SNIPPETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 April 1927, Page 10

SNIPPETS

The Bookman’s Gleanings

jyjß. BERNARD HOLLAND’S introductory memoir to the letters of Baron Friedrich von Hugel, the great theological writer who died in 1925, quotes a letter from Mrs. Cecil Chapman, the baron’s life-long friend: It was in the early spring of 1924 that I had my last visit from the baron. I thought him looking very ill, and it was just before his breakdown. We talked much of a book which had greatly impressed him, “Journal et Pensees," by Elizabeth Leseur. He spoke of the effort it sometimes cost him to get his mind to work on his great book—it was painful to realise what it cost him—and he got on the subject of Parkman’s long writing on Canadian history. He described how Parkman never spared himself, and, in spite of bad health, worked on and on until he got his book completed—the great earnestness of purpose which he had displayed. “And yet,” said the baron, “it wasn’t religion. There was no religion in the hard work and sacrifice.” “What is religion, then?” I asked. “Religion is adoration,” answered the baron. * * * Mr. W. E. Heitland, the historian of Rome, who for 60 years has lived at Cambridge, has published his recollections. Among them is one of Bishop Selwyn, “noted,” as he says, “for his vigorous episcopate in New Zealand.” _ An old university oarsman, accustomed to ride or swim to any scene of duty, he was a formidable person. In the university pulpit I once saw and heard this mighty militant, and I could not help feeling thankful that I was safe within the gallery. Well, he gave the Johnians’ chapel a stirring address, and naturally appealed to college sentiment and solidarity. But . . . from the range of brotherly love and sympathy, including all absent members, he deliberately excluded the “recreant” bishop. For Colenso, whom he thus vainly strove to excommunicate, was also an honoured member of St. John’s. But, Mr. Heitland records, at* the dinner which followed, the master of St. John’s, proposing the health of absent members, specially honoured Colenso’s name. • * * The republication of “Ulysses” by James Joyce in an American magazine, without his consent, has called forth a strong protest from a large number of well-known people. The protest, which is addressed from Paris, points out that, apart from the fact that no fee has been paid to the author, alterations have also been made which corrupt the text. Among the English signatories are included Arnold Bennett, J. D. Beresford, Robert Bridges, Havelock Ellis, E. M. Forster, D. H. Lawrence, John Masefield, J. Middleton Murry, Bertrand Russell, Frank Swinnerton, Hugh Walpole, H. G. Wells, Virginia Woolf, and W. B. Yeats. * * * Extracts from a single page of book reviews—l 4 books —in Dr. Haden Guest’s “London Weekly”: full of the teeming, vivid international life which made unique . . . almost historically real figure . . . a craftsman so superlatively excellent . . . .an excellent story .... very capable piece of work ... a good story charm .... exquisite lightness of touch .... the gift of incisive phrase .... something more than mere literary competence . . . . a real sense of sea magic. . . alive and vital .... a good book . . . strong, sure touch . . all the stories are excellent . . . perfect cameo of sheer tragedy .... two delightful, rejuvenating chunks. . . infinitely grateful .... technique is always excellent .... always entertaining .... very nearly a masterpiece. . . . Reviews of books by the following Waiters have been quoted: G. B. Stern, Somerset Maugham, E. Barrington. George E. Hummel, W. J. Locke, E. R. Eddison, Sheila Kaye-Smith, Rudyard Kipling, Warren Henry, Stacy Aumonier.