VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1960, 17 January 1914, Page 9

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

A Lucas Do Luxo. Mr. E. V. Lucas's dolightful anthology of verso and prose, "Tho Open Road, a Book for Wayfarers," originally published in 1899, has now reached its twentieth Edition. Tlio publishers, Messrs. Methuen and Co., have now issued the book in an edition de iuxo, with illustrations in coolur by Claudo A. Shepperson, A.R.W.S. Tho format is a noble quarto, tho ,typo employed is largo and clear, and the artistic spacing of tho letterpress and il ie typographical beauty generally of the book are most praiseworthy. It is too late in the day to praise tho good tasto and discretion displayed by Mr. Lucas in his selection of tho various pooms and proso sketches, of which the volume is. composed. Mr. Lucas is easily first amongst'latter-day anthologists/and shines specially in his clever arrangement of tho selected pieces into well ordered groups. As to tho collection itself, "it has," says its modest compiler, "no claims to completeness of any kind; it is just a garland of good oren-kindling poetry nnd proso fitted to urge folk into tho open air, and onco there to keep them glad they came . . .. to provide lazy reading for tho .time of rest,- with perhaps a phrase or two for tho feet to step to and the mind to brood on when tho rest is over." The Charm of the Road. As showing tho' diversity of authors and pieces quoted, let us tako tho proup headed "The Road." Opening with Titania's "Courtesy to tho Wayfarcr," Mr. Lucas gives us poeme by Stevenson and William Barnes (a delightful bit of Dorset dialect). Bliss Carman, the Canadian poet,, is next represented by his "Joys of tho Koad," and then the compiler harks back to the far away Greek anthology (Mackails translation) and .show's liow Hcrraoa, tho Guardian of the Ways, was honoured in verse by tho ancient Greek poots. . JXext follows a swinging ballad bv_Hilaire Belloc, who, in his "Path to Rome,' has equalled and almost bettered his model, Stevenson's "Travels With a Donkey," and anon, again, como quotations from authors ae diverse m style as Walt Whitman, Wil-, Jiam Watson, Alice Meynell, Frances Thompson, Browning, T. E. Brown, (the Manx poot), Wordsworth and Shelie*. Arnold and Keats, John Masefield, Maurice Hewlett, and' W. B. Yeats borrows ramous passage, in "Lavengro":~ "Life is sweet, brother. -.' There s day and night, brother". both sweet things; sun, moon, and stars, all sweet things; there's .like. . wise a wind on, the health " is quoted on Ue title page, aud a yet more appropriate quotation from Stevenson precedes Mr. Lucas's "Argument. ■ Stevenson's verse is, worth 'remembering:— j... ~; • r . And this shall be for music-when no one elsevis near, •■ ..- .' , .- ■';■■•• The fino song of ; smging,;the;irard;sonff' to hear! '• - : .-< '~■:»;■>■!.■ v , ," That only. I;remember,^latyonly-ybu' the roadside firo..-'. ; , :"■'■: - r - ,-■"':■";: "The Clamour of tha Town." ,w Far ? woll to Winter and Town " Iho Lover Sings;' "Sun and Cloud' and the Windy Hills," "Birds, Blossoms, and.Treess," "Summer Sports and 1 astimes," "Garden, and Orchard," The- Sea and the River," "Night and the btars," arc tho titles of various other groups, tho purely human interest being represented by selections grouped under the. titles of "A Littlo Company of Good , Country People," "Companions, ' "Refreshment and the Inn," and. "A Handful of Philosophy " With characteristically , sly humour, the anthologist closea 'his volume with an extract from Charles Ifamb, "The Glamour of tho Town." in which Elia, ever a champion of urban joys, boldly claims that hie beloved London streets provide richer delights than any country scenes:— y .... Let them talk of lakes and mountains r.nd romantic dales—all that fantastic stuff; givo me a ramble by night in tho winter - nights m London—tho Lamps lit — the' pavements of the motley Strand crowded with to and fro passengers —the sliops all brilliant, and stuffed with obliging customers and obliged tradesmen—give mo the old book~etalb of London—a walk in the bright Piazzas of Covcnt Garden. I defy a man to bo dull in such - places—perfect Mahometan paradises upon , earth!.''