THE READER'S COLUMN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 126, 21 October 1914, Page 3

THE READER'S COLUMN.

(Conducted by James Wortlcj.) MUNSET'S MAGAZINE ON TEC ' GERMAN EMiPBIIOK. Opinions are expressed in the August number of Munisoy's Magazine, which even as n'hey were being printed, were in active process of being set at nought by the progress of events of which all tihe world is now cognisant. Thus: '■Chivalrous consideration for the rent of mankind was early inculcated into tho lively young price by hie tutor." A'Atltii admiration for t'he French people, whose blood ivVft hi flis veins from -bis great ancestor, Coligny, (has made iwelf apparent again again in • iranco-Gi-rimn relations-.' And, finally: "And yet flile achievements for which the champion of Fun-Ger-manism takes- the greatest credit in the ftct ilhat, amid the clash of arms and 1 he din of contending Germany has won her points without violating the peace of the work.''!!! 'li\- James Whitcomb Riley. London: Gay find ita-ncock, lid. 1913.

This enterprising firm of publishers arc providing a, "felt want' when -Vliey proceed to issue collected poetry of American writers. Mr Hike's litiile fiongs have appeared from time to «-im> in the magazines, in which tlieu have" attracted it good deal of -attention. It in a distinct, relief to turn from the literature of strife and bloodshed to the peace and domesticity of the atmosphere in James Rilev's poems. Particularly attractive and eharaetcr-ii-Aic of American country life is "When the frost is on Ui - l'unkin." of which the following is the lirst verse: "When the frost is on the punk in-, and the fodder's in the shock, And tou hear the kyonch an<t golwle of the struttin' turkey-cock, And the claekin' of tbp sruineys-, and the chuckin' of Idle liens-, And the rooster's halleylooyer as he tip-toes on the fence; j 0, it's then the times a feller is a-feclin' j at his best, i With the risin' sun to greet Jam From, a night of peaceful rent.; As he leaves tho house .rarehcaded and goes out to feed the stock, When the frost is on ihe punkiu and the fodder's in the shock, llr Riley's 'poetry is exceeding rich in portraying the winsotneness and wistfulnosa of the child. "Curly-locks," "Mabel," "The Last Kiss," and a score of others all sound a very true, note of understanding of 't'he child. Take this from "The Last Kiss":— "'Twas the dear little girl that.l scolded— ' For was it a moment like this,' I tjaid, 'When she knew I was busy, To come romping in for a kiss!—

And clamouring there at my knee For 'One 'ithie kiss for my dolly, And one 'ittlo uzzer for jne!' "God pity the heart illiat PipeUed her, And the cold hand that turned her sr.vair, And take from the lips that denied her. This answerless prayer of to-day! Take, 'Lord, from rnv inem'rv for ever That ipi iful sob of despair, And the patter and trip of the little

