REVIEWS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 4, 22 January 1913, Page 47

REVIEWS.

Charles the Great : Mrs. 11. IL Penrose (London: Methuen and Co.) Charles Benham reminds us not a little of George Eliot’s creation, Mr. Cassaubon, though Mrs. Penrose, contrary to that author, has conceived her villain in light comedy vein. Charles Benham, like Mr. Cassaubon. was always posing as a great intellect, occupied in the making of a book which is to set him on a pinnacle of greatness unachieved by any previous genius. At least, this is” the idea he has managed to instil into his only sister’s mind, who breaks her engagement with her lover (because Charles has managed to convince her that without her ministering care and inspirative presence near him always, “his creative faculty would suffer eclipse.” How a conspiracy is hatched and brought to a satisfactory conclusion against Charles Benham, in which he literally forces his sister into the arms of her’once rejected lover, is told more smartly and amusingly than could be imagined. “Charles the Great” is pure comedy or satiric reflection from start to finish,

and, though in strict justice, Charles Benham's despicable act in taking credit for a highly successful work written by another man, should have been punished by public exposure, the reader will think him punished sufficiently when he discovers that the ultra-fastidious humbug eventually becomes engaged to a plain girt, who takes sevens in boots, has a loud voice and tread, fond of strenuous, outdoor sports, and who may be trusted to see that he shares them willy nilly.

Perfect Health for Women and Children : By Elizabeth Sloan Chesser. (London: Methuen and Co. 3/6.)

Few households nowadays, since good health lias been considered of infinitely more importance than wealth, can afford to dispense with some expert, yet simple medical and hygienic manual which will teach the way to ward off ill and promote good health, rather than cure the actual disease. In Dr. Sivan Chesser's work is to be found simple yet comprehensive talks on health and hygiene. Many “family physicians" in book form are 4.00 technical and too involved Xu be of real assitftauce in the

home. But the present work deals with “Health and Hygiene,” both from the woman’s and the doctor's point of view - a happy combination, surely. It provide.: information on the preservation of health and youth, on sick nursing and first aid, and on everyday ailments and how to deal with them. A section is devoted to the care and management of children. It has fallen to my lot to re view many works on the vitally important question of health and hygiene, but never one so all-eanbraeing in its scope, so full of common sense, yet so inspiring to self-help and prevention of disease, yet wholly expert. Its price, too, and the extreme simplicity of its directions and prescriptions brings it within the reach of the very poorest and the most ordinarily intelligent housewife and

mother to whom it will prove a help it; calculable. The work was read and ap

proved in t'he MS. by the author’s father, Dr. Samuel Sloane, from whom many valuable suggestionri were received.

rhe Hero of Herat t By Maud D’ver. (London: Constable and Co., per George Robertson and Co., Melbourne. 3/C.)

The amount of research which must have gone to the making of ithis book impels my warmest admiration, independent of the fact that the book must be held a valuable contribution, not only to historic, but to Imperialistic, literature. And never was there a trme when the need for the making of such books as this was so great. More than once it occurred to me during the reading of this book that its proper place was in biographical literature. But biography is read by the few, romance by the many, and, strictly speaking, this novel is one that has been plainly writ-ten with a dual purpose. The first is to recall to the memory of all true Britishers the memory of Major Eldred Pottinger, C. 8., “the hero of Herat,” and one of the greatest and most ina-tely noble of all England’s Empire-builders in India. The second is to promote and spread the spirit of Imperialism wherever the English tongue is spoken, for wherever it is spoken and English blood rune redly and warmly. Mis Diver’s books are read. As indicating the manner of man Eldred Pottinger was, I quote an utterance of Sir Henry Lawrence, K.C.8., about this hero: “India, fertile in heroes, has shown since the days of CHve, n-o man of •greater or earlier promise than Eldred Pottinger. Yet, hero as he was, you might have sat for weeks beside him at table and never discovered tliat he had seen a shot fired.” The principal scenes of the story are laid in Herat, Afghanistan, before the first Afghan war, and ita period is that of the John Company, in days -when private commercial enterprise was eager to avail itself of the services of England's best and bravest spirits in the opening up of trade routes—spirits whose highest endeavours was prompted and animated by the patriotism that lay next to the love of God in their hearts. And none were so successful as the Empire-builders who had this love of God, as the records of English rule in India can testify. Of this glorious company was Major Pottinger.” I do not purpcoe to recount even in outline the part Mrs Diver’s hero played during the eiege of Herat, by the Persian army, nor the part he played in the subsequent events that led up to the first English war with Afghanistan, as that would spoil the story for my readers. The

story is to have a sequel, as Major Eldred’s career is only dealt with up to that crisis in Afghan affaire which necessitated the recall from Herat of the

