NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 13

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

MEN AND EVENTS. Makers of Modorn Europe. Portraits and Personal Impressions and Recoil®cfcions. By Count Carlo Sforaa. Blt.a Matnews, and Marrot. <2lc net.)

The motto on the title page of Count Sforza's book is from Thucydides: "The strength of a city is not ships or walls, but men." As a former Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, ho knew «' tho empirical and personal reasons for [statesmen's] acts, even when they cloaked them with pompous words in Elue or Yellow or Green Books, or from the rostrum of some Parliament." Ho admits that "the ultimate fate of political problems rest? with the inexorable evolution of history, transcending the will of individuals" —so far he is with Montesquieu; but his experience taught him that "from men, frequently from one generation of men, the successive forms and halts of these problems depend." It is now an old dispute, how far men are instruments, how far they are agents, and perhaps there is no settling it. At least, when the observer stands as close as Count Sforza did to tho actors in great events and has powers of observation a» acute, his records of the individual character and action are valuable, whether we think of them as biographical only, or as studies of the forces that make history. In the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles he took no part:

One may almost say that there was no human action there, so much did each one seem all too often fettered by pride (which was col ed patriotism), by vengeance (which v.as called justice), by fear (which was called prudence), with the result that, even of some of the many just and moral decisions of the Versailles Treaty, one could say that they were ''laudable acts committed with dark intentions," to repeat tha pyschological remark of Thomas Aquinas.

But he took part in "the more important conferences" that followed the war, during a time most favourable to judgment of the actors: the time ol" "the readjustment of old psychologies to new situations." What he has to say oi the statesmen of that period, seine dead, some still living but powerless, some living and still influential, is extraordinarily interesting, though often challengeable. Lord Curzon he sharply condemns for his l greatest error, "morally speaking" —that of "having seen . . . the dangers entailed by some of the fixed ideas of the Premier, and of never having put up the necessary opposition to them." This, he thinks, would have been "a threat of resignation; but he was too fond of his place to risk being taken at his word by Llovd (Jcorge."

Lord Curzon*a greatest pleasure in life . . . WHS t'l state a ease in a lon* and flov.ery speech, or in 8 doxen pages of beautiful Eng'.ish, and then —then to lo»» »)mo«t All interest in the further development' of the question. Happen what miffht, he alwayt* rcforrcd to this famous speech, or to his note. wherein, ft 1 ! contingencies having been mot, a sort of Curzonian ti.\;»otlichi* 01 what ivnu «ointj to happen had also been outlined.

A note of grievance sounds here, which is not left unexplained; but there is enough truth in the diagnosis of Curzon ns one "whose soul was still that of an Oxford student who weeps because he has not won a prize," who suffered from 1 ' mental immaturity'' and "cleverness," to make it useful. The genius of Lloyd George appears to Count Sforza "un-English." He is a Liberal whose "flood of ideas" has had a devastating effect on a "classical old British Party." The Count sometimes reminded him of the discrepancy between those post-Y : ar thunders in which ho appealed to popular sentiment and the cautious remarks which showed greater prudence and clearer vision of international possibilities. Onco he put the question, whether a more constant attitude would not have been better.

"No." ha answered rne once in Paris, "no it was too soon to expect crowds who had bled so heavily to recover their moral balance at; once. We had to »ivo satisfaction to the crowds, but, at the same time. Insert in the Treaty clauses for revision."

The pages on Bonar L?iw arc Icindlj and just. These on Balfour arc less acute; but there is something in the judgment that he was balanced nt a point of uselessncas —disliking Conservatives who "might have become a Minister in suffocating Hohenzollern Germany," but without a "messagefor his humbler countrymen/' the rising waves of whose enfranchisement he felt it useless to resist and Impossible to welcome. The chapters on the Dictators Kcmal, Mussolini, Lenin —are very gooa indeed; and the whole book is substantial and lively.

OUR OWN ECONOMICS. Outlines of Economics. By ? r ° f ®" or JPj. 5' SKF JKfc Whltcombe and Tombs, < l6s 10 New Za*lATi&, 16s 6d abroad.)

