THE NEW YEAR SPIRIT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2534, 25 January 1923, Page 1

THE NEW YEAR SPIRIT.

“AUSSIE'S” CONCENTRATED

GLADNESS.

“Aussie,” the cheerful monthly, starts the New Year with a, cardhouse of resolutions (as its frontispiece), which Father Time is about lo reap down. The picture, which is by R. 0. Hussom, catches the eye instantly, and sets one thinking as to the prospects of defying the old man with the scythe. Facing this is a. full page humourous drawing, entitled “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” by G. K. Townshend. There is also a very excellent double page centre picture, “The New Settler’s New Year,” from an oil painting, by R. G. Russom. It is realistic of the bush and catches the spirit of hope for the future. The issue contains the work of over sixty Australasian writers and artists, including one of the most laughable pictures imaginable drawn by the young digger artist, Dick ITore. A strong New Year spirit permeates the whole issue, and the humorous stories, jokes, and sketches are well up to Aussie’s high standard, which is higher than any other high standard. The verse, too, is excellent and the Aussiosities, giving as they do, the best of the digger stories, help to make up a magazine of concentrated gladness that will keep the heart cheerful till the next issue is off the press. For the special benefit of women, there is a section which is run on quite different lines from any other published feature for the fair sex. Eve’s Daughter, in her continued series, “Australian Women Poets,” deals with the life ol: Louisa Lawson, mother of Henry Lawson. Marie Jacques tells how they cook potatoes in Belgium and G. O’Connor writes an interesting and useful article on bag-making. On the serious side, there are articles by Louis Esson and Vance Palmer, while matters of national importance are dealt with in the leading articles.