BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 13

BOOKS OF THE DAY

Art in Australia, The sixth number of "Art in Australia" is to hand from Messrs. Angus and Hobcrteon, Sydney ' (per Whitcombe and Tombs).. It is an exceptionally strong , and interesting issue, upon the literary • and artisti.c contents alike of which the editors, Messrs. Sydney Ure Smith, Bertram Steveus, and C. Lloyd Jones, must bo congratulated. The assistance of two English'art critics of high reputation, Messrs. P. G. Konody (a well-known contributor to "Tli!} Studio") and Charles Marriott, who lias written many articles for "Colour." and who is now the art critic of "The Outlook," have been secured. The former discusses the art of the clever Irish painter, Sir William Oipen; the latter writes on the war drawings of that brilliant young Australian black and white artist, Will Dyson. Other articles deal with a now departure in Hans Heysen's water-colour work, the war pictures of the official Australian war artists, Norman Lindsay's 'etchings, and Miss Cmnbwe Stewart's pastels. Mr. A. 6. Stephens writes on tlio- strong, nervous, impressionistic work, liow so grwill'y esteemed both in London and Paris, of the New Zealand artist, Mifis. Frances Hodjrfcins, and Mr. Harry Julius hns ,'an interesting article on the work of hvo other Now Zealandms, now residents of San Francisco, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Macky. Incidentally to Miss TTodgkins's early art training in Dunedin, Mr. Stephens tells an nmufsliig story of that delightful' "irresponsible," Signor Nerli:

Miss Hodgkins's father had taught her to .oaint, and she had a few leseona from Nerli, when that Bohemian from Italy was being bothered by the Dunedin Academy of Arts, "yes," he told a friendly iournafißt, "I teach tho Accadcmiu, No, 1 do not like very much. Too much work. What I do? In tho morning I open tho student; then I go over to the publicahouac, and rest. In the afternoon I c.nne back and shut the student up. • Good to get- the salary, but I do not lilto tho Accademia. Too much work."

AVell written and interesting ns are tho artici.es, it is, of course, to /tho illustrations to which one turns first iu this delightfully-produced publication, Finer colour printing has never come from London, Paris, or New York than tha.t which is shown on tho plates in "Art in Australia." The frontisp'eco is a reproduction of W. Bcckwith M'lnnes's oil portrait of Sir iR. Monro Fer-guson,'Governor-General of Australia. It. is evidently n soundly-painted portrait , full of dignity and with £»mo beautifully harmonised colour tones. Two genre subjects, also oils, by Pcrcy Leuson, a clever j-oung Australian artist, who recently did some fino black and white work in illustration of a new edition of Henry Lawson's poems; show well-restrained strength and pleasant colour. Several war pictures are -reproduced. That by Sir Wil-li,-im Orpen is soriiewhat di«ippoint'ng, .being not a little confused in cojnposi- ; tion. The self-portrait by tlio same artist, however, shows an easeful strength in tho [handling. Miss Cumbrne Stewart's nude 'suggests a certain excess of "smoothness, but is full of grace, and Hans Heysen's delightful pastot'al study, with for him an innovation in tho introduction of figures, will bo greatly admired. Frances nodgkins is represented by a group of gipsies, striking in its colour scheme, but—ns is not uncommon ill her work— showing grave fiin'ts in the drawing. Tho '.wax pictures by H. S. Power, Fred I.eist, Charles Bryant,. aud Napier, Waller aro all very interesting, but many will join ; me. in preferring tile vigorotmly-draivn lithographs of war scenes by Will Dyson, which constitute the most attractive feature of the number. Othe.r artists represented nrp Hilda Ilix-Nicholas afidMtowni"i Ash ton. In future "Art In Australia" is to appear twice a year. Wise collectors will "see to it that they secure copies as they appear, for as time_ goes by theso charming publications are sure to increase in value. Already copies of t.lie earlier issues aro most difficult to obtain. . From the same publishers will shortly come a special monograph 011 "The Art of Vrth"" Streeton," similar 111 format to tho Hildor volume, which is now out of print. What is tho Kinudom of Heaven? One outcome of the war has been' to stimulate and deepen tho feeling amongst all thoughtful people that religion should be a very real thing, that,_ the message of Christianity should receivo a practical and concrete translation in fe our everyday life, An eloquent exposition of this feeling is to be found in Mr. A. Clutton-Brock's book, "What is tho Kingdom of Heaven?" (Methuen and Co.). iur. Clutton-Brock tfas, it may lie remembered, the author of that enlightening and truly spiritual , littlo book, "Thoughts'on the War," tfhich. appeared in 1915, and was so widely and greatly appreciated for- its fine message ot hope to all distressed n.rnl anxious mii;ds, In his new book the author deafly inaintaiiw ! that the Kingdom of Heaven is to be | found on earth, even in this present-day world, so sadly and sorely beset by 'difficult and dangerous problems And evils. "Whilst acknowledging that lie owes all that he firmly believes to I orthodoxy, 110 cannot acquit it of blamo for many rilul mistakes, ono of the greatest, of which is evidently, in his opinion, tnat the Church lias failed to realise the real meaning of Christ's doctrine. To the author ■ the Sermon on the Mount must be accepted as to having been literally meant. The ordinary "search for salvation" of orthodoxy Mr. CluttonBiock describes as being only "the instinct of self-preservation proj'ectcd into another life." ■ Itenl Christianity "makes men long for fellowship . . • either politics are evil altogether or their jiro* per. aim is to establish the Kingdom of Heaven." The author claims that his book is a "practical" book, and although more particularly in tlio chapters headed "Tho Kingdom of Heaven, and Politics" nnd "Tho Kingdom of Heaven and the Individual," he may seem to assume a greater general regard for altruistic principles than somo of Us may be inclined to accept as actually existing, his book contains liuiny striking passages which show how clear is his compii'cheii:. sion of the obstacles . to social -and economic reforms which aro to be found in human selfishness nnd the lack of sound thought. Here, for instance, is a reference to a present-day world problem of the gravest moment:—

