BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 54, 26 November 1921, Page 11

BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

(By

Liber.)

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 Thomson.

BOOKS OF THE DAY ••Bernadotte and Napoleon—l 799-1310.” In “Bernadotte and ’Napoleon, 17991810” (John Murray; por Whitcombs and .Tombs Ltd.), Sir Dunbar Plunket Barton. continues an erudite and valuable historical and biographical work, th? first instalment of. which, under the title ’ “Bernadotte: The First Phase, - waa published a couplo of years ago, and then reviewed in .those columns, the first book traced the career of Jean Baptists Bernadotto from his birth in 1763 down to his flight from. Paris in November, 1799. In the present volume, -Sir Dunbar Barton gives us a study or the relations between Bernadotte and Napoleon during ths period of the Conunlato, and during the first six years of Napoleon’s reign as Emperor concluding with the history of Bernadotte s election in 1810 as Prince Regent of Sweden. The third volume, which Will complete this remarkable work, will follow Bernadotto through the remainder of his career, ns Heir Apparent to the Swedish throne, and as King of Sweden end Norway. The author claims that the subject has bqen approached without bios and’with a desire to allow events and’documents to speak for themselves. The story of Bernadotte’s career is inseparably connected with that or Napoleon. Sir Dunbar Barton’s work is a contribution to Napoleonic literatuie which no student of the Napoleonic epoch can in future afford to disregard. The author warmly defends Bernadotte s action in accepting th© Empire, although himself a democrat, remarking, "Napoleon'S 'First Republic’ was not * worth preserving," .as it had not the basis of a true democracy. As a general, Bernadotte had not always the best of luck, but if at Jena and hy.lau he erred, he scored heavily nt Lubeck, at and Mohrungen. In • the c “P administrator ho governed at vaiious times Hanseatic cities, Denmark, Hanover, and Anspach an/1 exhibited con spicuous ability. “Nobody, writes M. Farrens, in a- parage quoted by Sn Dunbar Barton, "possessed in such a high degree as Bernadotte the talent for creating order out of ,^ f °J n £ np irr? diznitv to .coercion, for winning hl Stihlde of the peoples of whom ho urns appointed the oppressor bike our old friend D'Artagnan, of Three Musketeers," Bernadotto Kn from Bearn." Says the author: He hod both the good qualities and the r^b^ve" gr&S&wssMFs no“h h?m On the other hand, he was vain and inordinately ambitious, comes badly from the adherents of the most ambitious man of that a=o ° and lesser men. such as his. Marshals,-i reflected in Talleyrand s saying that the love of glory can create a great nero >mt it. is the contempt of it that creates mSI. Neither of remarkable personages roueh i - w -u en . veracity. Napoleon the »ver it was necessary to do 80 r° r . “ Mo ‘XinLent . or’gra'Sfylnradherents^??°of ; °n- „„ are at The same time tempted i VSed ?Lds Or w?r C B U th:rhnv n e d^d m i°ess ! notoriously, have had less temptation and excuse. Sir Dunbar Barton’s. work, which should find a place in all llb ™nes « which duo attention is paid to historical literature, contains an interesting series of portraits of eminent, statesmen and commanders of 'the period dealt with, and of various Royal personages of the time. There are also several useful maps. (N.Z. price, 265.) ' ■ Studies in Natural History. Two recently-published books' should strongly appeal to Bll ‘ interested in animals. and birds a "The Soul of an Ammal, by 1. ,b- • Hawkins XAlien and Unwin),, and A Philosopher with Nature, by the late Benjamin Kidd (Methuen and Co.). Mr. Hawkins is an ardent humanitarian and | outers a strong plea for » and sympathetic treatment of animals and birds, maintaining that in in<r them wo are crucifying the epmt of°Life itself, and that in we are loving our common Maker. The author waxes indignant against mdi criminate destruction of birds and animals, “camouflaged under the popular but much-abused title of sport. M • Hawkins quotes some very remarkable instances of the highly-developed intelligence of dogs. I remember (he writes) a bitch If they were offered sugar, she W .° U take it eently from them and return it to the eiver’ if given biscuit in exchange, ■he would givl her puppies the biscuit and eat th© sugar herself.

Stray Leaves.

Mr. Hawkins is responsible for the statement that nanny birds feign lameness and even death, and contends that they must be conscious of the fact that they are acting.

Lapwings are noted for assuming an attitude of utter helplessness, beating their wings in vain efforts to rise, or dragging themselves along the ground and themselves in all sorts of helpless positions, when they have suddenly been surprised on the nest by human hemes. Tffo mother-bird is seeking to draw attention to herself, and to divert it from her young ones until they have had time to hide. ' . , Yet more woiiderful is the power attributed to snipo and woodcock of being able to "dress their own wounds, or set and bandage their broken, legs."

