BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIII, 9 June 1900, Page 1071

BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.

FROM SEA TO SEA

From the love of his characteristically short and pithy preface, it is evident that Rudyard Kipling is not grirteful to them* officious publishers whose disinterment of old work of his in the “Civil and Military Gazette" and the “Pioneer.” have forced him to publish, in those two volumes before me. most of his contributions to the aforementioned Indian journals between 1887-1889. But Rudyard Kipling's legions of admirers are not likely to regret a step which has put them in possession of a fascinating variety of sketches and articles, all plainly ear marked with that originality of thought and trenchant force of expression which, in conjunction with his intense patriotism, has made him a great power in the British Empire. In “From Sea to Sen,” he takes the reader through many lands, his own beloved India first and foremost. He shows him the peoples of those lands,and the ways of the peoples, and all the things worthy of notice that be in those lands. And he shows him everything as it really is. for Kipling makes the reader look through his eyes. The eyes of Kipling. with Kipling's brain behind them, are very wonderful organs. They see and appreciate the surface of things, but, at the same moment, they pierce through the surface and see and appreciate the things themselves to their very hearts. So it comes to pass that, if a man is gifted only with the average power of vision, fie may' trot the globe industriously for a dozen years and yet not learn half as much about it as the reading of those two volumes may give him. As we go with Rudyord Kipling through India. Burmah. China, Japan, America, what marvellously vivid and clear cut pictures are being constantly flashed before our eyes! And with what wise and sprightly commentary does he lead us to think on what lie shows us. And what a wealth of universal sympathy is the man ever displaying, consciously and unconsciously! He “find's nothing common on God’s earth.” and he has the rare.' Heaven-sent power of compelling 1 is reader, by the magic of his words, to share with him in the comprehensively sympathetic interest which he takes in every living creature, be it brute or human, that walks or crawls on God's earth. The only jarring note and that of the faintest kind, which I have found in these volumes is struck by the author's estimate of Mark Twain, as brought out in his Interview with America's great humorist. With all due gratitude for the large amount of wholesome laughter fog which I am debtor to Mark Twain. I cannot help feeling that Kipling pitches his estimate of the latter's abilities much too high. Still I admit that his estimate indicates, in the much younger and incomparably more gifted man. a mental altitude towards the veteran writer which is generous and graceful.

“SAVROLA.” Brightly and cleverly written though this tale of the revolution in the mythical Republic of Laurania may be. T question if it would have excited more notice than the other novels of equal merit that spring in their dozens from the publishers' presses every year, had not its author's clever daring and ingenuity made him an admired and conspicuous figure in the world’s eye, which has been fixed so intently upon South Africa for the last seven months and more. Everybody hastens to read a novel written by that delightfully plucky and enterprising Winston Spencer Churchill, and. to the credit of that very clever young man be it said, no one is disappointed in “Savrola ” who bears in mind the fact that its author only turned into his twenties three or four years ago. It bears token of being the work of a young writer, but it bears token just as unmistakably of being the work of a young writer of much ability, who is likely to produce something very good indeed, when a few more years have ripened his talents and judgment.

“THE CAMBRIC MASK.” This is n novel on altogether different lines from Mr. R. Chambers* last. “The Ashes of Empire” does not equal it to my thinkin**. The scene of “The Cambric Mask” is laid in America, in

Mohawk County, New York State, .ind the novel is styled a romance. Perhaps the latter fact uccovmts for » certain atmosphere of unreality that pervades the story, and easts a nimbus around several of the characters. For the most part, however, these are drawn with a firm, virile touch, :»»i<l awaken and keep awake our interest. The plot of the story, though atirring enough in itself, is not handled in a way that shows it to the best advantage. and the action of "The Cambric Mask" is somewhat inclined to be intermittent. But when all is said and done, the fact remains that the book is very readable and proclaims itself the work of a man who can write well, and whose intimate knowledge and appreciation of nature enables him to supply the reader with some capital descriptive writing.

“BABES IN THE BI SH." I am sometimes inclined to think that Mr Boldrewood would have done much better for his literary reputation if he had refrained from further writing after the production of “Robbery Under Arms" and “The Squatter's Dream." Certainly his latest productions are not of the stuff which builds up literary reputations of even’ the poorest order. He seems, too. to be able to produce them with fatal facility. judging by the rapidity with which one after another tumbles out of the press — 400 octavo pages of rather more than less solid twaddle at a time. Still. 1 must not overlook the fact that there are a great number of very estimable people who like Boldrewood’s books, and to them his latest. “Babes in the Bush.” will not bring disillusionment. It is even possible for me to conceive that these good folks will find much enjoyment in reading about the experiences of an extremely upper-middle-class English family, launched into a new, unknown life in the Australian bush, and will appreciate the select, yet varied, circle of acquaintances, which they made there, almost as much as the very upper-middle-class family did thcniselves.

“THE SWORD OF A SIN." “MOSTYN STAYNE.” “TALES OF THE OLD REGIME."

These are three of the recent publications of George Robertson and Co., of Melbourne anti Sydney. Those who like highly-spiced and thrilling sensation in their fiction reading will be sure to find a good deal to please them in tile first two. The third book is a collection of stories in connection with the old convict system in Australia. The stories are fairly well written and have plenty of interest in them, though the interest is sometimes of a rather gruesome order. In the May number of the "Pall Mall Magazine” fiction and poetry seem to be unusually largely represented, and very fairly represented too. Mr 11. 15. Marriott-Watson starts a stirring story called “The Outlaw," which looks as if it were meant to run for some time. Among- the few' articles, all profusely illustrated, is one on "Hampton Court Palace," another, suitable to the times, on “The Army and Its Badges," and yet another - this very brightly and graphically written by Lord Ernest Hamilton—on "The Passage to the Great North-West." that famous Tom Tiddler’s ground where hardships are even more easily picked up than gold.

“From Sea to Sea,” by Rudyard Kipling--Macmillan and Co. — ('hamptaloup ami Cooper. “Savrola,” by Winston Spencer CUurchil! —Longmans, Green, & Co. “The Cambric Mask.” by Robert W. Chambers —Macmillan A. Co. Champtaloup and Cooper. ••Rabes in the Rush,” by Rolf Boldrewood —Macmillan and Co. Champtaloup and “The Sword of a Sin,” by Alex. Montgomery.—George Robertson and Co. MelSydney—Wildman and Lyell. “Mostyn Stayne,” by Roderic Quinn George Robertson and Co., Melbourne and bourne and Sydney—Wildman and Lyell. “Tales of the Ohl Regime,” by i’re-n Waning George Robertson and Co., .Melbourne and Sydney Wildman and Lyell.