MR. BAIN'S INDIAN STORIES.
The Indian stories of Mr. F. W.Bain, a gentleman who occupies an important educational position under the Indian Government, have achieved considerable popularity, a result due, no doubt, to their happy presentment of Indian mythological legends and native traditions in a manner calculated to provoke western curiosity and sympathetic interest. To the long series which included tie popular "Digit of the Mooil" and "A Heifer or the Dawn," Mr. Bain has now added a new volume, "A Syrup of the Bees" (Methuen and Co.), in which the author introduces his readers to various Hindu "demon" or fairy stories and legends, which, oil the title page, are stated to have been "translated from the original manuscript." As to the provenance and present home of this manuscript the author, however, preserves a curious silence, and I Would hazard the suggestion that the stories constitute what. might be called _ a clever pastiche, western theories being cunningly blended with eastern myfeticißm so as to form a popularly palatable whole. Mr. Bain explains that the fairy tales of India differ from those of England, in that the first are addressed to the "grown-ups." Tho
Indian fairies, he says, "resemble their audience; they are grown-up, too," forming "an intermediate olass of being, half-way between the' mortals and the gods " In some of the stories in tho present volume feminine "fairies" play prominent roles. Mr. Bain's latest batch of Hindu stories should be greatly appreciated by those who have read and enjoyed the peculiarly exotic but fascinating flavour of his earlier' efforts in the same field of literature. (Price 3s. 6d.). THE CENTENARIAN'S SECRET. "Adding Years to Your Life" is the title of a volume. written by a wellknown American author, Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D., and published in England by Mr. Eveleigh Nash. Books ou popular hygiene are numerous enough nowadays, and if expert gpvice on what we should and should not drink and avoid, how, when, and to what extent we should take exercise, is really as useful as it is claimed to be, and is widely followed, the younger generation, should be one in wnich centenarians will be the ruW.ra.ther than the exception. After an introductory chapter, "The Duel With Old Age," Dr. Williams describes what he calls "The Battle of the Microbes." His n§xt chapter bears the cheerful inscription: "Messengers of Death, and How to Cope With Them/' being followed by a series of essays in answer to such posers as "Is Your Brain All Right?" "Are Your Nerves.in Tune?" "Can You See Straight?" "Do You Choose Your Children?" the final chapters being headed "Give Your Children a Chance," and "Adding Years to Your Life." Ail unusually detailed index is an excellent feature of a book which contains much practically useful advioe couched in non-technical terms. It is just possible, so at least I may be permitted to think, that one can have an excess of self-examination, and that actual loss of health may come from an over-energetio and too studious search for health's enemies. After all, natural common sense must' count for much in the choice of food, the disposition for exercise—whether by gymnastics or in other formß—and not a few peqple may even consider that death at the allotted three'score'years and ten might be preferable to prolongation "of. life gained by minute and almost hourly attention to this, that, Or the other factor which operates for or against perfect .health. It would be unwise', no doubt, to 'fallow the example of {he tough old Yorkshireman, who. said "I eats what I likes and drinks what I likes, and then I goes to bed, and. let's 'em fight it out." But is there not a danger 1 of going to the other extreme —the extreme of meticulous care and almost morbid anxiety lest we eat, drink, or do aught which might militate against unimpeachable health? Your malade imaginaire is too often a bore to others and an enemy to himself. Dr. Williams's book contains a number of interesting illustrations and diagrams.
