FEUILLETON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 18, 30 April 1913, Page 48

FEUILLETON.

New Publications Received. SEORGE ROBERTSON AND CO., Melbourne. "John Sherwood x Ironmaster,” by Dr. 8. Weir Mitchell (New Ontury Co.), and "Angelique,” (Le P’tit Chou), by Constance Elizabeth Maud (Duckworth). Cassell and Co., "Child of Storm,” by H. Rider Haggard. Methuen and Co., “The Pearl Stringer,” by Peggy \\ ebling. Some Methuen Reprints. Messrs. Methuen announce the publication of a new series of sevenpenny reprints. The first four volumes of this teeries were to be published on March 6, and rhe titles are: —"Angel,” by Mrs. B. M. Croker, "Prince Rupert, the Buccaneer,” by C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne; ’* I Crown Thee King.” by Max Pemberton; and “The Broom Squire,” by S. Baring Gould. The books are well printed, and a special feature of the issue is the excellent quality and attractiveness of the binding. The new’ enterprise is sure of euvce.ss since the value given by this firm always ensures it. A New Williamson Novel. Egypt was, 1 understood, to be the scene of the Williamson’s ne.w novel of itinerary. But the scenes of “ The Love Pirate” (Methuen) are laid in California, and concern the loves and travels of a rich Californian and an Italian princess, or rather a Californian girl married to an Italian prince. But the princess is unhappily married; her husband, who is an enthusiastic airman, preferring the society of a demi-mon-daine who, like himself, has a passion for aeroplaning. Which leaves the princess so lonely that she visits her native country, ami while there—and in order to forget her domestic infelicity—accepts the offer of the rich 4 ’alifornian to motor her through sonif* of the most beautiful parts of it, though she refuses to be made love to. But an aeroplane accident happening to the wicked Prince clears the way for the Californian diamond in the- rough, and he and the Princess marry, and live happy ever after. "The Love Pirate,” is written with these gifted collaborators’ usual facile skill, wholesome sentiment and wealth of scenic description, and while the work makes no demand upon the reader’s mentality, it will be read with equal pleasure by all classes of readers >n search of pleasant relaxation. * Essence of Encyclopaedia.”

The second volume of the new "Everyman ’ Encyclopaedia, edited by Andrew Boyle has made it« appearance, and according to advices, is selling well. A olume two "takes us from Bac to Bri,” *ays a genial “Daily News” reviewer. **lt tells about John Ball, Beethoven, and Robert Blatchford, about Bavaria and Biology, about Belfast ami Booniplaatr-'. dn the Belfast article, by the way, we notice a reference to ‘a battle between the Irish and ravages of the Ards, 14GN.’ This is rather severe on the Anglo-Norman invaders. Perhaps if ‘savage**. were spelt with a capital the sentence would be clearer. The Encyclopaedia aboundn in abbreviation*. Thus Sarah Bernhardt ie referred to as K.B. in the article devoted to her, and a certain author is said to have pub. sev. works on economic botany ” But think of the price of it! The work is complete in twelve volumes at one shilling

The Militant Suffrage Movement. The pageK ol Mists Elizabeth Robins’ “Where Are You Going To V* are scarcely dry before it is announced that Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton are about to issue another book by thin inimitable writer, entitled. "Way Stations.’* This is a c<>H«*:-ti<m of s|»rerlM**, ,lecture*, and

artirleri dealing with the more salient aspects oi the woman’s movement. Some of the matter has already appeared in print, but much only in America, ami a good deal of it not at all. Between earh of the itenia Miss Robins has interposed what whe call** a "Tiim Table.” which given the first eucfimt account of the “main line” of the Militant Suffrage Movement.

