BOOKS OF THE DAY
A New Book by "The Banjo." »A ™lM ok °f and sketches, I'Three-Elephant Power mid Other Stories, ,by Mr. A. B. Paterson ("Tho Banjo ), hns just been published by Messrs. Angus and Kobertson (Wellinuton, S. and W Mackay). The scene may change irom the Bnridwiek racecourse to a Queensland sheep station, from Melbourne to Thirsty (Thursday) Island, and the subjects are as varied as. are the backgrounds, but all these 6tories are alike in the'crisp vivacity of their style, their abundant humour, and their kodak-like impressionism. "The Banjo" was always a good sport, and many of theso capital yarns deal with sporting incidents. His racecourse sketches, especially the one entitled "The Oracle," are full of shrewd ■hits at the never-failing optimism of the confirmed "punter," the wiliness of the "books," and tho dreadful uncertainty of "the game" generally. Included in the collection are several interesting ar,<l amusing animal studies. I quote a passage in which "The Banjo" expresses Lie opinion of the.merino:
For pure, sodden stupidity, there is no animal like the merino. A lamb will follow a bullock dray, drawn by sixteen bullocks, and driven by a profane person with a whip, under the impression that ' tho aggregate monstrosity is its mother. A ewe never knows her own lamb by sijrht, und apparently haa no sense of colour.. She can recognise it's voice half a. mile oH ainonc a thousand other voices apparently exactly, similar, but when Bhe gets within five yards of it she startß to smell all the other lambß within reach, including the black ones—though her own may be white.
"The Banjo" has always had a special liking for cattle, aud no Australian writer can discourse more learnedly on the various sides of stock-breeding and handling than can Mr. Paterson. He hae'a warm corner in hie heart for the Queensland whose work has eo often inspired his songs. Here again the northern stockmen are to.the front. Says tho author:
Thoro is an element of danger in dealing with cattle that makes men emart and self-reliant and independent. Men who deal with Bhcep get gloomy and morbid, and , are for ever goinp; on strike. Nobody over heard of a stockman's strike. The truo stock-rider thinks himself just as good a man as his boss, and inasmuch as the "boss" nover makes any money (tho author has a very poor opinion of cattlebreeding as a money-making occupation), while tjie stockman always gets hie wages, the stockman may be considered as having the better position of tho two.
Sheep men < lik'o , tb think they know all about cattle, and could work them if they chose. A Queensland drdvei' onco took a big mob from the Gulf right down through New South Wales, selling Tarioua lots as he went. He had to deliver soino to a small sheep man, near Braid\yood, who was buying a few hundred cattlji-as •a "spec." By the time they arrived, tho cattle had been on the road eight months, and were quiet as milkors. But the Rheep man and his satellites came out, riding stable-fed horses and brandishing twentyfoot whips, all determined to sell their lives dearly. They galloped round the astonished oattlo and Bpurrcd their horsce and fionrished their whips, till they roused the weary mob. Then they started to out out the beasts they wanted. The horsoa rushed and pulled, and the whips maddened the cattle; all was turmoil and confusion. The Queensland drovers looked on amazed, sitting their patient, legweary horees they had ridden almost continuously for eight months. At last, seeing the hash the sheep men were making of it, the drovers,sot to work, and, in a little time, without a shout or the crack of a whip, had cut out the required number. These the ihead drover delivered to the buyer, simply remaining: "Many's the you never cutout cattle.". • .There ia not a "dull page in Mr. Patereon's new book, which should find many leadens during the approaching holiday e'eason. (Price, 45.) ■ An Australian Etcher. From Messrs. Angus and Robertson, Sydney,' per Messrs. S. and W. Mackay, Wellington, comes a little booklet entitled "Etchings," by John Shirlow. Twentyfour examples of Mr. Shirlow'e fino work in what is probably the most delicate and personal of artistic mediums are given, including some of the Victorian artist's best-known prints. Shirlow started etching, in 1893, ten years or so after Livingston Hopkins, the well-known "Bulletin" artist, had initiated a few artist friends into'the mysteries of , the etching needle. His total output of plates lias been