THE TRAINING OF THE ATHLETE. 'Training for the Track, Field, and Road" (Stanley Paul and Co.), is tho do of a new book by Harry Andrews, official trainer to the British Amateur Athletic _ Association, which merits the attention of the athletic community. In this volume the athlete, "coming" or "arrived," can .study the practical and valuable advico on training, given by a gentleman who is admittedly one of the highest expert authorities on the subject. The author devotes special attention to the needs of the -"self-training" athlete, explaining in detail the required preparation and methods for every running distance. He also goes very thoroughly into the vital question of body massage, which he considers, without reservatioh of any kind, is essential to every athlete who wishes for complete success. This most authoritative and up-to-date book should, therefore, so it-is claimed v the publishers, prove of immeasurable assistance to every athlete, amaI tour, or professional throughout the Empire. Special attention is given to the subject of training for cycling races, and another useful feature is an appendix containing the Amateur Athletic Association's laws, recommendations, handicapping rulosj and scalo of penalties. Several excellent illustrations,
ant British athletes, add to the interest and value of the book. (New Zealand price 2s, 6d.) WAR BOOKS. Of the many statements of the British case whioh hive been put forth, none attracted more attention in the Old Country than Mr. Arnold Bennett's articles, headed "Liberty," which first appeared in the London "Daily News." Mr. Bennett's general contention as to phe real issue or the war is summed *up in his final sentence: "If Germany her ideal (the word is seldom oit her lips) will envelop the earth, and every race will have to kneel and whimper, to her: 'Please, may I exist?' ; • • We have a silly sentimental objection to being enslaved. We reckon liberty—the right of every individual to call ; his sotil his own—as the most glorious end. It is for liberty we are lighting. We have lived in alarm, and liberty has been jeopardised too long." The Bennett articles are republished in neat book form at fifteen pence (Hodder and Stoughton; per S. and W. Mackay). From Messrs. Constable aad Co., I hare received two interesting reprints, Human Bullets," by Lieutenant Sakurai, and "Peter Moor," a narrative or the German campaign (in 1903-4) "a ? Africa,.' lie Japanese officers thrilling account of his experiences before Port Arthur had a great sale when it was first published. It still remains dns of the most dramatic Retires of modern warfare ever published, and in its new and cheaper form (2s. 6d.) should now reach even a widor public than-it did when first issued. The sfeoond book is by a wellknown Danish author, ajid is interesting as describing the life of a German soldier in tho field. (Price 2s. 6d.) The /'Child's A.8.0. of the War" (Alleii ana Unwin) is a collection of patriotic, verses and pictures by Geoffrey Whitworth and Stanley North. In Mr. Whitworth's simple verses the principal features of tne war are ingeniously described, but the pictures are the chief attraction of the took. It is to be regretted however that Mr. North apparently ignores the, fact that New Zealand, as well as Canada, India)' and Australia, ib doing her best to help the Motherland, for in the design whioh appears above the lines, "C's for our colonies, loyal and true, bringing help to their mother from over the Blue, "Australia" (not "Australasia") is to presented by a littlo girl carrying toy soldiers and guns, but there is no representative of the Dominion. Mr. North is specially original and ingenious m his pictorial treatment of the ooats or arms of the various States involved in the war. The Kaiser ib depicted as astride & four-headed fiery dragon. Below run the lines:
I the Impiety that hopes to crown Force as the Lord to whom all must bow down. The colour work in the book is exceptionally good.
Messrs. Methuen and Co. hare issued Rudyard Kipling's splendid poem "Recessional," in a novel and most artistic.form. The poem is printed in red and black in a beautiful Old English style of wood-cut type, the initial letters being illuminated in gold and colours, and the whole poem enclosed in a cleverly designed, most artistic border, in which the Tose, thistle, and foamrock are ingeniously utilised. Price Is. ' Recent additions to the series of pamphlets entitled "Papers for War Time" (Oxford University Press), in which the religious and ethical side of the war is de&'t with by writers drawn from different political parties and Christian bodies, are: "Active Service,'' "The Share of. the Non-Combatant," by TV. R. Maltby: and "The Decisive Hour-Is it Lost?" by J. H. Oldham, M.A. MISCELLANEOUS. To Messrs. Methuen's excellent Shilling Library has recently been added a new edition of a little work by Sir Oliver Lodge, entitled "The Substance of Faith Allied with Science: A Catechism for Parents and Teachers." -First published eight years ago, this work nas gone through no fewer than nine editions. In its new and cheaper form it will doubtless attain, a yet wider popularity, especially with readers who are interested in what is to many a very grave problem, that of reconciling religious faith with scientific knowledge or theory.
From Messrs. Whitcomba and Tombs I have to acknowledge receipt of a legal work, entitled "Solicitors' Audits," ay Mr. A. E. Currie, M.A., LL.B. Recent legislation, says the author in his preface, has enacted that a compulsory audit is to be made of all solicitors' trust accounts. Hitherto in New Zealand an audit of solicitors' accounts, trust or personal, has been erather the exception than the rule.' Such an audit is in some respects simple, hut in other respects presents difficulties by reason of tne specialised and technical nature of a solicitor's business. This consideration suggests that some guide to the special features of solicitors' audits may be of value to the large number of accountants now being called upon to undertake this duty. Mr. l Currie's provision of a. manual such as he describes will no doubt be highly appreciated by those interested in a publication of this kind Mr. T. Fisher Unwin has published a little book which should be of considerable service at the present time. The title is "Quiet-Firing for National Defence." The author, Eustace H. Stone, emphasies the value of musk&try instruction, and what he says on this important subject will doubtless be read with keen interest by our citizen soldiers, arid by the members of rifle clubs. (New Zealand price, is. 3d.)
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19150421.2.12
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 4
Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,769MR. BAIN'S INDIAN STORIES. Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 4
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Dominion. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.