BOOKS REVIEWED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15496, 27 April 1918, Page 4

BOOKS REVIEWED.

LATEST WORKS REVIEWED.

(By “THE READER.")

“Ttie Empty House.”—By an anonymous writer. New York: McMillan Coy. In this brlliant and searching novel by an anonymous writer is presented one of the greatest social problems in American society of the present day—that of the chadless woman. The story —told in the first person—is that of a young woman, who', in her childhood learns that her mother was killed by bearing children, and resolves in consequence never to bear a child herself. With amazing skill and psychological knowledge are depicted the horror and revolt of the young nature, which can never see in her father anything but the “murderer of her mother,” and in her absolute ignorance of Nature’s pro jects revolts with passion against the cruelty of a fate which appears to have no alleviation. “I adored my mother; I hated and feared my father.” Of course she refuses to marry, and equally of course Fate is too strong for her, and when she marries a man, who is almost the exact antithesis of her father, one of her first questions is whether she is to have any children. Very quietly and steadily the story develops, and Joan learns something (from an old biological professor) of the other side of the great and burning question. Other problems come in for serious attention, especially of the American man’s devotion to business and his passion for success and “making good,” which render him regardless of fatigue and enable him to fight off the premonitions of illness until too late. Very early in the book appears Ella Singleton a childless wife, and later on appears a childless widow, from whose worldly wisdom the heroine learns the “first duty of a woman," “to keep her husband amused, to cheer him up, to. smile when her heart is breaking, and her mind is tortured by unanswered questions, and unvoiced fears of all kinds.” Joan never forgets this advice, and in times of the greatest stress and danger acts upon it in a wonderful manner. While primarily a story-—and a very interesting one—- “ The Empty House” is very much more than that/ It dares to speak plainly on some very important problems.

“Wyningboia.” By Dr Moran de Groot, London: Stanley Ferric. One is tempted to ask where Dr de Groot lives and what is his nationality, for he has auch curious conceptions of English men and women. If they were aa he writes them! —but they are not. One of his heroines once floated asleep down an African tropical river and had indescribable adventures in which a negro prominently figured. The present novel deals with' society people, some of them decidedly unpleasant.

“Maid of the Moonflower.” By Cecil Adair, London; Stanley Paul and Co. The scene of this story is laid in the sub-tropical island of San Salvador?, which, though belonging to Portugal, is a sort of comopohtan station, a no man’s land, with a miscellaneous population, chiefly of wastrels. A fine hotel on the mountain side attracts a few invalids, and thither comes Captain Ger aid Arden, nerve-wrecked and nearly blind, to recover, if possible, from the effects of his strenuous campaigning. Owing to the state of hia nerves, and especially of his eyes, which cannot endure the glare of full sunlight, Arden and his soldier-servant inhabit an annexe, hidden amid luxuriant palms and other tropical vegetation, and the captain, turning night into day, spends much of his time in the exquisite moonlit garden enjoying the sweet scents of the night—blooming flowers, especially the moonflower, and the peace and silence of the sub-tropical night. This garden is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a lovely Spanish girl who played the chief part in a terrißle tragedy gome hundred years before. The fear of the ghost keeps the garden very private, but is in no way shared hy Arden, who has “seen the angels at Mods,’’ and is quite prepared to accept unearthly visitants. Nevertheless, he is somewhat taken aback when at last he sees the vision, clothed in black, a

Spanish mantilla over her head, aad • piece of delicate white finery—her wed* ding veil—on her knee, with which her hands are employed and on which her eyes are bent. She sits on a bench at the very edge of a deep ravine, and appears and disappears most mysteritisly. Of course, the lady is not a ghoetjand also, of course, the invalid soldier falls in love with her. Thereby hangs a pretty, penetrating love story. Like all the work of this author, “Maid of the Moonflower” strikes a high note of idealism, and the call of duty, patriotism, and humanity.

“The Brown Brethren." By Patrick Mac Gil), London. Herbert Jenkins.

