REVIEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 21, 22 May 1912, Page 44

REVIEWS.

J The Quest of Glory : By Marjorie Bowen. (London: Methuen and Co. Auckland: Wildman and Arey. 2/6 and 3/6.) The better acquainted we become with Miss Bowen's work, the more we recognise its superlative qualities. And never have we appreciated it so highly as in this terribly poignant, yet exalting story, which deals with the fortunes of the Marquis de Vauvenargues, once a soldier of France, and afterwards one of its finest scholars and philosophic writers. The terribly pathetic and impressive scenes are set, respectively, in the retreat from Prague, in the Rhone province of Aix, and in Paris, in the time of Louis “the Well-beloved, and his master, the Due de Richelieu. Miss Bowen’s l ook is divided into three parts: “The Quest Joyful,” “The Quest Sorrowful,” and “The Quest Triumphant.” Independent of the superb characterisation of Vauvenargues, and the historic, and the human aspect of the story, the book is uncommonly interesting as presenting new portraitures of Louis XIII., the Due de Richelieu, and Voltaire. Whether depicting the court life at Versailles, or describing the simple life of a provencale noble, Miss Bowen is equally correct and felicitous. To those readers who possess that splendid trilogy of novels written by this author, on William of Orange, we strongly recommend that they shall add “The Quest of Glory.” Indeed, no lover of historic romance can afford to miss this book, which we have received through Messrs. Methuen and Co.

Fire in Stubble : By the Baroness Orezy. (London: Methuen and Co. Auckland: Wildman and Arey. 2/6 and 3/6.) At last we have a story from the Baroness Orezy’s pen which is better than the fascinating “Scarlet Pimpernel.” The book’s scenes are laid partly in Paris, and partly in London, and the period is that of the Restoration. Here is a brief outline of a singularly fascinating romance, which is, besides, strikingly original in plot, and absolutely satisfactory as to denouement. Monsieur Legros, a wealthy Court tailor, allows his only daughter, as an infant, to be married to an English boy of aristocratic family, believing that he was heir to a title. Years pass, and Rose-Marie, the child wife has grown to young womanhood. Fully expecting that on his majority the husband would come to claim his wife, Rose-Marie is educated in a manner befitting the exalted station she is hoping to fill, and is, indeed, capable of filling. But Lord Stowmnries, the boy husband, not coming to claim his wife, her father, M. Legros, applies to the Archbishop of Paris to ratify the union, and force Lord Stowmaries to consummate the same. But Lord Stowmaries is very averse to the Church’s

ruling, because he is very much In love with a lady of fashion, worthless enough in all conscience, as the reader will discover. And, in an evil hour, Lord Stowmaries lends his ear to the suggestion that a profligate cousin of his shall go to Paris as Lord Stownjaries, re-wed Rose-Marie, and thus provide the real Lord Stowmaries with the means to invalidate the union. How this dastardly conspiracy is circumvented, and how the profligate eousin becomes virtuous through love of Rose-Marie, and how eventually she does become Countess of Stowmaries, must be left for readers to discover in the course of the unravelling of a somewhat complex plot. And here we shall leave the reader with just the intimation that some' very high personages figure in this fine moving drama, and one high personage—indeed the highest personage in the England of that day in particular. “Fire in Stubble” was published on February Bth of this year, and during that month went into three editions, whiph speaks volumes for the popularity of this story, which has been received through Wildman and Arey, from Methuen and Co. The Guests of Hercules : By C. N, and A. M. Williamson. (Loudon:] Methuen and Co. Auckland: Wildman and Arey. 2/6 and 3/6.) The principal motive we should imagine, that these talented collaborators have had in mind in the writing of this story of Monte Carlo, has been to expose the evils of speculation as carried on in that gambling Hades. The Williamson’s story paints Monte Carlo in much, less lurid colours than we ever remember to have seen that place depicted in. But we ean say with perfect truth that we have never read anything on tha

evil of this great gambling hell that has impressed and moved us so much. Impressed u?, indeed, by sheer sincerity and artistry of narrative. Readers of the Williamson's delightful itineraries, in which personal experience of travel, romantic sentiment, scenic description and informative matter is happily blended into a delightful whole, will be forced to confess that in “The Guests of Hercules” there is a degree of literary merit the collaborators have never before reached. The most pitiful characters that can ever walk across life’s stages are those outcasts of aristocratic society who are known as rooks and gamblers. The Lord and Lady Dauntrey of this story are living, breathing types of humanity that infest and render even more sordid the existent gambling haunts of the continent. Mary Grant is at once tha most wilful and original of the Williamson heroines, and Della Robbia tho most passionate of Williamson lovers.

