BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 193, 10 May 1919, Page 11

BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

(By Liber.)

"The Secret of tlie Ships." Dedicated to "the officers and men of llii' lioyal Navy and the British ilcrcnntilo Marine," Captain Konald A. llopivood's little volume of verse, "The Secret of the Ships" (John Murray, per "Whit'combe and Tomljs) contains a number of stirriiip! poenis (some of which have appeared in. the columns, of "Punch") dealing with the splendid pluck, often downright heroism, 'exhibited.duriny the war by.those who sunrded the British coasts, who kept the great ocean • hishwavs open to British commerce, and who, in a thousand varying directions maintained British ' honour, miffht,' majesly, and dominion' on the limb seas.. Several: of these fine sea ballads reflect, the fine of fraternity and splendid emulation in the cominnir cause of.Liberty, and. Justice, of Ttip-ht .versus Might, of Good versus Evil,-, which characterised the work .alike of Hi(i >(Vvv. nud tl'o-iiiei-e.uitile marine of Great Britain. "Whether Gapfnin Hopw<v)(l ''booses for bis subject, the "mystery• ships.'-' or deseriljes the or tr.Tjjc naval happenings of the wiir,-or -nAin, t-iVes bis readers baclc to the spacious Tllizabetlmn ijays,. and retells some old but ever noble and splendid storv of hv irone B'-itish seamen, his verse. has always a fine swingi"? entrain;. T. se'ect, for ciu6t"t- : on H"-ee stands' froni the' fine' poem. "The Tfinp's iressenjers," in wb'eh the author s : n.?s the nraisea—l'.'ov f we" deserved do we not all k"ow full i<-e]lp—of dip M»rcbant Sailor Man «nd b!" snlendid work dnvinK the war.'' '' Brlpginsr belen of wool from Svrtney, fetch.ing'fri"''. aef, fro?.en meat,' . Crcvß nf «bini fh'3f j#nV defenceless'with their freights of' wheat: Ke<! Cross "''ins n'ifl Channel stnawere, framtis that alou.T t.he eoaft. Most content iipqp their e-rancls where.the perils lurked the most. '

■Wan there Ik' 1: of f"od or vni"i"nt, was f.her<> sicltness. Dn.in,'or need? Where the cry. went, itn for sn'.conr, there the would pneed: wiiose the p"TnnionS'. though t'ie (1-iilvv.all were-nlain ■ As—t.h» seiind if tniiiv waters—as tho' voice then hear atfain; For th" t'dir""; cnreid and echo, to tlio City's farthot ends. "InTmneh e' they lipv> it, to.tho I ft nst-nf t ,, e < 'n fn'onds. Bo it, pnr"ted T>,wnl Servico;" . and: with invT l"t, or b-i.p - Wi" tho C'ty r n tes "t.nrid open to.the .MereKnnt Sailor, JHn. • : ,'A. useful feature ."of- the' book is the short historical note appended to most of the poems. (Price 4s. fid.). The' A.A.M.C, in.Egypt. . .

lti a well-illustrated, ■ handsomely-pro-duced .volume, "The Australian. Army "Medical Corps jn Egypt",(Loiulgn, H.jC. Lewis and Go:), Sir. James . Barrett, K.8.U.. C.M.G., tho well-known Australian oculist, and Lieutenant- P. E. Ueiuie, A.A.JI.C., Rive-' a .detailed and:"Hiofet' interesting account'of - tho- early .orgahisii:tion und work-of the Australian 'Medical units in in 11)1-1-1915. There was somo.; bungling at the - outset. ' Tho Kynrrn, whichtook' out the first and second Australian hospital stall's; was illsuited for'the purpose, and the food was of so inferior a quality that there was a serious outbreak of' ptomaine poisoning. When,--however, the units set tied'- down iiK Ejypt, it is clear from this admirably 1 compact .and lucid, account of . their work -that tho"so resnorisiblu , for the control of the hospital and nicdical work generally of the' Canal and Desert campaigns,-, exhibited the' most laudable' intelligence, energy, ami-capacity. . Man'yNirrious problems had to be niet aiul cftped with. For instance, it is here explained how one ,520-bed. hospital had to expand to-a; capacity of approximately 10.000. heds Jn successive .chapters the.'authors'dfsoribe; thn-.-'pronrpt'Utilisationoo r inanjV.-'Eplehdid - hotels' antf - other ' bnil'dihg's' 'for 'hospital purposes, the first rush of the wounded, the establishment'of convalescent'deuots, nnd' the evacuation of 'Hie unfit. Special attention is given to the causes of sick- 1 noss and mortality amongst the Australian: troops, such 'as the -fly pest and cholcra outbreaks, and.'the (horny problem. of venereal -disease is; allotted- a special chapter. "V.D." was .: found- to be the greatest a«d must serious problem of camp life in Esypt.' and the authors de.jl .with this unpleasant .subject in very outspoken terms. A generous, tributo is paid to the "Red Gross'workers, ■ and in the final chanters the authors make .a series of valuable suggestions'as to the methods by which medical' efficiency can best be'secured in future campaigns. An'interesting and valuable /feature.'of -tho book,' which, it should be noted, should dispose.once and for .all of much of tlui .ill-natjire'd and''"often, very ignorant .'crilicis'm directed, .in :Australia.. ngninst the. medical 'VtafT in Ewot, is the snlendid. series of 'ilTustrations. Everi' "ba f e of medical. work, both in tb» field and a'F hospital bases', ,ia ijllustraled.- Thp-au'thors are to be cone-ratu-lated unon having produced a work of permament vilne to all who. desire to study ;the medical side of war. :

