WORDS: ANOTHER ASPECT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 133, 26 August 1927, Page 12

WORDS: ANOTHER ASPECT

On a recent Friday we ■published an ■article, “Words, Colour and a Thought or Two,’- and invited readers to contribute their opinions on words and colour. Here is the third contribution—from Miss Alice Kenny, whose verses are xoell known to readers of THE SUN. . . i YX/ORDS, living, flexible things that '' they are, are a fascinating study. Almost any page of a dictionary, which .surely looks dry enough, is filled with hints and suggestions of romance, history and folk lore. Opening mine quite at random I come on “peruke,” a wig, or periwig, and up start a host of mind pictures. Marlborough going off to war, Hanoverians, sea cap tains of Nelson’s time. Peseta: pirates, Spanish Main, silver mines. Petard; beseiged towns, drawbridges, arbalests, sixteenth century infantry. Petrel: stormy seas, coral islands, 'icebergs, the Flying Dutchman. Phantasms: haunted rooms, warning apparitions. Accuracy naturally has no place among these associated ideas. Arbalests for ail I know may have been out of date before petards were used; and no pirate of good standing would have descended to use a peseta, which is quite a small coin, 'even to tip a waiter. Pest: now there is a word, still jpart of our daily speech, which like !the group of expressions pertaining to fairies and magic, has diminished in Ipower and vitality. Once epidemics were, dreaded, inevitable events which people prayed to be delivered from. In every generation fever and plague swept town and country, houses became empty, and churchyards full. Prayer was unavailing, and sanitation was not thought of. In those days if you said, “Plague take him!” or wished, a pest or a murrain to seize anyone, you were uttering a horrible curse, but to-day the dwindled things, still a commonplace of our speech, connote nothing more deadly than irritation. “JVSprrain,” a much more resounding word than its companions pest and plague, has become obsolete. When everyone believed in witches and fairies the attractive words enchant, charm, and bewitch, came into use, also glamour, spell-bound, witchcraft and wizardry. Most of these are •still heard every day, each one a reminder of nature lore and old-time beliefs; each one now implying pleasing things, the old sinister significance forgotten. “Enthralled,” a word put to similar use, holds an echo of the feudal period, when no doubt it was a much less pleasant thing to be than it is to-day, for then it had an association of whip, and collar, and enforced ‘labour. —ALICE A. KENNY. Paeroa. BOOKS REVIEWED. FANTASY. A TALE which neither builds upon the solid foundations of “the world of all of us,” in Wordsworth’s phrase, nor escapes them, to build of dreamstuff in the world of faery, but which draws the two together and rests upon this strange conjunction—this is not the greatest feat a novelist can dare; but it is one of the most difficult. The nearer the approach to the present, so unpliable to fancy’s touch, the more difficult it is. To fail at all in the attempt is nearly always to fail both dismally and absurdly. Mr C. R. Allen’s success, therefore, in ‘Tarry, Knight!” is one of a rare and praiseworthy kind. In Luslidale. a beautiful English cathedral city, survives the legend of a knight who came to pray in the Lady Chapel and then passed on through the streets and away by Mallow Ford. He never stayed. “As Mallow River blesses your town by passing continually to the sea, so must I bless your town by passing continually from the sea to the sky.” To this city beloved of the knight came Robin, son of the new dean, and he loved it also, and loved it the more because of the knight, in whom nobody but two or three, secretly and half-ashamed, any longer believed. “Oh, no, Robin,” his mother told him gently, “he doesn’t come any more.” But Robin believed in him, and heard him ride by, singing, in tlio night, saw him at last, spoke with him, and at last persuaded him to stay. The story of the knight’s tarrying—as Mr Christian Knight, lay clerk in the cathedral, and teacher of singing—and of his going again, is gracefully told; and there is more than grace, there i 3 the depth of real beauty in Mr Allen’s description of the inevitable failure of flesh and blood to understand embodied spirit. We congratulate Mr Allen on achieving such a success, and not less cordially because he is a frequent contributor to The Sun. “Tarry, Knight!” C. R. Allen. John Hamilton, Ltd., London. Our copy comes from Whitcombe and Tombs. Ltd.. Welling-

A critic never dull, a professor never pedantic, the anthologist to whom we owe the Oxford “Ballads,” “English Verse,” “Victorian Verse,” and “English Prose,” the romantic novelist who gave us “The Splendid Spur,” “Fort Amity,” and “The Blue Pavilions,” among many others, the humorist of “Troy Town,” the writer who is distinguished by the single initial ”Q” and has distinguished it—this is Sir Arthur Quiller Couch, King Edward VII Professor of English Literature in the University of CarahriHff*.

Meaiocre.