flaily contemporary, some time ago, which excited such popular interest, and juch reiterated requests to have them jeissued in booklet form, that this has now been done, and very dainty indeed is the little work in its cover of dove and silver. These “Dialogues,” which were written with a view to help solve the vexed “Domestic Servants’ Problem,” are both sympathetically and practically written, and constitute very interesting reading. The dialogues are three in number, and are respectively entitled, “The Trouble,” “The Treatment,” and “The Cure.” The first is a singularly astute diagnosis. “The Treatment” is practicable and all-sufficing, showing an allround grasp of the needs of the future, and the weakness of the present situation. Tile assumption that present conditions are largely due to the indifferent standard of domestic service generally accepted by mistresses, is only too true, as is the urgent necessity for a proposed house-wives society, the object of which would be to remodel the whole system of housecraft as at present in vogue, and the deputing of representatives, who would meet and confer with similar representatives of the Servants’ Union, in the endeavour to place matters on a more satisfactory footing between mistress and maid. “The Cure,” which is the last of these brilliant dialogues, is a safe and sure one—if the patient but responds to the treatment, but we are not hopeful enough of the patient’s reciprocation. “I serve’’ — the motto of a long line of English princes, has fallen into disrepute, alike in the highest and lowest rank of service. Yet the “Cure” is both practical and altogether admirable, could it be put to the test. Apropos of the scheme, it is interesting to read what Lady Dorothy Nevill, in “Under Five Reigns,” says about a smaller similar scheme tried by her on her own estate in England. Lady Nevill says: —“In a little wooded hollow, not far from tire house stood a fair-sized cottage, and here I established a model laundry, where a certain number of poor girls were trained for domestic service, not always I am bound to say, with very satisfactory results.” Though the conditions would be different, the same stumbling block of unfitness would al-, ways stand in the way. The perfect servant, like the good cook, is born, not made. Nevertheless it is up to the women of this Dominion to employ the power conferred upon them by the suffrage to plan and further this or a similar ec-heme of compulsory domestic training. It is vital both to the moral and the physical welfare of this Dominion. Though we are not sanguine as to the adoption of this particular scheme, it is highly commendable, and deserving of public attention and support. It is strictly within the boundaries of woman’s sphere, and we trust the author will live to see its realisation.

Under Twelve Reigns : By Lady Dorothy Nevill; and THE HALO, by the Baroness t'on Ilutten. (London: Methuen and Co. Auckland: Wildman and Arey. 1/3 each.)

Those readers who remember Lady Dorothy Nevill’s vivaciously written “Reminiscences” will cordially welcome these new “reminiscences,” which extend over “five reigns.” “Since I published my ‘Reminiscences’ four years ago,” says the author, “I have come across further notes and letters connected with the social life of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, a number of which it seemed to me might not prove unacceptable to that indulgent public which accorded my previous effort such an encouraging and kindly reception.” “Under Five Reigns” will be found an absolute mine of interest, entertainment and information, not only to those who love to delve into bygone ages, but to those who were an J are acquainted with the various great personages who pass and re pa S 3 throughout its pages. Lady Dorothy was born during the reign of “the first gentleman in Europe,” and has lived to see five monarchs on the English throne. It is a long, and a splendid, and a courtly, and otherwise distinguish ’d procession to view which this gracious old lady, who is the best type of English aristocrat, leads her numerous readers in airsorbed interest and impressive silence. Sprightly, vivacious, and extremely amusing, as well as pathetic, are the stories told of the great people of those “five reigns." But there is not a breath of scandal, or of malice, or of Anything that is tainted or ignoble to

mar her historic gossip. Indeed, and notably in the case of Lady Cardigan’s “Recollections,” she essays the task of redeeming some honoured name from undeserved obloquy. In short, “Under Five Reigns,” is undiluted pleasure to read, and one of the most notable of the Methuen shilling reprints. “The Halo,” it will be remembered, was considered when it first appeared to be one of the most remarkable presentations of the artistic temperament that had ever appeared in novel form. The theme is a painful one, but it is only due to the Baroness Von Ilutten to say that she handled it both cleverly and with considerable delicacy. We do not purpose to tell Baroness Von Hutten’s story for her. Readers who liked the story—and of its artistic craft there can be no two opinions—will be glad to possess it at the low price of one and three-pence, which is its present cost in this Dominion. This, and the preceding reprint, has been received by us from Messrs. Methuen and Co. The latest addition to this firm’s popular shilling library ("Home” price) is Mr. Arthur Morrison’s inimitable “Tales of Mean Streets.” Though it is years since we read this novel, it is as green in our memory as though it were but yesterday. In his depiction of certain London life and haunts Mr. Morrison is second to none. BITS FROM THE NEW BOOKS. Woman’s Ways. “Man may have some excuse for his contempt of woman. I myself could have no feeling of equality for a creature who was willing to’give up her name, her occupation, and her home for me; to let me decide her place of residence, her employment and her income; who allowed herself to be given to me by a religious form; who promised publicly to obey me. Still less could I have a feeling of equality for her if I should see her mincing about on absurdly high-heeled shoes, wearing upon her head a tray of calico flowers and artificial poultry representing the flora and fauna of all climes, her bare arms and neck showing chill and blue •through a film of lace.” —“Do They Really Respect Us?” By Margaret Collier G'raham. Improper Honrs at Harrow. “Dr. Butler, when headmaster of Harrow, made it a rule that the pieces to be acted should be submitted to him