"Tba T\vin IdMl?.!! . '~ In two handsome, well printed' volumes, entitled "Tho Twin Ideals: An Educated Commonwealth" (London, '11. ,K. .Lewis, Ltd.), a well-known . Australian,' .Sir. James..Barrett, K.8.E., .C.M.Gt., M.D., has,collected a number of. essayj),. articles, and letters which, from time to time, -have appeared under his nanie in ,the Mcllxmrne "Argus" and other leading Australian journals. The author, ivho is a. recognised authority on opthal-. mio science, and has done splendid service during the war as chief consulting occulist to the Australian Expeditionary Force in Egypt, -is a member of the Council of Management of the University of Melbourne, at. which institution he "is also a Lecturer oil the physiology of special senses. But ho' is evidently far more ll.on merely a clover and able medical man and scientist,' useful as lie may be to the community in those 'capacities, lie brings to bear in these various essays addresses,' nnd articles an alert and well-informed mind, which, in the catholicity of its interests, nnd the earnestness of its application, is clearly of the same class intellect as that of Sir Robert Stout! Like the Chief Justice of the Dominion and Chancellor of the New Zealand University, Sir .Tames takes the keenest possible interest in social, nnd especially educational, problems. In those two volumes of his lie has much to Bay that was well worth saying, and iB certainly well. worth attention, on jects ?,o varied as university, secondary, and primary education; on various mcdical subjects? (the chapter .on venereal disease being . peculiarly, useful by reason of its frankness of speech, nnd the practical character of the counsel given); on tho milk supply, and th 6 care and upbringing of neglected children;"on tov.-u-plahuing and rural life, national parks, bush nursing, and immigration; on electoral ■ inform; and last, but not least, on Various phases and-problems of Imperial and Australian politics. Upon nil these and many other subjects Sir James offers iiiucii original though.t and much suggestive and stimulating advice. . He has a clear, vigorous literary .style, and many of bis articles will well bear, comparison with tho best work done in leading English and American reviews by publicists'.whose nnmcs nro of world-wide fame. Tho two.volumes would form a valuable addition to any public library, and are specially-deserving uf attention by tliose who nro.interested,: in politics, education, and public affairs generally.

A Catechism of Agriculture., Ever iiicrcasinjr attention is being given in Hie ■ primary schools ot .America- to jiistrurliou i" Hie • elements of egriculture, and New Zealand educationists should bo much interested in, a little: work, "A. Catechism of Agriculture," written by Thomas C. Atkeson, Professor of Animal Industry in lltr:"University of Virginin, and published by the Orange ■Irnld Co, Is'ew York, and Messrs. Ifegaii, I'jiul and Co., Loudon (Wellington, Whitcombo and Tombs). Professor Atkeson's little worlt -has been so highly 'esteemed by the Virginia ,CollegG of Agriculture

Give a man a pipe- he can smoke, . Give a man a book he can read;'?■ '.And his home is bright with a calm delight Though the room be poor indeed.