One of tho compensations of hard times —there are many others —is that they make us think. Even America, if we may believe Mr J. H. Thomas, is now "up against it," and trying, with Great Britain, to escape destruction by "facing the facts." Unfortunately most of us do not know how to think, or what or when, and when we fall back on facing the facts don't know where to find them. We have, in short, very little to think with, even if we are politicians and statesmen, and when trouble comes turn to quacks or sink into ignorant and foolish fears. That is probably why the publishers of this text-book of economics describe it as a "book for business men." Politicians and statesmen can flourish _ whether times are good or bad. Business men can't, and the publishers, being bumness men themselves, wisely offer their, product to the market that must have it. It will be interesting to see what business men do with it. No other book of the same kind (except its own earlier draft) has ever been produced in New Zealand, and of those produced outside New Zealand none has a direct .bearing on New Zealand's special problems. Except Dr. Condliffe, whose study is not economics pure and simple, P ro " feasor Murphy is the only author (if we exclude also Mr Downie Stewart) who has expressed economic principles m New Zealand terms, and the only one therefore whose lessons have the kind of reality the psychologists say lessons must have if simple minds are to profit by them. The old conceptions classifications are still there —utility, diminishing utility, demand, elasticity of demand, satisfaction of wants, ™ ar " ginal returns, etc., etc., etc. —but they are related to our political and industrial problems, and especially our social problems, instead of coming to us "Op l an academic erewhon which our earthclogged boots will never tread. For Professor Murphy associates himself

ivitli those who deny that economics is the science of wealth, and nothing more; or who say, rather, that it is not adequately defined in those bald terms. While he makes it clear that undue importance can be attached to definition, that much time can be wasted over merely verbal disputes, and that economics is a science which lacks, and always must lack, a special and exact terminology, he includes in its scope, not only the "methods by which man modifies hi 3 environment in order to adapt it to the satisfaction of his wants," but the "motives whieh induce him so to modify it," and the consequences to which his modifications lead. He knows that in its positive aspects there can no more be New Zealand economics than there can be New Zealand logic or New Zealand mathematics. But in its practical aspects, and even practical ideals, nations have their own economics, and the supreme merit of this book is its alternate separation and combination of these two problems and two lines of investigation. If a complaint may be made it is that Professor Murphy over-estimates the average man's capacity, not merely to absorb ideas, but to cover printed space. No one could make ideas clearer than he makes them, one at a time. But he advances from one to another so relentlessly that only the toughest students and business men will find it easy to keep level with him. Perhaps he does not wish it to bo easy. Even if that is the case he ought to be merciful, and in his next edition insert breathing spaces, long and short, in his main journeys. His present arrangement, five Parts subdivided into eighty-three sections numbered consecutively from cover to cover, is logical and convenient. It is, however, terrifying to timid readers to turn over page after page without ever coming, or feeling that they are coming, to an end.

FITZGERALD AND OMAR. Ruba/yc-t of Omar Khayyam. First a-nd fourth renderings. Introduction by &e?rga Salntsbury. Illustrations by Willy Pogany. George G. Harrap. (25s net.)

With the exception of the coloured illustrations, which are of the cheap almanac order, this volume is a delight from cover to cover. Of the Rubaiyat itself —It is difficult to say themselves, or think of anything but Fitzgerald's " " everything ha* been said that needs to be said in reply to the attentions of uplifters and flappers. It will survive them, and survive us, and some day perhaps become a legend liKp Homer and the P?alin*. But it is worth hearing Professor Saintsbury smacking his lips like this:

I have sometimes, prompted by a fellowfeeling for wine, as well as by other aptnesses of the comparison, imagined the Rubaiyat as a cask in which some noble growth of Bordeaux or of Burgundy has been drowned in gallons of * 'ordinaire,*' some "stummed" liquour, and not a little water, Home oi a dec.dvdly dirty,

and then adding that Fitzgerald's miracle was to

give back about a pint for a gallon—Ms enemies say half a pint—with the purity of brandy, tho strength of port, and the flavour and bouquet of a champion vintage of HautBrion or Komanee-Conti.

And if, not being bibbers of wine, we dislike or suspect that summary, we have our choice of others:

The combination of scepticism in things of tho spirit and hedonism in things of the | flesh is, of course, universal enough—the hedonist who is not sceptical-mystic is no man but a pig—worse than a pig as being not himself eatable—while the sceptic who has no flashes of hedonism is a dreary creature. But in this almost universality there are genera and species and individuals, and as th« number diminishes the interest increases. In this sort of topsy-turvy hierarchy it seems probable that the Astronomer of Nishapur, at his best, might rank not bo very far below the Preacher himself.

Fina'ly, there is the commentator s comparison of Omar—when E itzgerald hns finished with him —to Lucretius, with his "passion of helplessness; passion of doubt; passion of the palliatives of sense; passion of delight in the music of word and word-suggestion.