before he gave the requisite permission. One of them was ‘The Palace of Truth,’ and at a critical point in the story the hero said to the heroine: 'Meet me outside the garden gate at nine o’clock tonight.’ Dr. Butler ran his pen through the words, and substituted ‘at three o’clock this afternoon.’ — “After-Thoughts,” by the Rt. Hon. G. W. E. Russell. Grant Richards. 7s. 6d. net. . The Heir and the Soup. “The arrival of a son and heir in a gentleman’s family is not all skittles. I have found in business that the more a thing looks like being skittles the more it isn’t. It is just the same in the home. At first of course the congratulations of one’s friends were welcome, and there were presentations to the child of a gratifying nature. After the notice (in the best newspapers) advertising the birth, a perfect deluge of samples and circulars descended upon us. Of different kinds of meat extracts alone so many samples were sent that for over a week clear soup at dinner became simply a matter of course. All satisfactory enough as far as it goes, but is it everything? What about character?” — “Exit Eliza.” By Barry Pain. Cassell. Is. The Study of a Theatrical Manager. “As a manager he had been blessed with an instinct for providing what his public wanted. Thanks to that inestimable gift, he made money. Of such plays as he occasionally witnessed in the fashionable theatres of London ho understood no more than he understood of literature or the contents of the National Gallery; but now that instinct had been supplemented by experience, he understood as accurately as any one man can ever do at what point in his own dramatic fare an audience of the lower middle class would shuffle their feet and want a crime to happen —at what point their appetites would turn from •crime to sentiment ; he understood how often in the menus of love and murder the savoury desired by every British palate would be for the low comedian to sit down on an egg.”—“The Position of Peggy,” by Leonard Merrick Unframed Pictures. “Every woman needs a house of her own. Without it, she Is like a picture •without a frame—without a wall to hang upon.”—UuderHis Roof.” by Elizabeth Robins, fid. net.

The Irresistible Combination. “Add but the talent of impudence to the gift of beauty and you have men importunate.”—“Thirteen,” by E. Temple Thurston. Chapman & Hall. 6s. The Independent Domestic. “In England ladies’ inaids refuse to wait up for their mistresses’ return from evening parties. (I knew an unmarried lady who was compelled to sleep one night dressed as she was because her maid, having locked herself into her room, declined to get up to unfasten her dress for her!) In Germany the servants make it a condition that they shall spend so many evenings at masked balls.” —“The Thread of Lifes” by H. R. 11. the Infanta Eulalia of Spain. Cassell. 10s. Cd. net. A Too Forceful Sermon. “In one of the early settlements the men took turns in conducting Sabbath services. In course of time-it came to the turn of Lachlan McGillivray who had been a lumberman. McGillivray took as his topic the story of David and Goliath. Warming up to his subject, he rose in excitement to the climax. “The stone from wee David’s sling was guided to the head of the giant, and the stone pierced his brain, and he fell; David rushed up—and—and—tore his sword from its scabbard, and whirled his sword round his head, and he cut off his —his —d——d head,’ thus using the graphic language of the river driver. This was ‘big Lachlan’s last invitation to conduct the service.”—“The Scotsman in Canada.” Two vols. 425. net. Sampson Low. Frenchman and the Little God “To the average Frenchman every woman is interesting, for every Frenchman is in love with her, and in each fair stranger he sees the possible heroine in a romance of which he may play the agreeable part of hero. “Flirtation is an English art, not a French art. A Frenchman either loves - and when he loves he adores on his knees —or else he has no use at all for what English people mean by flirtation, the make-believe of love.”—“The Chink in the Armour,” by Mrs. Belloc Lowndes. Methuen. Os. What Eve Likes. “No well-born girl is ever indifferent .to three addresses and possibly a yacht, however much she may appear to be so.” -—“The Principal Girl,” by J. C. Snaith Methuen. 6s.