These reports have generally been treat«d as fables, but in this case the . truth In stranger than Action._ and the evidence rests upon a solid basis. Ab a proof thereof, a photograph appeared in tho "Field" (April 25. 1914) of a snipe s leg treated in this fashion by t'ho bird himself. Tho bandage consisted chiefly of downy feathers, with which, however, a few stiffer ones were mingled, smeared with some sort of adhesive mixture, artistically and effectually applied. The author is severe upon tho at. ■tempts of man to, as he says, correct the so-called mistakes of creation. ". . . Unable to cope with the complex scheme of things entire, we tinker at some miscroscopic detail, and find out our mistake when too late.’’ _ So-called economic motives of destruction have often, ho claims, resulted in economic revenge.

" Tho destruction of egrets to adorn women’s hats is a case in point. Egrets play an important part in the balance of nature—they devour swarms of locusts, army worms, cotton-boll weevil, and underground larvae of all descriptions. This was noted in the . locust plague in Kansas and tho z adjoining States. The cricket invasion of Utah was kept in check by these little herons as well as by the gulls and crows, to whom the people of Utah ejected a statue.

In tho chapter headed "Suffering and Sin" the author combats the popular theory that animals and birds suffer only physical pain, and brings forward many curious facts in support of bis belief that they are possessed of instinctive powers which are but little removed from an actual reasoning intelligence. Although every reader may not accept, all Mr. Hawkins’s interesting theories, they cannot fail to admire the author’s earnestness, and recognise the painstaking etudy he has devoted to what he calls

the psychic side of bird and animal life. The late Mr. Benjamin Kidd, the author of those well-known books, "Social Evolution” and "The Science of Power,” was a keen observer of Nature, and was engaged more or lees continuously thoughout his life in carrying out systematic observations and experiments on the habits and intelligence of animals, contributing from time to time to various periodicals, essays and articles of general interest on subjects of natural history. Many of his most notable essays have now been collected and published under the title "A Philosopher With Nature” (Methuen and Co.). Amongst other subjects dealt with are wild bird life, bees, eels, frogs, and hares, and sea trout, other subjects being, the instinct of animals, the intelligence of dogs and squirrels, and the very curious habits of the cuckoo. The essays, aro written in a popular and essentially agreeable stylej and the student of Kidd’s sociological writings will here find many interesting sidelights upon the development of th© author's mind and of the strong influence of biological studies upon his sociological work. No pretence is made by the author to the possession of deep-scientific attainments, the essays having" been written more for the author’s and the reader’s recreation than for purposes of advancing knowledge. They certainly make very delightful reading for lovers of animals and birds.

LIBER’S NOTE BOOK

War books, so the booksellers will tell you, are at a decided discount nowadays, but additions are continually being made to the already huge bulk of thia class of literature. The full story of a memorable naval achievement the Blocking of Zeebrugge.” is told by Captain Carpenter, K.N., who commanded the Vindictive, and won the V.C. on that historio occasion. Herbert Jenkins publishes the book. Routledges announce a new reference book, a “Dictionary of English Phrases, containing, it is stated, a collection of some 20,009 allusions, catch words, fixed metaphors, nicknames, sobriquets, find the like, with some slang. Personally, in this class of literature, “Liber’ swears by oirr old and trusty friend, Dr. Brewer’s "Reader’s Handbook. Another useful work of the same kind is the same author's of Phrase and Fable.” However, these are both old books -nowadays, and there should bo room for a newcomer in the same field, in which more up-to-date allusions and phrases will be included. ... A book of some considerable interest 'for Shakespearean students should be • Mrs. C. C. Stopes’s “Life of Henry, , Third Earl of Southampton, Shake- ' speare’s Patron." The book, which is based on original documents, is to be published by the Cambridge University Mr.' E. V. Lucas has, I see, gone , this year to Spain'for his autumn holiday. This, I hope, means we shall have,. in due course, "A Wanderer in Spain written in the same delightful style as the well-known "Wanderer in Holland and others of this author’s chatty travel books. , The "witty Max.” as Max Beerbohm is so often called, has declined, a tempting offer to lecture in America-.. According to Ralph Ncvill, in his now book, "Mayfair and Montmartre,’ Lord Beaconsfield was occupied a few days before his death, in correcting his last speeches in the House of Lord®. “I •tfrill not,” ho said, ‘“go down .to posterity as talking bad grammar" Mr Nevill, I notice, tells not a few chestnuts, notably a story about Gladstone’s cleverness in getting himselt out of an awkward situation with Hying colours. In a discussion as to finding a rich wife for a rising young politician, someone broke in with: “Whv I believe he's got a wife already." “"What does that matter " said a cynic. “Gladstone can always bo put up to explain her away.”

