BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 310, 24 September 1921, Page 11

BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

(By

Liber.)

Give a faan a pipe he can tmoke, ' Give a man a book he can read; And, hie home i» bright with a calm delighi Though the room be poor indeed. —Jamsis Thombom.

BOOKS OF THE DAY 'An Antidote to Socialism. Ono of the strongest, most logical, and most ably-presented attacks upon Socialism which has appeared, for some timo past is Mr. W. Barnard Faraday’s “Democracy and Capital” (London. John Murray-, per Whitcombe and tombs). Mr. .Faraday,, who is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, holds no brief for a selfish, greedy, and tyrannous Capitalism. lie does not defend the capitalist yts a capitalist, but ho contends that the capitalistic system cannot be advantageously replaced by a socialistic system. Ho desires to increase the. number of small ’capitalists, to widen and broaden the Held of general prosperity. He argues tliat many thousands of working men are, in pinning their faith to Soeialism, pursuing a chimera and letting rea opportunities slip by... . - An intelligent working man; to-day, will nhla to eivo any one of na an excoilent illustration of the theory of Wiplus value, and then Immediately after will go and insure his life in an “llldStrial cort pany at weekly premiums. If he applied naif the Intellect and industry involved in a study of Karl Marx tp the investigation of. the tables of Ufa insurance premiums in some good almanacs, or to similar easilv-proeurablo means of practical information, he could not lose his way in the maxes of life as he does at prorent, and would be in u position to provide decently for his old age. This is only one illustration. It is largely the Labour ■eOttatlon in every country :n the wolia which has closed thn eyes of these men to th“ advantages of the times in which they live', with the result that all the real -value of modern 1 popular < ducation arid ell the advantages of modern finance have been wasted and throwtl away. In successive chapters, Mr. Faraday deals with '"The Labour Conspiracy“ “The Doctrine of Waste,” “The Vicious Circle. ’’ “The Exchanges,’’ “Bureau--crncy,” "Security,”. “Solidarity, and “Applications,” Under tho last heading the author oxamines the working out of certain leading socialistic theories, nnd puts forward several suggestions of his own for the further improvement of the'conditions of life for the industrious end thrifty. Mr. Faraday is a determined opponent- of tho nationalisation doctrine, holding that it can only result hi the building up of a bureaucracy which, in the long run, will operate far Tnoro to the disadvantage than to the benefit of the everyday worker. ‘ The relations of a Bureaucracy to Lahoot are always Attained, .and the blEgfor the bureaucracy and the larger the enterprises undertaken the greater mo strain must be. The greatest evil of the mass production of the present, Industrial errt ig- the severance of the old personal link between employer and employed. ,Tne directing head is too . remote from t<o ■ hulk of the labour for there to be an raw opportunity of that, personal sympathy- on brifh sides which is so greet an- aid in creating smooth relations. In nationalised industry thia severance would be oven more complete. Labour would be dealing with a department which, as ft .consisted of servants itself of all .grades, would he so o-ccnniod with its own problems as to have little energy to spare for the troubles and grievances . of Labour. They would look on Labour disputes merely ns something that- caused them extra work and worrv, and, as a- dispute is almost universally started by Labour (on some claims either just or unjust) the department would come to look on Labour fryp- th- point- of view of its own ease . nnd routine as a chronic nuisance. Busy , people doing work at-, a,- fiat, rate do not welcome increases to their .toil. They do | pot, take those FTgh-hnndß<raltruistic views which Socialists attribute (in talk) to the majority of mankind, and which one so rofelv observes amongst them themselves. ThoTlureanornt beVfflgs. and always must belong, to a. caste apart. No matter what the manner Of his selection, he speedily becomes a member of tho hierarchy, which has endhmons powers, and at the same time its own peculiar views and interests. Tho root principles of modern .Socialism. the materialist conceptions, the solidarity of Labour, and the theory of social production, arc denounced as fallacious and ruthlessly exposed: ’ All interference with the liberty of the subiect is bad. whether by Kaiser or by trade union, theory of solidarity is founded on a meanness. Lot us give thlffgs their right names. There is no difference between “class-consciousness” and snobbery. Mr. Faraday’s inquiry iri the priv’entday social and industrial conditions constitutes a very important contribution to the literature of political economy. An excellent index renders it easy to. refer to tho special subjects dealt with. (New Zealand price Ils.) “Tha Fall of Feudalism in France.” Not a few very erroneous but very commonly held ideas as to .the genesis of tho French Revolution are revised and emended by Mr. Sydney Herbert’s book, “Tho Fall of Feudalism in Franco” (Me. t'huen and Co.). The author, who is a lecturer, at University College, Aberystwifh, emphasises the iiolnt that so far from the Revolution being purely the result of Parisian discontent .it was very largely due to a long-smouldering spirit of revolt against French feudalism. It may bo true that in certain districts tho French peasant, in tha preRevolutionary period, was much better off than his follows in other countries. Mr. Herbert admits this. but makes out a strong case for the Revolution being the inevitable result of a discontent which, found spontaneous outcome all over rural. France. His book forms an .interesting and valuable contribution to tho study of tlio underlying causes of tho great upheaval. Subsequent events liavo proved the strength of the peasant’s position. As Mr. Herbert sums up: “Governments have corns and gone. Franco has changed from Republic, to Empire, from Empire to ' Monarchy, from Monarchy to Republic again; but two things have never changed: the peasant's grip on tho soil, and tho rule which makes all Frenchmen the subjects of an equal law.” “The Philosophy of Citizenship.” There Is but poor .excuse nowadays for a citizen of average education and intelligence to plead guilty to ignorance of latter-clay developments in municipal administration and local governihent generally. In “Tho Philosophy of Citizenship: An Introduction to Civics for Adults” (George Allen and Unwin), Mr. E. M. White, Lecturer in. Civics for the ■ London County Council, provides a very ■useful handbook. Tho author gives a comprehensive view df modern civics, and outlines the main sections, of the subject, an excellent bibliography being .afforded for tho benefit of those who desire to indulge in a' more detailed study. Such topics as the fundamentals of citizenship, social ideas, and spheres of reorganisation are discussed and illustrated by original diagrams. Tho book appears to bo specially .suitable for study by members of tho W.E.A. group. A Collectors' Book. Collectors of . old silver ate . probably not very numerous in Now Zealand, a fact no doubt due more to lack of opportunity than of inclination. Many people, 'however, who aro not collectors but possess much-treasured old pieces of family or other provenance, may be gldct to have an authoritative guide to values. This they may find in a little book, published by Stanley Paul and Co.. London, entitled, "A.B.C. Auction Sales Record of Old English Silver field at Christie's Sale Rooms in the Year 1920.” The compiler, Mr. A. J. Abbey, is a well-known professional ' valuer of old silver. The alphabetical form in. which the record appears is a time-saving arsmngernenf whldh those interested in the vaino o? old silver should gratefully -recognise.

