LIBER'S NOTE BOOK.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK.

Quite 0.K.! President AVoodrow Wilson Ims finally exploded a long accepted tradition _as to the origin of tlic expression "0.K.," meaning "that's oorr.ict," "that's all right." The tradition as fiiven in Voro's "Americanisms" (as quoted in Farmer and Henley's "Shin;.; and Its Analogues") was that General Jackson, hotter known as '.'Old Hickory," was not much at homo ii! the art of spoiling, and his friend and confidant. Major .lack Downing, ioiind therefore no difficulty in convincing the readers of his '"Letters" that the President employed the letters "0.K."- as an endorsement of applications fur oflicc and other papers. They were intended to stand for "All Correct," which the o'd gentleman preferred writing "Oil Korroct." ]-] O i V it ciune about that President Wilson exploded this amusing tradition was, according to the Now York "Evening I'ost," in this way. Presidont Wilson <:ct his staff a puzzle whon ho initialled his documents with the curious phrase, "Okeh.W.W:" Ifey hazarded guess

after guess as to whore the President got the word. They had heard rf his wholesome respect for the English language. Finally, after moro .-nemnranda similarly marked came to thorn, one of the assistant secretaries asked the President why ho did not use the abbreviation "0.K." "Because it's wrong," replied tho J resident, as ho went on signing his mad. "Look it'iip in the latest dictionary," suggested the President lo his puzzled inquirer. And here is part of what was found:— , 0.K.-a humorous or ignorant spelling oi what should be "okeh," from the Choctaw language, morning "It is so," an article pronoun, having a distinctive final uso; ail right; correct; used as an endorsement of a bill. "Three French Rivers." Somewhere in one of Air, Belloc's delightful essays—exactly where I fail to recall—there is.a striking passage on the importance of certain rivers in history- I have just happened across, in Christopher Aforloy's "Songs for a Littlo House" (a lengthy reference to which charming little book 1 hope to make on a future occasion), some very pleasant lines entitled "A Ballad of Drench Rivers." It inav not he preat poetry, but tho ballad will, 1 feel sure appeal to many of my readers: '

mi stre ?, ms that men tl,k ° honour in Hie J'rcnchm.lll looks to three, And each one Jias for origin The hills of tlurgundy; And each has known the nuivers Of blood nml tears uud nain--0 gallant bleeding rivers, Phe Marno, the Jllcuss, the Aisno. Sap Marnc: "My poplar fringes mu \ e , fclt llle Prussian tread, ■the blood of brave men tinges My banks with lasting red; Let.others aak due credit. But Prance has inc to thank; von Kluck himself has said it — I turned the Bodies' flank." Says Meuse: "I elaim no winning, Ao glory 'on the stage. Save that, in the beginning,' I strove to save Liege. Ahis, that Prankish rivers hhoukl share such shame as minoIn snito of all endeavours ' X How to join the lihiuo." Bays Aisno: "My silver shallow* Aro snltcr than the sea, Xhe woe of Eeiras still hallows My endless tragedy. Of rivers rich in story, That run 'through green Champagne, In agony and glory The chief am I, the Aisnc. Now there are greater waters that.Frenchmen all hold dearThe Bhonc. with, many daughters, that runs so icy dear; Xnere a Moselle, deep and winy I here s Loire, Garonne, and Seine; But. oh. the valiant tiny. The Marne, the Mouse, the Aisnc. Amongst the- "valiant tinv," the Anew awl Leys and Tsor shall surely claim high place of honour; also with the. Marno and the Meuso and the Aisnc must ever rank, in tho British soldier a mind at least, the Sommc. Rut a Umirth river might have spoilt the poets metre. Even poetry has its limitations.

Stray Leaves. Sir Arthur Quiller Couch ("Q"), whose latest love story, -'boo Farrell," has, i notice, disappointed some of Uo Jiiigush reviewers, is publishing a volume of "Studios in iiik-raturo" with the Cambridge University Press. Three essays aro included on "Somo Seventeenth Century Poets"; two on "Patriotism in English Literature"; and others on "The Poetry of George Meredith"; "The Poetry of Thomas Hardy," "The Horatiau Model in Fmghsli Verso," "The Tonus 'Classical and '.Romantic,'" "Charles Jliwle," originally written for "The limes" Literary Supplement on the centenary of Iteade's birth; "Swinburne," reprinted from the "Fortnightly Iteview," and "Coleridge" and ■"Matthew Arnold," which have alreadyappeared as introductions in the "World's Classics" series. By the way, i recently spent an evening very pleasantly with a collection of essays by "Q," contributed to the "Pall lAbiii Magazine," under the. heading "From a' Cornish AVindow." J. would strongly recommend "From a Cornish AVindow" as a dipping or bedside hook. It is full of sound literary criticism—with special attention to poetry—and is rich in little personal touches in which t'hero is some delightful humour of that gently ironic kind which "Q's" admirers know so well.

Baron von Freytag-Loringhoven's much-discussed book, "Deductions from tho World War," a review of which appeared in these columns a few months ago, has been followed by a new work from the same pen, an English translation of which, under the title "A Nation Trained in Arms, or a Militia?" is shortly to he published. Tiro "Mtinsteirs" have proved themselves "livst-class fightiii,' men" all through tho war. .and considerable interest will therefore attach to the account of their doings, more particularly at Festubert, Hue tin Hois, and Hulliich, which, under the title "The Story of the Ministers," lias been written'by Mr. Victor R.iekards, and will' be ■ published by Ilodder and Sioiigliton.

In a recent American magazine I find a cleverly-written article bv Michael Monahan, "In Dickens Land". A. Reverie." I notice, however, that tho article is illustrated by a picture entitled "A. Night-time Photograph of tho Original 'Old Curiosity Shop,' in Portsmouth Street, London." How hard this silly old tradition dies! Time after time Mr. Henry Fielding Dickens has declared that there is not one tittle of evidence to show that the claim of tho Portsmouth Street shop to have been thu original of Little Noll's home is in any way justifiable. .Many expert authorities on the topograph? of the story have exposed this impudent slinm, yet colonial and American visitors to London still make pious pilgrimages to the place, and buy ''Dickens, postcards" and the like thereat.

A letter from Kipling to the little daughter of Albert Dorrington, iho Australian author, in answer to the child's request for an autograph, appeared recently in "London Opinion." It reads: Dear Miss Billy: Because I do not always answer letters personally I am considered a, very husky fellow at times. Between you and myself there in a wain of truth in this report, and 1 am often very terrible when the post comes in. I'm glad you knew and loved Frank Bullen; lie was also my dear friend, and had a line regard for you splendid Australians!. T had a boy who came near writing stories about Kangaroos and Queensland pearl fishers. But another call came, and Johnny went, to France, where the Htnrs are still shining, although Johnny's drum has ceased to heat.—Very sincerely, Kudyitrd Kipling. "Mr. Brifcling Sees it Through," which is still very much in demand, has been published in a French edi- ( tion. The difficulty of translating a I colloquialism is well demonstrated in the French title, "M. Drilling Commence a Voir Clair/' "Mr. IJritling Commences to See Clearly." This", needless to say, is not at all what Air. Walls meant to convey by the original English. Henri Barbusse, the author of that jnostjemarka.blo of war hooks, "Under Fare," has written a novel on the war between tho sexes. Tho .titlsv is "L/In-

forno." The lidok lias had a tremendous vogue, tho English transliiiioii having Ix'fii made, it is announced, from llui lOOlh French edition. It must be remembered, however, that a French edition sometimes only consists of 500 copies. .