THE READER'S COLUMN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 124, 12 October 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE READER'S COLUMN

(By James Wortley)

It will be remembered that I made J'eference some weeks ago to the speech given by the Eight Hon. A. J. Balfour on '•Cheerfulness in Literature" at the Royal Literary Fund's annual dinner. Xow the August •■Bookman" comes to hand with an article from the famous Professor James Moffatt as "Mr. Balfour as a man of letters." The sum and substance of his conclusions are that Mr. Balfour's interest is incidental, and that the existence of a literature-loving public of Mr. Balfour's type has called into being the shilling text-book of today. This is all very well, and all very smart, but the amazing output of know ; ledge to-day necessitates the compilation of a sort of epitome on any question, if the average man of affairs is to make any real effort to understand even his morning cable news.

The second place of honor in Messrs Hodder and Stoughton's thousand-pound novel competition has been secured by a well-known Australian journalist, Mr. David Hennessey, of Sydney. He is a capable, rounded-out man with a wide experience in his profession. In 1901 he was organising secretary in Sydney for the inauguration of the Commonwealth, and also the Royal Reception Committee.

I never read a serial, and consequently await with some impatience the publication of John' Fox, junr.'s, new book, "The Heart of the Hills,' now running in Scribner's. Such writers as Fox, Lincoln, Knowles and Wright give the lie to those who say there is no clean, fresh fiction to-day. Certainly these writers manage to be intensely interesting without descending to the everlasting discussion of prurient sex problems. Jno. Murray's "shilling nets" contain some very fine reprints, covering fresh ground, in this sense: that the series contain many books not found in the other shilling editions. Two that i have enjoyed recently are A. C. Benson's "The Thread of Gold," and the same author's "The House of Quiet." How delightfully intimate and realistic they are, registering, as it were, the thoughts and fancies of one who turns for companionship to the inward things of self, and the outward things of self's immediate surroundings.

NOVEL NOTES,

"Dionis of the White Veil,' by Caroline Brown. (Boston: L. C. Page and Co. Wellington: Gordon and Gotch).

The American novel, especially when dealing with ihe earlier period of that country's settlement, would seem, perhaps fittingly, to have retained more than its share of lilt given to literature during the Renaissance period. The book under notice has its characters located in Louisiana at the time the Jesuits were ousting the milder Capuchin order from their pre-eminence in the new world, and if the reader doubts the fine spirit of self-sacrifice it pictures, let him read Parkman's "The Jesuits in the New World." Dionis is a penniless orphan of good family whose obvious career was to become the bride of the Church. She has already entered upon her novitiate when the story opens and is on the eve of setting out for New Orleans with a party of Jesuit missionaries under one Father Doutrelle. But Chevalier Pauchet, returning to take possession of a land grant in Louisiana, is enamored of Dionis. The book deals . with the conflict between the natural emotions of the woman and the religious fervor of the saint. The book, once opened, is not laid down till the last page is turned, and the writer will no doubt find a wide circle of admirers among British readers. The book is, if our most eminent historians are to be relied upon, wholly true to the spirit and character of the times about which it is written. In reading a capital story of a very womanly woman, we are learning something of a most enthralling period in America's early history. (Our copy reaches us from Messrs Gordon and Gotch, Wellington). i

"Grit Lawless," by F. E. Mills loung, author of "Sam's Kid." (London: John Lane, the Bodley Head. Wellington: Whitcombe and Tombs). This story has to do with the period after the war in South Africa. Grit Lawless is a British officer, who at a crucial moment, loses his nerve, is branded as a coward, and drummed out of his regiment. He feels, however, that he h brave and set out to prove it by fighting with reckless daring on the Boer side. The success he gains in bringing, as it were, his senses to heel, compelling them to obey the cool, calculating, compelling will, earns for him the cognomen "Grit." This leads him to be engaged for all sorts of enterprises needing unusual courage, and we are introduced to the hero first as he is about to be employed in a desperate endeavor to recover some mysterious letters, which are evidently being held far purposes of blackmail. To accomplish his purpose, ' ; Grit" recklessly places himself in what appears to be a very equivocal position, but which is afterwards explained. Like many a modern novel it deals not with the love of man and maid, but the misunderstandings and re-union of "'Grit" and his wife. A well-drawn character is that of Van Bleit, and the author has evidently been dipping into the early colonial history, for the villain might well be a descendant of that notorious Dutch Governor of Capetown, Van Noot. It is a tale well and strongly told, and, withal, clean.

"Dr. Tuppy," by Stephen Townsend,author of "A Thoroughbred Mongrell." (London, New York and Toronto: Hodder and Stougbton; Wellington: Whitcombe and Tombs). After the average ''new" book, in which every sacred tie of wedded life is ruthlessly dissected and as ruthlessly attacked, "Dr. Tuppy" is refreshing. It is like reaching the pure atmosphere of the mountain top after dwelling awhile in noisome surroundings. I have not read any book like it, but If Tuppy suggests any character it is W. J. Locke's "Septimus." Mr. Townsend has succeeded in giving us a character portrayal seldom equalled for its delicacy of touch. Instinctively we love the hero, and our arms would protect him in all his beautiful gentleness and simplicity from the despicable tricks of the fellow students. Tuppy is a "dresser," the colloquial name for a medical student at the hospitals. His physical peculiarities mark him out as the natural butt of more normally constructed men. The practical jokes are carried to unnatural lengths through the jealousy of his false friend, Baxter. In Sister Mary we have our ideal of a nurse. Sensitive and tender, yet capable and full of common sense, she renders signal assistance to Charlie and Bella on several occasions and proves herself his guardian angel. All the other characters, the canon, Lady Milner, her butler, Gollywog, and the rest all fill their positions in the very humorous situations with perfect naturalness. There is not a page —not a word —that is sullied, and many a good laugh will be had in the reading. For further knowledge of the plot we refer readers to the book itself.

(Copies of "Dr. Tuppy" and "Grit Lawless" reach us from Messrs Whiteomfoe and Tombs).