“Marx and Modern Thought.” To tho useful little series, of economic, political, and social studies written and published in Australia under the auspices of the W.E.A., has been added a, small volume entitled "Marx and Modern .Thought,” by G. V. Portus, M.A,» Lecturer in Economic History in the University of Sydney (Macmillan and Co., Melbourne). The author’s object has been "to present an objective account of the Marxian system, together with certain criticisms of the leading ideas of that system. He contends that Marx “can no longer bo easily relegated’ to the nineteenth century lumber room as «. back number because the orthodox economists have succeeded to their own satisfaction in refuting his economic .theories; . . . wo can. support Marxianism at the present time, or we can oppose it, or we can criticise it. But we cannot ignore it—that is. unless we aro content to'play the ostrich in the midst of the amazing ferment of humanity which is going on.” LIBER’S NOTE BOOK From “Liber’s” Scrap Book. They sit there for ever on the dim horizon of my mind, that Stonehenge circle of elderly disapproving faces—faces of tho uncles and schoolmasters and tutors who frowned on my youth. "For tho Pen,” said tho Vicar; and in tho sententious pause that followed I felt that I would offer any gifts of gold to avert or postpone the solemn, inevitable,‘and yrt, as seemed to me, perfectly appalling statement that the Pen is mightier than tho Sword.' J r ° ffl "Trivia,” by Logan Pearsall Smith. I count myself a Locke man. If 1 can’t borrow a new novel by him, I buy it. I <lo GO .because I know that I shall have entertainment, and that I shall ( mix with people of breeding, whether they bo low horn or high bom; . people with ideas and ideals who behave themselves, arid who take it for granted that there is something more in J‘ fe J- han ting and spending.—From Authors an< I,"’by Lewis Hind. Stray Leaves. A second instalment of Opal Shiley’s Dlarv” is to be published by 1 ut nam’s. The Diary had a big sale in America, but it is difficult to accept n 9 a n "unfaked” production. Py. tnal "’ X announce a definitive edition 0 the poems of Joaquin Miller, the Poet of the Sierras,” whose verse ha< a b g vogue in the seventies and eighties oi to any standard literature book of ten’, or twenty, or fifty years iX and you will be amazed by its praise of shoddy mediocrities. blown and forgotten .-I rom 1 rejudices, bv H. L. Mencken. 'From Sydney I hear that the ' of "Art in Australia” contemplate bring iL out early next week, a new magazine devoted to literature and Wack and white' work in a similar form to that of their now famous art magazine. The recent Napoleonic celebrations in France have recalled tho old story that Ft a dinner party of literary men diirw the Napoleonic wars the poet Campbell gave the toast of Napoleon, and was answered with violent execrations against "the tyrant.” He waited for silence, and then said: "Gentlemen, he may be all von say, but. remember, he once snot a publisher." The toast was then drunk with acclamation. Cassells announce the publication Mr. Punch’s "History of Modern England,” by Charles L. Graves, who has been associated with "Punch" for nearly twenty years. The illustrations will include reproductions of hundreds of cartoons and other drawings by Leech, "Dicky” Doyle, Tcnniel, Charles Keene, Du Maurier, and others. The work is to bo published in four volumes. The •winner of the first prize in Mr. John Long’s XidO first novel competition is Mrs. Emmeline Morrison, the title of her story being "Gcod Grain. The new ’author is a Lancashire lady, whose husband is prominent in commercial circles in the city of London. She has been a great traveller in her time, and her novel is said to reflect many personal exneriences in foreign lands. Walter de la Mare, the poet, has written a novel, "Memoirs of a Midget" which is the subject of most eulogistic reviews in the Home papers. Collins and Rons publish, the' book, copies of which should soon be on sale here. The admirers—is not their name legion? —of the late Florence Barclay’s novels should be interested to learn that a. fulllengith biography of the author of "The Rosary” is shortly to be published. A pleasant versical jape by Keith l Preston in "N.Y. Bookman”:

ON A CRITIC TURNED NOVELIST. Here comes a book that will lie read By bruised reeds that look To see the doctor brought to bed, The critic brought to bcok. The new, absolutely "definitive” collected “Vailima Edition” of Robert Louis Stevenson's work is to include several hitherto imprinted poems, a play, "The Hanging-Judge.” and some unpublished letters. Scribners are the American, Heinemanns the English publishers, but the price is- not stated. It is sure to be very stiff. Meanwhile I see a. London bookseller advertises a set. of "The 'Pentland” edition at d!-15! and the "Swnn- ■ ston" edition is worth from to ,£'2B. The famous Edinburgh edition fetches anything between .£65 and <£Bo. And io think that "LlTrer” could have bought the 28 volumes at 12s. 6d. each. The chances we miss! In "Memoirs of a Clubman,” G. B. Burgin, the novelist, alluding to Kipling’s wonderful mastery of technical detail, says that when hisetory, "Tho Ship That Found Herself” (in which he describes a ship on her first voyage across tho Atlantic), was published, half a dozen Glasgow shipbuilders wrote to say that they had held solemn conclave together, and were able to find only two mistakes in tho story and on one of those they had not agreed. This was rather different from an old Scotchman who, when Kipling’s "M'Andrew’s Hymn” appeared, writes Mr. Burgin, wrote to toll him that he did not ap.prove of the author’s Scotch, and had "re-written the poem properly.” Merejowski, of "Forerunner’’ fame, recently made his escape from Soviet Russia with his wife and two friends. A book on Bolshevism from his pen, entitled “The Kingdom of the AntiChrist," is shortly to lie published in Berlin. An English translation is to follow later on. Arnold Bennett has a now story,_ -Mr. Prohack,”, appearing a-s a serial in tho American magazine "Tho Delineator,” and a London evening daily. It is in Bonnett’s lighter vein. Archibald Marshall, whose novel ot English county society I have so rcquently commended, seems to have made a hit with his latest story, ".Tho Hall and tho Grange.” "Almost good as Trollope’s” has Jreen said of Marshall’s work. Ho has nover given us so striking a portrait as Trollopo did in tho famous Mrs. I’roudic, but his country squires and lawyers and hunting me.n and women aro quite in tho approved Ue.rsetshire vein. Heinemanns aro shortly to commence tfie publication of a new col looted 9 w in-

