BOOK CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 208, 5 September 1935, Page 5

BOOK CORNER

REVIEWS "BROTHERS ON THE TRAIL," by Max Brand (Hodder ami .Stoughton') p.p. 313.—The tale of two brothers as different in every regard as daylight from dark loses nothing in the telling at the hands of Max Brand. The chief was one of those tough men who killed without compunction and led his gang of desperadoes with hilarious vim. None could withstand the chief’s smile or escape his straight shooting, as the case may be. A period of imprisonment, however, broke the man, or at least broke him for a while. His young brother, who was a stay-at-home Jacob to the chief 's Esau, was stunned to discover this broken spirit hidden behind the outward semblance of the erstwhile happy-go-lucky, fascinating outlaw. To the amazement of all the chief settled down to a Jacob's life on the farm and soon put to rights a multitude of things that poor Rickie could not cope with. Then into the pastoral experience stepped the girl, and almost immediately alter the tragedy in the form of an old associate with a blood-feud. The lale then revolves round the younger brother, Rickie, as by a subterfuge he leaves chief at home and goes right into the heart of the enemy s stronghold. The description of this little runt’s fight with “Little” Charlie, the nickname is by contrast, is an epic. Of course, Rickie meets with the one and only girl for him and experiences many a crisis before the climax of being found out by the enemy in the heart of their lair. Then the action becomes fast and furious. The chief comes into the picture, faces up to the full issues of his weakness, finds his strength, and, with the assistance from expected ami unexpected quarters, brings affairs to the happy ending the reader looks for. ’ ‘ Brothers on the Trail ’ ’ is by no means

as warm and moving a tale as some Max Brand has told, yet it is up to a high pitch. There could not fail to be the eloquence of narrative and limpidity of diction, as well as the welldrawn and contrasting characters one always associates with the work of this well-seasoned delineator of the Wild West in its roaring days. " FIRST YEARS AT PORT PHILLIP,’’ by Robert Douglass Boys, B.A. (Robertson and Mullens), p.p. 158. —With the zealous co-operation of universities, historical societies and libraries, Mr. Boys, formerly chief librarian of the Public Library of Victoria, has been enabled to publish a most valuable volume in regard to the history of colonial settlement. The work will interest the general reader in some, particulars, especially the introductory section, but it is written more for the student and those interested in historical research. For such there can be no question of its value as a book of reference. Mr. Boys writes in his foreword:—

“This chronology extends from the ‘Phillip,’ or ‘Australia Felix,’ at Portland Bay, by Edward Henty until the beginning of the proceedings of the first Town Council of Melbourne. In order to provide the necessary historical perspective, the chronology has been preceded by a summary of historical events. “Many matters are hero noted for the first time; and, through the courtesy of the trustees of the Public Library of Victoria, the compiler has been allowed to publish in full the recently discovered diary kept by JSir Richard Bourke during his visit to Port Phillip in March, 1837.

“In addition to the authorities quoted in the text, recourse has been had to the large collection of official documents in the public Library of Victoria (including the recently received collection of La Too be papers), the Historical Records oi Australia, and tho books and pamphlets dealing with the first decade of this .State.”

The historical summary occupies 36 pages and should prove fascinating reading to anyone with the least feeling after historical perspection or sense of adventure in exploration. Many of the entries in the chronology are likewise of general interest; for instance, the records for July 6 and 28. 1836, in regard to William Buckley, an escaped convict who lived for many years with the natives. Again, there are the beginning of the Churches, the formation of the first cricket club and hosts of other matters of intriguing interest. A most valuable feature of the book is the exhaustive index, covering no less than 15 pages. Mr. Boys is to be warmly commended for his painstaking labours, and one trusts others will be stirred to follow his line in relation to other sphere of settlement. We conclude this appreciative notice of “First Years at Port Phillip” with an entry for December 13, 1928, whlcn should be, of interest to those advocating town-planning. “Captain Lonsdale suggested to tho Colonial Secretary that the lanes of Melbourne be named, as buildings were being erected in them.

