Books Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 636, 12 April 1929, Page 14

Books Reviewed

SAILING ACROSS EUROPE

RATHER an arresting idea, this of sailing across Europe, and not by airship at that. Indeed, we knew it to bs possible to sail across France; but we bad no notion, until a ley/ days ago, that, starting in Holland, one can go by boat right across Europe to Constantinople. Perhaps it would not insult readers to suggest that very few of them knew, until this moment, that it can be done. It can, with the aid of what may fairly be described as u lost waterway, a canal, begun 1200 vears ago. and twice as long as tbe Panama Canal, from Germany into Austria. The German Consulate in London had never heard of it. Very few Germans knew about it. Well, two Englishmen sailed across Europe about a quarter of a century ago, and where they went two Americans could surely go. So Negley Farson. a Chicago journalist, and his crew—his wife In shoregoing times —went up the Rhine in a 26ft yawl, found the almnstlorgotten Ludwig’s Canal, got into the

Danube, and so to the Bosphorus. They had many adventures and interesting experiences, including being shot at by Bulgarian guards, and they met many strange people. Mr Farson wrote a very entertaining book about it all: incidentally, the Balkan chapters are also illuminating. Very appropriately, the book appears now in the attractive “Travellers’ Library.”

“Sailing Across Europe.” Negley Farson. The Travellers’ Library: Jonathan Cape. Qur copy from the publishers. Round Six States “Australia Beautiful.” “The Home” Easter Pictorial for 1929, is a splendid production that should do much to bring before the public the charm of Australia. The beauty spots of the six States —pastoral scenes, stately gums, ferny groves, mellow old colonial buildings, harbours, mountains, bustling cities —are set out in a delightful series of colour plates, etchings, charcoal drawings and photographs. Among the contributors are Elioth Gruner. Hans Heysen, Sydney Ure Smith. Penleigh Boyd. G. W. Lambert, A.R.A., M. J. McNally, Lionel Lindsay, J. Kauffmann and H. Cazneaux. “Australia Beautiful. ” Published by Art in Australia, Ltd., 24 Bond Street, Sydney.

Salt of the Sea. j Felix Kiesenberg, master mariner of ‘ long experience in both sail and steam, 1 Is not a new author, for his vignettes £ of sea life have won already the keen j appreciation of lovers of tales of the sea; but a later ser es of sketches ‘ from his pen is now brought together, j for the first time, in “The Travellers’ ( Library.” “Shipmates” is a volume of , some 30 character studies of men with , whom he has sailed on many voyages. , They are men of many kinds, and ( they are vital men. Now and again a j 1 ttle comedy sharpens the general < picture. These prose sketches have £ the true flavour of the sea. < “Shipmates.” Felix Rlesenberg. The Travellers’ Library: Jonathan Cane. Our i copy from tbe publisher. Norman Lindsay. Norman Lindsay is an artist with J a philosophy. An acute critic might * deduce it from his art. If he did, he I would be wise to compare his own reading of it with “Creative Effort.” In which Lindsay has stated it. How far does anyone understand Lindsay, or Lindsay understand himself? Those are questions which it is well worth while seeking to answer by reading this book. First published privately iD a limited edition, then at 10/6, it is now available at 5/-. Lindsay is an aphoristic writer. Thus: Life exists to develop Mind. The highest intellect is that which is able to manifest the deepest perception of itself. No fine mind fears to die. Truth is a thing sought; Knowledge a thing found. Existence is served by finite knowledge. Life by the search for truth. •‘Creative EfFcrl : An Essay in Affirmation.” Norman Lindsay. Cecil Palmer. Our copy from Robertson and Mullens, Ltd., Melbourne. Animals in Woodcut. Mr Eric Fitch Daglish is one of ihe best-known modern exponents of the art of the woodcut, and his bent towards subjects straight from Nature has been shown, one seems to remember, in illustrations for White’s “Selborne” and elsewhere. He gives it full scope in the two volumes of “Animals in Black and White” —“The Larger Beasts” and “The Smaller Beasts” —each woodcut being accompanied by a simply written and sensible description of the animal. There are more attractive woodcuts. certainly: but Mr Daglish has used his medium most effectively. Its bold simplification bids every animal stand out on the page and arrest the eye; I but the eye is held, when it is arrested, by the instructive faithfulness of the pictures. They tell a great deal. Many children will be amused and instructed by these two volumes, and we should Imagine them to be in an unusual degree useful in awakening the curiosity of young eyes and cultivating in them a sense of design. “Animals in Black and While.” Vol. j one, “The Larger Beasts.” Vol. two, “The j Smaller Beasts.” Text and woodcuts. Eric I Fitch Daglish. J. M. Dent and Sous, Lid. Our copies from the publishers. A Book For Anglers Although trout fishing has at different times been called an art, a science and a sport, it nevertheless does not really fall aptly into any of these classifications. It does not matter much, at all events, because the ways of the fisherman himself are as indefinite and as inexplicable as the occupation which gives him delight. Only a fisherman can un--1 derstand why another likes fishing. ; I Sufficient for each to enjoy the sight ; ! of a ripple on the water and to hear j ; around him all the murmurings of a | summer’s day. i Such activities as these do not ; lend themselves to explanations of

