THE BOOKSHELF.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 25, 23 June 1909, Page 50

THE BOOKSHELF.

1 B y

DELTA.)

Notes ou Books and Bookmen : IN the literary page of a contemporary we are told that a rumour is abroad that Mrs. Humphrey Ward is about to write a sequel to ‘•Robert Elsmere,” which is to be entitled “Robert Elsmere, 20 Years After." Robert E’smere" was published in 188$, and the colonial edition reached us early m 1890. Robert Elsmere, the protagonist of Mrs. 11. Ward’s heterodoxy, and from whom the book took its title, died in the fiftyfirst chapter of the book, of she. r physical incapability to face either 19th century orthodoxy or the problem of the submerged tenth. Ho-.v this corporeal resurrection of one who has been so long dead is to be accomplished our contemporary does not state. That M s. Ward lias some idea of writing a book that ehall have for its theme the strides t tat heterodoxy has made these twenty years is probable. Messrs. Macmillan announce the publication of the 'ate Marion Crawford’? last completed novel, which is entitled "The \t hite Sister.’ The announcement will be read with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure. No more worthy author ever put pen to paper than the late Marion Crawford, and this story is said to be quite as worthy of his great reputation as any of the novels that have a Roman setting That the scenes of this posthumous work of his are laid in the Kime he loved so well, and of which he has written so often and so inimitably, seems singularly fitting. " The White Sister " has a ready teen dramatised. That reviewers are beginning to chafe at the growing reprehensible practice of publishers printing highly eulogistic reviews on the covers of the books they publish is evidenced by some strong remarks by “ C.Ix.S." in his “ Eiterarv Letter** to " The Sphere." "1 confess to some resentment that the publisher should describe this book in his advertisements as ‘a brilliant and uraniatie story.’ It is all this, but Ire should have left it for me and others to say." This, says the “ Literary World." may be taken as of general applicrtion. and as expressing the view? of most reviewers. In which comment we agree. Murray's will publish a new book of ren inisien.-es by Sir Squire and Ladv Bancroft, which should greatly interest playgoers of the late seventies and early eighties. Good stories are told of Irving. Edwin Booth, the C iquelins. and many other lights of the dramatic-, legal, literary and artistic worlds. We best remember «ir Squire and Lady Bancroft in their respective.jroles of Garrick and Peg Woffington in that splendid old comedv, ‘ Masks and Faces." Admirers of that laughing philosopher, G. 8.5., will be interested to hear his latest definition of Socialism. He declares that "So ialism i- merely individualism nationalised. organised and clothed in it- right mind." An opportunity will soon l>e afford-d of he’.ring in Auckland two ■ - the Shavian plays Those who are interested in the equalit ft ... j- r , ford, Altruist." by. William K. Hill, who has taken for a t-xt — “To eit - y ag Let equal work bring e pi il wage.” Mrs .via Lcvr-n. v> La- proved herself of no nr’Jn repute as an author readers a new n -vel entitled "Th-- Limit." Those readers who remember her ’ Love’s S • I ’ will look foi ird vith ea° r anti i] iti n to * ; ■ I it,” J ■ title is certainly prov . ative of much interest. Gervase Mattel De.irnier. London: Macmillan & <■/, -ft. Martin'setreet.) This h a novel with a purpose, which is to show the teaching of the inglicaa Church on the vexed question as to whether it is spiritually lawful for a man to marry his deceased wife’s sister. Mrs. Dearmer, after looking into every a ft proves concln ■ively that aecord'ng to the Law of the Church of Enghnd it is not sp : rit.iaHy

lawful for a man to marry his deceased wife’s sister. Nor do the unusual circumstances detailed in this most pathetic story alter the moral aspect of this or any other similarly cited ease, in our opinion. So well and so convincingly’ are Mrs. Dearmer’s arguments marshalled against the moral right of a man to marry his sister-in-law, that we regret that this book did not make its appearance earlier, because we believe that many church people have broken, and are still contemplating breaking, this spiritual law in sheer ignorance of the moral sin they have been and are still contemplating committing. Irrespective of its consanguineous aspect, upon which so many people differ, we think the new temporal law a menace to society—a menace which, though long suspended, like the sword of Damocles, will fall through the breaking of the thread of temporal law. That a deceased wife's sister may seem to be. and probably is in the majority of cases, the most suitable person to have the care and upbringing of her sister’s children, and that it may be the most economic as well as the most expedient, and that pure human love may enter into the circumstances does not lessen the moral obligation of a churchman to obey the laws of his Church, and he has no moral right to expect to be admitted to her communion if he disobeys them, as by his own act he has placed himself outside her pale. And we greatly respect Canon Thompson, who was recently cited by his Bishop to show cause why he did not admit to communion two persons who had been united under the new Act. That the right or wrong of a man marrying his deceased wife’s sister must ever remain a moot question, we ean readily conceive, as it is a question that must be settled according to the dictates of individual conscience. But while Mrs. Dearmer’s book is in circulation—and it ought to be in everv bookseller’s skiop land in everv library—churchmen cannot plead that they have erred in ignorance. Apart from its serious motif, “Gervase” contains some very pleasant reading. There are nietures of town and eountrv life, freshly and vividly drawn, clever and subtle characterisations, and fascinating pictures of artistic life »n P-»rL anl London, while the first chanter of the book, “dealing princrnallv with the psvehology of the babv IGervase). b-’t eont-ain’ng the root of the whole matter." is alone worth the modest outlay oF 2'ft. which is the price of as interesting and as s’renuous a book as we have for a long