Hugh Walpole’s forthcoming new story, to be published by Macmillans, is to be entitled "The Young Enchanted Mr. John Lane announces a further series of "Experiences of a New Guinea by tho New Zealander Captain Monckton. 1 ' It is said that Sir Hall Caine s last novel, "The Master of Man/ bring in the lucky author over 4110,000, which, by the way, is the price Longmans paid Macaulay for his famous history. For' "The Deemster,” one of Hall Caine’s earliest books, he only got SOME RECENT FICTION Ths Latest Lucas. "Rose and Rose,” by E. V. . Lucas (Methuen and Co., per Whitcombe and Tombs), is a well-written, very charming story, professedly set; forth by one of the chief figures, a country doctor, who in turn becomes the guardian, guide, counsellor and friend of two women, mother and daughter, each named Rose. The first Rose, ■to whom the kindly Dr. Greville acts as foster-father, marries the wrong sort of man, and elopes with a friend of her childhood’s days, and in course of time her daughter is also confided to the doctor’s care. Ho is, nominally, an old man who tells the story of ttfe two. Roses, their education, their love passages, their tj-oubles and their joys, but lie is even young at heart, a man of fine charity, cool, sensible, an open, enemy to snobbishness and scandalmongering, ai true find, trusty friend to all who can value tho best kind of friendship. The elderlv bachelor who acts as guide and counsellor and protector to a young lady is not a new figure in Mr. Lucas’s stories, but in "Rose and Rose” he is a specially delightful old fellow, far too good, so many a reader will consider, to die an old bachelor. The two heroines are very cleverly drawn, and Mr. Lucas has never given us two better character sketches than, .the outspoken,, unconventional, but ever kindly-hearted Mrs. O’Gorman, and the priggish ladv Mrs. Stratton, who is tho jolly Irishwoman’s very opposite. Mr. Lucus’s earlier stories, "Over Bemcrton’s," "Mr. Ingleside," and others, were, it may be .remembered, styled "ontertainnients, i the author weaving into his narrative many curious' extracts from old books, sketches, out-of-the-way incidents, and characteristics. Tn "Rose and Rose” ho is not quite so discursive, and 1 for ono am not so sure that I like the new stylo as well as the old. But it is a very pretty story, and makes delightful reading.

"The Hall and the Grange.” Mr. Archibald Marshall is more Trol-lopo-like than ever in his latest story, "The Hall and tho Grange” (W. Collins, Sons, and Co., per Whitcombe and Tombs). It is a story of country life, the story of a misunderstanding which develops into a nasty quarrel between two brothers, the elder, Squire Eldridge of the Hall, a country gentleman of the old typo, conservative to a. degree, tho soul of honour, but a little too apt to stand on his dignity, and a younger brother, Sir Williapi Eldridge, of “The Grange,” a prominent politician and a much more worldly and wealthy man. As tho fortunes of tho elder branch fail end fall those of, the family at the Grange become substantially improved. There is a dispute over n piece of land which the “Grange” would fain add to its already extensive gardens, and as time goes on it causes an open and

ugly breach between the two brothers. The worst of it is that two very charming young people, a daughter of the “Hall" and a son of ths "Grange," i-un a heavy risk of their mutual attachment being rudely ended. Mr. Marshall, however, is skilled in the art of contriving quite feasible explanations and family reconciliations, and before the story closes the feud is wiped out and the young people are made happy. -1110 author has no superior, indeed, no equal, in the art of describing what might bo called .country society life, and his pictures of rural England in. this hw latest novel aro os attractive as those of its many predecessors. A very wholesome and pleasant story. “The Barn.”

“The Barn," by Edward Lewis (Allen and Unwin), is a well-written novo>l descriptive of the attempt of a . travelled man who settles down in a quiet English village to infuse a little more sphit into the dull- life o ‘ • tics. John Haslam’s well-meant expert-, nient brings him, however, into conflict with a peculiarly fatuous vicar with a high-born lady who is an Anglican de vote, and, thirdly, anomer rel - gious fanatic, a woman of the ' The narrow-minded bigotry of the educated Mrs. Darracott leads her to burn down the old barn which Haslam has transformed into a village club house; but. the fanaticism of Lady Monica carries her even tu Uh € ’ holding the hero to be a deadly enemy of her Church, she deeides that hp mus be removed, and stabs him W1 ancient Eastern dagger, to £ /tributes mysterious powers. me mui de ess the/rushes to the village church where, prostrated before the altar she is killed by the roof being shattered by Hie fall of\ giant tree which is blown against the shaky old edifice. It is, a pfty the author should have crowded his final oßn.n-’ters with. mGlodjiaina, for. tho earlier eeeaoa ef lltolerated by Ms parishioners, still'lms Ws bishop, and as for Lady Monica, she is frankly an impossible creation.

A Clever Fantasy. Tn "Going Home: Being the fantastic romance of the girl with the man who had' wings" (Werner Dau rie Ltd) Mr. Barry Pain provides an amusing little story with f™ profiteers—om of the XVc r ter de and servants, eccentric lady artists, am* others The author is specially sarca Uc o'er the efforts of tiie sionist school as emulated by Chelsea amateurs. Thus the outspoken Kate Mason: TL’S »u.‘ -&” d with a Btuwiie u>, m hpr r wen t closer against Cos lettuce? Th f eort9 and. saw that it was a w Ca Hero and there a cdptious reader may "fantastic" “Van etTrely a™priate price ss. 6d.)