technique, and all the coaching in the world will not make a man either enjoy fishing or catch fish. So when a man writes of fishing he must be a philosopher and something of a poet first, and a technician last. It is with these attributes that Major H. E. Morritt has given to the happy fraternity of stream and lake a delightful book, “Fishing Ways and Wiles” is a little volume to con during the winter evenings, when tackle has been stowed away. The fisherman then can enter vicariously into the delights of that skilful cast which ends with a swirl of water and the burr of running reel. When, next season, he is again on his favourite stream or lake, he will recall the pre- ! cious pieces of advice about avoiding drag, striking quickly, keeping his line under control and his eye on the lure. All aspects of trout and salmon fishing are dealt with, and, although Major Morritt’s experience has been only in Britain and on the Continent, his advice applies equally well for most New Zealand streams and lakes. -He is an artist when the fish are not rising, and has adorned his book with many charming little sketches. Lord Howard de Walden, not unknown to New Zealanders, has written a scholarly little introduction to the volume. “Fishing Ways and Wiles,” by Major H. E. Morritt. Methuen and Co., Ltd., London. Sound Political Thoughts “Let us get on with the job!” This is the message of Ernest J. P. Benn in advancing the case for Individualism against Socialism, Collectivism and several other isms which the writer tells us are threatening the peace of the world to-day. Let us get politics back to principle, he pleads, as he delivers a smashing blow at the dangerous and destructive theory—preached sedulously by politicians—that the State itself can provide. The growing sense of dependance has become a peril which cannot be removed until w r e have developed in the breast of every one the old spirit of individualism and independence. Individual effort alone, he says, makes the political wheels go round. Individualism holds out a new hope to a state-ridden world. Individualism, as a basis of Government, ig the only basis upon which the ideal State can be erected. In modern war there is no place for individualism, for it is essentially the gospel of peace. Either good or bad in the world can only function through the individual, and can function best in a state of liberty. Government can create con cl I ions under which the individual is able to function to the greatest advantage. Beyond that it is practically powerless and, in the main, inefficient. The writer of this book advances a sound, common-sense case against Socialism, which he discredits by a cold analysis of facts and tendencies. There is in the work a strong vein of thought for political students, not only in England, -where the seat of its compilation is based, but in Australia and New Zealand, where there is a more widespread interest than ever in citizenship, but less discussion and less understanding of its principles than ever in political history. The worth of a State in the long run, the author tells us, is the worth of the individuals composing it. “The Case for Individualism, the Return to Laisser Faire,” by* Ernest J. P. Benn. Cornstalk Publishing Company, Sydney. Our copy from Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Cold Shivers Any writer who can send cold shivers down the spine and make one glance nervously at the room’s shadowy corners deserves a pocket full ol gold and leave to do it again, the sooner the better. Mr William Fryer Harvey does not firing horrdr so near as William Hope Hodgson; he does not bring us, as Mr E. F. Benson does, into the darks and moonlights of pure ghostliness, nor into Algernon Blackwood’s realms of magic; but he does the trick in his own way, and does it very well. He communicates the authentic thrill. “The Beast with Five Fingers,” the title story and the longest, is the most shuddery. In others the attack is varied: in “Ghosts and Jossers” the mystery is touched with pathos, in “The Devil’s Bridge,” a legend of the devil’s work and the. devil’s pay, closes in soft beauty; In “The Tool,” a mystery of death and destiny is left with its solution guessed at; in another the ticking of a clock in an empty house and a sound on the stairs make the heart leap in terror. The last story in the book. “Mrs Avenal,” is the only one we can call conventional and flat These are very good stories of an un common kind. The mottled top and the green-brown cloth of the binding, by the way, are exceptionally neat. “The Beast uith Five Fingers.” William Fryer Harvey. J. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd. Our copy from the publishers.