THE BOOKMAN NEW PUBLICATIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1913, Page 13

THE BOOKMAN NEW PUBLICATIONS

"The International "Whitakev," A Btfttistical, historical, geographical, and commercial handbook for all nations, more especially for tho 200.000,000 English-reading people of the world. London. Whitnkor, War-wick-lane. Whitaker'a Almanack, which this book 'supplement*, but happily does not supersede, has become a household word in its long career— tlie vaGe-mecum fliid sine-qua-non of facts and figures for all men. With the title "The International Whitaker," the name of tho man who founded Whitaker'e Almanack in porpetuated in the book, just, as Webster stands for dictionaries, Baedeker for tourist guides, and Burke for the peerage. Tho ralson d'etre for the now Whitaker is explained in the prefatory noto to the first annual to hand. "ThvQMshout the world," says tho proface, "there are some 200,000,000 Eng-lish-reading people, and, although many of them »xq Keenly interested in the afftirs of the United Kingdom, therfi aro mam others who find certain . pages of "WhUaKer" redundant, and the substitution et inoxo complete statistics of other nations would reconcile them to the lo«* v& some of the more exclusively insular inStter* Appreciating this deske, the publishers of the warld'fam011$ annual have prepared an Internar tional Edition, which may accompany WhitaJser's. Almanack oil its journey to the households of the British islands and on ils voyages to the uttermost part? of the earth, either as the companion of an indispensable purchase, or in substitution fox* the older but less topical handbook.'* The new Whitaker will undoubtedly be appreciated as probably tho most succinct yet complete compendium of its kind. It gives its information on every country on more or less uniform lines in about 500 pages of closely-printed matter. The book is divided into four parts, of which the first deals generally with the relative functions of the component parts of the universe : the second with the physical geography of the land surface of the earth and' the ethnographic divisions of mankind ; the third with each nation in full detail individually with all statistics ', while the fourth gives a list of British and American Diplomatic and Consular representatives in foreign countries. There is a full index covering all the sections. It is impossible on a brief .survey to criticise a hand-book like this. Its facts and figures are either light or wrong, and only practical experience in the use of the book can find out the faults and failings— if there are any. But tho re> potation^ of Whitaker's Almanack made it practically a synonym for completeness and accuracy, and it is not likely that The International Whitaker '-will leave much scope for criticism. The publishers hive gone to an immense amount of trouble in collecting their information from the best and latest sources all over the world, and, according to the preface, Government departments in almost every country have revised or rewritten the portions submitted to them. The Editor of The International Whitaker invites suggestions as well as criticisms, but, in order that justice may be done to correspondents' requests that all communications may be despatched as early a« possible, to be in time for the next annual. " Charles the Great." By Mrs. H. H. Penrose. London : Methuen and C 0.,, Ltd. "Charles the Great" is not An historical novel nor a biography of the great monarch of Spain. It is described in the title as a very light comedy. In_ reality it is something more than this: it is a very good novel. The authoress has another work to her name '. " 4 Faery Land forlorn," and this was i glowingly reviewed by many papers at Home who count. If it is as good (the writer has not read it) as> " Charles the Great,"- then it is certainly worth while. Mrs. Penrose exactly understands the true meaning of comedy, which implies neither farce nor yet broad humour. " Charles the Great is very reminiscent of the work of the greatest of English writers of the novel of comedy; it breathes the comic spirit defined and described for all time by George Meredith. Not at all unworthily, this novel under review brings back memories of "The Egoist." "Charles the Great" is one Charles Berham, a faineant, country gentleman of means, who for years has been going to write a book, but has never fot beyond the comfortable pose of the uettante with pen and pad at hand, but never used. Feeling that he must do something to justify his undeserved reputation in the country town, he bribes his journalist cousin, then in difficulties, to write him a novel. The cousin turns out a masterpiece for -which Charles gets due credit. That is the gist of the plot, but the great thing about tile book is the character-drawing and the naturalness of the style and dialogue. There are several _ delightful characters right from real life — the curate; his actress Bister, who ia as like Clara Middleton I in "The Egoist" as Charles the Great is like Sir Willoughby Patterne; the sister of the great author 5 Jessie Martin, the golfing girl, with very large feet; her father, the choleric Anglo-Indian; and some excellent minor characters. Here is the pen picture of " Charles the Great ;-— "Ho presented the appearance of a man who had been well taken care of all his life, and had also a genius for taking care of himself. The arms of a very easy chair embraced him softly ; his head— a head with a rather flat back —rested on a favourite cushion, secured by ribbons at the exact height which his notion of perfect comfort had dictated ; his feet were supported by a large footstool at a nicely-regulated distance from the fire ; a reading lamp stood on a small table behind his shoulder; a blotting pad and a fountain pen lay beside it; but the sheet of paper on the pad was quite blank. His clothes, perfect of their kind, gave the impression of belonging to a literary man or an artist rather than a country gentleman 5 and his hair was slightly longer than the hair of an ordinary country gentlemanworn thus to advertise the marvellous brain over which it formed a thatch. His complexion was pale, not of tho healthiest, and he inclined to flabbirfess. It might have been said that Charles Benham had been born great, for had he not been born heir to Critchley Pa*? He had had greatness thrust upon him, being in much request as president of this, patron of that, member of tho other. But he had not yet achieved greatness, and that was wlmt he desired to do, if it could be accomplished without any exertion, mental or physical. Meanwhile he posed as if he had already achieved it, and was always greatly annoyed by any indication of not bning taken so seriously as he took himself. ( The blank sheet of paper on the blotting pad stood for 'much." The most critical reader will enjoy this light comedy. "The Claim That Won." By May Wynne. London: G. Bell and Sons. (S. and W. Mackay). _ Here we have a good old-fashinoed interest-holding story. Jt opens in the good old-fashinoed way— "The wind howled fitfully over Vellau-Drucher Moor. The ghost of the Great Tregeagle —tho Mautom. epirit of Cornish folk-tore