—James Thomsos. ,

that; special; editions. of the book were distributed to the school teachers and farmers, of the State. After, it general definition-.- ot agriculture and • a eulogy of its value to the. nation,'the author deals, in simple, lucid ' language, with management- of soils, .with plant'cultivation.. farm crop management, - animal management, daiiying, and tho farming business generally". • l'lio information is

arranged on a- quesf.ion-'and-nnswer system, and many " .well-chosen illustrations are used to engage, and strengthen the intciiist- of-the. young students for' whom til? -book is primarily, intended.' "Degenerate Germany." Last year there was reviewed at lengtli-.in these columns a book entitled "Degenerate Glirmany," by Ileury do Ilalsalle (T. Werner Laurie). A special Australasian-edition ot t-ho hook, which throws a lurid light gji thn widespread immorality and crime which existed in Germany in. : pra 7 war days, has. now been .published by the Specalily Press, Melbourne. '.'JiV.i's new h!id cheaper form X 1... de Ifalsaile's "sensational..work will no do.ubt. reach a .much wider public.

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

"The Bookman." The-' March "Bookman" (Hod(lev and Stougliton) is a. Lowell centenary.number. Mr.' It: Elli.-i Kobcrts contributes an interesting -dpiircuintion of. Lowell's work, rightly eniijiiiiiiiriiig tlie value of his literary criticisms.Mr. Ellis reminds us, by the way, tlint whe.n Carlyle. took to .praising Frederick,. Lowell's .souild sense lcy.olted against tho panegyric bestowed. on a . mail "very fur. below;. any Jolty standard -of ; greatness"- -Jtobcrl-s might 'have mentioned ,',in', liin : . article ./that -"Omar" i'itzikrald considered Lowell, the . American ,Ste. Beuve, ami wrote to him suggesting 1 tliut Lowell should undertake a similar ■ portrait gallery of English ' writers, to. tliat provided for Franco in i'lie "C!ajisßries : du;Luiidi." 'Mr. John Mdir contributes ail' article, "Hums at Abbotsford," which should greatly_ interest' Burns' lbvers, aiid George Saintsbury has air excellent little articic oil the Into .teorgu'Wyndham's "Essays on lii)idhlitic.■ 'Jjiteraturc," reference, to which was niada in these columns recently. G.eorga Eliot's "Consort," .. Swinburne was nothing, if. not frank, almost'to the verge of brutality, in some of tho literary portraits io. be touml iii his recently-published "Letters," the coli lection e<lited by -Edmund Gosse and Jl'homas J.-Wise, the l'amoils lsnglisli bibliophile- and -bibliograpjicr. iiei'e is a portrait, certainly witli none of the Cromwt'lliaii "warts" left out,, or Geiirge Henry :Lewes,-so. long,, tho" consort ol George Eliot'.— .-.

"Charlotte Bronte's", bad eyesight must, ■ have misled her 1 when she fancied a likeness between her sister and G. 11. Lowed. I-onlv met him- once, hut I remember not ,only .that lie was-the ugliest of human bo.ings I over. saw, • except, perhaps, his consort, .George Eliot, but'that it was such a, mean and Vulgar Ugliness Hb suggested 'nothing but the idea of a. smart, pert, impudsnt counter-jumper. I no moro believe in . that likeness than 1 would believe 1 that- Homer-.-or Sappho or Blialtespeare or Vittoria Oolonna could have been like that hideous-Bmirliiug scribbler.

George Eliot'herself was 'no beauty, .but everyone' who frequented - the curiously'coiifliilnte Lewes-Eliot menage seems to ; be agreed as to 1 the "consort's physical ugliness. 11 ' Powers in the Pacific." '.Mr, 6; H/ 'Scholefield, I 'B.Sc., who re. presents. tfip. N.Z., 'Press' Association in -I^iuloii',-and' who,'was'; at oiio ;time\ engaged in' journalistic 1 work in Wellington. has written .a history of the relations of ijuropft and America with, the lslruids and peoples of the Pacific. Mr. John Murray will publish tho book, the title of which is "The Powers "in- the Pacific. : ]'ir addition to chnpters 011 the economio nnd administrative 1 problems which tho Empire has lo 1 face in. its Pacific domain, Mr. Scholelieid'S '' Work will also deal with' British relations with Uermany, Trance; and other Powers in tho region in which Australia- and >«cw Zealand have particular interest. This is notour. Seholefield's- first literary 1 work.. borne vears ago he wrote a book which is still a verv useful work of reference, entitled "The' Economio 1 Evolution nl' New /'faland," ami'collaborated in the' editing or a New Zealand "Who's Who?, n '-" v and enlarged edition of .which is, by the, way, much wanted.

