BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3179, 1 September 1917, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

Modem Man and His Forerunners. Whence camo man and. what is his destiny is a problem which has been tho life study. of seoras of eminent thinkers and able writers. Since Darwin's presentation • of hie evolution theory, the problem has been attacked with special vigour, but who shall say we are appreciably nearer a solution? In "Modern Man and„His Forerunners," a short study of the human species, living and extinct (London, George. Bell and Sons), Dr. H. G. ]?. Spurrell, M.A., B.Ch., F.Z.S., attempta to. Viow in perspective the whole development of man, prehistoric and historic, Qown to modern times He also makes certain very interesting suggestions a? to tho probable course of human develop-: ment in the future. Among the subjects dealt with are: Tho Problems of Anthropology, The Zoological Fosition of Man, Extinct Species and Races of Man and Their Culture, The Growth of Human Power and Numbers During tho Neolithic Age, Tho Origin of Civilisation, The Growth and Spread of Civilisation, Man at tho Present 'Day. Passing over the chapters in which the author traces the development of man, physically and mentally, to his present position, most readers will find Dr. Spurrell's essays on. "The Origins of Civilisation" and "Tho Growth and Spread of Civilisation" of special interest. The author may seem to some readers to take a pessimistic view of the future of what we call civilisation today, but thcro is no gainsaying the cogency and truth of tho parallels and facts he gleans from the past to support his theories as to the future. Upon tho war and its probable results he writes:—

The present war marks an approaching equilibrium between population and tho resources o£ the world, and it may possibly lead to a reconsideration throughout the world'of the rights and duties of individuals. Men may iiavc to regulate their conduct more with rogard to one another than was thought necessary in the days when both space and' wealth appeared unlimited. Before now citizens havo leanit discipline in their own armies during a' narro!\v escape l from being conquered by a foreign I'oc. Western Europe is to-day endeavouring to repeat the process, so often seen before, of turning the tables upon an enemy by adopting his methods. . If the discipline and material efficiency' with which Germany has lately astonished the world arp. successfully copied by the Allied nations opposed to her, it is to bo hoped that the cynical bad faith and ruthless brutality which have disgraced without advancing tho German conduct of the war will not be acquired rj part of the lesson. And always should it be remembered that after an achievement a'cquiring great national efforts and sacrifices there is liable to be a reaction.

Dr. Spurrell concludes on "a note," so ho says "not of pessimism, but of agnosticism." "Wo know little," ho says, "of man's origin. He comes out of the mists of uncertainty. Thewholo course of his existenco up till to-day prescntis a long l series of problems before which we stand baffled. And of his final, destiny wo tlaxe not even guess." Thy book is exceptionally well planned, ' with useful chapter summaries, and an admirable index. It also contains a number of illustrations of great anthropological interest. (N.Z. price 10s.) '

