THE READER'S COLUMN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 235, 22 February 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE READER'S COLUMN

(By James Wortley). NOTES.

Books, books, nnd still 'more books. TV weeks seem more prolific in them than ever. There is indeed small excuse for the average man not obtaining ;t conversational knowledge of most subjects that he has a mind to, without the necessity for the long grind of the r-tiulcnt. Such are the inducements held out or such is the desire on their part to impart knowledge, that to-day we have the men who are first authorities on the subject they handle, giving us of their best, the last word upon matters of science, of art. and of literature. -And in almost every case the subjects are treated with the masterly terseness only t.honc who are adepts at tuition are capable of. Two such books reach me this week. "The structure of the Earth;' by T. (1. Bonmey, S.D., F.R.S.. and "A History of Knglish Literature.* by A. Compton Rickelt, L.L.D. They are from Jack's "The People's Books."

Professor Bonney. in a scholarly essay of some ninety pages, gives us the result of scientific, investigation into the history of the earth. It is written in nontechnical language that the average man will have little difficulty in following. Dr. Compton Pickett's is a study of about the same length of the various periods of Knglish literature. It is worthy of the closest study, and will serve any young man or woman as an admirable guide to reading; indeed, we have not seen its equal in this respect. When it is remembered that "The People's Books" are published at Cd, it is truly marvellous how such authorities can be obtained.

Hutchinson and Co. (London) are just now busy publishing a very finely illustrated work in fortnightly parts at "d. entitled "Customs of the World." Among others, such famous anthropologists as Sir Harry Johnston. Sven Tledin. Seligmann and Edgar Thurston, are writing articles. These names are*suflicient in themselves to assure readers of the reliability of the work from a scientific standpoint. It is popularly written for general information. Part one contains the introduction, and the first chapter h on "Customs at Birth in Melanesia." bv R. W. Williamson, F.R.A.T.

In Scribncr's Magazine for January that always interesting page, "The Point of View." has a striking article on our methods of education, and the story of Mowgli in the "Jungle Book" is made considerable use of in driving home the points. Tt is evident that in this age of research our system of training the child is coming in for its full share of criticism.

In the Ladies' TTome Journal a series of similar articles have been running for some time. To those unfamiliar with it. I may say that this is not a

fashion book primarily, but a very highclass periodical dealing with every phase of human interest in its relation to the home. The Journal has an enormous circulation, and its subject matter, always written and edited with care, carries considerable weight in Cousin Jonathan's eountr-

To become distinguished in two walks of life is fame indeed. Such fame conies to few, and among them John Morley. Whether as Liberal leader in the House of Lords, or as a man of literature. Lord

Morley is equally placed with his foot on the top rung. Until I read the Januarv Bookman. I had not realised that

this vigorous thinker was in his seventyfifth year. Morley is a voluminous writer —biographer and essayist. His life of Oladstoue is just what a biography should'he.

SOME RECENT FICTION.

A Romance of Billy Goat Hill," by the author of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" (Alice Hegan Rice). Loudon. Xew York and Toronto: Hodder and Stoughtoit; 1012.

We novel readers delight in the air of domesticity with which Mrs. Rice surrounds her characters. We feel to understand the folk better if we chat together at the fireside, and there are no nicer homes to be admitted to than the old colonial houses of the Kentucky planters. It is therefore with a keen ±t*n-v of pleasure we drop in on bluff Bob Carsey as he sipping his mint julep and enjoying his Sunday afternoon nap in the wide poivhway. The Carsey holding has suffered in extent since the emancipation of the slaves, so it is not the once prosperous household we meet. All that are now left of the numerous

retinue are old Jimpson and Car'line, his wife. At the time nf our story the

nigger Jimpson combines in himself the important offices of butler, coachman, head gardener, valet, and general rouse-

about. Colonel Bob Carsey was early left to care for his daughter as best he knew how. and the lovable girl who became known on the estate as Mis'

Lady grows up an unspoiled child of Nature. Right in the early part of the first chapter we meet Mis' Lady and her admirer. Don Morley. Despite the winning nature of Don. our sympathy rests for quite a while with the jealous and lonelv old father. Colonel Bob. To

shield, a friend Don £oes away to tlie East, and thus fall« under suspicion. Ft is a horrible suspicion for Don, and so it comes that, like others of his friends, we are anxious to assist him in coming to iiis own. Meantime. Mis' he-

leaved of her father, conns to know and esteem Dr. Querington. Tf> distress of mind, body and estate she 7i)arries the kindly and impracticable professor. A period during which she comes to realise the magnitude of her mistake i.s finally eink'd by the death of the doctor, and, as it should he. circumstances become normal. .Thus Don and Mis' Lady come to their own. The book throbs with a thoroughly human interest. Chick, the waif, is a character one conies to love, though he is found amidsts (junior and dirt.'" Phineas Flaherty, the professional prodigal, provides a wood deal of entertainment. He is finally and firmly held to a straight course by the love for his little child. Perhaps the finest scene in the book is where Myrtella. in the passionate and divine instincts of maternal love, is drawn to acknowledge herself as the mother of little Chick. The passage deserves to live as a classic jtortraval of mother love.

The Heather Moon." by C. X. and A. M Williamson, authors of "The Light ning Conductor." (London: Methuer and Co.. Ltd.)

For those who roam the. world in a modern motor, and who see its life through the sleet-driven glass of a. wind shield? the Williamsons have written a scric= of pleasant travel books. They mav now lie looked upon as the Baedeker of the motor tourist. There is jii-f snllieicnt love story to make the descriptions readable to the man or woman on holiday bent, who do not want too much problem. And whether one is sitting a cool roadside retreat on a wiifin dusty day. or taking shelter from a sudden rainstorm in a country hostel, the books are equally suited to the mind of and the atmosphere surrounding the motorist. As its title suggests. "The i Heather Moon is descriptive of a tour 1 north of the Tweed. Barrio McDonald

is tired of living with her grandmother, and sets off on an irresponsible search lor her mother, an actress. Late at night she meets lan Somcrled, an artist, who is about to tour Scotland. Barrie is taken to a mutual friend's house while her grandmother's permission to join the motor party is seemed. Basil Norman and his widowed sister .Mrs. West complete the party. Of course, lan and Barrie fall in love, much to the chagrin of .Mrs. West, who has set her own cap in that direction. Arrived is the course of peregrinations at Gretna Green, they attend a picture show, at which a marriage is billed to take place before the audience. The bride and groom fail to appear, and in a spirit of mischief lan and Barrie consent to take their place and go through a mock marriage. After this, fan is much distressed, fearing lie lias forced his attentions too precipitately, and during the remainder of the tour pays little attention to Barrie. hoping thus to give her the opportunity of making certain of her affections. ruder a misunderstanding, Barrie becomes engaged to Basil Norman, -lust as the wedding is to take place, there is a sudden lifting of the clouds, men and conditions are seen in their proper perspective. A readjustment takes place which is entirely in keeping with the reader's idea of the fitness of things. And during it all we have hummed along the roads Brace travelled on his palfrey, sauntered over fields frequented by Burns and his Highland Mary, made our way across the hills where ''the lilac lsun-bonnet" was seen, and tramped upstairs and down corridors through whieh Darnley and Mary Queen of Scots may have passed hand in hand.

(Our books for review have been re' eeived from the 8.K., Devon Street).