Topics of the Day.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 10, 8 March 1911, Page 45

Topics of the Day.

By Our London Correspondent.

RARE BOOKS FOR SALE. LONDON, January 20. NE of the most famous of pri--Ix3/ va^e Cranes existing in England at the present time is ; about to be dispersed, for the world-renowned book auctioneers, Messrs. Sotheby, have received instructions for the sale of the marvellous collection of rare and unique books which (was the pride and joy of the late Mr. Henry Huth, merchant and banker. Mr. Huth had all the instincts of the Scholarly collector, and no book found its Way into his library unless it had the double merit of rarity and literary tet historical importance. Mr. Huth was, (moreover, a “canny” collector, and seldom added to his store books which did mot appreciate in value as time passed. 'All told, he spent perhaps £lOO,OOO on his library; to-day it is reckoned to be worth anything between a quarter of a million and £400,000. In Mr. Huth’s library, which, with the exception, perhaps, of the Duke of Devonshire’s collection, is practically the last ©f the score or more of great libraries formed by gentlemen of wealth and leisure between the latter end of the 18th eentury and the seventies of the 19th, there are some unique books, and of many others the only copies known outside this collection are in great public libraries. The most important book in the collection is undoubtedly a superb (copy of the Mazarin Bible, 1450-5, for which Mr. Huth paid nearly £3OOO at the famous Perkins sale of 1733. Of the famous Latin Bible of 1402 he had a Copy, which cost him only £6OO, but to-day is worth probably four times that iamount. In early Bibles, English and foreign, New Testaments, psalters, and (prayer books, the collection contains a. Sarge number of great variety and value. In Early English literature and typography the Huth library is also very trieh. Besides a dozen Caxtons (worth ©n an average probably over £lOOO each) and a wonderful array of books from the presses of Caxton’s successors, there is a fine set of the four Shakefepeare folios and a superb series of Shakespeare quartos—among others, the “Hamlet” of 1604, the ‘•Richard II.” of 1597, the “Henry V.” of 1600, the “Richard III.” of 1597, the “Romeo and Juliet” ©f 1599 —all worth .their weight in £5 notes. There is also a unique copy of the “Hundred Merry Tales,” 1522, mentioned fey Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing.” In old plays, and in books bearing bn the Early English drama, and also in Early English poetry, the Huth library contains a bewildering array, nearly all in fine copies of the original issues. i Mr. Huth possessed all the early editions of Walton’s “Angler,” several of the various issues of the first edition of Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress.” and one ©f the rarest of all books, a perfect copy ©f the first edition of Foxe’s “Book of •Martyrs.” The early books on America have long been the envy of collectors on the other side of the Atlantic, and if the library is sold at auction there will be a fine scramble with American collectors for many of these rarities. The library also contains a splendid selection of choicely illuminated manuscripts and autograph letters of celebrities of all ages and classes, since letterwriting was invented—kings, queens, statesmen, poets, and novelists. No such library has come under the hammer for a generation. Its catalogue alone fills five generous volumes, and failing the library being purchased en bloc by private treaty, it is estimated that its disposal by auction will extend over several years. r BILL LANG’S BAD BLUNDER.

Yet another of the heavy-weight boxing contests arranged by the Australian promoter, Mr H. D. Mclntosh, in order to find a white man fit to meet Jack Johnson for the world’s championshlip, came to a lame and impotent conclusion at Olympia last Wednesday evening. The men concerned were Bill Lang, the Australian, who was billed as “Champion of the British Empire,” and ex-Petty officer purran, a man whose claims to the highest honours rest Upon victories over Flron” Hague, Gunner Hewitt, Jewey . Bmlith and Gunner Moir, and who has as

much right as anybody in the business to call himself champion of England. Well matched in point of weight the men were expected to put up a red-hot fight. Curran is a powerful, bustling, two-handed fighter, possessed of plenty of pluck and determination, but lacking in science. Lang, in his fight with Jack Burns, showed himself to be an exceptionally quick and clever boxer for so big a man, but on that occasion he did not show to advantage as a heavy hitter, and Curran’s friends relied on his ability to take punishment and hiis punching power to make up for the Australian’s extra cleverness. The 'bout, however, was far too brief to give either man a chance of showing iwhat he could do, for within 30 seconds of their squaring up for the fight Mr Carri, the referee, was uttering the fatal words, “Lang, you are disqualified.” There was some booing at the decision.