"Mission” sanctioned by Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India, of which Pottinger had been the bead and front.

Valserine and Other Stories : By the author of ''Marie Claire”; translated by John N. Raphael. (London: George Bell and Sons. Auckland: Upton and Co. Cloth, 3/C.) That Madame Andoux’ second story would excite quite the same furore of interest as her first was unreasonable to expect. Nevertheless, the reader who revelled in “Marie Claire” will be able to extract quite as much pleasure from “Valserine” since it is written with the

same matchless simplicit,y of style and language, the same keenqess of observation of people and things, the same attention to detail, and the same strong and sympathetic undercurrent of feeling for erring and suffering humanity that characterised the author’s first success. Whether she has it in her to improve or widen her present power of depiction remains yet to be seen. Though like Mr. Raphael, these stories have given me much pleasure to read, and though I think them equal to the story of “Marie Claire,” one looks for an author or an artist in each recurring presentation to achieve something greater or different than before. But only in this respect does “Valserine” disappoint me. Under the same cover will be found in the original French, the thirteen stories that comprise the book. The story I like best is “La Fiancee.” But I do wish Mad-

ame Audoux had favoured us with an imaginary glimpse oi that much envied person. As these are stories of real life and experience, it is interesting to

read the following: “I was twenty old, and nobody had ever spoken of love to me.’ This admission, in view of the experience that had exiled forth its expression, brings us in closer touch with the author, and nearer to the heart of things than tomes written-to-order matter could do. To those readers acquainted with the purest of French styles, “Valserine” is strongly recommended.

A Romance of Billy Goat Kill > By Alice Hegan Rice. (Hodder and •Stoughton; 3/6.)

as in the “Cabbage Patch,” Mis Rice ha® chosen her dramatie personae from the upper middle claee and the lowest class of American life. Here is an outline of Hie story; Donald Morley, a well-to-do Ameriean, falls in love, while staying in the vicinity of Billy Goat Hiff, with Lady, daughter of Colonel Carsey of that place, situate somewhere in Kentucky. Needless to say, his love is reciprocated. But Donald, who has hitherto gone the pace, but intends to mend his ways in future, allows himself to be led away by one Dillingham, and together they go to a gambling-room kept by one Sheeley. Here a scuffle takes place over some alleged cheating at cards iby Dillingham, who in a rage shoots and seriously wounds Sheeley. In the flurry incident to the affair, and really to prevent helping to incriminate Dillingham, Donald unwisely leaves the country. Whereupon Dillingham bribes Sheeley, and the onus of the shooting is laid upon Donald, who is wanted by the police. Of course in .the long run Donald is saved by the aid of Lady Carsey. But many things happen before this, and the retailing of the things that do happen forms the bulk of a very readable story indeed.

The People of the River : By Edgar Wallace. (London, Melbourne, and

Toronto: Ward, Lock, ad Co. 3/6.)