... "■ ■ An Ideal .'Gift'-Booit! There is not a page in this handsome volume 'which-,, will,, not furnish, some choice piece of, literature, and-although, for constant', use l —and. there .aro. not a few book-lovers • who. wuuld. as soon travel without .a copy of ""The Open Road" es'without a, toothbrush—the pocket edition will always hayo, its admirers, it is.'goo'd that there sliould now be availably a,, handsome.,. large-type edition such;as-tho'one before me. Mr. Sheppersph's illustrations display bold draughtsmanship, and tho colour printing is delicitcly charming. Tho arlist is specially successful with his tree studies." With its handsome typo, its charming illustrations, and its exceptionally tasteful binding, this edition do luxe ol Mr. Lucas's famous antliolopy is an ideal gift book, and as such should be widoly popular with liook-niiverc' Review copy per Whitcombe and Tombs. India Through American Classes. Not for some years have-1 read a moro pleasantly written and generally interesting book, oh India and tho Indian people than' Mr. M. M. Shoemaker'si "Indian Pages and Pictures" (G. P. Putnam and Sons; per Gcorgo RobertBon and Co.). Mr. Shoemaker is a wealthy American who has written quite a number of books of travel —his "Islam' Lands," and "The Hoart of the Orient" are familiar titles—and possesses a decidedly happy gift for investing his descriptions of oft-depictod countries and cities with a now and quite fascinating interest. This is his second book on India, an earlier volumo having been devoted to Southern India. Ho now describes. his journeyings and experiences in Northern India, paying' Bpccial attention to the native states of tho Hajputana, to Sikkim, the Punjaub, and last, but not least, in interest, Kashmir. Two of his most interesting chapters doal with Oudeypoor and Chitor, two quaint, littlo known cities, which, by «tho way, figure prominently in Kipling's story, "Tho Naulahka." It is when one reads, as ono does in Mr. Shoemaker's pages, that Chitor, , "tho Paraso) of tho World," was captured by "Bappa Rawal," whose loincloth was five hundred yards long, whoso spear was too heavy for mortal to lift, from "Man Singh," a Mori princo, over eleven hundred years old, when Charlemagne reigned in Europe," that ono grasps somo idea of the portentous antiquity of theso Indian cities. A Story From Chitor. Thoso of my loaders who remember tho gruesome adventure of Kipling's horo, the young American drummer.

who found his way into "the Cow's Mouth" at Chitor, and was lucky enough to find his way out again, may bo iutorested in tho following extract from Mr. Shoemaker's description of what happened at Chitor whon the Mussulmans (somewhere about 1303) finally drove out tho Rajputs:— Tho Rajputs appear 'to have realised that their ruin was inevitable, as the Mussulmans had decreed that this last refuge of tho idolators should be destroyed. Rana Lakshman desired to save at least one of his twelve sons to perpetuate his dynasty, but the military spirit of Chitor. the' blood-thirsty "Kangra Itance, appeared and declared:."! must hayo royal victims: twelve crowned princes must shed their blood, thon their descendants will rule." Lakshman told his council of tho vision and its demands, but they implored him to regard it but as a fearful dream, . whereupon tho Kangra Ranee appeared to all, crying: "I must have Royal blood; let every day a prince bo crowned and reign for three days, and then go forth to death in battle. Only on these conditions will I remain with you." This was carried out until the last son was reached, whom the old fatlier per- • Buaded to escape secretly to the mountains. The father then announced that ho would perish in his stead, and the awful sacrifico of Johar was decided upon. The caverns at the Cow's Mouth were filled with inflammables, and on this vast pyre all the women, jewels, and diamonds, all that could excite the cupidity of tho enemy, were placed. The women numbered several thou- , sands, led by their queen, Pud-, manee, who so escaped insult. The torch was then applied and at this moment the Eana threw open the outer gates, and with the last warriors rushed upon the enemy and perished to a-man, but only after taking terrible vengeance. The British Rule. . Of Akbar's "Town of' Victory," of "Tho Seven Cities of Delhi," of Benares, Calcutta, Lahore, Peshawar —and the Khyber Pass —Mr. Shoemaker gives some interesting descriptions, but ho is at his best in his account of his long joumeyings in Kashmir, of which picturesque and still, comparatively speaking, little known region, ho gives a scries of most fascinating pictures. The author does not, as a rule, concern himself very much with present-day Indian problems, but it is satisfactory to notice that although he does not refrain from adverse criticism upon individual mistakes —and worse tnan mis-, takes—of tho. British officials, he oor- ; dially admits the splendid results of British .rule and scoffs, at. what, is ■ appar-. ently. the common American impression; 'that a democratic method of admin js- , . tra.ti_on_ should, bo ■ introduced'. ■ ...This , admission , , ' I" may remind v my readers,; >'. was . - : . ;:jajso.: •'■'., made.