Latest Publications.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1923, Page 4

Latest Publications.

MYSTERIOUS JAPAN. The progress of Japan through feudalism to constitutional government and the status of a Great Power is recorded impartially and accurately, ii a little drily, in "The Making of Japan,” by Mr J. H. Gtibbins, late First Secretary in our Embassy at Tokio.

His account stops at the assembling of the Peace Conference at Versailles in January 10L9. It would have been interesting also to have -Air Gubbins’s estimate as regards Japan ot the spirit of mental and material disarmament expressed in the work of the AAaslnnglon Conference.

It is it mistake to suppose (Mr Gubkins points out) that because foreign in 11 ticnces enter so largely into the educational course Japan must necessarily end by becoming Europeanised.

Elementary education remains "practically untouched by AA’cstcrn in--11 nonces.” Its teaching of "morals”— affection and respect ior the throne, the Hag, and the Empire—is the stronghold of it deep national sentiment.

National unity is also promoted strongly by the Japanese family system—quite different from ours—in which individual interest often is subordinated to the welfare ot the elan. On this and on the inner realities of Japanese polities .Air Gtibbins writes with marked insight and effect. .A CLOWN’S REMINISCENCES. "AYhimsioal AYaiker." the celebrated clown, has been the delight ol more than 30 pantomimes at Drury Lane and bis volume of reminiscences. "From Sawdust to AAindsor Castle’ is ns breezy and entertaining as himself. llis start in life is recounted with unusual frankness. “One day 1 was sent with my stepmother’s’ mother to Stockport market to sell butter and eggs, ami was left by her in charge of the stall. Here was'the very chance and I took it. I sold Lite stock on my own account and went- oil with the moiiev to Manchester.” "AYliimsiral AYaiker has several times performed helore the Royal Family. In 1880 he went down wits Ilenglor's Circus to AAindsor Castle, and Cueeii A ietoria, interested in his performing donkey, had it brought bill.re her alter the show. She touched the donkey's hack with her slick and he began to kick and bray singing ‘The Conquering Item Comes’ so tin particular noise was called. I lie row pi oved too much for her Majesty’s on - durance and nerves. 'Take him away. 1 have had enough of him.' she ex claimed iinperiutislv.” RHINELAND NO A' EL. Miss Charlotte Mansfield breaksome new ground in "The Green Ghost.”. Its distinction is that it ithc first English novel that touches on the Allied Army of Occupation in the Rhineland. The "new poor" hero, the Duke of Klinlshiro. i- a major on the stall' of the French general, and in this i tinned ion Miss Mansfield adds her testimony to the good behaviour ot the French coloured troops. .A singularly unpleasant family, named Hodge, have taken the ducal castle in Scotland, and in lining -i. they appear to imagine that the duke's band in marriage is somehow nttnehen m the lease. Rachael Dodge positively hunts the poor man. She the kind of new-rich daughter who says in public: "Oh, mother, you will always he middle-class, no matter »ln.w many

iotlge is the sort of proiileer who al

most reconciles one to the prospect oi it capital Vvy.

Enrtnuntely there is Avril, a iliarmino Hedge cousin, and a dancer, with whom Flintshire falls in love. Tbhorrible plot which Rachael weaves lor the ruin ol Avrii. who is forced, under drugs, lo dame in a German nighthaunt. is almost painful in its realism. For all it- wild improhahilii ies "The Green Ghost” has pint jnyslery. and siirpi iso.

AIDS TO REALTY LONG AGO. In an interesting hook just published. "The Old English iternaK." Mi.E'eanor Sinclair Rohde has traced, with voluminous extracts, the whole stury ol the eaJy English herhais. There is sone-l hing delightful in the solemn simplicity of these writers, whose odd conceits are only matched by tlu-ir obvious love of their subject. Gerard in his "llerbai” gives us a curious list of Mower- (hat lioun'she.! in London in Elihaboihaii days. AA ild bugloss grew "in the ilrie ditch bankes about I’icca.lilla.” mullein "in the tile lit-1 1 1 sof f iolborne lieei'e unto Gray's Inn.” A BRIDE'S ORDEAL. A cheerful leeoril ol her- "wanderings” among the hill tribes of Northern Albania has been made by Rose Wilder Lane m "The I’eake of Simla.” The mystery of landowiiersliip and reni has not yet revealed itsell to the simple inutualitv of these mountain folk: “AA’o do not understand. In your country tin men of the same tribe pay each other money for houses? . . . . I low can a man own land?” said one, more in amazement than in question.