GOOD NIGHT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 10 December 1927, Page 9

GOOD NIGHT

“And when the sun Before his final dip beyond the hills Prepares to bid us all good-night— When boldly standing forth with lavish hand he spills Across the sky a wreath of puffy clouds in jonquil splashes, Leaps back to view his works, laughs silently and dashes Out again to drench the sky with amber spray; When just before his downward roll beyond the ridge He turns and dings a saffron bridge Across the Helderbergs whose summits, fold on fold, Reflect his last resplendent gift— And then is gone ... far down a single rift Within the evening clouds he signals with a flag-of gold: ‘l’m going now . . . the other side . . . where I belong; To-morrow morning . . . don’t forget ... so long!' ” —Raymond Moody, in the “Independent.” B ♦ T LOST ECSTASY By Mary Roberts Rhinehart: Hodder and Stoughton. 7/6 net. The large circle of readers of Mary Roberts Rhinehart’s books will welcome this latest addition to her already large collection of publisheu works. It is a study of contrasts. We see Kay, delicately nurtured in the lap of luxury, aim Tom, a western cowboy, splendid in his own outdoor setting, but self-conscious and ridiculous in the wealthy “country club.” Yet some bond draws them together, and Kay accepts him “for better for worse”—and considerably for worse. We see her making a valiant fight out on a lonely homestead in the great cattle country—a fight against poverty, loneliness, unusual work, and despair, with only her love for her husband to keep her going. “Lost Ecstasy” is well-named —there is an undercurrent of fatalistic hopelessness running all through the book, but the reader knows quite * well that two such splendid characters as Kay and Tom will find true happiness on the last page. Perhaps they will—read it and see. ♦ ♦ * ♦ TUI'S ANNUAL

We welcome this first number of “Tni's Annual,” the entire contents I of which consist of original contributidna from farm folks of New Zealand. It is a compilation of correspondents’ replies to various competitions organised by “Tui,” the lady editor of the “N.Z. Dairy Produce Exporter,” and contains many interesting and well written short stories and articles, pie gathered results of the competitive essays on ‘‘The Funniest Thing I Ever Saw” make most entertaining reading. AH success to the new venture. ♦ * ♦ ♦ COMPORT AND COURAGE RONALD G. MACINTYRE. (Hodder and Stoughton, 3/6 net.) This little book of devotional studies is among other things a mine of beautiful and aptly chosen fragments from the poets. It is written in an easy, confidential style-that is a fine illustration of the art that conceals art. Dr. Maclntyre s wellstored mind leans toward the comforting of others who have need of his help. His own experience shines from his pages, and he is a preacher who persuades by the very depth of his insight into our human need. ♦ * ♦ ♦ JOHN WALTERS: SAPPER (Hodder and Stoughton, 3/6 net.) Here is a collection of “Sapper's” incomparable short stories — war stories, of course—written in that breezy. capable style of which this entertaining writer has mastered the secret. The stories, many of them, 'v are familiar to those who have made * a habit of reading the English magazines, but every one of them is worth a second reading. The English “Tommy,” sent lor milk in Belgium, said he knew where a cow was to be found. “Soon after, he left with a tin receptacle and an air of determination. An hour after, he returned with neither.’’ It takes “Sapper” to write like that. Don't look twice at your 3/6. The book is worth double the money. ♦ * * » BITTER HERITAGE By MARGARET PEDLER. (Hodder and Stoughton, 7/6 net.) Quintin Lindris had been guilty vi embezzlement and suicide. That is the sinister fact which runs through this book and determines the actions of most of the characters. The dead man’s daughter, Herrick, is the central figure whose life looks like beinp rained by the fact that she is her father’s child. In the nick of time, however as she is on the verge of sacrificing herself, her difficulties are neatly solved, and on the last page everything is all right. Herrick’s scruples are surprisingly strong at times, the reader feels, bin nevertheless the complicated situation is well handled, and the various personalities portrayed in a very z-, vivid manner A most readable book.