— was at its mildest pranks on that April night in the year of grace 1759," and so tho story runs on. Telling of the adventures in Cornwall of a French escapee of noble birth, who broke out of Princetown Gaol on Dartmoor. A good insight is afforded into Cornish life, people, and scenery, and the story runs smoothly from beginning to end. It is skilfully told and the character drawing is rather well done. The period has provided material for Stevenson's "St. Ives," but "Tho Claim That Won" does not resemble that Work in anything else. There is an "Aunt Tabitha" in "The Claim That ,Won," which reminds one that most young novelists have an aunt of that numo somewhere at hand when wanted. A Tabitha who is not an aunt seems difficult to imagine. But the book is written pleasantly enough on the conventional lines which find a generally roady acceptance to-day, otherwise how explain tho past output of popular novels no better Unn "The Claim That Won." "Lawn Tennis in Austrn'isia." By "Austral" (of Tho Referee). Edwards, Dunlop and Co., Ltd., Sydney and Brisbane. This excellent compendium, dedicated by pel-mission to one of the groatoßt, players tho world has yet flflon— Norman E. Brookes — is worthy of tho practical skill and theoretical judgment of such as "Austral,'' which norn do plumo hides the name of one of the foremost critics in Australasia (Mr. R. M. Kidston). The author has played tennis for two or three decades in Sydney and Melbourne, and played it well, having achieved inter- State honours. Por years on years he has been shoulder to shoulder with the champions, studied their methods, made comparisons, and drawn shrewd conclusions. The volume under notice is the fruit of his ripe experience and a judgment quite matured, and is a compilation that should find a niche in the library of every tennis enthusiast in places where authorities on athletics aro gathered together between board covers. In one sense the< book is unique : By means of his own camera "Austral" has secured-^striking action — photos of the best players in the world, and these, to the number of sixty-two, are admirably and lucidly explained in succinct notes. All the strokes, footwork styles, methods of gripping the racket, are thus illustrated, and should serve the young player valuably. The veteran, in. a somewhat theoretical article entitled " The Modern Game," submits many convincing hints; and other subjects include " Running ■ a Touraament," "Match Tactics, "Making a Chip Court," and so on. Davis Cup rules and contests (cameo descriptions), and Australasian records dating from 1885 (appreciation is tendered J. F. Koch for collecting the records)^ assist in making a first-class collection of data invaluable to followers of the game. The photos represent such exponents as Brookes, Dunlop, Wilding, and the various American, Australian < interState, and New Zealand champions, in characteristic attitudes making shots. The School Journal for February is to hand from the Education Department. Of chief interest in Part 111. (for the senior classes) are an account of the visit of the Dominion cadets to Canada in the latter part of last year, a short memoir of Lord Liverpool, and an epsode of the New Zealand war, described by Admiral Sir E. R. Fremantle. There is an account of the historical events leading up to the present war in the Balkans. Interesting reading is contained in Parts I. and 11., for younger readers. All the parts are illustrated. The Dominion Scout for February has a capital portrait of Mr. G. T. Palmer, M.A., Commissioner for South Canterbury. The doings of the young Scouts, boys and girls, in the Various provinces are recorded, and there are illustrated tales, Scout yarns, humorous items, and other matters of interest to friends of the movement. In the Post of 26th January appeared a paragraph from a London paper, quoting some well-known lines by Adam Lindsay Gordon. Mr. E. M. Bowden writes to say that the real author of the lines was Dr. Samuel Smiles, whose book "Self-help," in which he asserts they appear, deserves to be more generally known. Unfortunately for Mr. Bowden, the facts are against him. The lines are a part of Gordon's poem, "Ye Weary Wayfarer," the con* text being as follows :—: — "In. my ear the wind that whispers Seems to make reply— 'Question not, but live and labour , Till your goal be won, Helping every feeble neighbour, Seeking help from none. , Life is mostly froth and bubble ; Two things stand like etone— Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own.' " It may be doubted if Smiles ever wrote a line of poetry, though he made apt quotation of it in his biographical and ethical works. The particular quotation referred to does not seem to be in "Self-help."