that new and s.it'o course " upon which Germany has erabarked ? He has championed the cause of Militarism versus Democracy ; he will not hear of any good corning out of representative institutions such aa other nations are rightly proud of. But to what a dreary goal of failure* and misery, for the German people, is his "now and safe course.'' now so surely, if slowly, proceeding? The price of the book is 2s fid. It is a work which should bo road by all who have read Bernhardi's works. Von Bulow exposes the real aim of German diplomacy and the Imperial autocracy. Bernhardi, as a soldier, shows how that aim should and. as he has so.erroneously thought, could be attained. Two Bernhabot Books. A popular edition (price 2s 6d) of General F. von Bemhardi's book, " Cavalry in Peace and War,'.' a work originally published at 7s Gd, has been published by Messrs Hodder and Stoujjhton, and will no doubt find'many interested readers. To the English translation, by Major Bridges, an interesting introduction is provided by FieldMarshal Sir John French, whose special knowledge of the mounted branch of the servioe is so famous. Although, written in the first instance for oavalry officers, the book will be found of interest to all who wish to understand what cavalry is called upon to do and how it does it in the war of to-day. There was a big run, a few weeks ago, on the condensed Bernhardi, " How Germany Makes War" (Hodder and Stoughton), in. whioh the contents of Bernhardi'fl "War To-day" are set forth in abbreviated form, with much of the technical military detail of the original either omitted or Fresh stocks of the book have now arrived, and are.on sale locally. The book was reviewed in these columns about a month ago. A Olbvmr Rejointhex. There recently appeared in the Press an English translation of Ernest Liseauer's "Ohant of Hate." whioh, published in "Municher Jugend," the organ of Young Germany (the literary and artistic brand), has enjoyed a huge rogue in the land of the "baby killers." The refrain, yon may remember, ran: You will wo iiAt» •with a lasting: fa*te, We will never forgo our hate; H»t« by water and bate by land, Hats of the head and hate of the hand, jltAo of the hammer and hate of the crown, Hate of seventy millions, choking down;' We lava as one* we hate »a one, W» h»v» ona foe, *.nd one alone— England! To Lissauer's extraordinary effusion Mr Arthur Adams, ex-Wellinfftbniari, hut now of the "Bulletin," has replied, in a suitably vigorous style, in a set of verses entitled, "My Friend, Remember 1" published in pamphlet form, together with the German poem by Angus and Robertson, Sydney, How hard Mr Adams can hit back at the Teutonic hate-monger may be seen by his opening verses : We thank you, Germany, we thank You for your bitter hatred frank; Your curse i« branded on your brow! Traitor and spy, we know you now! One pestilence this earth, must shun, One Judas-race. Mid only one. And when a blood-atainod peaoe i« born This vow eternal we hftve sworn:

