BITS FROM THE NEW BOOKS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2, 10 July 1912, Page 49

BITS FROM THE NEW BOOKS.

Ker Abomination. “It is astonishing how weak a woman becomes when she desires to avoid a scandal.” —"Lying Lips,” by William Le Queux. Stanley Paul. Eve’s Adornments. “If a man spots anything remarkable about a woman’s dress, nine limes out of ten it is something that annoys hirer; if he merely considers her well-dressed, the effect as a whole is enough for him, and details are superlluou " —“Clouds,” by Charles Igglesden. John Long. ! From “ Crimson Wings.” “It’s always a joy to a woman to be envied.” “A woman's tears are’ with a man the final argument; with a woman they are the beginning of suspicion.” “Women always become a little more beautiful than usual when they fall in love, just as children always become a little more delightful than usual at Christmas time. Love always beautifies, even if it be only love of Santa Clausl” “When a man takes a fancy to a girl, he always likes to imagine that he is the only male thing she has ever seen; and how- splendidly girls—the clever ones—play up to this little weakness!”—-“Crim-son Wings,” by Rathnell Wilson. GrcenAuthrr's Devices. “Although the French have a. proverb that it is not necessary to eat the whole of an egg to know that it is bad, many amateurs think themselves unfairly used if their manuscript is not read from the first to the last word It is a favourite device to lay trips to catch the reader, and so proved hat be. has not done his duty by the manuscript. The commonest of these is to reverse certain pages in loose-sheet manuscript. If these are not turned to their proper position it follows that they have not been read. Other would-be authors will lightly gum together the corners of two

or lay pressed leaven or t>iU of bright -coloured worsted between the bheets, which, if undisturbed oik the re’turn of the manuscript, are convincing evidence to them that the story has not )>eon examined.” —“The House of Harper.” Bv J. Henry Harper—’Harper and Brothers.’ The *’ Song and Dance “ Horse. “The necessity of getting*quickly from Jvall to hall on occasions when several engagements ran simultaneously led to any introdueton to the professional Tor this purpose. The ‘Song and Dance’ horse. “Strictly speaking, there are two varieties of alleged horse which are supplied for this purpose. The ‘Song and Lance* horse, so called because of his crossknees which make him look as if he were always dancing, and the ‘Religious’ horse, so called on account of his knees being always bent as though in prayer! have had both varieties in one time and another, and I invariably take oil my hat to them if I pass them in ths street —it arises from much the same feeling as prompts one to raise one’s bat ivhcn a funeral goes by!” '‘The Auto biography of an Eccentric Comedian.” by T. E. Dunville. The Prop of Religion. “Her mother reminded me of one of "those beautiful roses, through the heart of which the seller fastens a piece ot .wire her wire was religion, and 1

wondered whether she would have held together without that."—“The Heart of Life,” by Pierre de Coulevain. At • Dance in Germany. ‘"To secure a partner for a dance at a German Kurbans, the young man lias to fix his eyes upon some maiden with whom he would like to dance, and directly the music begins leap up and make «puv)s aq ivai.uv u<; ‘asp auoautos Xq |x»i|ujsa.ioj Stttaq a.iojaq .taq aoj qsup v erect in front of her, clicks his heels together (that is most important), says, ‘Day ieh bitten’’ and off they go. During the dancing little officials run up and down, tapping the partners on the shoulder when they think they have had enough. They must then stand aside until they are allowed to resume so that the floor is not crowded, and everyone has an equal chance of a good dance.” — “.Streams.” Bennett & Co. The Spur. “■Women become more desirable by being sought. They are like the knickknacks in a shop window. You mildly admire one, and contemplate buying it, but the knowledge that another means to possess it increases its value tenfold, and spurs you on to instant acquisition.” —“A Little Aversion,” by Clara I. (Martin. Aruowsmith. Liszt’s Kgoism.

‘iMy mother’s drawingroom was frequented by all the higher prelates. She attracted Lisfct there. For six months

in succession he came every evening. It was there that I had occasion to ob serve the prodigious egoism of that-man, who believed, in good faith, that he carried the world or art and the world of beauty on his shoulders. And, as a matter of fact, there was something cyclopean about this pianist 'with the amazingly elongated tentacles, -which made him master of two octaves at a time, joined to nerves of iron. When you listened to him you received the sensation not of a piano, but of an orchestra, lie would go and sit down to the instrument uninvited; he sent thrills of poetry through our souls. Then he,turned his eyes towards his very select audience, and, without moving a muscle, listened to the exclamations:

“‘Admirable! Divine! Superhuman!' “’But if the conversation strayed away

from him. even for a second. he rose without a blush, took his hat, bowed to not a soul, and slunk away."—“Men and Things of my Time," by -tihe Marquis de CasteHane. Bret Harte's Precaution.

“Bret Harte and I were rambling through Pontefract one day, when Bret Harte turned to me with some anxiety, ‘You know this place,’ he said. ‘Do you know where it is possible- to purchase a bottle of whisky? For you know,’ he added, tapping me on the shoulder with an air of great seriousness/ have always found that, however kind and thoughtful one’s hosts are, it is a wise thing to have, a little whisky in your own room.’ ” —-“Memoirs of a Spectator," by ■I. S. I'letelier. Kveleigh Nash.