" Olivia's Latchkey.'’ Those readers who remember Mr. Hubert Bland's “Letters to a Daughter,” will lie delighted to hear that he has jihst issued, through Mr. Werner Laurie, a similar work, which bears the title, "Olivia's Latch Key.” The work, I understand, takes the form of a- correspondence between an elderly man and an up-to-date girl, who, finding home and country life too slow, goes up to London to strike out for henself. Written in half-whimsical, half-satirical planner, "Letters to a Daughter” was the vehicle of not a little sound, worldly advice to girls entering upon the threshold of life, yet imparted in such a paternal, if mildly cynical, fashion, that the touchiest of modern damsels could not take offence. Mr. Bland is the “Hubert” of the Manchester “Sunday Chronicle,” and there is no journalist in England more readable, more experienced, more gifted, or more popular, than he. z An Interesting Memoir. English theatre habitues, and especially those interested in the terpsiehorean art, will revel in “Fifteen Years of a Daneero Life.” by Loie Fuller (Jenkins), with an introduction by Anatole France. "Mies Loie Fuller,” saya a “Daily News” critic, "io to be congratulated on having got Anatole France to write an introduction to her book of memoirs- Naturally, he pays her some pretty compliments. “This extraordinary and delightful woman,” he calls her, and prakses her marvellous intelligence and her marvellous instinctiveness, while informing us that “the subject of conversation which comes closest to her is religious research.” As for her dancing, he says of it: "You admire afar off, as in a vieion, an airy figure comparable in grace to those daneera whom one sees on Pompeiian wall ■paintings, moving in their light draperies.” Quite the most interesting thing Mies Fuller tells us herself about her art is that the discovery of her famous serpentine dance was a pure accident. At the time she was on the regular stage, and had been engaged to play the part of a woman being hypnotised by a doctor in a play called “Quack, M.D.” She had no money to buy the necessary costume, when she came on a

<a-ket containing an Indian gauze skirt which had some time before been given her a<s a present. It was too long, but she used it on the first night in the great scene, the stage being flooded with pale green light- “I endeavoured to make myself a.s light as possible, in order to give the impression of a fluttering figure obedient to the doctor’s orders. He raised his arms. I raised .mine. Under the influence of suggestion, entranced—so. at least, it looked —- with my gaze held by his.- I followed his every motion. My robe was so long that I was continually stepping upon it, and mechanically I ’ held it up with both hands and raised my arms aloft, all the while that I continued to flit around, the stage like a winged spirit. There was a sudden exclamation from the house: ‘lt's a butterfly! A butterfly!’ I turned on my steps, running from one end of the stage to the other, and a second exclamation followed: ‘lt's an orchid!’ To my great astonishment, sustained applause burst forth. . . . The audience encored the scene.” That night taught the artist how best she might win fame. Bernhardt, Rodin, Dumas fils, Sardou. not to mention sundry monarchs, have been among her most enthuisiastie, appreeiators «ince then. Camille Flanimarion, famous both as an astronomer and ‘'psychical researcher,” in also introduced to us as among her friends. When she first met him “ha wore a lounge jacket of white flannel, edged with red lace. Ho had a veritable forest of hair, which formed, as it were, a bonnet around his head- This was so remarkable that I could not jepre-s an exclamation'. Madame Flammarion then told mo that she frequently had to cut some of the locks, for her

husband's hair grew with such vigour that he was tormented by it. Then she ehoweil me a cushion on a divan, and remarked: ‘There is where 1 put his hair after cutting it.’”

To give an accurate idea of Camille Flammarion's style of wearing his hair, you have only to multiply Paderewski's head of hair by twelve.

Sarah Bernhardt is the subject of some, characteristic storiee, and the book as a whole, if a little thin, is vivacious reading. One of the most piquant chapters records a conversation with a Japanese artist on his impressions of Europe. They may be condensed into a senteneei “All Europeans,” he eaid, "resemble pigs. Some of them look like dirty pigs, some like clean pigs; but they all took like pigs.” We may now regard “The Mikado” and “The Geisha” as avenged.

Putnam Publications. Two new volumes, dealing with the subject of war, are "Swords and Ploughshares,” by Lucia Mead, and “ReeoWections of the Civil War,” with annotated references, by Mason Whiting Taylor, are shortly to be issued, or most probably will have been issued by George Putnam and Sons ere this gets into print. " Swords and Ploughshares ” offers suggestions for the supplanting of the system of war by the system of law. Baroness von Suttner has written a foreword to the book. "Recollections of the Civil War” contains many original diary entries and letters written from the seat of war.