N'ever a. German hand to shak", ! .Never » j Thn plvzhteci wor! flint i>;-vnni!s _bn>nk! Never ioriet. thron;:;h good tend ill. A (rfvrua'i ;!• ■"! 'l'-mm: still. Mv friend, when limw o:tue-. f'on ™ lit". |!f.mf!"ti. i : Oi.Tsiiii'.iv i* hat«' Tin-' prii'i' o!' fin' pamphlet i.-. ■ ixponce. It ;., to \>r> iic|..p<l thm. tlf' author ims MM'f. ;j. rovicw rop> in tin - " • f ri?i"ti'l oflnv. I'liirold Br>phif>. well know \\ n> u novelist-. an<l writfr on sncifil Jiv.d phih\ntl;ropif ipi'-stions. cotnc;, nm, in unite ;> tif»v roh' in a. little voluiMO e-ntiih'd " [.incs tind Various (Iririfnrrrmontfi '■' und ' o . Is 'M). Many of ilio ptioms ate '.vrition in the tnetn> find style y;et;ri-:illy e! Kipling's '" 11atrack Room .Bnllnds. ' Some of chrm have apjieaied in KnfTlist) pnpers attii hivv aciiieverf no Miia!l popnlnrity. Mi' Megl»ie'-i note is me of intense pntriotistn. mid in not few of the poem:; there is a dasli it that almost eontompfnotis good hntuour -.\'hicli Tonuuy Atkins :- displnying in the dismal trenches of Western Flanders avid Xorth-eastem Frnnre. I ta!<e two simple verses from "Fall In, which has. I believe, been r<>jiroduwd on tens of thousands of War Office poste-s throughout (irent Britain :■ What will you lack, sonnv, ivlnvt, will veil lack AVhen the girln line up thp street. Khoiiiin.'jr their love to the IncU roinr bark From the foe they rushed to beat Will you send a. strar.L'led cheer to the sky And grin till your cheeks ore rod? But whnt will you lark when vour mate ?oes. by With 3, girl who ruts you dead? Where will you look, sonny, where will you look When your children yet to he Clamour to learn of the part you took j In'the war that kept men free? j Will you »ay it was naught to you if France Stood .up to her foe or bunked? But. where will you look when they givo you the rde.nce I That., tells you they know you funked? Why do they call, sonny, why do they cell For men; who are brav-p and strong-? Is it naught to.vou il your country fall, And. Right is smashed by Wrong? j Is it football still and the picture show, j The pub Mid the betting- odds, When vour brothem stand to the tyrant ? blow. And Britain's cull is God's? In other poems, such as ''Britons Beyond the Seas,". "The Little Red Splash on the Map," Mr Beglne'-sounds a' fine Imperial note, and there is .inother poem, "Neutral?" dedicated .to the humanitv of America, which should "give furiously to think '' to the curiously unsympathetic people of tha United States: — ■y\ T e ask not that of *ll yottr hosts One mtm, one s»word, be sacrificed! Your couelne guard these ancient coasts, Your kinsmen charge, the .'Antichrist;. ■ E\it we expect your mighty voice With judgment thro' -the world to run— O. Land of Freedom, make your choice: Ar» yxm for Belgium or the Hun? Judging; alas,' by recent American ' developments, the "Land of Freedom, or, rather, 1 should say its Government, is-'not troubling its head about either Belgia.ii or Hun. It is thinking mainly, so" it ■would seem. of. the next i?res;'4eiitial election—and the (>ertna.."Americar. vote' ,By all means, spen-i fifteen pence ,bn Mr Begbie's book or verse. It is -well worth it.'.''.. , Thk Sono of TUB GtJ>'B. Another new book of war poetry is j "The Song of the Guns," by Herbert i Kaufman (T. Fisher Unwin. Is 3d), !Mr Kaufman does not sacrifice very much to style, for in. the verses en- . titled " Mother Britain and Her i Sons" we get such lines as: I We'll prove our breed in your hour of, need. ' ana teach tie tally Huns Who 'j strike a.t Britwii,. they, must likewise reckon with her sons. Which is about as bad verse as can he. But there is better Btuff in " The Hell j . Gate of Soissons," a stirring ballad I . commemorating tho gallantry of a little band of twelve British engineers, all of whom were killed but tho last of whonr succeeded in blowing jtp , a bridge across the .Aisne. : Mr Kaufi man dubs the Kaiser "A- Pinchbeck Immortal and Wilhelm the Mongol '* , j Some say that theTe's a Mongol strain in ' Frussiaji blood; j That when there bunt from the fell East I that yellow flood Of flat-faced devils, sprung- from hell's own womb, And Attila left Rome behind, a tomb. ....