Too much ean hardly be said in praise of this splendidly Imperialistic story, the exciting and strenuous scenes of which are laid in West Central Africa. The object of the book is to show something of the difficulties and dangers that beset the path and hamper' the actions of the men sent out there by the English Government as commissioners, who, single-handed, have to wrestle with numerous problems, tribal and otherwise, and adjudicate upon matters involving the most delicate and serious issues. Before reading this story, I anticipated from my knowledge of this author's journalism, that there was a treat in store. I was not disappointed. Written in tense, vigorous and picturesque style, the story of "The People of the River” is more of a descriptive history of the Nigerian river tribes under British protection, than a work of fiction, though to bring it under that head an element of romance has been introduce;!. The appended excerpt from the book will give some idea both of the author's succinct style and his evidently expert knowledge, not only of the districts and tribes dealt with, but of the best typa of men holding commissiojnerships in what may be termed wild Africa, though —thank Heaven—the type may be found throughout English Officialdom. Of his hero, Mr. Commissioner Sanders, Mr. Wallace says:—-“He was overlord of a million black people, subdivided by language, dialect, prejudice, custom, jealousy, and temperament into twenty-three distinct nations. The Bangeli, who lived close to the headquarters, and were a selfish, bastard people, made up by accidental unions between Kroomen, Congolaise, Angloa folk and Coast peoples, he did not heed, for they were civilised up to a point, and were wise in the way of white men. Also they were fearful of punishment, and just as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so is the fear of the law the beginning of civilisation. But beyond this people lay the fighting tribes, untouched by the trader, only slightly affected by the missionary, warlike, unreasoning children, with a passion for litigation, and a keen sense of justice. And it was Sander’s business and his pleasure to know these as they were—to study them a® you study your own children, perhaps more carefully, for you take your children and their peculiarities for granted—and to adjust his attitude as they adjusted theirs,

which re-arrangement was usually made once in every twenty-four hours. Sanders differed from ready-made Empirebuilder® in this respect, that, while his pompous superior® treated native peoples as an aggregate problem, Sandeie dealt with them as individuals. A certain excellency once addressed him through a secretary’s secretary, asking him to explain the prevalence of crime among the people of the Lesser Isiei, and Sanders answered naively (as it seemed to the superior folk of his Excellency's entourage) that the increase in crime wa® due to the dreams of a certain man named “M’dali.” To some of the reports of what M’dali iiad dreamt, Sanders took no heed, in other case® he gave the dreamer' the credit of being a good guesser, and when M’dali dreamt that his wife would die, she being down with sleeping sickness, Sanders thought that M’dali had sufficient data to hand to justify hi® imaginings. But when Sanders learned tliat M’dali had dreamt that a neighbour would die unless a bag of salt was given to the dreamer, hi took speedy action. And ®o on: example® by the doaeu eould be quoted to show the incessant ®train upon the mental, physical, and moral capacity of the Sanders of Empire. I heartily commend “The People of the River” to every loverof Empire.

Seaford’s Snake : By Bertram Mitford. (Ward, Lock, and Co. 3/6.)

Here is another African story whose scenes are laid in Zululand, and whose moral is as jjlain as that of "The People of the River.” Conduct, in this story as in that, is the supreme secret of English

superiority in the eyes of her overseas conquered subjects. Mr. Mitford has written many a good story but never one so good as this. His hero, Maurice Seaford, was an Englishman who, tired of comparative poverty and the cooped up life it necessitated had gone out to Africa in the hope of making a moderate fortune, A visit to England some years after had secured him a wife in the person of a poor relation only too glad to exchange a drab, poverty-stricken existence an suburbia for the love of Seaforth and the freedom of life on tire veldt. But Mrs. Seaford ha*l tired of the veldt life, and of Maurice, notwithstanding the fact that under her improved conditions she had blossomed out into a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, close to them lived another malcontent in the shape of an indolent man, Hedley Torrance. How these two met and bow a domestic tragedy was averted by Seaforth’s real love for hi® wife, and hit? innate nobility of character, and also how Hedley Torrance io saved from his baser self, is told in Mr. Milford's very best way. Incidentally, the story i® uncommonly interesting in its impressive depiction of the ®uperstition« side of the Zulu native of Africa. That there are more thing® in heaven and earth than are dreamt of by civilised people i® made plainly evident in the chapter® of the book devoted to "the wiaard” of the Lumisana forest. Though the story is strangely exciting, and as sensational in part® a® exciting, tlie author never onee oomw the boundary of improbability. As a holiday companion, "Seaford's Suak®’’ ia just the thing. It omnbines some very accurate knowledge of Zulu

land, its people and their general characteristics, superstitions beliefs, etc., that should be welcome to general readers who love to have information of strange countries and peoples spiced with strange supewtitiona and sesaational and adventurous happenings.