It has left behind, or below, whatever of foulness and whatever of mere frivolity there was in its original, and has soared above them on the wings of pure poetry. It baa nvoided mere "goodiness" and mere sent' mentality. It is. perhaps, hardly cheerful; but it is at the worst not gloomy or whining or simply fractious, and if there is suffering in it there is enjoyment. Like xts great Ijatm counterpart, it suggests that, though you may refuse to be "conviva satur, there are at least in some cases, grounds for contending that you should be a guest contented for the time; and, whether or no, it "sings." Not many have bettered that Binging in its own tone and key. j

When the George Saintsburys say thine* like thnt, the John Paynes are easily forgotten.

AN ACCOMPLISHED ROGUE. The Prince of Pickpockets. A Study of George Barrington, who left his Country for his Country's Good. By Richard S. Lambert. Taber and Faber, Ltd. <lSs 8d net.)

Soon after Governor Hunter reached New South Wales, in 1795, some of the convicts proposed to him the opening of a theatre in Sydney. He agreed. The theatre was built —it cost mora than £loo—and at the first performance a prologue was spoken, of which one line has become famous. It would be a pity to detach it from its immediate context: From distant climeß, o'er wide-spread seas, we come, Though not with much £clat or beat of drum: True patriots all; for. be it understood. We left our country for our country's good: No private views disgrae'd our generous zeal. What urpr'd our travels was. our country s weal: . . .. And none will doubt, but that our emigration. Has prov'd most useful to the British Nation. The prologue has always been called the Prologue, on no better evidence than that his piratical publishers in London, when tliey issued tho reformed pickpocket's "History of Sew South Wales" in 1802. printed the prologue with an account cf the theatrical performance of 1706. Hut in 1905 Mr Alfred Lee, a Sydney collector, came on a copy of ''Original Poems and Translations . . . chiefly b.v Susanna Watts," a book published in London in the same year as Barrinaton's "History." The prologue appears on page 84, described as follows:

The Newspapers havinj? announced tha«t a Theatre was to be opened at Sydney Town, Botany Bay, and Plays to be performed by the Convicts, this Prologue la supposed to have been spoken by the celebrated Mr B-rr-ngton, on that occasion, 1801. By a Gentleman.

A pencil noto to, the poem gave the author's name ns "Hy. Carter, Esq. He was "a gentleman of considerable literarv attainments and groat benevolence" Barrington's publisher, then, stole Carter's prologue, spoken at the opening of a later theatre, in 1801, and nDO rr> r> r ' n tf>d it the 1 . theatre and to Barrington. And it belonged so beautifully to that versatile rogue 1 Mr Lambert's book is an excellent and amusing account of him. Barrington had wits and wit, good appearance and the actor's ability to make use of it, remarkable dexterity in his profession, and equally remarkable dexterity in getting out of trouble in Court. One of the oddest and most diverting episodes in his career was his going to Garden Theatre, "with a view to dome a little business." and sitting beside Miss Elizabeth West, an eminent practitioner, but unknown to him. Having picked his pocket very neatly, she found among the spoil his cunning three-jointed knife, a key with a hook, a long drag, and a ring with springs. Miss \Vest was an intelligent woman, quick to grasp a situation and act. She introduced herself and arranged a partnership, which, successful while it lasted, did

not last long. Barrington had a close c:iJl \vhon hp stole Count Orloff'e snufflox, triumphantly got awav with the Karl of -V1 cxboro.igh's diamond Ord#r at the Queen's Birthday Levee in January, 17<6, and then was sentenced to three years on the hulks for stealing the Widow Dudman's purse, containing a half-guinea, three shillings and sixpence, and a pair of cheap silver studs. An admirable chapter describes the terrible conditions of life on the hulks. They did not reform Harrington. When released, ho turned from the theatres to the churches, imd in St. Paul's Cathedral robbe<J the renowned bluestocking, Mrs Montagu, of two guineas and soeu shillings. At this point perhaps it is bettor to make a long leap to bis transportation. He was well received in Australia, took up farming, was freed By Governor Philip, and achieved both honour and substance as constable of Parramatta. High Constable, and u landholder. He had earned a iiappy end, and was so likeable a fellow that it is disappointing to find that he died as "a sad wreck oi his former self " Mr Lambert has done a very good piece of work, of much more" durable value than the title suyeests.

OUR DEBT TO GREECE. Til a Greek Way. By Edith Hamilton. 3. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd. (10s Gd net.)