bare feet, And the one piercing cry on -the stair 1 ' Lovers of pity will reap a rich reward from turniiiT over the pages of Libia excellent in He volume. TWO NOVELS OF DISTINCT MERIT. "A Knight on Wine!*," by lan Bay,' author of "Happy-go-lucky." Ixihdoir: Hodder and Sioughton. 101-1. We arc titraiglß'wav introduced to a charming group of characters, every one of whom is wholesome and natural, and | whom we ai once awake our friend. Undo Joseph mul Puiliip make a curious na-ir of what is a cheerful misoynmist—otherwise a man having Buffered disappointment in love in eurlv lite. In revenge for woman's treatment he levies toll upon I'ho sex. at large bj. writing begging circulars, and then ae;s as an expert pointsman, to d.fleet the. river of ill-balanced charily iliai co:iw» bh }vay into a variety of suiee ga'i'es where it will afford .he maximum iun-ount'of relief. But l : ne!e is, at an mi'ly siage of the book, cured of his view.-* on the woman qtiesi ; oTi, and his unique ui< fhods of handling eharitv, at one and the name time. The light person comes along though no:, before the reader has enjoyed a heap of fun at his expense. It is with Phillips, Ida nqihi-w, and Amanuensis, tliat we are most concerned, and his mct'l'ing with "l'eggs" is an admirably drawn study of child life. Phi'lliph grows a* we "proceed, and \i! Lima tely finds his vocation wi.-h the lirittania Moftor Company, of Coventry. Thence he is sent to Uike cham? of -the London office. Miss ,Jennings, his lyirist, is a. gotod sort—a level-headed business girl, who hasi a tr.ue .poinpeclive of lite, and is well able to take care of herself. She accepts Phillips for what lie is, a straightforward and energetic, hut somewhat shy. man of affairs. The spirit of comradeship which swings up is thati which exii-its in thousands of cases, and which is helpful to each in the Mother relationships of life. dean Leslie is also helpful to more than one distressed coterie \ve meet in I ''A Knight on Wheels." I In Timothy we have a typical young, r I sou, and. a finished article of the Eng- ! lMi public schools. His many innocent I excursions into the rrolms- of love are I most amusing—indeed, throughout the. ' book humor ripples along wiUiout the least strain or effort of any kind-. 1 Brand, the 'head mechanic at the LonI don repair shops, ;is a dogged Britisher, . holding pronounced socialistic views, and with which -lie regimen tile staff on all I occasions. Withal, lie it, a decent, honles't fellow, wdio mokes determined and successful love to iMiss Jennings. Of Mr IMarblethorpo and his querkv v.ays the choleric artist, Falconer, and, above ail, Peggy, we learn more as -the j hook proceeds. It is a welcome contribution to the fiction for tile. year.

"TSm Wilderness Trail," bv Frank lWilliajns. A novel of Hie Hudson 'Pay Company. New York: W, .1. Watt and Company. ' This talc follows the somewhat ;itVreotvped vanis we have of the great north country of Canada. The tinu- w just when some of the very valuable concessions held by tho great Hudson Bav Company have lapsed, and the em. of rival or free traders has set in, Tlhtp i-< bad blood between oh) Ft! mm trick an.l the father of MhcTavish. MaeTavish is under Fitzpatrick, and this affords opportunity to the latter to. yen#'Jlis spleen on the noil. Events favor ttu»- old vi J - lain, aiul the situation is 110 inmroved bv MacTavish Jicing in love with Fitzpa trick's daughter. Thin ciTcumsliuiee, however, adds piquancy to Ae podtion in which 'MaoTaviah finds himself, mid is ultimately tho means of re.sc.uing him from a. verv awkward and faltte predicament, The talo ir well told, iUid

goes witk * snjing- Considering and place, it- W ae'eiJTesa to Sbdd tih&t it dc*,i» wit-h Wie elemental passioiß of humanity, *,nd there are some strong tiHuatioaSj and plenty of gun-play.

SiOTES. j Mr lli3a.ire Belloc, who has gained fame by his prophecy of the action just taken by Germany, writes on '"The Bervile Static* (T. N, Foulis, Is net), in which ihe sets out to prove tliat' the tendency of the socialistic legislation ami aims of to-day is not to emancipate man, hut to bind upon jhiin the yoke of compulsory labor. , Tho argument# ho advances appear to 'be cogent and reasonable. lie affirms that compulsory the logical sequence i of t<he .Minimum wage . ♦"The Dickens Originals," by Edwin I pufjh (T. N. Toulis, (« net) is a sunnit-,uo-us and inviting adJi'lion to owr Dickens 1-iklil'ure. The lavish illustrations nrc all oiw would desire, and the text adds considerably to our knowledge of tlhe folk among whom Charles Dickens lived <vnd moved. •"The Merchant of Venice" (Greening and Co.. 3a Od) is not a dramatised novel, hilt a novelised drama. It is ■well conceived and may serve a useful purpose to the person who wants to familiarise himself or herself with the customs and tWs of wthie'h Shakespeare wrote, and who (an:l they are not a few) feel too incapable or too indifi'erenlt (o read the plays with the amount of concentrator of -thought necessary. •Books supplied for review (by A. S. Brooker, the B.K. Bookshop, Devon st. «■ ——< i 1 ■