BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

A War Anthology. In his preface to the little vohnilß of "Poems Written During the Great War, MM-1018, mi Anthology" (George Allen and Univin), Mr. Bertram Lloyd, tho editor of the collection thus entitled, informs us that tho "only common [joint ■.of agreement" between tho various contributors "enu probably )je beet described aa hatred of the cnnt ami idealisation and false glamour- ""herewith tlie conception of war is still so.thickly, overlaid in the minds of numbers of otherwise quite reasonable people." It would be unfnir ti> dub the volume! "The Pacifist's Anthology," that is, if the ,terni "pacifist" be emiiloyed in its current common meaning of one who would fain have peace concluded With.tho enemy forthwith aiid nt any j)rice, but in many of the poems there is u curious omission. I will not say deliberate disregarding of the fact— and it is a fact—that, hateful as is war, in.both the abstract and the_.concrete, there is a thing tenfold' more hateful than oven war, . namely, a: cowardly toleration of foul wrong, a blindness to all. the dictates of common human justice, a servile acceptance of a tyranny vlijoh frould fain embrace the wholo civilised world in its foul and hateful grip. ~ On the other hand, the burning eloquence, Hie poignant pathos, tho blazing indignation against wiir for war's snke— war as plotted, planned, and rmjrineered by iiionarclis and so-called statesmen and impudently thrust upon -an iunocout nation uiiuer the specious but false guiso of being in the nation's interest—w.liich is to be found in some of these poems : must strike a chord of widespread syni- , .pathy and unstinted applause. The feeling in so many a- soldier's heart that all the outpouring of blood, all tho unfathomable misery of the war, must not be in vain, or those jvho have fought ami died will have been foully betrayed, is set forth with simple but, effective eloquence in ■ Captain CraWshay Williams's poem, "A Soldier's 'Testament," which I quote, almost'in full. .as.follows: .If I com©-.to- Ule-i ■ -. \ ' In tills' iiiiiumai) 'strJic. I ErucUte .it'.not, if. I . . " ■ By layine •lipmi rii.v life ' Do oustiit 'at:'all; to brine A day or : '«naru.v. ' ' When pi'idis -ol' : lortt or bine. Uii-Dotvcrfiil ■■-B]_ll-. be ' ','■'..• ■ To spend: ; thp; nation's Bt.pre. To spill"tne people's blood; ■' AVlicroafter ever moru , ■■ Humanity's'full Hood :■■■/':' Untroubled on ahall roll .-'■■.'■ , In a rich'tide of ueaue. , . ~ And the worid's wondrous boul Uncrucifled' increase. ; But if niy life bo sriven Merely that lords and Irincii May oay, "Wo'well havo striven! .; Seel where our banner tliuss It folds upon the hroewj , (Thanks, nublp-eire. to you!) . See kov tho lands and seas ■Have changed *heir pristine hue. . . If after I am ..dead, On eoes the eamo old name. Wij,h monarchs seeinc red An 4 ministers aflame. And nations drowning deen In uuarrels not their own! And peoples called to rcao The woes\they Have not sown: If all we who are slain -,' Have died, desnite our uooa ■ Only'- to twist asain The old kaleidoscopeWhy then, by God! we're,sold! ■ Cheated and wronccd! betrayed! if rainbow none there Rhine Across tlioso ikies of.,woe. If seed of. vours and , minu. ■ ~ Through this same hell muEt eo '.Then may my soul and thoßO Of alt who died in vain (Bβ they, of.friends or'-Iocs) fiiee and como back aKain • From peace that knows no end, ;l ; From faith .that knows not doubt, ■ To haunt and scar and rend ■ The mem that'sent ue out

