REVIEW.

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 208, 18 October 1912, Page 9

REVIEW.

NEW CAROLS AND A NEW BOOK. Carols for Eastertide. In “ Carols of the Resurrection,” edited by Edgar I’ettman, we have tunes that arc appropriate and beautiful. \Ye do not doubt these carols will be appreciated and be used in Eastertide worship. Published at bd. Morgan ;nd Scott. A BOOK WORTH RHADING. “ Lotus Buds,” bv Amy WilsonCarmichael, Keswick Missionary, C.K.Z.M S., is not only a book worth, reading ; it is a book worth possessing, with its fifty 1 e mtiful illustrations of babies —Indian babies—and South Indian scenery.

The book,” says the preface,

“ has been written lor lovers 01 children. W’e would like to add that the book has been so cie%eriy written, with such insighi and sympathy, with such remarkable literary ability, that the story ol the hie and characteristics ol thtse rescued Indian babes is fascinating reading. W hetiier we lie lovers 01 children, of missionary work, 01 scenes 111 distant lands, or merely 01 general literature, this boox cannot lail 10 interest. ihe following extract can give but a faint idea ol the treasure contained in this delightiul volume : it is a brilliant moriuog in late \o winner. ihe worid, an wasneu and Cornell by the ra.ns, h«s not nail lime to get hot ami tirea, anu the air has that crystal quamy wmch is the etiarm 01 rms season m >outh india. i-.very wr.itkie on ihe tirown trunks of the trees in tne compound, every twig and leai, stands out with u sjH-cial distinctness 01 its own, ana the mountains in tne distance glisten as d made 01 precious stones. {suddenly, an unconscious of affinity or contrast, a uttie person in scariet comes dancing into the picture, vvhicn ana receives her. lor she belongs to it. I ler hands are full of (ilonosa lubes. ner\ red, terra-cotta, yellow, delicate out rose and green— such a wangling of colour, but nothing discordant — and the child, waving her spoils above her head, sings at the top 01 her voice something intended to be the chorus of a kindergarten song. •* Hut, t'hellalu, where did you get them?” for the lillies in the garden are supposed to lx* sate iroin attack. ( nellalu looks up with frank, brown eyes. “ For you !” she says br.elly in Tamil, but there is a wealth oi lorgivenoss in the tone us she offers her armful of Mowers. t'hellalu wonders at grown-up hearts which can harbour unworthy suspicions about blameless little children. As if she would have picked them !

“ Hut, (’hellalu, where did you get them ?” aml still looking grieved and surprised and forgiving t'hellalu explains Than, bj waj ol emphasis, the story is attempted in rnglish: ” Very good ? Vesh. Naughty ? No.” " 1 % patting herseli) very good ; yesh.” With t'hallaiu, speech is a mere adjunct to conversation, a sort of toot-note to a page of illustration. The illustration is the thing that speaks. So now both Tamil and Knglish are illuminated by vivid gesture of hands, feet, the whole body, indeed ; curls, and even eye lushes, play their part, and the final impression produced upon her cpiestloner is one ol Complete contrition for ever having so misjudged a thing so virtuous.

Could you see Che Haiti, as she st Aids pictured on page i.L with lingers and toes curled itt grieved surprise, you, too, would find her irresistible. I’/arie and Y meet ha,

Tara and Kvir, and a host of others, are all alike charm 114. The heart of the reader go s out to them and to their de.otel Accals ; any I as the purpos* of the work unfolds, the ccn.iction deepens that something should be done by the Indian ('»overnment, and done, if possible, soon, to help save this generation of children, nr some of them, from destruction. (Our than s arc due Messrs. Morgan and Scott, Ltd., the publishers of “ Lotus Buds.” The liftv illustrations are indeed works of art, vet the price is only b -.)