“The matter was referred to the Deputy-Surveyor-General, S. A. Perry, who informed Captain Lonsdale on March 6, 1839, that he had advised that the lanes should be given thr same names as those of the siieets fronting them, taking the Yarra Yarra 1 as the front of the town. This ar rangement seemed to him the n ost con venient, and would afford a clue to the position of any lane. For example, the name of the road in the rear of Flinders Street should be Flinders Lane. It seemed desirable to keep in view the original object of reserving the lanes for purposes of access to stabling and offices. Such reservation would prevent any derangement of the symmetry of a plan that, was fully considered at the time the town was first named. ’ ’ “CHRIST AND COMMUNISM,” by E. .Stanley Jones (Hodder and Stoughton) p.p. 318.- “ | am persuaded that Christianity is headed toward a supreme crisis—pc haps a decisive crisis. Events are leading up to a world decision. This generation, or the next, will have to decide between materialistic, atheistic Communism and the .Kingdom of God on earth, ami this in both East and West. . . . . . . ."The Kingdom of the Atheistic Mass Man and the Kingdom of God are at tho door of the world. This generation may have to decide which one it will take.’’ Those two paragraphs are tho begin ning and end of the most challenging book IDr. E. Stanley Jones has written. It is packed full of up-to-the-minute argument and illustration, which will be to many charged with fear, while to others, wo trust a great nnmla’r, with inspiration to be up ami doing in definitely constructive enterprise in exploring ami advancing the positive claims of the Kingdom of God in the ever present situation. Too much energy has been spent and ink wasteu in merely belittling and dcuuneiating

the Russian experiment, and the militancy of Communistic propaganda. One of the first essentials is the realisation of the elements of worth in the cause of Communism as against the competitive system of Capitalism. Dr. Jones is convinced that some co-opera-tive system must be the ultimate out come; a cooperative system based upon mutual understanding, fellowship and love, as against the Russian system of pogroms and force. Stress is laid upon the intensive missionary spirit and the extensive missionary activity of Russian Communism.

“There is a race on in China between Communism and Christianity and Communism is leuding.” Dr. “.Jones tells of a. Communist “cell” in almost every school and college. This ‘‘cell” is supposed to multiply like a Jiving cell—and does. That such implanting of a “cell” is not confined to China, even we in New Zealand know. A Chinese general has sent out an S.O.S. tha f “all educated China is weighing the, relative merits of Christianity and Communism and is deciding upon which to build lhe future China.” The appeal is heard from all quarters, and “Christianity can only reply adequately to that appeal as it. produces something better than either the old order or Communism have been able to produce. ’ ’ The genesis of “Christ and Communism” was on this wise: Dr. Jones was forced through experience and reading with the fact of an indefinable sense of pressure in both the East and the West for new order in the world, with new principles and a different goal. He discovered an amazing progress in Russia, despite all that may oe said to tho contrary. Personal investigation in Russia confirmed and intensified his convictions. Yet he shrank from committing his ideas to writing because of the social and economic specialisations which many would say were outside his field. Yet he could not escape the feeling of responsibility that he should attempt to interpret lhe Christian message in the light of the Communistic, challenge. None could gainsay his right to interpret the Christian message as his field of activity. Thus there camo a call, a mandate, to write. Returning from Russia, Dr. Jones spent two months in study of the Christian alternative with a group of about 100 in the Ashram at Sat Tai in the Himalayas. They all emerged from their study with hearts aflame with what they “felt was an open door—til*) Kingdom of God ou earth.

. “But while we felt we had an adequate answer in the Kingdom of God we knew that our interpretation of that answer would be partial and incomplete. Our hope in that this interpretation may. at least, throw open doors for possible advance. If this rough-hewn attempt stimulates more skilled and painstaking workers to correct and to polish the programme presented in these pages the author will be grateful. We shall need an ormv of thinkers and workers who will pool their thought and plans before an adequate Christian alternative will clean? emerge. It is now in process of emerging. But our time is short. The world mind is being made up and wq must be ready with an adequate pro-

Undoubtedly, captious critics will fasten on the confession, more than once repealed, that the complete alternative is not given to the last jot and tittle. So many forget that ;-ocietv in every phase is ever in a state of flux. An enthusiastic- protagonist of a species of Communism declared the other day, “We reverence Lenin in memory, but we look upon him as having served his day, and go forward to meet an ever-changing situation with ever-changing ideas. The U.S.S.R. of Lenin and Stalin cannot possibly be the same; accommodation is essential.” We are reminded of the man who declared that when any person declared he had the complete solution of everv social proolcm, he always moved an adjournment and grabbed his hat. Dr. Jones frankly acknowledges the fact that the situation is fluid, but con tends that “the hour for piously passing resolutions has gone by. A Christian convention was reported as ‘reso lutionary,’ when ‘revolutionary’ was meant. lhe mistake was probably nearer the facts. We must get beyond the resolutionary temper of mind to the revolutionary. W c must act.” According to his view, the world decision between atheistic Communism and the Kingdom of God will probably be made in the next 25 years.

