Books and Their Writers

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16927, 29 December 1922, Page 11

Books and Their Writers

Notes by '

"The Reviewer"

A FAMILiAi .ED COVER. The ' * Daily Mail” Year Book for 1923. which has just come to hand is, as usual, filled with useful information on a wide range of subjects. Problems of world-wide interest are dealt with by authoritative writers in articles short but very much to the point. An interesting article deals with the world’s navies, and from this one oan gain a clear idea of the relative strength® of the navies of Great Britain, the United States, Germany, Prance, Italy and Japan, and what ships each nation sorapa under the Treaty of Washington. The vexed question of Capital and Labour is the .subject, of another interesting article, the writer of which makes remarks and suggestions that should receive careful consideration from both employers and employees. As usual the volume contains short biographical notes on prominent people of the day. All classes of sport receive attention, and in this connection there is an interesting list of the "World’s records and the champions at various forms of sport. The ‘‘Daily Mail ” Year Book is a mine of information and it would be difficult for anyone to look through it without finding some subject in which ho or she was interested. As a reference hook of recent events this publication is most valuable. Tt is the twenty-third issue of the book. MIMIC BATTLE AND MUDDIED OAFS. “ Yon will observe the Rules of Battle, of course? 5 * the White Tvnigbt remarked, putting on his helmet too. “ I always do,’* said the Red Knight ; and they began banging away at each other.’* This appropriate Lewis Carroll o notation prefaces “ First Steps in Rugby Football ** by ** Alloyniensis ” (Mr W. D. Gibbon), one of a useful series of handbooks of sport. Not so many writers have* devoted their sorirus attention to the art of football as have written seriously of some other games ; perhaps the mass of newspaper riticism, comment and advice each season satisfies the game’s followers without much of what may be termed “ perrr anent ” treatment ; perhaps, too, nearly everybody thinks he knows nearly all about football and doesn’t ronsider it worth while to place liis l nowledge on record ! While it is not possible to learn Rugby football, or for the matter of that, any other game i>J the kind worth playing, from the printed page alone--even when the j rint is supplemented, as is Mr Gibl cn’s, with fifty-eight illustrations from ) kotographs aod thirteen diagrams, it i - possible for most players to learn something for the improvement of their play from an especial lv expert coach and player of the type of “ Alleyr,icnsi6,” whose record is that of an exceptionally able exponent in the field and in the don of the game as it should frt played. Air Gibbon ha* had thirty years’ personal experience: it might, he s-ays, be called forty because he gainer? most of his knowledge from an international half-back of the middle eighties.” During tho war he was teacher of tactics in the Tnfantrv School at Baghdad and knowing that Rugby is a “ mimic war ... in which the only way to success is sustained effort,” be. analyses the game, comparing the methods of a successful conduct of the two types of war. Mr Giboon is able to do what many successful players fail in; he can explain how *:nd why and how not and why not Hr admits that he has. personally, quite arrived at a stage when it means effort to ‘"’form down ” in the scrum, und has nearly arrived at a stage when new ideas are heresies,” hut he does not talk like a “ hack number.” He is ilear, concise, and most practical. Primarily written from the point of view • f a public school footbal coach and therefore particularly valuable for any house master in whose hands are the school games. Mr Gibbon’s book is of distinct interest to all who love the game. And it is of particular interest tn this country where Rugby is being attacked in various quarters. The character-training feature of the game in apt to be lost sight of by those who inveigh against the “ unfair 15 predominance given to ** brawn ” over “ brain ’* in the schools and who see giave danger in the bringing of schoolboys too prominently before the public in sport: they assert that the Rhodes ffholar should not he a champion footballer. Well, if the encouragement of Rugby football in schools and the turning of as many hoys as possible into players instead of recruits to the already-swollen ranks of the “ bleach ors 55 renders some public competition necessary, so long as school football can be kept at its present high average, one is of opinion that if the danger is • here it may be risked. Anyway the football hero is a short-lived deity, the student may live in his "work for generations! Air Gibbon deals with principles—the maintenance of the objective. offensive action, surprises, mobility and co-operation ; lie discusses and advises on each department of play forward, half, three-quarter and fullback, team tactics, passing, kicking. He gives the results of his experience in each instance; he deals with the relationship of conch and captain; in fact he gives in detail and in summary the information necessary to obtain the desired result of “ the most fascinating display to be seen on a. football field.” (London: Mills and Boon). “THE JOY BOOK.” “The object of ‘The Joy Book.’” says the author in the preface, “is to entertain and interest you, to make you smile and laugh—even on a rainy holiday, and to provide you with tlm means of making others happy.” He succeeds so well in these 170 pages of games, puzzles. “ how-to-makes.” card tricks, charades and other forms of cn lertainment that the youngsters—an 1 in many cases the grown-ups—will want to see considerably more of the