It is hard to place “Quicksand,” by E. Wynne-Tyson. Sometimes it bears the marks of a really good novel, sometimes The plot itself is not unusual. It is the story of flaming, restless youth, of the girl who married what she thought was the wrong man, marital unfaithfulness, and reunion, explained by the poignant sentence: “And then, with a sense of having returned from stormy seas to a peaceful harbour, they clung together.” Or second thoughts, it is not hard to place this novel. It is mediocre. “Quicksand.” E. Wynne-Tyson. W. Collins, Sons and Co., Ltd. Our copy from Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. Fair Game. There are passion and thrill, adversity and atonement, plus a deep understanding of human nature in Olive Wadsley’s fine love story “Fair Game.” Her characterisation of Phillipa is excellent, and her description of the heroine’s fateful first marriage, undeserved divorce, and subsequent real love romance makes a splendid story. “Fair Game.” Olive Wadsley. Cassell. Our copy from the publishers’ Melbourne

Fruit of Many Years. Twenty years of personal investigation of the peoples and problems of the islands of the Pacific have gone to the making of Dr Macmillan Brown’s important work, in two volumes, on the subject. The volumes are really a gathering of many articles which the author has written, from the islands themselves, for various periodicals, and of addresses on various occasions. For the student, some of the material might have gained by co-ordination and consolidation, but for the general reader, probably, the articles are better as they were written originally. Dr Macmillan Brown has a way of making his chapters bright and interesting. The book has been noticed already in a leading article in The Sun. It may be added, though, that besides discussing the problems of past history, and describing the various peoples as he saw them, Dr Macmillan Brown has traversed questions of the present and those which will arise in future. “Peoples and Problems of the Pacific.* 1 Two volumes. J. Macmillan Brown. T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd., London. Our copy from Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Pirates and Highwaymen. Mr Philip Gosse, who has already written two delightful piratical books, “The Pirate’s Who’s Who” and “My Pirate Library,” has now prepared a bibliography of the various editions and reprints, during the last 200 years, of Captain Charles Johnson’s “General History of the Pyrates” (1724) and “General History of the Highway men” (1734), the latter of which wa. a reissue of Captain Alexander Smith’s “History of the Lives and Robberies of the Most Notorious Highwaymen” (1711). with additional pirates by Johnson and embellished with many engravings, “wery fierce.” Mr Gosse lists over 60 editions and reprints—ll in the last 20 years; but the wonder is that he found no more For who can resist the “Gallant Sea Fights, Daring Attacks, Sanguinary Murders, Horrid Cruelties and Barbarities” of such notable scoundrels 0.3 Kidd, Morley, Tew, Bonnet, Fly, Dennis Mackarthy. William Ling, Teach, and Mary Read and Anne Bonney, the two “Female Pyrates”? In 1725 I-lermanus Uytwerf published a trans lation of the “Pirates” for Holland’s delight; in the same year Johann Christopher Konig did Germany the same service; in 1726 France was made happy. The pilferers and the translators and the adapters descended on Johnson, and very sock fun they provided for bloodthirsty readers; and excellent bibliographical hunting they provided for Mr Gosse “A Bibliography of the Works of Captain Charles Johnson.” Compiled by Philip Gosse. Dulau and Co., Ltd., London. The edition is limited to 150 copies. Our copy from the publishers. Seed-Pods. Mrs Henry Dudeney is a novelist of practised skill, and attempts nothing which she does not in her cool, proficient style successfully carry through. In “Seed-Pods” she introduces us to a theme in which new ana familiar elements are cleverly combined. A nameless girl and the heir to a peerage are both members of a travelling theatrical company. Theii love affair and life together are ended by his abandoning her. How she mar ries a man of position and family and acquits herself in the face of every disadvantage; how her former lover, believed dead, comes into her life again, and how she struggles to save her step-daughter from similar treatment at his hands to her own, almost driven to do so by unburying the past; and how she finds with bitter relief that her step-daughter is protected by a love such as she could not inspire—this Mrs Dudeney describes with un common ability’. She has insight into character, and writes easily but with telling effect. “Seed-Pods.” Mrs Henry Dudeney. W. Collins Sons and Co., Ltd. Our copy from Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. A Sketch Book A pleasing little sketch-book of Christchurch views, similar in format to a collection of Auckland sketches published some years ago, has been tissued by "Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. iThese are the work of Mr. C. Spenser iPenlington, a Christchurch artist, whose original designs and booto plates have stamped him as a young, man of distinct artistic promise. Mrj ;Penlington has no foolish supersti-J itions. There are 13 sketches in [slim little volume which is the firsts to carry his name. Notable among