time been called upon to review. We are indebted to Messrs. Macmillan and Co., the book’s publishers, for our copy.

50-40 or Fight: Emerson Hough. (Indianapolis, The Bobs Merrill Co., publishers.) After so many American novels that have had for their motif the exposing of the dishonest methods of the various trust boards of that country, it is absolutely refreshing to come across this stirring, fascinating romance, which tells how the cession by England to America of the disputed territories of Texas and Oregon was brought about through the agency of a woman, who was secret agent and spy in the secret service, both of England and Mexico. It is a story of the days when the map of the world, as it now appears, was being crudely yet vigorously traced; "hen, tllou gh issues were as pregnant, political methods were simpler, and yet more strenuous; a day of political salons, and of hard fighting; a day when the fascinations of women and the might of the sword were mightier than the pen. that is to-day mightier than both. A day, too, when liberty was more ardently fought for and prized, because it

was more restricted; a day, also, when the people were just awaking to a knowledge of their strength, and of their proper place in the scheme of things politic, social, and economic. John Calhoun. American statesman, and somethin® of an anomaly, from the fact that while he was ready to give up his life to attain independence for the American people, he was an ardent advocate of slavery, which seeming anomaly is the more easily understood in these days by those observant of America’s attitude towards her freed slaves, had demanded from the English Ambassador the whole of the territory from Texas to the 54th parallel, north latitude, whieh, of course, would encroach upon Canadian territory. The following exeerpt from English history will show the compromise arrived

In 1545, Sir Robert Peel, addressing the assembled Commons, informed them “that through the mediation of Lord Aberdeen, a war between England and America had been prevented by the cession of territory in Oregon. It was finally arranged that the boundary line should be continued along the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, to the’mouth of the channel whieh separates Vancouver’s Island from the mainland, and thence to the Pacific Ocean, off Fuca. South of that latitude the country was to be open to both parties. The navigation of the great Columbia river was to be free and open to all English subjects.” Out of this scrap of history. Mr. Hough has woven an exceedingly thrilling and romantic love story, and has re-created a political atmosphere, in which he places

old-time statesmen, and makes them again voice the old sentiment which

animated the spirit of America's plonoem, and made that country the home of any white man that could be shown to be physically fit, and a lover of freedom. We admire Helena von Ritz, the heroine of this story, in spite of her shortcomings, which are mtny; but we are not greatly in love with Miss Elizabeth Churchhill, though we, in part, justify her action and demeanour. That cherchez la femme is the conviction of the author goes without saving. We heartily congratulate Mr. Hough on a novel that will emphatically refute the assertions that American novelists have exhausted their material. We are indebted to George Robertson and Co., Melbourne, for our copy of this virile romance.

EPIGRAMS FROM NEW BOOKS. Ooly April : Gurner Gillman. Gree. ings. March, 1909.6/. You may see beauty, but you may not see all that others see; it all depends. There are those who see poetry in a sunset; others see only a weather token. Many people do the right thing at the wrong time. It is one of the commonest of mistakes. It is one of the curiosities of sex that a woman will face any number of men boldly, and quail before one woman. Wrongs belong to time; righting them, t-o eternity. I do not think that when men love they allow other people to judge for them. You are like all good women- very hard, very narrow, very lovable.

The Dukedom of Portsea. Alice Maud Meadows. If a woman would get through this world comfortably, she must not judge men too severely—she must make allowances. It does not matter what folk think; it's what they can nail to the counter, so to speak, that causes trouble. When a woman has made up her mind to even a desperate thing, she does it very quickly. •In days gone by a woman who had made a false step was pretty well dona for, so far as society was concerned, to the end of her days. Folk have, howev~. become more tolerant towards the weakness of humanity, and by slow degrees, if one is careful and has tact, it is not difficult to creep back again, if not quite to the place one occupied, to very near it.

When a woman wants to do a thing, and it is possible, however trivial the reason, she generally does it. A man likes to see a woman with a bit of needlework in her hands—it's so utterly feminine.