During the war wo wore all agreed tli.it our superfluous energy must be tpent upon tlio wur; anil we took political means, with common consent, to i rovent the wasto of it upon other things. So in a Bocicty which understood the iruo aims of Society, political moanh would bo taken to prev-sut the waata of superfluous onergy in peace, There would bo no conflict about tho command of capital, but at wornt, a controversy about tho best moans of preventing waste of energy. At present our political energy is waßted in a conflict abo'ut tho command of capital, bccauao we do i.ot all lmow what capital is, because we aro not agreed yet about the proper uso of tho superfluous energy of maikiud. The Capitalist trie? .to do what lie will with that energy, and the Workers try to' do what tliey will with it. Both misuso it when they get the chance, and Quarrel as to who shall liavo the power to misuse, Thin quarrel can never end in pcaco and wisdom so long as individuals and classes wish to waste tlie superfluous energy cf mankind on their own privnto luxuries and pleasures; so loug as their command of that energy ia : to them only a means ..of power, they uie.y talk of capital, but they will not 'produce it. Mr. Clntton-iirocks's little book is full of wholesome, suggestive though on present-day problems, mid even those who niav not nlwnj-s agree with tlio author's contention* will ndniit tlio spirit of evident sincerity and deep earnestness in which tliey are set forth. "Winds of the Dawn," In "Winds of tho Dawn: Some Points of Views" (llethiien and Co.), the wellknown novolist and' poet, Mr. John Oxenham. has collected a number of occasional papers, in which lio discusses various social, political, anol religious

questions arising out of the war. In all these miners there is the pleasant ring of it sturdy common sense, a plea for greater mutual toleration and charity between nations as well ns classes and individuals. Like Mr. Clutton-Brock, Jlr. Oxenham ai's;ue.i that religion must bocome a real thing, to bo lived up to by nil rulers and peoples who claim to be Christians. The, old, life was full of grievous wrongs. Its foundations wove unstable, and its building haphazard and faulty. When a builder would build a new house vhuro an old Or,R has slocd, he must first,clear the ground. This is what we have'.bcen doing at'moat grievous cost. Now, having made the clearance, with a freo hand and the knowledge born of hard-won experience, we have to erect our new House of Life on surer foundations, and more ample and graciouß lines, to the glory of God and tho highest service of mankind. Mr. Oxenham's littlo book, which includes. incidentally to some_ of tho essays, some devotional poems'not hitherto collected in look form, deserves to be widely read. Messrs. Metluien nnd Co. aleo forward v copy of Mr. John Oxenhain's latest hook of devotional verse, "All Clear." This was reviev.ed in Tub Dominion a few weeks, ago, tile author having kindly forwarded a copy direct to "Liber,"