LITERARY CHAT

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VII, Issue 1, 1 October 1902, Page 73

LITERARY CHAT

By "THE SAGE."

Horace G. Hutchinson, the author of two books on golf, one entitled " Peter Steele, the Cricketer," and another " Dreams and Their Meanings/ has just brought out, in Longman's Colonial Library a more pretentious work entitled " A Friend of Nelson." It was forwarded for review by Messrs Upton and Co. The story is told in the first person ; the narrator introduces himself as master's mate on " H.M.S. Monarch/ lying wounded on the deck after the important engagement off Copenhagen in 1801. Colonel Hutchinson, " ever the smartest of the smart/ rose from the deck, his new uniform breeches besmirched with blood and powder. The wounded mate, being light-headed from a blow just received, burst into a peel of laughter. The Colonel exclaimed : "By George, sir, you are a plucky fellow to have a laugh on your lips at a moment like this, and with a broken leg to help you see the joke/ This lucky laugh greatly influenced the mate's after life. The Colonel took a great fancy to him, and eventually introduced him to Lord Nelson. He showed him a letter from the great Commander, of which a fac simile is given, acknowledging a recommendation of him. Many stirring adventures fol-

low. As commander of a despatch cutter in the Mediterranean, he is chosen by Nelson to take despatches home on which " England's safety might depend." " Crowd on your sail/ lose not an hour — not a minute/ was the order. Dense fog and inaccuracy of charts get him into a fix. After running down a fisher smack, and rescuing from a watery grave a half-drowned Frenchman and lady, he wrecked the vessel and landed in Parson Darby's smuggler cave. The Frenchman stole the despatches. With Parson Darby's aid he was caiight, after an exciting chase, and the despatches delivered. He gets courtmartialed for the loss of his vessel, and falls in love with the French lady. On Nelson's return he saves the hero of Trafalgar from assassination with the assistance of his old friend, the Prince of Smugglers, and effectually disposes of the villain of the story. The book is distinctly a readable one.

While chatting over books with Mr Arey, of Wildman, Lyell and Arey, the other day, Hall Caine's great masterpiece, " The Eternal City/ naturally received attention. The sale of this work has been very considerable in Auckland, and doubt-

less all over New Zealand, and what is more, the book is still constantly asked for. Mr Arey's firm had just received a new stock to meet the demand. In what, then, does its charm principally consist ? In the force and power of its sympathies which appeal straight to the heart of the reader ; in the intensely realistic and vivid manner in which the author has recorded his great dream of a universal brotherhood ; in the selection of a subject which cannot fail to have an ever-increasing interest to everyone who sees around him so much misery and suffering ; in the choice of the " Eternal City " as •the scene of Rossi's action ; in the masterful manner he has brought together the most seemingly impossible elements by making Rossi and Homa fall in love with each other, and Rossi and the Pope prove to be father and son. These are some few of the points which have made the "Eternal City " one of the most talked-of books of the day. In his great conception of a Socialistic reformer, Hall Came has introduced an element which, I believe^ no other novelist has ever associated with the character. Rossi's infinite love for his fellowmen included oppressed and oppressors alike. Therein lay his great power.

book of an entirely different kind, which, has had, and is still having, a great sale at Messrs Wildman, Lyell and Arey's is one which I reviewed in our July number, Conan Doyle's " The Hound of the Baskeryilles." The reason of its popularity appears to be that it is almost universally acknowledged to be the best of this author's exceptionally clever detective' stories, and that Sherlock Holmes appears in it as fit and fresh as when he made his first bow to the public,

" The Lesson of- Evolution " is the title of Frederick Wollasfcon Hutton's last literary production.

It consists of two essays, the first, from which the title of the book is taken, formed the inaugural address at the meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Hobart on January Bth, 1902. Part 1., of the second essay, which deals with " Early Life on the Earth/ was also given as an address at a Sydney meeting of the same Association. To these the author has added Part 11. , entitled " Later Life on the Earth/ which appears for the first time. The whole system of evolution from its commencement, with its purposes, is given in a remarkably clear, concise and readable manner. The book will be invaluable to those who wish to get a good grasp of the subject, but have not time to study the more voluminous works devoted to it. Many of our preachers would also find it of great service as proving how science assists religion instead of opposing it, as in many of their sermons they strive to make us believe. The book is to be obtained from Messrs Simpson and Williams, Christchurch, and is sure to obtain a ready sale.

" Heather and Fern " is the taking title of a volume of verse which Mr J. Liddell Kelly, of Wellington, has in the press, and purposes publishing at Christmastide. It suggests a happy blend. The subtitle, " Songs of Scotland and Maoriland," is scarcely necessary. With a patriotic spirit the author declined an English publisher's tempting offer, and decided to publish in New Zealand. Those who are familiar with Mr Kelly's Maori songs, many of which have appeared in this Magazine, and who are aware that his Scottish songs were mentioned and quoted in " A Hundred Scottish Poets," will look forward with pleasurable anticipation to " Heather and Fern." The book can be ordered in advance, which is an excellent way of securing an early copy.