The Upas Tree : By Florence Barclay. (London and New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Melbourne:

George Robertson and Co. 3/6.)

Mrs. Barclay ha® obtained such a hold upon the affection® of the reading pnWie that criticism of any kind concerning a new work of hers would not influence readers. Whether Ronald West's duty lay rather in staying at home than departing to strange regions in oea-reh of accurate information that w.a® to be used in the making of a book , hi tended to be hi® masterpiece. will remain a moot point with Mrs. Barclay's readers. For myself, I think the sheltered life of luxury afforded to West by hi; wife’® mothering care and affluent circumstance®, the most favourable condition® for the upas tree of selfishness to flourish in. The curious sub-normal experiences undergone by West after the acquisition of the Prague ’cello wiil, for many, constitute an added charm to a story which without it possesses that elusive faiscination characteristic of all this author's works. Another admirable quality in Mrs. Barclay’® novel® is the absolute freedom from anything bordering on the unwholesome. Readers wishful to purchase a suitable gift book for adoleseenee may safely place order for "''The Upas Tree.”

The Love Affairs of the Coudes : By 11. Noel William®. (London: Methuen and Co., Ltd., 15/ net.) In this work, which not only evidences much research, but is of considerable historic importance, and romantic fascination, the author has dealt with the histories of the Coudes from 1530-1746. Indeed, the volume may be regarded quite as much as a political and religious history of Fiafiee during the period covered as a history of the amours of the Condes, who were as celebrated in affairs of the heart as they were celebrated for valour in the field, whether for ,or against Franco. In the times depicted by Mr. Williams in this volume love, |uissk>n and intrigue played an infinitely more important part in the affairs of nations than eould be easily conceived by the non-student of history in these prosaic days. For kings’ favourites in those days ruled the destinies both of nations, kings and their courts, and woe betide the dignitary or courtier, however highly placed, who fell foul of these unscrupulous intriguers, ambitious of exercising the prerogative supposedly saered to sovereignty. After tracing the origin of the house of Conde, who were of the blood royal, Mr. Williams goes on to draw the portrait of the first Prince of Conde, Louis de Bourbon, who was the founder of that afterwards rieh and powerful house. Louis de Bourbon's first appearance at the Court of his cousin. Henri H., was greeted with no small ridicule, so quiet was his dress and so modest his suite. Indeed, though he was not without qualification® to shine at Court, lie was conspicuously lacking in the two moot essential —via., wealth

and influence. Besides this the Guises, at enmity with the limulams, had shown that they were determined to keep the Bourbons, priuces of tile blood though they were, well in the background. So Louis de Bourbon, “more ambitious than his brothers," east about to win the favour and assistance -of the powerful Montinorency. rosharer with the Guises of the favour -of Heart H. of France, who was besides being Constable of France, Grand Master of the King's Household. To tills end, lamia demanded in marriage the hand of Eleonore de Roye, eldest daughter and Ikeiress of Charles, Seigneur de Roye and de Murid. Comte de Koaey, an alliance which, while flattering to the de Roves, would unite him with the two groat houses of Montmorency and Chatillou, for Mademoiselle de Roye wav a niece of the Constable. From tlri® date the fortune® of the Conde®, though they fluctuated as most men’s fortunes did in those troublous times, .began to rise. But though Eleonore de Roye proved “a tender., submissive eoeafainioH, a faithful friend, and an inuuovabile supjsxt in time of trial,” during the vicissitudes of fortune that followed, she failed to win the permanent affections of Conde, for we hear of his early falling a victim to the wiles of the beautiful Isabella de Liraeuit, a cousin of Catherine de ,Medjei», and a prominent member of that Qneen's infamous "«®cadrou volant.” Step by xtqp the first Coude's career is traced by the author down to his death on the field of Jarnac, lighting for the religion of which in life he had been the distill guished bead, though in its obseixane lie had ■been more than lax. lands I. W|t. succeeded by his sou Henri. tl»e eldest child of his union with Elecmore de Roye. Henri I. was succeeded by Henri 11., who begot by Marie de Montmorency Louis 11. (the Conde). This title seems to me largely a misnomer, since whatever his virtues as a strategist and his valour as a soldier might have been, it is absolutely discounted by his heartless behaviour to the wife who had risked everything she had in the world for him, and whose gravest fault Iny in the continued display of an affection absolutely unmerited. To the Great Conde succeeded Henri Jules de Bourbon, who died practically mad. After him came the sixth Prince of Conde, Louis Henri de Bourbon-Conde, famous in French history as the lover of Madame de Prie, who for three years practically ruled France. As the world goes, this sixth Prince of Conde was the most successful, for he was allowed in his latter days to enjoy the wealth and the luxury and the magnificent estates acquired by the earlier Condes. After tile death of Madame de Prie, to whom this scion of the amorous Condes was faithful to her death, "he took unto himself a second wifi" (Pringesse Charlotte of Hesse-Rhein fols). By this marriage, which was said to be a placid one, he had one son. Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Prince de Conde,” the organiser and leader of the "Army of Conde,” which played so gallant a part in the wars of the French Revolution.” To attempt an adequate review of Mr. Noel Williams* exceedingly interesting work would be to write another book. But there is not a dull line in it from cover to cover. Of the six princes depicted I prefer the portrait of the first Prince of Conde. For however far his amorous fancies may have led him, he was loyal to his fadtli, and that faith an unpopular one. and appreciative of his wife's virtue ami grateful for her fidelity to himself and his progeny. No better general estimate of this prince's character can be offered to the reader than that of “lai Nuue’s,” which I reproduce from Mr. Williams’ work. La Noue says: “In courage aud in

