Literary Chat.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 December 1900, Page 246

Literary Chat.

By Danvers Hamber

One of the latest volumes in Messrs. George 801 l and Son's Indian Colonial Library is At the Sif/n of the Gross Keys by Mr. Paul Oroswick. Ifc is written in the first person, and the story is told by " passages from the journal of me, John Dering, of MoretonHampstead, in the year of grace ll."7 — ." John Dering, a harum-scarum young fellow, with the idea of seeing life strong within him., journeys to London, and straightway falls in with a rather fascinating but not over scrupulous friend, Philip de Vaux. A tavorn brawl leads to John Dering becoming one of a band of " gentlemen " who are nothing better than a lot of professional card sharpers. Strauge oaths are taken by the members of the " Cross Keys " brigade, and dire punishment follows any who break faith in the slightest degree. John Dering, a fellow with the best intentions in the world, is overcome by the glamour of the cheerful scamp, Philip de Vaux, and throws in his lot with the Ancient Order of the Cross Keys. At first all goes well, but one night playing with a young blood the worse foi wine, he wins all the latter's money, and then is shocked to repentance by the " pigeon's " distress. Dering goes next day to return the money, sees the sister, and promptly falls in love. He resolves to sover his connection with the Cross Keys, but the other members are not so willing, and finally Dering and De Vaux, who also finds it best to cut the

compauy, run away to escape being murdered. The adventures of the couple in avoiding their quondam companions are many and varied. In the end affairs turn out happily for most of the people concerned. The story is an interesting one, and is extremely well told. At the Sign of the Gross Keys comes from Messrs. Wildman and Lyell, of Auckland.

Three recent volumes in Messi'S. Ward, Lock and Co.'s Colonial Library have been

received from Messrs Wildman and Lyell, of Auckland. They are : The Love That Lasts by Miss Florence Warden ; Between Two Fires, by Mr Harry Golding ; and Three Little Maids, by Ethel S. Turner — Mrs Curlewis. The Love That Lasts is not by any means a cheerful kind of story, though there are some portions of it which are rather diverting, especially those describing some members of the Roskeen family, and other Highland lairds. Miss Warden's knowledge of Scottish folk appears to be rather limited. Of sensation and weirdness there is abundance, for the authoress of The House on the Marsh is endowed with a wonderfully fertile imagination. Alison Miles, a l'ich English girl, marries Sir Malcolm Roskeen immediately on his return from South Africa, whence he has returned invalided. Travelling at once to the ancient Deeside Castle the bridegroom develops mania on the way. Very strange things occur when the bride and bridegroom arrive at the Castle, for in addition to having a husband slightly mad, the heroine has to live in the fear of a lunatic woman, who has lost her senses through being thrown over by Sir Malcolm, and the malevolent attentions of a French girl, who turns out to be another flame of her husband's. The latter masquerades in boy's clothes, but she occupies a luxuriantly-appointed quarter of the castle, while the rest of the place is bare and poverty stricken. Naturally the wife falls in love with somebody else, and Miss Warden, after prolonging the agony as long as possibly conveniently kills off the semimadman. This book, like everything else from Miss Warden's pen, is quite readable, but the plot is so impossible that one never gets deeply interested in the story. Between Two Fires is a tale of the Boer War. It is fairly exciting, and is sure to be enjoyed by the novel reader who is fond of a stirring story of love and adventure. Mr. Golding

seems to know the Boers and the country well, and probably some of his characters and descriptions are taken from men and places he had seen. TJiree Little Maids is a charming story for the children, and may be very many older folk will enjoy this latest work from Miss Turner's facile pen. The healthy tone of her previous works pervades Three Little Maids, and helps to make it one of the best children's books of the day. Valuable lessons are taught in a delightful manner, and the book is written in such a breezy natural style, that it will appeal to leaders of all ages.

Mr. 0. T. J. Ali'Ers, the writer of the Ode sung at the openiug of the Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition, has recently published through Messrs. Whitcomb and Tombs, Ltd., of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, and London, a volume of poetry entitled The Jubilee Booh of Canterbury Rhymes. In his preface Mr. Alpers says of the poems included in this volume, twelve are printed now for the first time ; as to the rest, the names of the books, magazines, or newspapers, in which they previously appeared, is given in the text. The arrangement is mainly chronological ; but it has not been thought advisable, for the sake of preserving this sequence, to separate poems by the same author. Many readers will perhaps be disappointed at missing this or that poem they remember ; for much good verse has probably altogether escaped the editor's search, and much he has been compelled to pass over from the necessary limitations to the size of the volume. In compiling and editing the work Mr. Alpers was assisted by many friends, for he did the whole while in hospital, and was lying sick in bed for most of the time. In bringing together in one volume a selection from the poetry of Canterbury writers, the editor is entitled to high praise, for such efforts prove that New Zealand is not without a poetical literature. In the volume will be found some of the poems of the pioneers who came out with the Canterbury Pilgrims, and poems written by a younger generation

