BOOKS REVIEWED.

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14540, 11 December 1920, Page 9 (Supplement)

BOOKS REVIEWED.

CURRENT LITERATURE. American Impressions. —By Hon. H. Y. Braddon, with an introduction by Jlimes Ashton (Angus and Robertson, Sydney). This small brochure consists of me observations and joltings of a man ot intelligence during nine months’ sojourn in the United States, as Commissioner for Hie Commonwealth of Australia. Needless lo say, the book abounds in telling phrases, and discloses Hie ready observation, the latitude of mind, and the characteristic acumen of Hie Australian bred. The author starts with Hie common impressions of Hie States held by outsiders. He says Hie current opinion is that the United Slates is a place where blatant millionaires abound; trusts grind the faces of the poor; architecture towers to the sky, and touches Hie stars; municipal life is degraded; divorces are rapid and frequent; Hie press is widely sensational; Hie lynching of blacks constitutes, with baseball, a national pastime. He deals with each of these in turn, and his remarks arc both shrewd and instructive. He writes illuminatingly on the huge resources of the United States, and offers some suggestions from ills own observation, on the oftdiscussed question—the pre-war-entry attitude of Hie nation. Needless to say, the Americans were not all as painted. He touches on the League of Nations 100, but, perhaps, the best chapter of his Impressions is that headed “Racial,” in which he explains the United Slates polyglot population, the great interest in the Irish question, and the problems of immigration, and of the negroes. In subsequent chapters his own impression is given on the liquor queslion in the States: America’s war effort; American finance; and winds up with the commanding dictum that Americans, by frank and friendly inter-working,

will assist Europe In re-building its shattered prosperity. In their hands, he believes, lies the safety of the world. We put the book down with regret, but also with commendation. Lucidity, terseness, shrewdness, wit, are all here in sparkling brilliance. “Webster — Man’s Man” —by Peter B. Kyne (Redder and Stoughton, London). This is another of P. B. Kyne’s refreshing novels. The character in the title role, John Stuart Webster, a rough-and-ready mining engineer, is a splendid specimen of manhood. The phrase “rough diamond” aptly describes him. He is large-hearted to a fault, and Hie way he helps people financially and otherwise, with whom lie lias not hitherto had acquaintance, endears him at once. His quaint, original sayings are as remarkable as his appearance, and in keeping with his character. Perhaps the most lovable characters after John Stuart are J. J. Gaffcrty, alias Dun Juan Caffetero, ex-drunkard, and old Mother Jenlcs, Hie bibulous and garrulous proprietor of El Buen Amigo, both of whom come under Hie magic influence of J.S.W., much to their own benefit. The story briefly is as follows: —Webster, having made a fortune in alkali, is on Hie train hound for civilisation, a stove and a bath. Here he meets with Miss Dolores Huey, and is of some service to tier, although his unkempt and barbarous appearance precludes any more intimate acquaintance. On arrival in town, lie is met with a telegram from his erstwhile friend Bill Geary, from Buena Ventura, in the Rcuublio of Sobrante, asking for his personal and financial help in a mining claim in that turbulent State. Webster decides to go and help. At New Orleans lie lias an experience with a man taking possession of the second berth in his cabin, for which lie had already paid. He befriends the young man, who is seemingly anxious to reacli Buena Ventura strictly i n cog . Arrived there, Webster finds that Miss Huey is unexpectedly there too, and that she lias made Hie acquaintance of liis chum, Dill Geary. Matters more apace, as they usually do in these mushroom Lalin-American republics. A revolution is planned, and Hie, young man whom Webster befriended on the boat turns out to be the son of a former President, and Dolores, his long lost sister. Web-! stcr throws his energies and his money j wholeheartedly into the Huey cause. 'l'hc revolution is successful, and al- I though both Don Caffetero and Mother | Jenks pass beyond Hie pale during Hie offensive, much lo Hie reader’s sor- | row, Huey and his sister are reunited, I Hie reins of government are taken up 1 anew, and our John Stuart Webster j recovers from his wounds to discover | that Dolores is in love with her old ] “caliph.” and not, as he thought, with Bill Geary, '"he story ends delightfully. But enough here: to read is to know and so appreciate.