Books & Literary Gossip

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15955, 25 October 1919, Page 8

Books & Literary Gossip

OF INTEREST TO LOVERS Of READING.

It is said that Booth Tarkington likes to tell the following story about himself and Robert W. Chambers. “I was strolling around on artists’ Red Cross fair when two pretty flappers of 16 or so came up and asked me for my autograph. I had no pen, but they said a pencil would do, so I signed my name in the Morocco-bound book that she had given me. The flapper studied ihe signature with a frown. ‘Aren’t you Robert W. Chambers ’ ‘No,’ said I, ‘l’m Booth Torkington.’ The flapper turned to her friend with a shrug of disgust. ‘Lend me your rubber,’ she said.” A new magazine has been started in New York" with the title “July,” and is “very specially for thoughtful business women, war bachelors, ambitious college girls, disapproving fiancees, restless matrons, suppressed fathers, racy grandmothers, young men with futures, cyniyoung men with pasts, mental actresses, and husbands.” That ought to corner the market of readers all right. “Judy” lives at 158- West Eleventh Street, New York City. “Judy” will be pre-woman without being anti-man; she will try to be experimental and entertaining without being silly, vigorous without being denied the use of the mails. The first number is interesting and “daring,” but almost any short story written by anv of i>ur dexterous fictionists, says an exchange, would be better than the big short story. It will be fun to watch “Judy” navigate the seas of magazine publishing, because she is to be one of those independent young things who will accept subscriptions at 8s 6d a year because she has to pay the printer, but who won’t .take a penny for her editorial services or give one to her contributors. “Mary Oliver,” by May Sinclair (Cassell, per H. I. Jones and Son) tells the story of a woman’s life through ,the stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence, maturity, and middle age. Her thoughts, sensations, and emotions are directly presented, without artificial narrative or analysis, without autobiography- The main interest lies in Mary Oliver’s search for reality, her relations with her mother, father, and three brothers, and the gradual development of her character. From an early period she manifests a disposition to challenge orthodoxy and from independent opinions on vital things. Religious and social problems are brought freely under discussion, and the writings of Spencer, Darwin, Haeckel, Maudesiey, Ribot, and other authorities are reviewed. The period covered is from 1865, when Mary is two years old, to 1 1910, when she is forty-seven, and has attained intellectual freedom and happiness. I read not long ago something about Mark Twain that I hadn’t known, writes Fanny Butcher in an American exchange. He had a mania for risky investments and was one of the most consistently successful losers that ever lived. He got investment shy, though, and when he was offered Bell telephone stock he flatly refused. In his diary he wrote, “I didn’t want anything more to do with wildcat speculation. Then Bell offered the stock to me at £5. I said I didn’t want it at any price. He became eager.;, insisted that I take £IOO worth. He said he would sell me as much as I wanted for _ £100; offered to let me gather it up in my hands and measure it in a plug hat ; said I could have a whole hatful. But I was the burnt child and I resisted all these temptations—resisted them easily, and next day went off and lent £IOO on an unendorsed note to a friend who went bankrupt three days later.” It was only a few months later that the Bell telephone was jauntily ringing in his own house. “■Australia in Palestine.” (Angus and Robertson, Ltd.; Sydney.) One of the very finest books published of the war is that to hand entitled “Australia in Palestine,” and all who are in search of an official account of the great doings of the Australians and New Zealanders in Palestine should make, a “bee line” for H. I. Jones and Son’s, from whom a copy has been received. The book is about a quarto cize, well bound, profusely and beautifully illustrated, and splendidly printed; in fact nothing better has been placed on the market. The letterpress was edited by Messrs H. S. Gullitt and Chas. Barrett, whilst the work or art editing was performed by Mr David Barker. The book apparently owes its publication to the warm interest taken in its initiation by a committee comprised of the G.0.C., A.I.F. in Egypt, the G.O’s.C. Anzac add Australian Mounted Division and New Zealand Itefle Brigade, and a number of other senior A.I.F. officers. “Australia in Palestine” is a soldiers’ book, produced almost entirely by soldiers in the field under aolive service conditions, to send to friends at home and abroad, and any profits derived from the sales to the general pub lie will go to one of the A.I.F, funds. Three years’ campaigning is covered by this great book, and the story is told