Miss Hamilton heard the famous Wilamowitz-Mollendorf perorate: "So too the dear ghosts of that great departed world of Greek poetry will not sneak to us unless we give them of our heart's blood to drink." This a heating doctrine, a little dangerous to all but cool and steady heads. It. seems to license (though in truth is does not), or even to urge, an unrestrained, emotional response to Greek art: which is the least likely of all to bo just in itself or, when expressed in an interpretation, to persuade others. Miss Hamilton glances humorously at her own weakness: Last, but "by no means least, ray thanks are due Rosamond Gilder, Elling Aannestad, John Mason Brown, Donald Mitchel Oenslager. They have endured much in the making of this book; listened tirelessly to ®y vehement and wearing enthusiasm; made me rewrite all zny favourite passages. . Sufßaminanda erat. But the braking should have been harder: The turbulent democracy that Rare birth to the Old Comedy, and the England over whose manners and customs Queen Victoria ruled supreme, had little in common, and yet the mid-Victorian Gilbert of "Pinafore" fame saw eye to ©ye with Aristophanes as r.o other writer has done. The differences Between Aristophanes and Gilbert are superficial; they are due to the differences of their time* In their essential genius they are alike. The unknown is always magnificent. Aristophanes wears the halo of Greece, and is at the same time softly dimmedby the dnst of centuries of scholarly elucidation. A comparison, therefore, with an author familiar and beloved, and never really thought about, wears a look of irreverence^—also of ignorance. Dear nonsensical Gilbert, .and the magnificent Aristophanes, poet, political reformer, social nplifter, philosophical thinker, with a dozen titles to immortality—how is it possible to compare themf . • • tfhe peculiar excellence of comedy is its excellent foolery, and Aristophanes' claim to ixn* mortality iB based upon one title only: he was a master maker of comedy, he could fool excellently. Here Gilbert stands side by 6ide with him. He, too, could write the most admirable nonsense. There hat neTer been better fooling than his, end a comparison with him carries nothing? derogatory to the great Athenian.

A little more pressure on the springs of this most amenable argument, and we should see Gilbert popped up into first p'ace among the comic playwrights of all time. Of course Miss Hamilton is frequently more judicious—and needs to be; and her warmth makes her most judicious pages very good, pleasant reading.

BENIGN AGE. The Tears That Croum. By Gw«n Clear, Ziousmana, Green and Co.

This is a good novel, written -with, a. firm but delicate hand. Alice Farnham, a girl in London in the 'nineties, was prevented by her mother from marrying a man considerably older than herself. ■ She married another man, without loving him; but MS3 Clear has no story or increasing bitterness and pain to tell. As she ages, Alice grows wise, calm, strong, and happy. When her own daughter wishes to marry a much older man she will not interfere: "I don't say that it's fortunate, but I do say that I'm not going to try to ruin her life as mine was ruined. . . . As to happiness, we shall see. Everybody takes that risk." As she spoke, leaning back and closing her eyes for a second, Stephen Fletcher had "a sudden vision of the essentials of beauty .... expression, surface, texture —the fine and exquisite finish of Time itself." Alice herself, her sister, their mother, and * ranees, Alice's daughter, are a well distinguished group. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. October's Child. By Donald JOMPh. SUda &Xathews and Kurot, Md. A novel of childhood and adolescence. The young hero, Lucius, is acutely sensitive and his emotional are an almost continuous series: October's child is full of Woe." Likeable and intelligible as Mr Joseph makes him, soma renders will want to deal him a hearty kick. Criterion Miscellany—Ko. 21. Tie and the Public. By George Blake. Eaber and Faber. (Is net.) A sane and sharp review erf - the Press. Mr Blake finds the position "full of danger." For the "awful fact" is that "tlie masses buy and support those papers that have the crudest appeal." As You Were. By Wilfred Benson. Hogarth Press. The delightful, ironic sense of comedy that Mr Benson exhibited in his two previous novels flags in this storv of Army trainees in 1918. Its theme is vaguer, and the characters are less lively. Cross and Sword. A Xaie of Jow of Arc. By David Ker. W. and B. Chambew, limited. (3s 6d net.) Young readers will enjoy this sound, historical romance on a great theme. From the opening scene, when t>e solitary horseman eyes the "black and blasted waste" of Lorraine, to the death of Joan by fire, invention and fact march well together.

India and the Simon Report. By C. y. Andrew*. Allen and Unwin. (9b net.)

Mr Andrews is an ardent admirer and follower of Gandhi. His-book is loss useful as a criticism of the Simon Report than as fen exposition of what Gandhi wants.