-1; by 'J Othivt, ■;.:kec]iV^! ; ; ( 'A^rjca^ < ;ntid ■ '■ student,;;of ■ , ' , ' questions, '■■' Mr. P.rico.-Collier,,-..whpsq.'.'.book'-jrVTho-'West:in commentary f ttlej'-Bofc -phly* in India,-but' throughout^thoiEast;-Mr.-.; Shoemaker's volume is provided with'a' series of excellent illustrations, somo seventy; in. number, many of them being from photographs by tfro author's wife. The book ihakes excellent reading throughout. To any New Zealander contemplating an Indian tour, it-would, be most useful, as tho'author not infrequently gives somo excellent hints ou what to see-and how best to see it. In Central America. Since the- construction of the Panama Canal was taken . in hand by the Americans the eyes of the world have been increasingly directed towards tho Central American ■ Republics, their splendid natural resources, arid, alas, their, long record of villainously' bad government. I/i a recently-published work, "Guatemala and the States of Central America" 'London, G. Bell and Sons; Wellington, Whitcombe and. Tombs), Mr. Charles W." DomvilleFife, whose previously published volumes on Brazil and other South.American States are well and . favourably known, waxes quit-5 enthusiastic over the prosperous future in store for tho Central American States if only their inhabitants can refrain from their old and reprehensible habit of indulging in more or less frequent revolutions. The author presents his readers with a detailed description of tho natural features, government, commercial and industrial enterprises, and social life of Guatemala., Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Salvador, and Honduras, - his book being the result of several months' travelling in these countries. To Guatemala, ho de-votes nearly half his book. It is the largest, most populous, and by far tho most important State in Central America, having an area of nearly 50,000 square miles, and a population of nearly two millions. With a coast-line on two oceans, it .has fine for oversea commerce, and although the narroiv stretches of country bordering tho oceans are subject to excessive heat, the interior table-lands: enjoy n. healthy climate-. According to.Mr. Fife the Government is now'fairly settled, and education is bnjng specially encouraged.' but I notice that he does not refer at any length to the President Cobrera,, who, according , 'to an American writer (Mr. G. P. , PutiininY, in his recently-' published book , . "The. Southland of Nortli Amorien," is a cruel tyrant, nnd has "riot boon .wen in pub'in for two ypiire." According " to Mr. Fife, f.'obrera "is nil activn supporter of the Central American Peace Conference, that vnlunbl" movement 'promoted' by Mm United States, towards the establishment of a better understandine between these neighbouring Republics of New America."' ' , "Send Moro Roue." .. ~ Guatemala rejoices in a system ot compulsory, military service of ono year's duration, between the ages of eighteen and twenty. ' As, however, the rich may' purchase immunity, and recruiting is confined chiefly'to the poor, the anti-militarist is not unknown in tlio land, and "tho Government reservos the right to send out their, pressgang when urgent necessity arises." During tho last revolution, so tho story goes, the commandant of an inland town sent down to a villago for volunteers. Escorted by a company of soldiers, they came—somo bound hand and foot and pack-mules, some tied together, others walking with their, hands roped to tho mules' tails. With this consignment tho commandant received - from tho officer in cliargo the following note:—"l send you herewith tho volunteers required. If you want any more, send moro rope." > Indian Superstition. Mr. Domville-Fife gives a favourable account of the Guatemalan people, specially praising them for their unfailing courtesy and kindness to strangers. Tlie native race- are descendants of tlio Quiches. Toitocs, and Caribs. Nominally a Catholic, and. us a rule, a niost devout son of the Church, the Indian, says our author, "will often creep awny with awe in his soul to consult tho old.