in such an interesting way that the reader who loves' to learn •something fresh, of the marvellous work of our soldier boys will never tire of his "Australia in Palestine.” One of Hi© great features of the war was (tenoral Ailcuby’n camouflage. Ihe General took no chances, lie followed the sound principle of lighting under the best possible conditions. l!y the aid of a clever and greatly sm-cessl'iil bind' the Commanderin Chief delivered his smashing blow at an unexpected point of the Turkish line. The enemy wsw led lo Ixdiovc that the British oflermive would fall on the eastern sector. While a huge force of cavalry, artillery, and Infantry was being smuggled by night marches to the Plain of Sharon, on the west, active and amusing camouflage preparations were being made in the Jordan Yalloy. For instance, many dummy camps were brought into existence, and large numbers of realistic canvas horses were tethered to them. Mules drawing sledges were driven about in the dust to suggest heavy traffic. But why go on? The story bells of how the enemy was completely deceived, and those who purchase a copy of “Australia in Palestine” will never regret having an official account of the glorious record of our troops in the Land of the Pharoahs. The illustrations and printing are works of art. From Messrs Hodder and Stoughton (per A. D. Willis, Ltd.) has been received a selection of thejp reprints of popular modern novels in handy form and at a low price—as books go nowadays. They include “The Crimson Gardenia” and the “Auction Block,” by Rex Beach; “The Second Yiolin,” by Grace S. Richmond; “The Matchmakers,” by J. B. Buckrose; “The Major,” by Ralph Connor; “McGlusky’s Great Adventure,” by A. G. Hales; and “Cleopatra,” by Rider Haggard. These books are necessarily popular with readers who wish to keep in close touch with the best modern fiction, but are not able to afford the fxdl-prioed first editions of novels by -writers of repute. A BUDGET OF STORIES. “A Sailor’s Home and Other Stories.” By Richard Dehan. (A. D. Willis, Ltd.) Richard Dehan’s volume of sixteen short stories will have glad acceptance on the pant of her admirers. The story which gives the title to the collection is somewhat reminiscent of W. W. Jacobs, but rather wanting in the rollicking spirit of many of that writer’s yams. Besides, Jacobs has a way of telling his inimitable tales in fewer words than Richard Dehan. uses. Sketches of London life as it appears to the author are plentifully provided in the collection. Psendo-“Cockney.ese” is used throughout “The Motor ’Bus Beano” and in good part in most of the other stories, which, all have a magazine aroma barging about them. They will be found useful in, relieving the tedium of a long railway journey; but they have rob the merit nor interest of, say, “The Winged Victory” and “The Dop Doctor.” The John Masefield Poetry Prize— Stephen Vincent Penet’s “Music”— from the “Yale Book of Student Verse”; My friend went to the piano, spun the stool A little higher, left his pip© to cool. Picked up a fab green volume from the : chest And propped it open. —Whitely, without rest. His fingers struck the keys that flashed like swords — And, to the brute drums of barbarian hordes Roaring and thunderous and weaponbar© An army stormed to© bastions of the air! Dreadful with banners, fire to slay and parch. Marching together as the lightnings march, AncJ, swift as storm-clouds. Brazen helms and cars Clanged to the fierce resurgence of old wars Above the screaming horns. In state they passed. Trampling and splendid on, and sought the vast. Rending the darkness like a leaping f knife. The flame, the noble pageant of our life! The burning seal that stamps Man’s high indenture To vain attempts arid most forlorn adventure, Romance and purple seas and toppling towns. And the wind’s valiance crying o’er the downs; That nerves the silly hand, the feeble brain, From the loose net of words to deeds again. And to all courage: Perilous and sharp The last chord shook we as wind shakes a harp! , . . And my friend swung found on 'his stool, and from gods w© were men. .“How pretty!” we said; and went on with our talk again,