•| he Hiimii.iM !-■,:..-in..!-,. riiKimj; m ii l '" W ft-i. |.oft „-,;,,,' ~ !!n .irl-.li 1.i,1w 1,1 (jri'lium llrr "'-' • , , . , Tin*- \-- -11.-.-l' lf-<"M.'l ■'<■■'. if f'l'-. 1, l ! " '"' lnlo ' ||,,v pr-m! Ie il.;-. >■•■'"iv AlMhi /.I -ei,' Mr IC;.nfhi;.n's !,--! e!i'«l'i in sal in,,n,| <iei,inn i,M '-n is " l>ie Kuliur, ' the final v!iin» <•• which may he ..U.-led. ■ Yr.,l swL rA.-11-.. HI " l>if Kilillll " l-'or p\,-:-, .-.tnoiifTvin di'MT. i')Mt)au- <irvi.:<. nul a.-.-ct n; shnnif Wit. 1 .) 'A'hirli \eii f!,-'. !',,.. ' c-iiii" Vr.v Motun-h ,■-,).'• i.n.l M.-nu-l luM.-. Fov vmliitpfl |,lrdi:"- «n,l trn<! : |',v,' M-nmM-. |-Hj..-<I -.iii'l lilli'h-rll sllllll. Ko- Miiliuc;.. •Vcrnor.fi.'. til;cim:-'. I..'nvi,in! V,,., «-ln> exult V: t evrrii'l. Bol'iUl, suiK-rl. Cntlif<iri,]s mi! A,-,,1„.k1 the rnnnon'- dfvil wc.rl< . V,ul wlipii tho ■ K:\rih pi-eicM". y>u .-.link Tlio ismi,.. /lisroK'io-d tV.r iou\ Arhii-vrini'ii!- el' v.>nr rn"o, i'' l( l 1k»v1 |--,„- Kvpn.atliv in i:«n<;M Un<\.'. Ye..; vit.ii iJ'.f hiec't ic'i <:•» >" ou , r ~: ""U- , , V.,„. v.lm W....M "iai.f/1- Vr«p.l«"> " >'"*M\vd '-'•' the i-.v.n-d ahovc t!-« riu'h'! ijv'f-vrp nt-l void tlninf-'lii nWinre Tin- very >E>n-H "> " KulLnr.' Till': ITvMOftocs Sil.K nK i"K YTsB. •• Keep ■ Smiling More No«s by Liarlcfs for Gernum Homes, was ih--tj_!) e of a verv elevt r skit, or collection of skits, by Walter Kmannel and j.lni Hpssall (London: I'.'.'i-Kml'.i \asli). The author and artist set out to -how that " we ran be every hit. as romantic as tho Germans "hen we like can, in fact, beat them in their own lyin' ' All goods manufactured in Genua"v can Ik. made just as well here." ' Mr Kmaiinel's letterpress is i-ery fuiinv. Here are a iew ■•'The much advertised Canadians turn out after' all to be mere boys. Proof of their tender age is afforded hv the fact, that it is stated in the F.n-dish Press that uthese warriors have brought, their nurses with them." "Owing to the stoppage of supplies of Christmas cards from Germany Christmas will not be held this year. ' •'lt would seenr to be impossible for the English to take anything seriouslv. One would have thought that v,'pi- 'v.is, in all conscience, a serious enough matter, but we hear that maiiv English regiments took their i,its,' wickets, goals, etc.. with thetu to France to play football !" "An interesting commentary on the charges of cruelty which have been brought against our brave troops is the fact that the 'animals in the Zoological' Gardens are being trained to attack our mm when they invade London. Dummies of German soldiers filled with sausages now thrown to the beasts each day." Mr Hassall's illustrations are delightfully funny. The book is a wonderfully' good Mxpennyworth, and is worth preserving carefully as a proof that even so grim a subject as war. can have its humorous side. MfSCKM.ANXOttS. - Of 'the many statements of the -British case which have been put forth none attracted more attention in the. Old Country than have Mr Arnold Bennett's articles, headed "Liberty, which 'first appeared in the London '' Daily News." - Mr Bennett's general contention as to the real issue of the war is summed up in his final sentences :—" If Germany triumphs, her ideal (the words is seldom off her lips) will envelop tlie' earth, and every race will have to kneel and whimper to her: •Please, may I existl' We have a silly sentimental objection to being enslaved. We reckon liberty—the right of every individual to call his soul his own---as the most glorious end.. It is for liberty we are fighting. We have lived in alarm., and liberty has been jeopardised, too long." The Bennett articles, are published in a neat book form at fifteen-pence (Hbdder and Stoughton). From Messrs Constable a.nd Co. I have received two interesting reprints. " Human Bullets," by Lieutenant Sakurai.and "Peter Moor," a narrative of tlie German campaign (in. 1903-4) in South-West Africa. The Japanese officer's thrilling account of his experiences . before Port Arthur had a great sale when it was first.published, ft still remains one of the. most dramatic pictures of modern' warfare ever published, and in its new and cheaper form (2s (3d), should now reach even a wider public than it did when first issued.. Tho second book is by" a wellknown, Danish author, and is interesting as describing the life of a. German soldier in. the field. (Price 2s 6d.)