work of Air R. A. Hammerton, to whom the* credit for a very timely production is due. The descriptions an practical and numerous illustration* render it impossible that there should be any difficulty in the way of tho veung amateur who adopts this as his text hook for Christmas party wonderworking. “THE CACTUS HEDGE.” “It is the name, raadame. under which T and my husband lived througn our married life, for reason known to him. Ysambert was my father’3 name. Mr husband is Hugo do Brioe only sou of Raoul do Brioe, who lives yonder at tho Chateau Noir.” Tbw* the young mother addresses Mademoiselle do Freycinet. and ‘‘if a, bomb had exploded in that quiet, sunny little sal-on it could not havo more startled Mademoiselle do Frev oinot than those strange words. What the mystery behind the words and the secret of “ The Cactus Hedge ” you will discover hv reading what Cecil Adair tells in the latest of her “ Jov of Life” novels. (London : Stanley Paul.) “LONDON VIGNETTES.” “ London is an enchantress who lives behind a smoko of incense that exalts her beauties a thousandfold and veils her ugliness with its magic. Only on rare occasions such a« some perfect June evening when every spire, rooftop and pinnacle stand outlined naked lv against a sky of southern blue, docs she emerge from her garment of mystery and come close. ... Tn the infinite life and variety of the streets, the "Londoner has constant entertainment -in their scenic effects, constant inspiration. Tn their warm, breathing humanity ho has companionship for every mood, and in the solitude of their crowds, room for all reflection.” The opening and the closing paragraphs of Atiss Soithie Cole's introduction to her 1 ‘ London Vignettes ” a “charmingly written” glorified guide book—-if it- may bo so spoken of—with a “ romantic *’ setting. Cordelia ’Wellbeloved. the heroine, is an unconventional woman of forty, in tho course of her browsings round London nooks and taining individual with an uncanny fund of information about the various features of interest and an uncanny genie-like habit of appearing end disappearing- a tall man with a cleanshaven. long, ratlior fleshy face, and blue eyes, in which there was a con centrated expression of gravity tbit seemed to hide a disposition to poke fun.” Tn his company Cordelia cn joys trips to Tussaud’s. Covent Garden, the Tower (where the Sword-room, the hi nek that saw the last of Simon Kraser. the relics of Leicester, Essex, Raleigh attract), David Copperfield’s Library. Red Lion Square. Grav’s Tun. St a ole Inn. tho Lvrie Theatre. BnBells. Leicester Square, and overv where Lemure discloses an intimate acquaintance with the interesting details of the stories of the past that could hardly be possessed Lv the most studious antiquarian. “Vignette” Is j defined ns “a. small engraved embellishment at the beginning of a book ” : Lemurp embellishes the record all the way through, and in the name you may find an indication of the solution of the mystery of Cordelia’s excellent cicerone. A pleasant way of learning something of tho corners of London’s pa st. (London : Miller and Boon.) SO ATE MAG A ZTNE9. So much has been written in praise of that excellent magazine “Peoples cf All Nations ” that it is perhaps only painting the lily to welcome the fifteenth and sixteenth numbers, which ore now to hand. Each number is full o f interesting and informative reading matter, while tlie pictorial sections are altogether admirable. in each issue there is a finely reproduced colour plate, a photogravure section, and. many black tnd white reproductions. No. 15 has special articles on Dontzig (the modern city State), Denmark. Ecuador (the republic of the Equator) and the first section on Egypt, dealing with the rr-odern Egyptians. No. 16 continues the .story of Egypt, and has a most fascinating section relating to the ancient Egyptians, contributed bv Professor AY. Flinders Petrie, a ’ noted Egyptologist. It is a compact, informative and authoritative summary of ten thousand years of Egyptian history This number also begins the series of articles on England, and appropriately opens with an article on “ English Life and Character ” by Air Hamilton Fyfe. A new publication to which a cordial welcome will be given in many households is tho “Children’s Encyclopaedia ” (Ha rmsworth’s), edited bv Arthur Magazine. In a- foreword it is explained that the Encyclopaedia presents a •simple scheme of universal knowledge which opens up :i vision of the world as one great whole. It teaches in loth story and picture, and is not a more assembling of drv facts. I'iie hook is arranged in nineteen main divisions comprising seventeen divisions of knowledge and two of practical teaching Tho Encyclopaedia has an imposing staff of writers, and it .should have a prosfortnightly parts. The first number is admirably printed and superbly illustrated. “ The Violet” is the latest to join the ranks of the fortniglvtlv magazines. The issue for November :? contains a good selection of light reading, with a long complete novel hv AY. E. Groves. ATotfiers will be interested in “ Schoolgirls’ Fashions.” published bv “Fashions for All. Ltd..” Loudon. The magazines referred to above wore sent in bv the London Bookstall (Air H IV Dobbs)