A Monumental Work. Not for many years paSt has there ap"neared a. volnmo of more importance and interest to students of the Maori lan-' gunge and literature than tho liuly monumental work which has just been issued .by ; the Government Printer, namely, "A Dictionary of tho Maori Language," by "Herbert W. Williams, M.A.,.edited under l the auspices of (liePolynesian Society, aud based upon tho dictionaries of W. Williams and W. L. Williams. Tho namo of Williams, inust ever be prominently and honourably connected with the study of Ui6 Maori language and of Maori mythology' aud folklore. The present dictionary is a fifth and vastly enlarged and improved edition of a work ("A dictionary of the New Zealand Lauguago and a Conciso Gram, mar") which, the result of long years of painstaking study and careful etymological research by its 'compiler, tho Kcv, William Williams, Archdeacon 'of Wuiapu, was printed in 1814 at tho Church Missionary Society'.9 press at Paihia, Bay of Islands. This, it is true, was not the first dictionary of tho Maori tongue, for as far back as 1820 n vocabulary'.of 100 pages had been published, with a brief grammar, by tho. C.M.S., the I material being', mainly supplied by n I missionary, the •Ke'v, Mr, lieodall. Tho first Williams dictionary was revised and reprinted in 1852, and later editions, with a largo, increasing number of additional words, appeared in, 187.1. and ISS2, the editor being Archdeacon Williams. A . portion of tho 3892 edition, j arranged, howover, on a now plaii, was] published by Messrs. Wb.ifccombe aud Tombs in 1915. Now comes tho fifth and latest edition, edited by tho grandson of the first Bishop of Waiapu, a gentleman who has evidently inherited all that special literary ability for which his father and grandfather wero so deservedly famous 1 . The editor has utilised the earlier works as a Ixisis or groundwork, but the enormously increased range.ami utility of the work may bo gathered from the fact that whereas the original work contained but 185 pages, tho volume just published consists of closo upon GOO pages. Valuable assistance in the gathering together and arrangement of tho matter has beeu given by various m embers of the Polynesian Society, and' by soveral Maori friends of the author, notably the Rev. Mohi Turei, of Waiapu.. It is impossible to sjeak too highly of the eminently clear and effective way in which the varbus meanings of the words recorded :ire arranged. A most skilful use has been made of different founts of type, and it should bo a sou're'o of justifiable- pride to tho new Government Printer that the first book to bo issued from his oflico sinco he Msumed control should bo one of such importance as is the work under notice. Mr. Marks supervised the typographical production of the book, and I am glad to seo that the editor pays tribute to the good services of Mr. P. Eiddick, of the Government Printing Office, who he says "road the proofs with intelligent interest, and -made many valuable suggestions." To do full justice to the learning, tho painstaking research, the iiarcmitliug care, which .have been employed in tho collection, checking, and arrangement of iho vast amount of etymological, ethnological, _ and mythological information which is 'contained in the book would require far more space than is at my command. To Mr. Williams and all who have been concerned; directly and indirectly in the production of this epooh-making work must over be dub the thanks of all who are students of tho Maori language. . The binding is both substantial and comely, as befits a work of this character. (Price, 205.)

"Historic Trentham." More than one publication has appeared describing tho life of our soldiers at the ;training camps, and much valuable information as. to tho training and equipment of tho^gallant fellows who uphold tho honour of the Dominion and the Empire at the front has been made public. It is safe to say, however, that by far the most interesting and permanently valuable production of this kind is a handsomo quarto entitled "Historic Trentham" (10111917), for the literary contents of which Mr. Wi\l Lawson, the well-known New Zealand poet, has been'responsible, and which has just been published at tho offices of this journal. Mr. Lawson gives a most exhaustive account of tho now famous camp from its genesis in 1014 right up to the present day. Ho sketches the young soldier's life from tho,day ho enters camp, a raw recruit, until he Iwes it to entrain to Wellington and embark on tho transport which will take him to the far-away European battlefront upon which tlio fato of so many nations is being decided. It is no dry-ns-dust of-

ficial record, this of Mr. Lawson'a. The necessary detail is there, but the tvholo narrative is touched in a vigorous and eminently entertaining style. Tho military training of the men, a training far more varied and detailed than most people imagine, is set forth/stage by ■stage. How the soldier is fed, how ho is clothed, how his health is eared for, what wo bis resources in tho way of recreation— all this is explained by Mr. Lawsoir in a series of brightly-written sketches. The pictorial attractions of the, work equal tho intbrest of its letterpress, the illustrations, of which there nre a great number, depicting every phasp of military training and camp life generally. Apart from these illustrations, there are a number of boldly drawn and very effective pen sketches—chanter headings and tail-pieces—by To Kai Tui and Mr. Mncbeth. The striking cover design is tho work of the first-mentioned, and i 6 an extremely effective pieco of work. Mr. Lawson provides each of his chapters with some introductory verses, 'some of which, though far from being a slavish imitation of the "Barrack Eoom Ballads" si s vle_ of versa, are quite in the approved Kipling vein. There is also ,n threestanza dedicatory poem, "To the Fallen," which, though necessarily pathetic in its interest, lias no'traee nf morbidity, and is replete i;ith a ctuiet and graceful beauty. Altogether this record of 1 "Historic Trentham," and of tho splendid work which ha* been done and is still being done at the famous camp, reftpcts tho highest credit upon all who !""■« been eiuraeed' in its production. The tynogranhical and half-tone-work are consnicuonslv wood. There should be » briskdemand for copies A more snitnbln eift for friends or relatives in thp <]M fV-m----trv could not well be imagined. The profits are to be devoted' to a special fund which is beiue rnjse,] for the education of sons of fallen soldiers.