To the making of cookery books there seems to be no end. But "Chafing Dish" cookery has in this country at least the merit of novelty, as well as being useful to those householders wlio sit well into the “wee, sma' oors” playing bridge. “The Chafing Dish,” by Alice James iPutnam's), gives a number of suggestions for the preparation of sandwiches, sup-

pers, high teas, besides many miscel-

laneous chafing dish recipes. The ebating dish will enable the veriest novice to exeel in the preparation of attractive dishes with this ''cooker,”’ which » to be found on every good American table.

The February “ Btokwaa.’ The current number of the London “Bookman” provides, as usual, a plethora of good things for the delectation of its readers. “Charles Reade,” by Lewis Melville, that painstaking and adept biographer, is uncommonly good reading. Thomas Seecombe, on George Saiatsbnry, is as waspishly critical in essence as though Mr. Seeeombe were writing of Borrow. Students of history interested in the vindication of Marie Stuart, of “fatal charm” will be delighted with D. D. Hay Fleming's article on Mr. E. Bussell’s work, “Maitland of Lethi-ngton, the Minister of Mary Stuart: A Study of Hrs Life and Times” (Nesbit). In the course of an address to the Phitoeopfeieal Institution of Edinburgh, in lsb‘s, Fronde said: “It would be well if some competent man would write a life of Maitland, or at least edit his papers. They contain by far the clearest account of the inward movements of the time, and he himself is one of the most tragically - interesting characters in the cycle of the Reformation history.” Twenty years later Sir John Skelton published “Maitland of Lethington and the Scotland of Mary Stuart,” But though in literary quality this former work exceeds the later one of Mr. Russell's, the latter is more valuable not only because of its greater authenticity, but in every quality that goes to the making of good biography. Mr. Hay Fleming’s critical

article, nt the absence of the work, makes iitumvinative reading. Other netable articles outside the usual features ol this .taperb literary journal, are front the pens of those expert writers, Mr., W. H. Hudson, Dr. Janies Moffatt, Mr. George Sampson, Mr. T. E. Page, Mr. G. f». Layard, Mrs. Katharine Tynan, MH Richard Curie, and Mr. Percival Gibbon.

The Preach Revolution.. Mias Margery Bowens novel, “The Two Carnations” (Caeeell), is a story a£ ■the French Revolution, with a heroine who finiUs herself at the beginning of the great struggle in a French prison, from which, after some stirring adventure*, the hero rescues her. Miss Bowens real name is Miss Gabrielle Margaret Vere Campbell, and she inherits her literary gifts from her mother, Mrs A ere Campbell, who is also a well-known novelist. Margery Bowen is, par excellence, the most reliable, as well as the most interesting, of English feminine romantid historians. A Poetry Bookshop. Though there was never a time wheat poetry or yerse was so much in. evidence, it is repeatedly declared that no ouei reads poetry nowadays. This may, oy may not. be true, but something like aj revival of poetry may be glimpsed in the| fact that a shop, mainly given over td the sale of it, has been opened by Mil Harald Munro, himself a poet of considerable promise. The shop Is at 35, Bevs onuhire Street, Theobald’s Road, Blooms* bury. The shop was formally opened by! Mr IT envy Newbolt, of sea songs fame, who gave an admirable address. The} venture as worthy of success, and is at

least indicative that poetic talent, and the love of poetry, is by no means so much on the decline as is generally supposed. Mr Maurice Baring, Poet and Playwright. Apropos of poetry, Mr Maurice Baring, who was so lately in our midst, was the bookman chosen for portraiture in the February ‘"Bookman Gallery,’’ Space forbids more than an example of his quality as a poet. “The poems’’ (Mr Baring’s}, eaye the "Bookman,” "are not the least precious of his work. They are instinct with genuine feeling and romantic fervour, and some of the sonnets are perfect examples of the art. Perhaps we may be permitted to quote one of them, which, apart frqm its intrinsic beauty, adds a sort of personal note to a personality singularly impersonal: — “T have loved summer and the longest day, The leaves of June, the slumbrous film of heat. The bees, the swallows, and the waving wheat, The whistling of the mowers in the hay. I have loved words which lift the soul with wings, Words that are windows to eternal things. I have loved souls that to themselves are true, Who cannot stoop and know not how to fear, Yet hold the talisman of -pity’s tear. I have loved these because I have loved you.”’ And yet the critics declare that poetic genius is on the decline.