them are the drawings of the new Bandsmen’s Memorial, the Bridge of Remembrance (from a most effective angle), the Sign of the Kiwi (the picturesque road-house at the top of the Port Hills) and a mellow sketch of ivy-clad Canterbury’ College. “Christchurch.” A sketch-book. Our copy from the publishers direct, Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Christchurch. Poets 9 Corner — MEETING (Written for THE SUN.) 1 dreamed I had died, And you w&re not born yet , And so, I going, you coming, Along the shades we met . We stood and spoke a moment Of the broad earth’s delight; Then parted. you to the shadows , 1 to the endless night. A.R.D.F. LIFE’S A SYMPHONY (Written for THE SUN.) Laughing Chloe said to ?ne That Life’s a symphony. And she looked so very wise Beneath the willow tree That 1 could scarcely think her wrong, So Life’s a symphony. The su?ilight brings allegros sweet And merry dancing things, And joy is pulsing through me 'When laughing Chloe sings. But when the laughter leaves her lips And Chloe comes to scold; Oh, then a black adagio Makes my poor heart grow cold . Ah, now her bright eyes light again, And Chloe, blithe coquette, Has set my heart a-dancing To a stately minuette. It’s truth my pretty spoke to me: Life is but a symphony. IAN DONNELLY. Auckland. The Artists ' Corner r ' I WELLINGTON WILL CON- | CENTRATE UPON SEP- | ARATE GALLERY RATHER | THAN JOINT PROJECT. COLLECTION’S RECENT ADDITIONS QWING to difficulties and delays which appear to be inseparable from the Wellington project for a museum, art gallery, war museum and carillon, the council of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts has decided to concentrate its energies for the raising of funds for a separate gallery for the capital city. The committee -which had the combined project m hand endeavoured for several years to obtain a reply from the Government w r ith regard to the creation of a board of trustees. A decision w r as also required in connection with the site question. So many delays have taken place, however, and so little satisfaction has been received, that it looks as if the project will never succeed. In the circumstances the desire of the council to concentrate upon a gallery is not unexpected. HANDICAPPED FOR SPACE The Academy has been considerably handicapped for a number of years by inadequate accommodation for the housing of pictures. There is already

a credit of £BOO to its building fund The present building is held under : peculiar arrangement as far as titli is concerned. So long as it is use< as an art gallery it remains the pro perty of the Academy. To sell thi building, however, the consent of thi Government must be obtained. The value of the land and buildinj is said to be between £14,000 an< £20,000. This in itself is a splendh start for a Wellington gallery. I has also been suggested that the sub stantial sums promised for a Domin ion art gallery and museum might hi diverted to the new gallery scheme. Mr. E. W. Hunt, the president, madi the very pleasing announcement at thi recent annual meeting, that betweei £20,000 and £25,000 is already ii hand. If this scheme is brought t< fruition, and there is no reason wh; it should not succeed, it will be dui in a large measure to the wise guid ance of Mr. Hunt during the four yean of his presidency.

a. The Wellington council has every a reason to feel satisfied with its finan[f cial position, especially in these hard jr times. The T. G. McCarthy Trust, one " of the finest institutions of its kind in the world, still contributes £2OO annually toward the academy’s funds. [g . The Wellington City Council sets an !> excellent example by granting a sum r 1 equivalent to the rates on the freely hold. b- The permanent collection was also n- added to during the year. New works >e include: “The Blue Ribbon," by M. E. R. le Tripe. Purchased by the academy. “Zinneas,” by D. K. Richmond. Pur:n chased by the academy. 0 Two drawings by John Flaxman. [ y Presented by Mr. F. W. Clayton. Le Set of sketches by John Constable, d- R.A.; Sir F. Grant, P.R.A.; Sir G. Reid, :s P.R.S.A.; and H. IT. Allan, presented by the late Dr. Frank Hay.

Portrait bust of Mr. H. M. Gore, bi . J. Ellis. Presented by members i i the academy. MISS RICHMOND RETIRES Auckland artists, in common will painters throughout the Dominion, vH [ regret to hear that Miss D. K. Rid L mond has retired from the Welling . ton council. For 25 years she per formed valuable service as a member Mr. Charles Wilson, the former Par | liamentary librarian, who is a collector ' as well as a critic, is the new presides: The vice-presidents are Dr. Carbenr • whose watercolour sketches arebync means unknown in Auckland, and M; ■ Joseph Ellis. The council includes Dr. W. Fell Mrs. J. A. Tripe, Mr. W. S. Wauchop Mr. J. A. Heginbotham, Mr. W. B Montgomery, Mr. Nugent Welch, Mr ’ W. G. Young and Mr. E. W T . Hunt (tb [ retiring president). -—ERIC RAMSDEX.