New Publications

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 13 August 1903, Page 20

New Publications

' The Dominican Star '

We are in receipt of an advance copy of ' The Dominican Star,' an illustrated literary annual issued by St. Dominic's Priory and College, Dunedin. The new issue furnishes abundant evidence that this excellent annual has come to stay. In size, as well as in the range, interest and excellence of its articles and illustrations, it is a great improvement on its predecessor, while, at the same time, the patronage afforded to the ' Dominican Star ' has justified its proprietors in reducing its price to a modest shilling. The change of form from demy octavo to the more imposing demy quarto has afforded Ihe proprietors fuller scope for illustration, of which they have taken the most generous advantage. The magazine opens, very appropriately, with a dedicatory poem (illustrated) to Stella (' The Star '), by the wellknown South African Catholic litterateur and divine, the Rev. Dr. Kolbe. This is followed by the piece de resistance of the magazine, a well-told tale of Irish and New Zealand life (finely illustrated by original drawings), by Agnes L'Estrange, O.S D. The poetic side of the periodical is well up to the standard with contributions from Josephine Martin, 0.5.D., A.M.B R., A G.R., Annette of Hawera, Adelaide Primrose, J.M., and A. L'E. A touching incident of the Boer war is feelingly told and well illustrated with original drawings. , A sympathetic character sketch of one of the pioneer Dominican Nuns of New Zealand, Mother Mary Agnes, who died last year, is contributed by the facile writer, A. L'E. Under the comprehensive heading ' Our Very Own,' there is a bright series of contributions — stories, sketches, etc. — from pupils of the Dominican Nuns— full of crisp and promising writing. The interest of the magazine is also enhanced by a breezy ' letter-box,' notes and news of Dominican educational work in New Zealand, Western Australia, and othAr lantls ; an account (with special full-page original drawing) of King Edward's visit to the Dominican convent of Bom Snccesso in Portugal ; a well-written and interesting sketch of a trip from London to Saltillo, Mexico, by a former pupil of St. Dominic's Priory, Dunedin ; an animated description of the visit of the famous Hambourg brothers to the Priory in June (with striking and admirable portraits) ; and articles on educational and literary subjects by Miss Cecilia Ryan, 8.A., Father Sheehan, and the editor. As already noted, the illustrations form an admirable feature of the new series of the ' Dominican Star.' The letterpress,

engraving, binding, printing, etc., have been executed at the ' Tablet 'Office in a style which is not surpassed by that of the best London magazines.