"The Child's A.B.C. of the War" (Allen and Fnwin), is a collection of patriotic verses and pictures by Geoffrey Whitworth and Stanley North. In Mr Whitworth's simple verses the principal features of the war are ingeniously described, but the pictures are. the chief attraction of the book. It is to. be regretted, however, that Mr North apparently ignores the fact that New Zealand, as well as Canada, India and Australia is doing her best to help the Motherland, for in the design which appears above the lines:--" C's for our Colonies, loyal and true, bringing helpto their mother from over the blue.' Australia (not Australasia) is represented by a little, girl carrying toy soldiers and 'guns, but there is no representative of the .Dominion. Mr North is specially original and ingenious in his pictorial treatment of the coats of arms of the various States involved in the war. The Kaiser is depicted as astride a four-headed fiery dragon. Below run the lines: — I'the Impiety that hopes to crown ■ Force, as tho Lord to whom all must bow-

down. The colour work in the book is exceptionally good. . - Messrs Methuen and Co. have issued Rudyard Kipling's splendid poem "Recessional'' in a novel and most artistic form. The noem is printed in red and black in a beautiful Old English style of woodcut t pe. the initial letters being illuminated in gold and colours and the whole verses enclosed in a cleverly designed, most artistic border, in which the rose, thistle and shamrock are ingeniously utilised. Price Is. Recent additions to the series of pamphlets entitled "Papers for WadTime " (Oxford University Press), in which the religious and ethical side of the war is dealt with by writers drawn from different political parties and Christian bodies, are " Active Service." "The Share of the Noncombatant," by W. R. Maltbv: and " The Decisive Hour: Is it Lost?" by J. H. Oldliaui, M.A.

LIBER'S NOTEBOOK

(Reviews of several new novels are held over until nest week.)

Sir Henry Newbolt is how we must now style the author of " Admirals All," "Drake's Drum," and "The Fighting Temeraire." No literary knighthood has been better deserved, for Mr Newbolt's patriotic verse is truly patriotic without being in the least jingoistic or fulsome in its expression of a proper pride, of race. "Admirals -All''' first made its appearance in the eighteennineties in n modest little shilling paper covered volume, one of Elkin Matthews's "Garlands" series. Newbolt has been called the poet of the English fiublic schools. Certainly no other Engish poet has given not only the public schoolboys of England, but all schoolboys of England and the Overseas England, finer? nobler songs than has the new knight. The message of his work is well outlined in the chief stanza, of ,Iris, best school poem. " Clifton Chapel " ; To get the Muse a bow renowjj, To Im-6 :.ln> game beyond the prize, To honour, while you mrike hiin down, The foe that comes with fearless eyes; To count the life of bottle good, And doar the land that, gave yen birth, And dearer yet. the brotherhood That bond? the brave of nil the ea.rih — My fon, t)liid oath is yours. ... What noble lines, too, are those which in the '" Hymn in 'Time of War and Trouble" challenge comparison even with Kipling's noble " Recession ah" sounding as they : do a note of patient prayerful trust in the strength of a just cause : ftemembor not the days oj shame, The hands with rapine dyed, T)ia wavering- -.vill. the h?i?er aim, Tho brute matorini prick.. Remember, Lcrd. the ye-nrf of faith, The. spirits humbly brave, The strength that di«d drying- d»?th, The love <ha( loved the. flaw. The rare that s-u-ov-ft to rv.le. Thine earth AVif.h equal lews naboui?ht: Who hove for Tr.tb the pan?s of b;rth. And broke the ivnds ->f Thought. Thou wilt not t.iirii Thy face nwny From those who work Thy will. Rut, ..end Thy strength on heart,? dint pro'y For sfrensrdi" to f-rv Thpe sfrl. Those they are surely not many—who do not know Sir Henry Xewbolt's poems should <.pend a modest fit'teeupenoe on Nelson's edition of_ " The Collected Poems of Henry Newbolt: 1597-1W7." Since. ]907 the poet has published several other poems, but in this little volume the best of the work is still to be found. The November issue of " The Bookman " CHodder- and Stoughton) has for its main feature a special article on war books which will bo found a very useful guide to this class of literature. Another excellent feature is a long article on Henry Newbolt. of whom an excellent portrait, is given as a supplement. A new book of poems by Thomas Hardy is ;in event of some importance in the literary world. The. title is "Satires of Circumstance." Tho vol".:ve includes all Mr Hardy's publishI '• Terse rince "Time's Laughing i Si,.ok." Much of Hardy's verso has a | fine, dramatic power, but I for one would vastly prefer another '' }\ e*sex ' j novel to a whole library of verse from this author. The last poem in the new collection is the fine patriotic effort " The Song of the. Soldier," which appeared in "The limes" in October last. Lovers of dogs should note the publication of a volume, simply entitled "Memories" (Heinemann). in which John Galsworthy, a devoted admirer of the canine tribe, writes most delightfullv about a pet spaniel. The' book is illustrated by Miss Maud Earl, whoso pictures of dogs are so well known. Those who read and enjoyed' Comp■*ton Mackenzie's tine story. " Sinister Street./' published in 1913, will be glad

