NEW BOOKS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 716, 15 January 1910, Page 9

NEW BOOKS.

"Rosemary," by Elenor.Mordaunt. Thos. • C. Lothian, Melbourne. Walter Scott Publishing Co., London. . '.The new stylo of writing essays in letter form is uot so. attractive as tho oldfashioned method, which was at once more .self-contained and moro . dignified. It does-not lend itself to tho coherent treatment of : any ouo subject, . and it makes it.. very easy for .tho writer, to lapso into careless modes of thought and expression... It, is' probably tho facility with which such essays can bo written thatlias commended tho stylo to so many women writers of to-day, and tho fact that of thoso women, many havo more sentiment than sense to; express, makes tho wily reader,slow to.adventure on any such, series of letters discoursing of things in general.: And yet, hero is a book which at: first glance' possesses all. tho failings of its school, and proves after a little industrious exploration to be well worth reading. It is full of colour, originality, and charm. Thero aro pages that oho would choose'to read aloud—a severe tost—and thero aro pages that one skips because they seem to ho merely, imitative. Thore aro many. charming, little word pictures full of colour, and a' groat ;doal that will not only intorest the reader, but will probably bo read :a second, time.. Rosemary is very far above most other,works of its.class. 'Totted Brains," by Keble Howard and John Hassall. Stanley,Taul and' Co., ; London: Is. .-'■■ "Potted brains" may be recommended as excellent, and original fare,, more'of,.an appetiser than .'a food, and the very first picturo .'suggests that it is also a fiery stimulant. The aim ;of tho authors has been to. provide their, readers .with quick culture, ;'by..means .of pen nud' pencil sketches of some of the people best worth understanding.' Aristotle/Mrs: Bccton, Mario Corolli, and' Milton are among tho thirty-one very, briefly dealt with, Mr. Koblov' Howard supplying , the . letter-. •press,'and Mr. John Hassall the delightful pictures.. Isaiah and Rudyard Kipling .share the distinction of not being, portrayed. Mr,: Howard alone deals with 'them... "Isaiah," he • says, ."lived at ; a i time- when "people /were so slow and so I stupid that they were simply asking for trouble,; Isaiah felt it .to be-his duty to speak' to them'ih: pretty plain language, which he : :did:'' Whenever : he wanted- to bo, particularly nasty, he addressed his readers'as,'ye.'' This stung." Turning to,tho.'accdunt.of Mr. Kiplingi the : reader simply, findsn'the '-.din'iction: "Kipling,-' Eudyard. (see Isaiah)." X "You had,' better :-.be'. very careful . what you say.. about Charles Dickens,"; says Mr. Howard;. . "Many a son has :becn' turned from the door, for having said it,. in a i moment of excitement at the family supper-table: 'I can't stand Dickens.'.An appreciation for Dickens. is a sign of a good-hearted / fellow, and will get youyour, cheques, cashed inany hotel, in' England. Rub your hands, together:'vigorously when Mr. Pickwick is l mentioned, and glisten.: at the ;eye a little when .the .conversation' turns . ; on" David' Copper-, field.";;. One'- of" tho :best things in. the book; is '■■ the account, of : Mr. ; ' 'Winston .Churchill's _affection ■■• for'.the' works, "of: Jane Austen, with a.vefy happy; and appropriate quotation on retrenchment.-