wrinkled wizard, whoso rites of mingled (iro and dovil worship still exercise a charm over the untutored mind. Then with words of magic in his ears ho will return to tlio church, and there, before the Christian'altar, will burn the same, meenso that bis ancestors hundreds of yetiriTago prepared for their idol worship. In what a New Zealander would call the "back-blocks" of Guatemala "some of tho Indians firmly behevo that tho camera, or tho mail behind it, can firo into his stomach a pailful of snakes.". Nevertheless, the author succeeded in setting somo excellent and interesting "snaps," the illustrations in'his book being very numerous. In tho capital there is a fino State Opera House, indeed most of the Central American capitals seem to bo exceptionally well supplied with amusements. The Future of Central Amerioa. Tho whole region—Nicaragua, particularly—is volcanic, earthquakes being of frequent occurrence, and at times most disastrous-in their effects. -But the native Spaniard or Indian is not permanently disquietened by a volcanic outburst or carthqnako. If his onestory adobe house tumbles down, he simply builds it up again. In tho cities bnolc_ and stone- are freely used for building material, , and some, of tho public buildings would, in size and architectural features, be worthy of a European city. What is to bo tho future, of these Central American States when onco tho Panama Canal is open and American interest in, tliis region _ becomes -even greater than it is at present, Mr. Fife does not attempt to predict. The task of conquest, were it ,ever attempted by "los Americanos," would not be easily accomplished, for to the northerners the country'would bo difficult to traverse, and every man of tho population can not only fight, but rather likes it than otherwise. The population is over increasing. - A "Full Cradle" Country. 'There is ■no need iii these countries to preach the "full-cradlq" gospel. On the contrary,, the families aro sometimes- quite alarmingly large. ' Says Mr. Fife:— In such a country as this, all ,;lovo affairs aro apt, according to our iiotions, to be somewhat vol-. eanic. Tho Spaniard, as a rule, is more gallant as a, lover, than con- : stant as a husband. Not long ago a French traveller, visiting an old hidalgo in his "h'inca," congratulated him upjon tho vigour with which he carried his years. "Yes," ho replied, taking his wife by the arm, "I have'had thirty-four children by this spouse, and more than, forty elsewhere." Of the, natural .beauties of,tho. region, its splendid forests, the luxuriance of tho vegetation, the fertility of the soil, and the fine possibilities of a greatlyincreased volume of commerce and industry, the author has much to say. The labour difficulty is a drawback, negroes being imported from the West Indies. - John Chinaman, too, has ■found his way there, and may yet provo an important factor in tho development of these countries. Mr. Fife's chapters on the earlier civilisation of Central America, of tho Aztec and Toltec religions, and of the many ruined temples in the interior of both Guatemala and Costa Rica, are specially interesting. Tho excellent illustrations aro a feature of the- book, but I deplore the absence of an', index.' ' The Quaker. Poet,. It be,: indeed, I think it is highly ' probable, , 'tliitt Whittier's-poetry; for tho" most part, is not' destined to permanent fame, .but. nevertheless.; there, willI always jbplinany, wHtfJ-Kfe.'/lilBpr;"' 'w'ijl occasionally tiirn to the'simple, earnest verse of tho Quaker poet. l"ahv glad, therefore, to see , that y Whittier volume has now been ■ added to'that admirable' series, "The World's-Classics,', , ..publish-ed:-by tho "Oxford University Press" (London, Humphrey Milfprd). • In soriie simple, pleasant lines, quoted by Mr. Edmund Gosso in a delightful essay, "A Visit to Whittier," included 'in Mr. Gosse's last volume of literary studies, "Portraits and Sketches." Whittier has offered his own apology: . Hater of din and riot ■■■ He lived in days unquiet; : And, lover of all beauty, '■ Trod the hard.ways of"dutv. To all who ■ liumbly' suffered His tongue and pen he offered, His life was not liio own . Nor lived, for • self alone. In the-essay to which I allude, Mr. Gosse remarks: "Whittier is not rioh, nor sonorous, nor a splendid artist; he is y even rather rarely exquisite, but he has an individuality of his own that is of durable importance. He is filled with moral enthusiasm, as a trumpet is filled with the breath of. him who blows it. His Quaker quiotism concentrates itself till it breaks in a real .passion-rstorm of humanity/arid when Whittier is roused ho sings with the thrilling sweetness of a 'wood-thrusli." The new edituin .is beautifully'printed, as-indeed, are all the "Oxford Press" books, and is neatly bound.' (New Zealand price, fifteenpeiicc.) " '