A grievous fault in many of the poems is the curious disinclination, or equally 'unfair omission to differentiate between tho Allied statesmen and those of the militaristic l J owors. Another disagreeable feature is tlio' frequent jibes against the alleged cowardice and selfishness of the old men who, ijo some of these pacifist poets too readily assume, are dominated by mere jingoism, and are' willing to sacrifice overy drop'- oil- their .-.younger brothers' blood. It is true.-alas! only, too true—that this war line meant a special and awful sacrifice of fine young men whom cruel war, and yet more cruel death, have robbed of their natural birthI.right to taste-of the joys of life, to haye an opportunity of realising uobio ideals und nmbitions. But-lo nocuso the parents and relatives of these poor lade of iv selfish indifference, to imply cownrdiee to. men whom advancing, years compos to bo mero spectators, is a wanton aud hateful insult. It is significant that r 6everal if tho contributors bear loreign ■names', 1-,'uch as JlMistein, Eohrscheidt and Lodszlienzky, and that more.than one prom'infiiit sympathiser with the Irish (rebels 'is represented. That war, foj: .war's-sake is a hateful, stupid, wicked thing we are ; all agreed, but I prefer Hie point of view-on -the' present war,-..50 different from all preceding wars-of such men as Kupert : Brook*, and Alan Seeger to that of Mr. Siegfried,Sassoon,.Mr..H. h.-Haa-wood, and others whose verse is here represented. The fact that a. large number of these poems appeared in -I »e Ration," the recognised'onran of tie Philip Snowdons, Ramsay Macdpnalds, und Arthur Hendersons, probably accounts for the tone of certain of tho verses. (Price, 2s. 6d.)

Some Useful Handbooks. ' .. From Messrs. CJassell and Co., London and Melbourne, I have received (pet Messrs. S. and W. Mackay), a copy of "Tho Motor Mechanic's Handbook, b manual for niotov vehicle owners, garage proprietors, and mechanics, 1 he joint authors. Messrs. V. Heron Sogers, A.J.I, tiech. 13.,-and George W. AVatson, M.I. Mcch E M.l.A.ft., state that their; book is intended to meet the; demand which hns risen for a portable handbook that lriil enable drivers and mechanics to understand -vnoro readily tho problems that preeent themselves in tho erection, repair, and. handlinp of motor vehicles. Tho "reason .why" .is given without undue- detail -or, needless description, the 'reader, in,want of more-exhaustive information on : the .subjects dealt with being referred to standard. works on. motor 'vehicles and traction, A chapter has boeu added to this,, the second edition of the book, dealing'specially with el.eani-propellcd and .heavy, internawombustion engined commercial, vehicles.. 'L'ho information, given,is set foflh with laudable clearness, the interest and value of 'the text being .enhanced, by numerous illustraHon'and diagrams. There are also somo useful tables by which consumption of petrol arid running expenses generally may l>e accurately estimated. The work as a whole may bo regarded as a pocket cyclopaedia of'practical motoring and motor repairing, and should prove a boon to all who possess a motor-car or motor vehicle of any kind. With its strong binding and rounded corners the book goes easily into the pocket, and with us 250 and odd pages, including, a complete index, is a marvel of cheapness at its modest price of three shillings. "Poultry Houses and Appliances is the title of a rocen't mMition to Cswspll's excellent series of "Work Handbooks (S. and W. Mackay). The book gives a iractical explanation '■ of poultry-bouse biiilding in its every detail.. There aro also chapters on the making of a largo number of accessories, • such us troughs,' nest-houses,' trap-nests; hurdles; etc. Designs and drawings of .different types anil ' styles-'of-'poultry houses are given, and full directions as to building. This excellent little handbook, which-is liberally illustrated,, should prove-'of great value to iiinateur poultry-raisers, of whom there are now so inany iu the suburbs. (Price 25.) .. Two recent additions to Cassell's "Gardening Handbooks" series (per S. and W. Mackay) are entitled respectively "Rose Growing for Amateurs" and "The Carnation Book." In each caso tho author

is that admitted ■ expert, Mr. H. H. Thomas, editor of the well-known English, periodica! "Tho Gardener." • The handbooks, which should make strong appeal to .local'rose and carnation growers, nro freely, illustrated ' by ' f>holographs and sketches. (Price 2s. each.) ,