With the whole of the New Testament as background, the programme enunciated in “Christ and Communism” is an exposition of the affirmation of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth, with the attendant happenings. The style of tho book is chatty, never once approaching the manner of the pundits, ond is charged with moral earnestness and spiritual insight. As in all his books, the author draws upon his vast accumulation of experience from round table conferences in manv countries. As we tell the direction of the current, by the sticks and straws floating upon the surface, so he indicates the current of the times. Yet that figure must be used with reservation, for there is no', wanting much evidence of a knowledge of influences operating below the surface. The programme is analysed thus:—

1 Good news to the poor—the economically disinherited. 2. Release to the captives—the socially and politically disinherited. 3. The opening of the eyes of the blind -the physically disinherited. I. The setting at liberty of the bruised the morally and spiritually disinherited. 5. The Lord's year of jubilee—a new beginning on a world scale. 6. The spirit of the Lord upon me—the dynamic behind it all. Three further points are made will) reference to attendant happenings ami the declaration, “Today hath this Scripture been fulfilled in your ears.’’ In other words: “To-day, so far as 1 am concerned, this programme begins.’’ An indictment is levelled against the Church that she has been content to spiritualise this programme ami | herby tailed to propagate a gospel in literally fulfilnieul.. That a good case is made out, few will deny, even tliough an accusation is brought against the author of over emphasis ami a forcing of the declaration to conform to tho purpose of his books We cannot non-suit him on that plea and ignore his main contentions. Speaking Io a company of young people, the present writer regretted his inability to furnish each one with a copy, accompanied with the proviso that, an examination in action be con ducted within a brief period. The Kagawa challenge has been accepted in many quarters in New Zealand. “Christ and Communism’’ should help to clarify lhe issue, stimulate the exploratory process ami indicate the immediate steps Io be taken. What him

ders) Does IDr. Jones place his finger on the spot? “At our Ashram we, volunteer to take the place of the outcast sweeper one day a week in order to give him a Holiday. It is not an easy thing for either the white Brah- i mins, or the brown Brahmins to do this l scavenging work, the cleaning of the latrines. I found one Brahmin convert hesitating ami when 1 asked him when he was going to volunteer, he drew a long breath and slowly replied: ‘Well, I’m converted, but 1 am not converted that far.’ Many of our conversions have been real, but limited.” This book is an earnest plea and a vigorous contention for a Christian conversion without any limits. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS MAGAZINE. BIG SEPTEMBER ISSUE. With a new front cover as bright as a bunch of daffodils, the Railways Magazine salutes the spring in the September issue. The varied array of popular features begins with a distinctly seasonal subject, “Show Day in New Zealand,” in which O. N. Gil iespie gives very treadable evidence of the Dominion's premiership in A. and P.-dom., and has a special meed of praise fur the progressiveness of the Manawatu A. and P. Association. James Cowan scores another big success with his presentation of Julius Von Haast, the genial German scientist, a great pioneer of geological exploration and scientific education in this young country, in pleasant humour, merrily illustrated by himself, Ken Alexander offers a chat on “Things Worth While,” which are laughter, memories and spring. In her “New Zealand Journey,” Margaret Macpherson reaches Nelson where, of course, rhe principal place of interest is the Cawthron Institute. In breezy narrative, which raises some laughs, the writer shows how science is working very importantly for New Zea lam I in Lhe war on insect pests. ‘‘Marauder Mackenzie” is a piece of vivid history by C. IL Fortune, who tells of the sheep-raiding exploits of the hardy Gael whose name is borne, by the Mackenzie Country in South Canterbury. IL Marryat Jenkins’ new instalment of “Limited Night Entertainments” is a delightful story, well told. In “New Zealand References” D. G. IDyne sets out a wide range of famous authors whose works include some mention of this Dominion. The “Women’s Section,’’ in addition to the usual wide range of helpful information, has n shrewdly philosophical sketch, ‘‘Growing I’p Development of Dorothea.’’ Plenty of “Dorotheas” ami their moio»F_. alsc fathers, brothers, uncles, and aunts—should read that article. “Shildi Bagarag” has another couple of jiages of breezy notes and comments on books and authors. “Old Sport” has something good to say about two of New Zealand’s famous runners, Savidan and Lovelock. “Tohunga” serves mother acceptable page of meanings of Maori names of .North Auckland railway stations. New Zealand verse is again another good page. About. 60 illustrations are distributed through the 64 pages.