and Lang himself did not relish it, but Mr Carri had no alternative to disqualifying the Australian. After a few seconds sparring Lang drove Curran to the ropes, and there in a bit of a mix up Curran was brought down to one knee with a left hook on the head. Then to the utter amazement of everybody Lang let fly three blows. One missed entirely, the next landed on the top of Curran’s head, and the third made a decisive connection with Curran’s jaw and lalid him out. How a man of Lang’s experience could commit such a glaring error is past understanding. The foul would have been a bad one if there had been bad blood 'between the men and they had been fighting fast and lustily at the time. As things were, the Australian’s actions were quite linexplicable. It was not one blow, but three, that he levelled at his opponent while he was down on one knee, and two of them landed. It was a most inglorious end to what promised to be a hard and interesting fight, but the loser had no one to blame but himself, and appeared to realise that fact ere he left the ring. Lang is anxious to meet Curran again, and had it announced on his behalf that

he was ready to do so at any time, and, win or lose, to take nothing. Mr Mclntosh’s patrons got very little (indeed for their money on Wednesday night. The “big fight” lasted less than 30 seconds, one six round contest ended in a draw, another lasted one round, and a 10 round contest between Johnny Matheson, the “Fighting Scot” and Private McEnrey, of the Irish Guards, came to a conclusion in the fifth round, the referee having to disqualify the Scot for foul tactics. QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S PLANS. Queen Alexandra has now completed her plans for her future. “England,” she remarked recently, “will always be my home.” She will pass a life of complete retirement for the remainder of her year of deep mourning. After a few more weeks at Sandringham her Majesty will go for a lengthy cruise in the Mediterranean in the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, the principal object of which will be a visit to her brother, the King of Hellenes. From Athens the Queen will go to Corfu, returning to England early in May. Her Majesty will then

take up her residence at Marlborough House, which will by that time be quite ready for her reception, having been restored to very much the same appearance as it presented when Queen Alexandra spent so many happy years there as the Princess of Wales. Here she will remain until after the Coronation festivities. The absurd reports that were put into circulation a short time ago to the effect that Queen Alexandra would not be present at the crowning of King George have, says the “Observer,” given the greatest pain and annoyance to the Royal Family, since there was never at any time the slightest grounds for them. The part her Majesty will play at the actual ceremony in Westminster was definitely decided some months ago, when the matter first came under discussion. It will of necessity not be a very prominent one, but at the same time it will be one eminently befitting her exalted rank. Once the Coronation is over, her Majesty’s appearances at Court will be very infrequent, and will probably not take place more often than once a year. Her Majesty still retains her keen liking for music, and will be a constant visitor to Covent Garden next season, and this will be almost her sole relaxa-

tion. Her visits to town in future yearn will not be very lengthy, not more than a month or six weeks at the outside, in the height of the season, and then she ■will return to her quiet life at Sandringham. It is probable that she will not be seen again on a racecourse. Twice a year she will go cruising in the Victoria and Albert, which King George has placed at his mother’s disposal. Queen Alexandra has a great love of yachting, and these cruises do her a great deal of good. When in London Queen Alexandra will be frequently seen driving in the park, this being almost the only form of exercise she now takes, and she will continue her round of visits to the picture galleries, etc. She is taking the greatest interest in the Festival of Empire to be held at the Crystal Palace, and will certainly visit it upon one occasion, while she will also witness a performance of the Royal Naval and Military Tournament at Olympia, in the. welfare of which the late King Edward took such a deep interest for so many years.