LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2920, 4 November 1916, Page 13

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Stray Leaves. Edward Arnold, the London publisher, is shortly to issue a new book in the writing of which Captain Malcolm Ross, tho official New Zealand war correspondent,and his son, Mr. Noel Ross, formerly well known in journalistic circles in Wellington and Christchurch, have collaborated. The title is "Light and Shade in War." The book contains a joint record of campaigning days and impressions in Egypt and Franco, as well as in Gallipoli, where, it may be remembered, Mt. Noel Boss was wounded. Those who have rend tho excellent sketches of life in the Navy by a "Grand Fleet Chaplain," which have been appearing in tho Saturday edition of the "Westminster Gazette," will bo glad to know they are to be republished m book form under the title "In the Northorn Mists." It is claimed that tho author, who has been with the Grand Fleet throughout the war, has dono for the Navy what lan Hay and Boyd Cable have done so admirably for the sister sorvice. When tho war is over, it is precisely that Hun tendency to grasp tho money-bags—of other people—which the Allies will have to set themselves most determinedly to fight against. Concerning that much discussed phraso "Sinn Fein," the name, ala 6, of tho most mischievous movement with which unfortunate Ireland has ever been cursed, "C.K.S." writes in "Tha Sphere" .—English journalists aro not altogether at homo with the Irish lan. guagc, although tho ominous words "Sinn Fein" have been very much in evidenco with them during .tho nasi few days. It has in every caso been assumed that "Sinn Fein" means "Our-

selves Alone." "Everyone now knows," says "The Times," "that 'Sinn Fein' is tho Irish for 'Ourselves Alone.' " Am] even so accomplished an Irishman a<j Mr. Garvin, of "Tho Observer," v.; found tripping over theso elementary words. As n matter of fact, the words "sinn fein" simply mea.ii "wo ourselves," "sinn" being tho pronoun "wo" and "fein" "selves," so tJml, "ourselves" is tho nearest jxJssibln translation into English. To say "ourselves alone" you must say "sinn fein amhain."

Tho late Jean Webster, of "Daddy-Long-Legs" fame, left a postluinious story which Hodder will publish. The title is "Much To Do About Nothing."

There are somo interesting references to Winston Churchill in Mr. Shane Leslie's book of reminisconees, "The End of a Chapter." It is told of Winston, who is a relative of the author, that when ho returned from Harrow \Wtli a torn jacket, he replied to all remonstrance, "How should I not be out of elbows when my father is out of office?" Mr. Leslie is responsible for tho statement that Churchill

"was the only Minister of the Crown whose eyes, filled with tears in the House at the declaration' of war." He is said to have returned from witnessing tho German army manoeuvres, in 1913, with tho grim comment on his lips, "I can only thank God there is a sea between England and that army."

Another of Mr. Leslie's stories concerns that conceited person, Professor Oscar Browning. "One day, as Tennyson entered the great court of King's, a bulky professor was said to have run up to bim, exclaiming, ''I am Browning I' 'No, you axe not,' replied Tennyson, and walked on." In the "British Weekly," however, Claudius Clear 'says: "The incident was not so brief as all that. As I have heard it, on very good authority, 0.8. went up to Tennyson and spoke 'to him. 'I don't know you,' said Tennyson. 'Oh, yes, you know me. I am Browning!' 'Get away,' said Tennyson, 'I know Browning very well. You are not Browning. Get away! Get away!' "