1,, know tlv.t copies ol" the sequel (" Sinister Street. Vol, ll'."* .'ire expfcl"<l hi New Zealand about the middle of ttiit. month. Th" author now lakes tiis hero, Michel Fane, to f>*j(„,|, t |u- first, hfill (if iho Wool', dealing whollv nith the young man's lour year,', ol university life. Then ho com''- up In London. and meets v.-ith nuniy i ti;iil|/,e exu-erioncef., in the undor.M.ihl. in the course of liis search for Hi,-. Lih ol the earlier part ni the i.l.iiv Mr Murkoime finally leaves, his iieio 111 Koine. and' hints at the probnhditv ol liiv, joining the Roman cnm- ■ iiiiiikiii . The .story has been most lav..llllihlv received li.V the Home papers. A I,l,it'l iiii.liilineiii, of llie adventure';, uot-lh nii'l spiritinil, of Michael Fane „: ,|, ~, understood, to follow next v'r.i, »ilt,h<.u(/h towards t.he, clo.se of the nei mid instalment, it. is hint/ed that, the iiul.li"! liiet Inid enough of his cret,l.uiii

'I In- author of these remarkable. r1..,i ,<■•'. Mr Montague Compton Mao |.<,,/,ie li" himself drops the Montnimh- i:., I Kind, a. son of Mr Edward' (\,i,i|,l<,ii, ii well-known Knavish aft or, tin, eiiind'-on, therefore, of the. once f';i.iiioii-,' En>/lisli nct,or. Henry Comptou. ,(1,., pliiyd ho lonji with Buekstone and .•ilU'iu'iirdn with t.he Kendnls. Compton aim ii. f>t:i)V n»mo. the. family name being MfK-keiiKio. Sir Morell Mackenzie, the eminent throat specialist, wns an nncle of the rising young novelist, who, l,y t.he way, is st.ill only thirty-two. ('oiiipton Mackenzie was educated at Ht, Paul's School, some lively sketches of life, nt which institution are a feature of 'Sinister Street." and wont on to Magdalen College. Oxford. In mil ho published his first novel, " Tho Pfissiona.te. Elopement." and' in the following year ma do a. distinct hit with his story of theatrical life, "'Carnival." One of his sisters. Miss Fay Compton, wa,s a leading member of the famous " Follies,'' and eventually married vho manager. H. G. Pelissier. Mr Mac-, kenzio himself has been on the stage. Glasgow is to have a, Oarlyle Memorial. Tho design chosen by the. committee is that of a block of rough-hewn granite, standing from 15 . feet 'to .'2O feet high, with a bust of Cavlylo carved on it. The suggested site., it may interest exiled Glaswegians to know, is on the main road through Ke'viiigrove Park. It is to be hoped the buet will be a more dignified affair than the Carlyle statue in CheLsea. There is a good bust, by Boehm, 1 think, of Oarlyle in the I/ondon Library, in Hanover Square. Oarlyle, it may be remembered, was one of the founders of the institution, by far the best " literary man's library" in the world. The third volume of the " Life of Lord Beaconsfteld," begun by the late Mr W. P. Monyponny, and completed by Mr G. S. Bnr.kle, was to be published by John Murray on November 26. ' ' *;■ Apropos to u T>\f,iy." I came across acurioms. reference to his early literary triumphs the other day in a book, of reminiscences, "A Great Peace-maker" —the diary of James Gallatin, secretary to Albert Gallatin, U.S. Envoy to France and England, 1813-1827. One extract from the diary runs:— "We dined with the Duke of Devonshire yesterday, a.t his house in Piccadilly. He is a most .gracious host. Snappy Charles Greville, always asking questions and talcing notes,' was'there: A book called 'Vivian Grey,' .published' by Colburn and immensely puffed, appeared last year. There were many surmises as to who the author wife. Great names were mentioned, and there was much speculation on the matter. It now turns out to be by a quite unknown youth called Disraeli, a Jew. Greville had the audacity to say he knew -who the author was. from the first. Father." thought well of the book." :, . ■ ■