sixty-five, many of which have been exhibited at the annual shows of the Victorian Artists' Society. Until recently, however, etchings have found but 6pant favour with Australian collectors, but the fine work of men like Shirlow and Lionel Lindsay is now more widely appreciated. Shirlow mainly favours two styles of expression. In one, which is evidently based.upon a study of Meryon, the famous eighteenth' century French etcher, ho gets very strinking effects by means of a strong bold line and effectively contrasted shadowß. This style is cleverly exemplified in his plates of the, "Central Railway Station, Melbourne," the "Law Courts" of the same city, and again in the finely-drawn "Fishmarket Tower, Melbourne, , ' all reminding ono of Meryon's famous "Absido de Notre Dame" and "The Morgue." In "Tho Slum" and again in "The Chinese Qunr--1 tor, Latrobe Place," there is a distinct suggestion of Meryon's grim picture of at sordid quarter of old Paris, "La Riie des Mnuvais Garcons." In his second style, and especially in delineating riverside scenes, Shirlow. invests his etchings with a delightfully elusive atmosphere in the background, contrasted, in most of the foreground, by strong velvety effects, suggest Hie skilful use of 'thn drypoint burin.' In each and all of .these etchings there is a quiot restful charm which must make them most delightful possessions. Of this second style the third print in H>p booklet, "Tho River." i\nrt the quite Whistlerian "View of JJarline Harbour, Svdney." are very delightful examples. -New Zealand, visitors to Sydney should note the fact that many of Pln'rlov's etchings are to be sepu at' the Mitchell Library in that city. The booklet now under notice is beautifully produced, the <*tclun<rs being facsimiles fin ■minced size) bf Hip -Intaglio process, bv which the velvety richness and graceful delicacy of the originals are reproduced with' striking success. iMr. Ryrlnny T/re Smith contribute m\ appreciative introduction. The bnoklet is moderately priced, and should 'find many purchasers amongst New Zealand lovers of art. "How to Conduct a Meeting." In a handy-sized little volume, entitled How to Conduct a Meeting" (Whitcombe and-Tombs), the Hon. John %. to provided an exceedingly useful hand. Uflok tor the guidance of all who are called upon to preside at meetings of local jwernnig. bodies, Labour organisations, .fw!io% societies, sports associations, and defeating societies. .Mr. Rigg provides, in fad, a set of standing orders and rules ■of debate based upon Parliamentary Sraetace, and. not only does this, but cxjplams them in delail, giving useful ilJksta'tiioas in the way of imaginary nwotaas and amendments, showing how fiivdSi successive point should be dealt with. Ammusst the chapter headings which nrwiy te quoted as Knowing the scope of ftp admirable little wiirk Ihn following:—The Chairman, . Public. Meeting, fctiwss of Organised Bodies, Motions wd Amendments, Divisions. Limitation « Detvate, Breaches of Order. Rules Ijovewnng the conduct of committee work are alls) given and explained-indced, tho Mfle honfe constitutes a perfect pocket ■i3-utojMW& on the subject. Not the least, wwifitl feature of Hie book i,s (he full «fl carefally compiled index, by reference to which not only chairmen of ' swtiuss, "bat all connected therewith, ■cam at once 6ce where the book affords amftmaatwrn on individual rights and priwftejres and responsibilities, The qualiii(tafimis of tho author for the task ho has e» aMy fulfilled are worth setting forth. Mr. tSsS 'was .for twenty-ono v.oars a
member of the Legislative Council (1592 to 19H), was Chairman of Committees in 19034 and-, Acting-Speakor for eome months in 1904. Besides this, ho acted as chairman of tho Labour Unity Congresses held in Wellington in 1913, 1914, and 1015. Such a manna] as that he haa now -produced has. long been 1 wanting, and Mr. B-igg's unpretentious, but essentially practical, work should become a standard work of reference. It should prove invaluablo to all public mnn who are called ii,pon to preside' at meetings, either of the public or of various organisations. Tho systematic arrangement of the information given and the clearness -with which it is conveyed are specially praiseworthy. (Price, 2s. 6d.)
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 11
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1,424BOOKS OF THE DAY Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 11
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