LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Literary Gossip a la "Radius' Column." ! In a. recent, issue of "Punch," that j amusing writer and clover . literary scribe, "The Baron da Book Worms" I indulges in somo "Literary Gossip," written in the approvod "Ladies' Column" style. 'Thc'resulfc is decidedly amusing :— Other smart hooks 11 noticed included Mrs. Barclay's "Sweet Sevonty-one," looking radiautly young and lovely in j a simple- roso-pink frock embellished with rosebuds; and Mr. Charles Garvice's "Marriage Bells," utterly charming ill ivory satin, trimmed with orange-blossom. On another shelf I saw Mr. Kipling's "Tho Horse Marines," looking well in a smartly-cut navy blue costume with white facings, and not far away was Mr. Arnold Bennett's "Straphanger" in smoked terracotta-, and the pocket edition of Dickens in Mrs. Harris tweed. Mr. Britling's new book, "Mr. Wells sees it through tho Press," was looking rather dowdy in a ready-made Norfolk jacket: but Mr. and Mrs. Williamson's Petrol Peeress" was vory chic in a delightfully-cut oilskin wrap; and so was Sir Gilbert Parker's "This Book for Sale" in a purple bolero. Academic sobriety characterised tho gown worn by the Poet Laureate's "The Sighs of Bridges": while Mr. A. C Benson's "Round My College Dado"' was conspicuous in a Magdalene blouse with pale blue sash. A Dorset Poom. In the Dorset Year Book for IfllG--1917, issued by "The Society of Dorset Men in London," there is a new poem by Thomas Hardy, which collectors ot Hardy's stray verse should paste in their copies of his'published poems. It i sentitled "The Pity of It," and runs as follows:— I walked in loamy Wessex lanes afar From rail-track and from highway, and I heard In 'Hold and farmstead many an ancient word Of local lincago like "Thu \ bist," "Er war," "Ich woll," "Er sholl," and by-talk similar, Even as they speak who in each month's moon gird At England's very loins, thereunto spurred By gangs whose glory threats and slaughters are. Then seemed a Heart crying: "Whosoever they be At root and bottom of this, who Hung this flame Between kin folk kin tor.gued oven ns are we, "Sinister, ugly, lurid bo their fame: May tlmir familiars grow to shun their name, And their breed perish everlastingly." "A Place In the Sun." AVore 1 a wealthy man 1 would go straight away and order a sot of "Tho Oxford English, Dictionary," which is at last approaching completion. It is a. veritable mine of out-of-the-way and interesting information. For instance, under "Sun" one finds some curious illustrations of that now much-quoted phrase, "A place in the sun." The Oxford editor gives the following definition: "Ono's place in the sun: An individual share in those things to which all have a right; hence a. position giving scope for tho development of. personal or national life." The modem and now famous employment of the phrase was in a. speech delivered by the Kaiser at Hamburg on August 27, 1911. The "Dictionary" gives it as follows: "So that wo may ho sure that no one can dispute with us the place in the sun that is our duo" (der uns srustehonden Plata in der Sonne). But it lias been pointed

out that tlio original author of tho phraso was tho famous French philosopher and theologian, Pascal. Tho phrase occurs in Pascal's '-'Thoughts," the English translation by Bishop Kennet, as given in the "Dictionary," being: "This Dog's mine-, says tho poor cnild; this is my Place in the Sun" (1727). So it. seems that tho Kaiser aotually stole Lis famous phraso (as his soldiers have stolen so many other things) from the French, through tho medium ol good Bishop Rennet's translation. Stray Leaves. Miss Constanco Hill writes to "The Sphere" to point out that 130 year.s ago an Italian poet, Abate Pnrini, wroto some lines (to commemorate the first public'ascent of Montgolfior's balloon in tho autumn of 1783). -which were, she says, singularly prophetic of tho] aircraft of to-day, and oven of the falling Zeppelins. The verses were translated into English by Dr. Johnson's friend, tho famous Airs. Thralo, who so disgusted tho Great Lexicographer by marrying tho Italian Piorai. Mrs. Thrale's version runs :—

In empty space behold me hurl'd, The 6port anjl wonder of tho world Who eager gaze whilst I aspire Expanded with aerial fire.

And since man's selfish race demands More empire than tho seas and lands. For him my courage mounts tho skies, Invoking nature as I rise.

"Mother of all! if thus refin'd My flight can- benefit mankind, Lot thorn by mo new realms prepare And take possession of tho air.

"But if to ills I only:kad, Quickly oh! quick let mo recedo; Or blaze a exhibition, A beacon for their mad ambition!" It appears that Lieut. Donald W. A. Hankoy, killed in, action on thoSoranio on October 12, whoso "SCu3ejif> in Arms," published anonymously, lias been one of tho really notable contributions to tho literature, of tho war, left onough material, logelhor with .further material published in "Tho Spectator," to mako a. second volume. A monioir is also in contemplation. The lady who writes under tho pseudonym of "Sidney Grier," and whoso stories of tho North-West Indian frontier campaigns havo presented interesting military history in so pleasant a, form, is to publish a new story very shortly, "Tho Kingdom of Waste Lauds." Blackwoods will issuo tho book. In his new book of reminiscences, Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, tells a.'good yarn about tho late Dean Hole. Tho Dean, when an old man, onco sal down to rest in. a London park. Some children wore playing near him, and hyand by ilia said to si bright little maiden: "My dear, I am very heavy. Will you holp mo up?" When he was on his feet he, observed: "I hopo V was not. too heavy for 3-011," (o which sho replied: "Oh, no, not afc all, sir; I often help my father up when ho is much more drunk than you are!" Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" hooks havo long been very popular in Franco, tho original homo of the "detective, story," and ho is, I read, becoming almost equally popular with Italian readers. An Italian translation of ono of his latest novels is appearing in a Milanese daily. Tho Irish poet Patrick M'Gill, whose "Red Horizon" and "Tho Great Push" wore so widely road, and a. collection of wlioso war poems was recently reviewed in these columns, has written a war novel, "Tho Brown Brethren." Mr. M'Gill is now cmployed as au assistant in tho Royal, Library at."Windsor Castle. Ho was badly wounded at Loos in 1915.