LIBER'S NOTE BOOK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 9

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK.

Exactly why, I know not, but few copies of the English translation of Andre Siegfried's book, "La Democratic dans la Nouyello Zclande," have yet reached Wellington. 'The book was published in its original "French form six .or iisven years ago. The English transla/. tion, now issued by Bell's; "Democracy iifNew Zealand," is, I see, the work of E. B. Burns. From a review 'in "The -Athenaeum" (January 31), I gather ■that M. Siegfried has "an innate dislike to the working classes" of this country. He'speaks,-too. of tho "noisy self-asser-tion of' Now Zealandcrs," declares they are "incapable of self-distrust," and allows them no high motives. Hero is an extract :—

■ "Cynically practical' and opportunist j tho Now Zealanders certainly . ar.o.- ■.[ • . What the New Zca- ' landers most need . . . is principles, convictions, reasoned be- ' lief.'.'-: ■- ■ ' Of tho late Mr. Soddon he writes •— "The now British demagogy has no more.typical representative than this.fortunate individual, who united round his head tho double halos of noisy, jingoism and of social de- ; inocraey." '.' ' '■ . l : '•"' Upon, which the "Athenaeum" I review.er comments:,-"This remark is typical of .the book; but it does' not suggest capability to comprehend national ideals or to print truo portraits of a people."

A friend of niiuo who is an enthusiastic admirer of John Masefield's poems, prides.himself -upon the possession of a complete set of first editions of this author's books. A first edition of "SaltWater Ballads" (reprint available at 3s. ,6d.) sold the other day, in London, so I notice, for £3 17s. 6d.' Conrad's earlier novels aro, also, I see, steadily increasing in value—first editions, .of course. If you arc lucky enough to possess, say, "Almayer's. Folly," in the original Fisher Unwin'green cloth edition, hold on to it. Its present value, by recent catalogues of London dealers, is close upon £2. That is, of course, what a dealer might . ask for a copy. What he would give you for a copy is quite another matter.

At last "G. 8.5.," prince of poseurs, despite all his glib sneors at a Philistine public, should now bo supremely happy. His image in wax has been added to Madnmo Tussaud's famous Valhalla. W. B. Yeats and George Mooro must be simply devoured by jealousy 1

Maurice Maeterlinck's opinion on. tho tango: "I find fault with tho tango because it is not graceful and is rather silly."

Many New Zealanders who are North Countrymen will regret to hoar of the death, early in January, of Dr.W. E. A. Axon, for. many years a contributor on literary and antiquarian subjects to "Tho Manchester Guardian." He edited an interesting book.. "Cobtlcn as a Citizen/' published in 1907 by Fisher Unwin, and contributed North Country, especially Lancastrian, biographies, to tho "Encyclopaedia Britannica" and tho "Dictionary of National Biography." At ono time Dr. ■ Axon_ held an ■ important position in connection" with tho Manchester Freo Libraries." !'Liber" . lias a pleasant memory.of how Mr...Axon played the ciccrono to a lonely Now Zealander ono dreary wot day in Manchester. A couple of hours of "browsing" in the famous Rylands Library, under Mr. Axon's courteous guidance, is, to me, a very pleasant "memory. Mr. Axon was a chess enthusiast, and was interested in various social reform movements.

Despite his cleverness, Chesterton 1 is capable, at times, of saying a very fool-

ish tiling. As'tlraSj cm Anatolo Franoe: "Ho is a fine ami fastidious writer, wlio is about as revolutionary as a lap-dog," All the same, I warrant that the "Monsieur Bergeret" series of tho frenchman has influenced latter-day French political ami literary opinion far more than anything Chesterton's writings has done with regard to English op.inipu on similar subjects. G.K.C. cannot have road "L'lle des Phig&uins" and "Los Dieux out Soif." Surely, i» these splendid studies by the brilliant Frenchman there is no mere '"lap-dog" element.