Patrick Mac Gill gives another series of his vividly-drawn sketches of men at the front, and the scenes and incidents of the war. His strokes are a little coarse, but his drawing is always full of vigour. “Christmas Eve" and “Christmas Day” are graphically written. Well might the Platoon Commander say: “My boys, this, I suppose, is the most interesting Christmas you've ever spent.” As a rule, Mr Mac Gill is rather too realistic for most tastes, but there is no question about his power. “Our Little Kingdom.” By Paul Ores* wick, London: Duckworth and Co. Paul Creswick presents a fairly interesting biographical novel, in a style evidently formed upon that discovered by William de Morgan. He is much less fertile, however, in the matter of events. Though the places and the people described are pleasant enough, one requires something a little more decided in plot. Still the family history is quite convincing, in its quiet way, and the incidents! reflections are often illuminating, whether they deal with gardens, with the Public Service, or with Scottish kilts. “Hie Case for Compulsory Service.” By G. G. Coulton. London: MacMillan and Co. In the preface of his esceHentlrreasoned and carefully-accurato work, Mr Coulton remarks that “this volume may claim, perhaps, to be the first attempt at a discussion of this great national question on the firm ground of historical and political facta. The most extraordinary errors have been made by the most distinguished men. Lord Salisbury imagined our bowmen of Crecy and the modern Swiss riflemen to be volunteers, while Lord Haldane supposed that England was under a voluntary system in the days of the Spanish Armada.” Mr Coulton is no new writer in the historical field. His work was known in England many years before wax was thought of, and those who knew it, recognised anything from his pen as being the result of careful research, and as being as accurate as a life-long study of history oould make it. He is to be accepted, therefore, as correct, and hie present volume is one of the most apt discussions of the problem, stirring so many British minds. Ho follows closely the line of history of “incontrovertible fact. Conscription in the Roman Republic, with its decline into partial voluntarism and subsequent is studied—immediate relief from military burdens having worked towards national decay.” “In the city republic of mediaeval Italy,” he writes, “there was a law of universal service in tho citizen-militia. It was these levies who won liberty for the Lombard communes at Gegnand in 1176. . . Here, as in ancient Athens, every able-bodied man was called out at once at the time of national crisis. In 1284 the Pisans ore dained that none betwixt the ages of 20 and 60 years should stay at home, and the Genoese that none of their citizens should stay at home betwixt the ages of 18 afid 70, but that all must go to fight. Under the first three jSdwarda of England our militia reached its highest organisation, as compared with other countries. In the island* and along the costs it waa ordained that soldiers and armed men should teach and accustom their children te handle anna.” And of Germany, the chapters on conscription are enlightening. From observations made by Dr Moore in 1179, the brutality practised upon conscripts was shocking. The information given by the author concerning other European States which have always found a system of national preparedness advisable, is quite conclusive any voluntary arming; and his book ia to be warmly commended for disposing of any imaginary historical reason* against compulsory military service. “Democracy After the War.” By J. A. Hobson. London: George Allen and Unwin. The author indicates the nature of 'the struggle which will confront the public for the chievement of political and industrial democracy when the war is over. The safeguarding and furtherance of the interests of improperly and profiteering are exhibited as tLo directing and moulding influences of domestic and foreign policy. The book discusses the policy by which these hostile forces may bo overcome and democracy may be achieved. Mr Hobson opposes any Imperial policy which aims at developing the resources of the British Empire to the exclusion of foreign States. H« says: “Though Free Trade has historically been associated with a capitalist economy, no British State,, however Socialistic in its inner structure, could afford to tamper with the free importation of foreign goods or to confine within artificial barriers the operation of British shipping and finance."

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. “The Reader” wishes to acknowledge receipt of the following latest publications : “The Sub.” by “Tafficil” from Meant A. D. Willis, Wanganui. “The Night Club” by the author of “Bindle,” from Messrs H. I. Jones and Son, Wanganui. “Stephen Vale” by Paul Trent, fioas Messrs A. D Willis. Wanganui-