burne, edited by Edmund Gosso and T. J. Wise, the famous English bibliographer. There are many excessively scarce Swinburne items in the Turnbull library, including the proof sheets (with the poet’s final corrections in his autograph) of the first series of “Poems and Ballads." American papers to hand by the last mail record the death of -Edgar Saltus, an essayist and novelist, whose work nover had! an extended popularity, but some of which is replete with a quite fascinating beauty. Saltus was palpably influenced by Walter Pater. His "Imperial Purple" is said to be one of President Harding’s favourite books. SOME RECENT FICTION “Dangerous Ages.” In “Dangerous Ages” (W. Collins, Sons, and. Co., per Whit-combe and Tombs), the author of that clever book, “Potterism,” gives us another penetrating, satirical study of present-day-society. Miss Macaulay’s gifts of character drawing, brilliancy of dialogue, and ironic linmour aro again displayed, but the tone is less gaily humorous than that of “What Not?" and “Potterism." There is an underlying note of something akin to bitterness. We are shown the spirit of the time as it affects four succeeding generations. At the top of tho family tree is Grandmamma, aged eighty, who acts as a sort of chorus to the story; at tho foot, Gerda and Kay, in their later teens. Also we have, the mother of tho two young people, Neville, who is forty-three; her sister Nan, ten years younger; and Mrs. Hilary, their mother, who is in the sixties. Each generation has, it has been said, its own personal outlook, on life, andl it is a tribute to Miss Macaulay’s skill in character differentiation that she makes each member of the family circle whose loves and ambitions, joys and sorrows she lays bare with so unerring an analysis, stand out so clearly. Gerda and Kay, who represent the very latest thought and "movements," are perhaps a little overdrawn. But the vulgar egotism of Mrs. Hilary, the droll comments of Grandmamma on purely latter-day ideas, tho struggle of the passionate Nan to retain a lover who in tho long run is -evidently destined to respond to Gerda’s more youthful and attractive appeal—these are all admirable. "Dangerous Ages" is a very clever, almost a brilliant, story, the moral of which, if it has a moral at all, is that no ago can adequately understand or be in mental and spiritual touch with another. The title is suggested by ft quotation from Logan Pearsall Smith’s 'Trivia”—"all ages are dangerous to nil people in this dangerous life we live."