" who aro but now leaving the world of tho schools." The editor hopes that the young writers may find in their inclusion in this book " some encouragement to still further pursue the cult of tho Muses." If the sovere critic should find them immature, let him attribute their inclusion to their promise For it is even possible that the future may discover in this littlo volume the earliest verse of a New Zealand Tennyson, or, at the least, of a New Zealand Kipling. Kroiulo says, "If it is written in tho book of destiny that tho English nation has still within ifc great men who will take a place among the demigods, 1 cau well believe that it will be in the unexhausted soil and spiritual capabilities of New Zealand that the great English poets, artists, philosophers, statesmen, soldiers of the future will bo born and matured." In addition to tho poems of the pioneers written between 1850 and 1870, which include verses by J. E. Fitzgerald, Sarah Raven, Crosbio Ward, E. J. Wakofield and Marsh Pringle Stoddart, Mr. Alpors quotes from C. C. Bowen, Dean Jacobs, W. P. Reeves, W. J. Steward, G. P. Williams, Jessie Mackay, Mary Col borne- Voel, Dolce Cabot, J. C. Anderson, Dora Wilcox, W. M. Marshall, A. H. Adams and others. I should like to quote the whole of C. C. Bowen's "The Battle of the Free," but tho concluding stanza of this finely patriotic poem must suffice : To A rniß ! To A vms ! When the battle rages fierce, And the deadly volleys pierce The small outnumbered army of the Inland of the Free ! When her dauntless hearts have chosen either death or victory. Where her warriors aro fighting, as the bravest only dare, For the birth-places of freedom and tho liberties of men ; Then New Zealand shall be there, In the van. Young New Zealand shall be there — Her rifles from the mountain and her horsemen from the plain, When tho foenmn's ranks aro raelingo'or tho slain, Pew in number— Btout of heart— They will come to take their part

In the dangers and the glories of the brave, To share in their triumph of their blood-stained grave. England exult ! For thy numberless sons are coming o'er the sea, To rally round the banner of the Island of the Free. Oh, England ! bear thee proudly In the direst need of war ; For thy sons— the sons of Freedom, Are sailing from afar. They are coming ! They are coming ! To surround the banner of the Island of the Sea, And to fight in the Battle of the Free. " Change Not the Name," by the same writer, is grandly eloquent. Here are the three last verses : Change not the name, the watchword it shall ring From pole to pole of truth and liberty. Our sons' sons proudly to that name shall cling As ivy 1 o the tree. Oh, change it not for newer, vainer claims, To fools and children leave such paltry toys ; Let fettered lands delight in idle names, In glitter, pomp and noise. Be ours brave deeds beyond the vulgar reach; Be ours to seek a nobler, purer fame— A fame that lives beyond the power of speech, That rests not on a name. Three sonnets and the " Jubilee Hymn," by Dean Jacobs are given. I like this immensely :

THE AVON.

I love thee, Avon ! though thy banks have known No deed of note, tliy wand'ring course along, No bard of Avon hath pour'd forth in song Thy tuneful praise ; thy modest tide hath flown For centuries on, unheeded and alone. I love thee for thy English name, but more Because my countrymen along thy shore Have made.new homes. Therefore not all unknown Henceforth thy streams shall flow. A little while Shall see thy wastes grow lovely. N"ot in vain Shall England's sons dwell by thee many a mile ; With verdant meads und fields of waving grain Thy rough uncultured banks ere long shall smile ; Heav'n-pointing spires shall beautify thy plain. "The Passing of the Forest," by W. P. Reeves, is splendid poetry. This is the last yerse ;

Keen is the axe, the rushing fire streams bright, Clear, beautiful and fierce it spreads for Man The Master, set to change and stern to smite, Bronzed pioneer of Nature. Aye, but scan The ruined beauty wasted in a night, The blackened wonder God alone could plan, And builds not twice ! A bitter price to pay Is this for progress— beauty swept away !

I would like to quote many other verses, but I cannot. It only remains to congratulate Mr. Alpers upon producing such a valuable little volume, and the publishers upon the excellence of the printing and binding.

Mr. W. H. Webbe is entitled to the heartiest congratulation upon the publication of his invaluable work, The Pianists' A. B.C. Primer and Guide. The work, which is dedicated to H.R.H. the Duchess of York, is published by Messrs Forsyth Brothers, of London and Manchester. In his preface Mr Webbe says:— "This volume is not intended in any way to take the place of other existing Primers and Guides, or works on piano-playing, but rather to supplement and add to their usefulness, being, as it is, a collection of hints, rudiments, rules, reminders, and references, which may prove of some value to both teachers and learners." Attention

is drawn in a concise manner to many subjects of importance connected with the art of piano-playing, some of which are either omitted or else dealt with in the most cursory manner in ordinary tutors, as for instance, technique, touch, and tone production, fingering, rules for practising, pedalling, metrical accentuation, rhythm and phrasing, musical forms, accompanying, sight reading, ensemble-playing, memorising, expression, general faults, and interpretation s. Mr Webbe also gives a brief history of the pianoforte, including au admirable description of the instrument, a guide to the piano manufacturers of the world, and he writes fully and carefully upon many other matters of interest to musicians. The Pianists' A.B.G. can be obtained through any bookseller in the colony.