"Erev/hon" Butler-and His Biographers,

■ -liotaa of recent date record the .death (it. (lie early age of tlurty-tliieo ot li clever young Cambridge man,Jo ' Harris, who'for Lsome time was literary adviser to t.lie publishing fii'iii of Grant ■ Richards.' Mr. Harris was; the author of "n feinßularty pfne-trahnir -stuci) or Samuel Butler, of "Erewhon 'I™®; notice,' by the way, that the fnil"authorised biography oi Samuel B'ulei, which has been written by bis friend. Mi. kVs'iing 'Jones,' who has all Btttlei & papers, is shortly to be published by Macmillans;. It was, it, is «nde«tood, readv for publication when tho war broke out; but I'nr .soveral reasons its publication was postponed.

.The Author of the "Biglow Papers," Many American and English papers, published in. February last, have-special nrticles-on the life and literary work ot •Tames Russell:Lowell, the coutonury ot whose birth was-celebrated on i'ebruaiy 22 There ia an' excellent article ]>n Lowell in "Tho Times'' Literary.Supplement: of February 20.- The writer- oi the article- compares the poems tho weii- ' known "Biglow -Papern" .to juicv taiias embedded in a largo-dry bun. •Tho Biglow Papers" aro veil worth rereading. Readers'of to-day may not-" wro much" about, tho: Mexican War ol _ 18-ib. but, as "The Times" writer says; J. iejo is fomething in us that cnnnoi fail to respond to such numbers as these; Kt for war, I call-it murdrr-; . There i-ou lu.'v 'it -plain an llat; I don't want to go, no lurucr • Thau ray Testymejit fer that.; God liez soil bo- pluinp all fairly, • Ti's ok lonjr er. it is hrnid. An' you've got to git up airly Kf you want to take in God. Turn up your copy of Lowell (if you haven't got 0ne,.1 recommend tho.Oxford 'editions, "Oxford .l'oet6," is*. Gd.; or "Oxford Standard Authors," 3s:-Gd.) and rejoice in the "horso sense," plus, a touch of cynicism,, of Mr. John P. Robinfion, lie 'who .said: "They didn't ktiow everything down in Judee," and-grin over the famous."Pious Editor's Creed," I can assure ■ you :a dip into .Lowell, whether he. bo in satiric or serious vein, will reveal many good, things you 'may have forgotten.

Stray. Leaves,., A new'book' by r "Maplerlinck' is announced. This is the long-awaited sequel to "The Blue Bird," translated by Teixerii do.Mhttos, under the lille, "" lie Betrothal, or the Bine Bird Chooses." Mr. Rudynrd Kipling's new volume of' poems, to lie.published during the English spring by iretliuens, is to, he ontitled "The Years Between." ••■George. Moore's "Sister .Teresa," which has for many years been out of print, an<l practically unobtainable Xavo at a 1/igh price, lias now bdeti reissued in the uniform edition, of His Irish • vovnlist's work whi'e.h lleinemann is publishing. Robert Nichols, the young British 6ol-dier-poct, whose "Ardours and Endurances" fconlaiiii, .to my mind at least, foiiio of the very finest. vei;se which the .Great War.ha? suggested, is. giving a series of lectures ami readings'in the United Slates. ' '

' The Scots pronunciation of 'mouse is the basis of a good yarn told m F. L. Waldo's .''America at the Front." "One of the Lon'dpii Scottish," says ill'. Waldo, "was amazed when' a bov from Maine showed him .a picture of the _ intlered monarch of the Maine woods, rnd told him it was a monsp. 'A. moose, moil? A '1110030? 'In the de'ilV name, boo big air y.er >rnt.s?'

Surely the bast story of the worst reading lor soldier men engaged in the war comes from America, wliero. somebody Pent a camp library.a file of "The Undertakers' and Embalniors' Jleeord." It was graciously declined.

Tho title poem in Jolm Mnscfield'e new book of verso is "Eosns." liosas was dictator of the Argentine from 1535 to 1852. 110 was- n masterful man, who vuled as with iv rod of iron, 'l'lio poem has also a lovo interest.

Kinling (to nil American friend))-on the Hun: •

If the Hull continues to eiist «9 a Power, the world is lost. There need be no more '.hate or anjicr ovor (lnißhin? liim.than there is in. dealing with -an epidemic of tynhnid, en- of smallpox. We know that cer'ain microbes cause certain diseases, and it is the bni'ness of mankind to clear out mid sterilize the centres where these germs live, and the channels by wliioh they reach human beinw, n.s well as to take care that they shall have 110 further chance of infecting our system.