Princess Ma.ry'e Gift Book, the total ?>roceeds from the sale of which are to" >e given to the Queen's " Work for Women" Fluid, was to be published at the end of November, so copies should soon be on sale here. Amongst the contributors are Sir James Barrie. Riidyard Kipling. Sir Arthur Conen Doyle, Sir Rider Hivggard and Messrs A. E. W. Mason, Hall Caine, Ralph Connor and others. The illustrators include Napier Hemy, R.A.. Arthur Rackhant, Byfl.m Shaw, Joseph Simpson, H, M. Brot;k, Lewis Baumer, E. J. Sullivan, Edmond Dnlac and. other well-known artists.

Not a few of my readers will .regret' to learn of the death, at the age of fifty-three, of Mr Arthur Morris Binstead, trbioh occurred early in November. Under his pen name of ''Pitcher." an abbreviation, of his first nom-de-plume, "The Tale Pitcher," Mr Binstead was for many years an industrious and valued contributor to that extraordinary hut most amusing weekly journal, ■■ " The Sporting Times "—otherwise known as " The Pink'-Un." His contributions were collected in various volumes, of which "A Pink-'Un and a Pelican." "Gals* Gossip ' ; and '■ Houndsditch Day by Day '•' are the best known. Arthur Goldberg; "The Shifter" of the •'Sporting Times." died some years ago, and Mr E. Spencer ("Nathaniel Gubbins ") and most of the other members of the original and brilliant staff of John Corlett's ("The Master's") famous weekly have, I fancy, now passed away. Of late years Mr Binstead had been the editor of a. journal called " Town Topics." run much on the same lines as "The Sporting Times." A special feature of the Christmas number of " Scribner's Magazine" is a. complete and hitherto unpublished story by the late Robert Louis Stevenson, entitled "The Waif Woman." The '• New York Bookman"' for December contains a very clever satirical, ballad. " The Emperor of Almain," by Maurice Hewlett, the well-known English novelist, who, by the way, deserves the congratulations of his many oversea readers and admirers upon the gallant deeds avid fortunate escape from death of his plucky son. Flight Commander Hewlett, who played so prominent a role in the Cuxhavon raid. Hannibal. Missouri, the little town which wsm Mark Twain's birthplace, is described in a- .volume .of travel sketches, " Abroad at Home." by an American writer, .Julian Street, who says the " Mark Twain House" is a "tiny box of a cottage. its sagging front so ta.ken up with five windows and a. door that there is hardly room for the little bronze plaoue which marks the place." At one side, of the cottage is an alley running back to the house of Huckleberry Finn, and it, was in that alley that stood the historic fence which young Sam Clemens cajoled the other boys in'o whitewashing for him. m related in " Tom Sawyer." Hannibal of to-day honours M'ai'k Twain's memory, but is practical enough to value its commercial possibilities if" We have the eheapert electric force in the Mississippi Valley, and can offer free factory sites, yes. Sir!") far more than the literary associations of the place.