“The Souls of Poor Folk.” Under the title, “The Souls of Poor Folk” (Wm. Collins, Sons and Co., per Whitcombe and Tombs), is presented a second series of those intimate and sympathetic studies of humble life in Northern Ireland, which attracted so much .attention when the author’s charming stcry, "My Lady of the Chimney Corner," was first published. Dr. Irvine is an Irish Barrie. As were Barrie’s sharply-etched descriptions of Scottish. Lowlands' life, as drtiwn in "The Window in Thrums” and "Auld Licht Idylls,” ' Dr. Irvine’s softly-coloured pictures of his early life in Antrim 'are replete with both a genial humour and a pathos which always ring true. "The Candle in the Window” is quite in the Barrie vein, whilst “The Bog Queen’s Flitter” reminds me of James Stephens’s stories. But, let it please be understood, I make no suggestion of plagiarism. Dr. Irvine is nothing if he be not original in his handling of themes which may have appealed to other writers who have dealt with Celtic life and thought. “Rachel and Her Relations,”

Alisa Una. Silberrad’s latest story, "Radhel and Her Relations” (Hutchinson and Co., j>er Whitcombe and Tombs), may not bo up to the high standard set by the author in "Tho Good Comrade,” "The Enchanter," and "Ordinary People,” but it is none the less a cleverly written, and, if leisurely Tend, decidedly pleasing story. It deals with ’the experiences of a young lady, of considerable independence of spirit and strength..of character, who takes up, under a false namq_ the position of companion to* two ancient ladies and their brother. The menage is _ eccentric in many ways, and Rachel is finally dismissed as the result of a misunderstanding with her spinster employers. Later on, however, the heroine discovers the fact that she is the daughterof an elder sister of her late employe™, to whom she returns, finally inheriting a fairly substantial fortune. There is a pleasant love interest, and the story is rich in character-drawing. Tho bibulous African explorer, Hector Bute, is qttTbe a Dickensian figure, and the maiden aunts are drawn with much kindly humour. Some Clever Short Stories.

Marjorie Bowen,- the author of "Tho Viper of Milan,” and a long series of novels based upon" Italian nnd Dutch history, which have won well-deserved popularity, now presents ns with n collection of well-written, and for tho most part very exciting short stories—fifteen in all—entitled "The Pleasant Husband and Other Stories” (Hurst and Blackett, per Whitcombe and Tombs). Both in the periods dealt with and in the subjects, the stories vary greatly. In the titls? story, which, however, is not placed first in the book, the time is the present day, the adjective pleasant, as applied to tho husband, being decidedly ironical. As a motif for a short playlet of the Grand Guignol kind, the story is no doubt admirable, but the husband’s vengeance on an unfaithful wife is almost too horrible. Others of the stories are in a vein of comedy, and there are several clever reconstructions of eighteenth century life. ' In one story Miss Bowen takes her readers as far back as the of St. Augustine, whilst another deals with a Viking romance. Whether the background be England, or Holland, or Itnlv, the stories are always interest? compelling and eminently readable. The collection may be warmly commended Io those who prefer their fiction in small doses. Shorter Notices.

i'lie tremendously prolific Wdham Le Queux’s very latest, novel, "The lif th Finger” (Stanley, Paul and Co.), has for its leading figure a very remarkable woman. Bettv Bollond. who, in. pursuance of a personal joins and acts ns the chief of a gapg of swindlers and thieves. Tho author gives us some highly sensational pictures of life in the London underworld, but the story suffers not a little through its careless COnHtrUCtion. ~ , t • IT "Tho Pilcher of Fate,’ by Iris Marshall (Stanley, Paul and Co.), is a stirring historical romance, the heroine being a Polish princess. Tho principal scenes are laid in Poland and Russia, and many historical personages are introduced." The author’s reconstruction of court life nt Cracow and Moscow is convincingly realistic, and the story, which is richly packed with dramatic and thrilling incidents, is a very readable. and enjoyable effort. New and cheaper editions of IT. Noel Williams’s glory of the turf, "Tho Grasshnmpton Stake,” and one of Cecil Adair’s highly sentimental, but with a certain section of novel readers, very popular stories, "Gabriel’s Garden,” also reach me from Messrs. Stanley, Paul and Co.