courtesy no one surpassed him. His conversation was eloquent, rather from nature than from cultivation; he was generous and affable towards all; he was an excellent leader in war, yet, at the same time, a lover of peace. In adversity he bore himself even better than iu prosperity.” Add to this the author's conclusion tliat the first Conde's faults were typical of his ago, and he may safely be pronounced the most heroic of the Condes herein depicted. The book has seventeen illustrations, which includes, as frontispiece, a splendid portrait of the remarkable Marquise de Prie.

A Miscellany of Men : By G. K. Chesterton. (London: Methuen and Co.: 5/ net.) Any doubt a s to the versatility of the talent pceeessed by Mr Chesterton eould be easily solved by a dip into "A MtHi'ellauy of Men,” which i® composed of

thirty-seven papers, and ranges in subjects from “Stilton Cheese” to “Mad Officials,” “Sun Worshippers,” “Conscripts,” “Misers and their Friends,” “The Aristocratic ’Arry,” “The Chartered Libertine,” and “The Angry Author.” Here are a few gems from "The Aristocratic ’Arry,” .which is devoted to a truly Chestertonian dissertation on what constitutes the Teal cheap tripper. After conceding that Ithe tripper, artistically considered, is a jeign of our decadence, Mr Chesterton proceeds to argue that he is not one of the worst signs, but relatively one of the best. (For, “compared with many of the philosophers and artists who denounce Jilin, he looks like a Cod-fearing fisher or ia noble mountaineer.” And “his antics with donkeys and concertinas, crowded char-a-bancs, and exchanged hats, though clumsy, are not so vicious or even so fundamentally vulgar as many of the amusements of the over-educated. People are not more crowded on a char-a-ilianc than they are at a political ‘At •Home,’ or even an artistic soiree; and if the female trippers are overdressed, at least they are not overdressed and mnderdressed at the same time.” He also argues that “it is better to ride a 'donkey than be a donkey,” and that it as better to change hats at a Cockney festival than change heads in Utopia. (All of which is both sound sense, and truly Chestertonian philosophy. Speaking of a barbed-wire fence that has been put up round Stonehenge, with a policeman to guard the wire, Mr Chesterton wonders which most defaces that ancient Druidical ruin. The vandalism tie considers was perpetrated by the educated, not the cheap tripper, who carved or scratched his name upon the venerable stones. And so on: 1 could quote examples innumerable of Mr Chesterton’s special genius for presenting the unfamiliar side of questions vital to the public

interest. Some of these papers I have read before. . But a “Miscellany of Men” is a book to keep by one -and to dip into when the banal becomes unbearable. 1 shall in a future issue give some further excerpts from a book which ia purely eclectic reading throughout.