"For So Little"

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 13, 30 July 1891, Page 3

"For So Little"

To appreciate the lessons and the beauties of a book is unfortunately the privilege only of the' few, and well may it be «nvied ! by the many. This appreciation can in any case only arise under congenial surroundings — say in an jeasy chair before a bright log fire and a brighter lamp, your best girl, or still better, your wife, her «ver-busy woman's fingers plying the needle, an eager listener- to /the voice of the egotist as he strives earnestly though * oft ineffectually to impart all proper feel- . ing to the vayaig moods of ihe story. TJncler these circumstances only, can I conceiye the real enjoyment of a good book, or the thorough dislike to a mere 3>lot. Though unfortunate in its title, which is just a leetle suggestive of the " family novelette." The story is one alike to interest the student of character or the lover of cleverly > wrought narratives, jwhich, from the Supreme Court reports of New Zealand's most celebrated •crifiinal trial one knows to be literally true. Though every-- name and locality is carefully disguised," every personage in that dire tragedyds imniedately , ~to be recognised, and each is.painted with a skill not commonly acknowledged in the - - prophet's own country. • Doctor .Langley •of course is the hero, and even he is shown to possess, alas, that weak side of human nature, which close contact with one's fellows too often reveals. • There are life-. like pictures of thejmwary woman ruled' by the demon of illicit loye, and'thoroughp? osd villain and man of the world, shown without all the tragic surrouudiugs which only in " shockers"— never in life — a man carrying all the weight and sorrow of crime under his every-day demea-, pour, such crime as woulE be declared - impossible to anything human were it not all amply borne out by the evidence given at the trial. That even' the incidental characters are painted from living models ■cannot be doubted, when any one at ah 1 intimately acquainted with a well-known -city inelico of tramway company fame, can recognise the source of Bhe character - attributed to> Dr Balaton; A keen .appreciation of the' objects of art ~la shown in a casual description of the pictures on. the walls of " Westwood," ' the home wherein the tragedy is so quietly 'Consummating. One chapter descriptive of. a colonial " prison, even among many ~ clever scenes, calls for special note. In it the philosophy so well explessed that almost;;' unknown Australian, • Garnet ' Walsh, is recognised. He it is who «ays :— , J «• Where crime gems are steeped tha" they better may shoot Where a poof hungry sinner who's stolen a .dinner Shall have for his fellow a case hardened brute." It must be acknowledged that a " taper- ' - ing off " is observable towards the end, this however, is the common lot of many books — and men ! Divided into crisp short chapters, each well headed, a secret recognised by newspaper men, the book 28 a profitable pleasure. Our , public library hais secured two copies, aud I recommend it to readers. Had the' book been anything but above r mediocrity the author, ss might object to my mentioning that she is, well known in this district, her husband haying had a considerable " assurance experience," as «he aptly terms the. goodly occupation of one who " takes lives." She is also a fnend of Sir Samuel Wilson, of Australia. ' Rochester.