South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Monday 11 November 1895, page 6


REVIEWS.

' The Stark-Munro Letters.'— By Conan Doyle, Longmans Colonial Library Series (received from Messrs. E. ti. Wirr & Son). This volume comprises sixteen letters written

by a young; mddioal man in England to a friend in Massachusetts. Many nrathe topics dealt with, and bright and original are thu characters presented. This is how we are introduced to Lord and Lady Sal tiro. 'Slio looked as if a glass of good wine would do her good, and he as if ho would be the better for abstinence ; and so, in accordance with the usuai lop-sidedness of life, he drank freely, and shs nothing but limejuice aud water.' Tlie chief character is the ucoentnc Dr. Chillingworth, who started as a medical practitioner in tho orthodux Btylo and failed. II o then removed to a great manufacturir.goity and cmnmpuced on a different plan, sooa working up a uractice ainong th« poorer classts of £4,000 a year. His rooms, whioh included thu stable aud ooaohhouse, were every morning crowded with patient?, on whom he wasted but tew words — 'Yon have been drinking too muoh tea ; you aresuffdrinp from tan-poisoaing,' ihon dr&ggins her up to the table hs would hold out a medical work. ' Put your hand on the book,' he thundered, 'and swaar tint for fourteen days you will drink nothing but cocoa.' The potientsworo with upturned eyes and was instantly bundled out. ''You eat too muoh, drink too inunb, and sleep too much, ' he roared at another, ' knock down a policeman, aud come again when they let you out.' Another patient complained of a sinking feeling. ' My dear,' said ho, 'tr.krt your nirtdioiue, and if that does no good swallow the oork, for thero is nothing batter when you are sinking.' Ia this book sound wisdom runs side by side with delioate or extravagant humour from beginning to end. On onn page we dip deep into religion, and on tho ntm wo aru regaled with a oomicaf clovfl (iijht. Take ic all round in is a ouarni iug book. 'Meiioiu of Geo3ce Hrci.vBOTHAir.'— By Edward K. ilurru. Maomillan & Co., London. Professor Morris soils us in the introductory pages that the subject of thu inemoir, shockt^l by thu in Jisorent revelations in some recant bio^rapiiisH, ruqueated that after his dt-aih his M.S. books, old diaries, and political and proleaaionai raiuaina should bo burnt without dulav. This wi.ih wus carried out, therefore it has bHun rathor a diitiuult matter to write hit biography. The late .Ir.dgo fli^iubotbitni wan born in Dubliu in 1820, nnd was ttducateri nt; tho Royal School ot DuniMnnon and at Trinity College, Dubliu. In 1817 h« wi-nt tu London, where he joiusd tho staff of the Morning Gkronic'e na a reporter. Ha acted in that capacity at tho funeral of th« Duke of Wellington. Not many particulars are giveu as to his life in London, tie in tensely admirt-d Mr. liladntone, but in later vars was BhocUed at hie Humo Eul« policy. He used to declare that of all speakers Mr. Disraeli was th» most riifii:ult to report. Uisinbotham was oalied to the Bar in 1853, but nut seeing much chance of success iu Eng land emigrated to Victoria with the intention of trying his luck at the diggings, but aban doned this idea and commenced tlie practice of his profession in Melbourne. Soon after he accepted th.t editorship of the A'ffut, but. entering the Laifhlative Assotnbly ho ---eforo long; bayama Attorney - General. During bis Pariiamentr.ry career he «\i3 tha idol of tne puople. In the bitter strucrgle between the two branches a' the Legislature hi* ohamiiioned the popular lower chamber. Ily Hennaed s.ti that time to tiavo been both feared and hatod by thf colonial plutocracy. Un scornfully designated them ''rlis wealthy lower orders,' a phrase which 3Ir. Morris rmnarka 'stuck like a burr.' Higinbothftm'd contention, briefly put, seemed to have been that after rospijii riibio government had been granted to the colony tho Home Government had no right to interfere in its internal affairs. At ono time he even ofTendod the colonial democracy by tilling them that with all their boaster) freedom thoy were only a set of slaves undur the hoel of ' a person namsd Rosters,' meaning Sir Frederick Rogers, afterwards Lord Blachford, who was then the chief permanent ofiioial in the Coloni»l Offioa. Higinbotham possessed in a marked degree the popular gift of oratory. He invariably impressed his hearers with the belief chat right or wrong he himself believed heart and soul in what ho was saying. There is a mass of interesting matter, including -ome of his moat stirring speeches, in this well-printed volume of over MOO pages, which ttUo contains two capitally exttoutei? likenesses reprodnoed from photographs of Mr. Iiigin bothara, one na Attorney-General and the other £6 Chief Juntice. ' Tub Honourable Mia. Spook.'— By Arabella Keueally ; Digbv, Long, & Co., London. Wo presume tha' thu text for this t»5traordinarjr psychological novul is to bo louud iu Ru-'kinV- hu&i — 'Dj not thiak your 'lau^htui-t! can be tmined to tiio truth of their own huifian beauty wliiie tho pleasant placed, which God nude at ouca for their sciiooltootn ,md their playground, lio desolate aud de filed.' 'The II mourable Mrs. Spoor,' a bo;-k ivhich it in its second ediciun, is by tli« nuthoresa of ' Moliy and Hur Alin-o'-\Var' and other books, 111 which the lady has proved herself more Chan ordinarily oapableof writing brightly, vivaciously, autl servioeably, but this work shows auothur feature of her style as u. writtir of fiction. Ttiaro are passagos in it rather Zjlae*quo, passionate phrasing, warm word-paiatiniC aenteucus suggestive of sauau ulity, although not really indecorous, aud uih ijrotiseharaetorof Mrs. 8poor herself is almost such an ono as thu famous Frinob writer du j)tcts in onn of hii naughty novels. Why Dr. Arabalhv Iveaeally aliould have selected such a ?lubjocs upvin which to exurcies bar poiitivo talent for thu dia^wDtion of tho soul we can only conjecture. Perhaps her desire was to indicate how hopeless ic ia for a gross and seuaual nature to rise abovo the jairaal instiuots, and if bo «ha hi* I'.icceedod, for a greater self-torm»nter tiiuu this vvoaian witli a toul past, a luxurious out wrstoiiad present, there could hardly be ?ven in this world of disappointed hopes and ;.or:uring p»9aiond. A capible wom*n of the dciiii-viondc, oast in n lar^e, caarse, but hand iuaie iiuuld, she has beau married in n ?uoinenB of oapriee by a wealthy man of ia-inioi!, who parses her o!f in tlis anstooratio world as psrteclly pure, and she holds her oivn romarkably woll until hor morbid mind :nakos her suspicious of every trilio, fo-irful ot n.\])oiuru, aud dually brings about the very oitastrophe she seeks with suoh agoniz ing pains to a void. (ihe lives in a mental hell of her own oreating, and cue eminently skilful manner in whioh r,ho nusbori'Sfc has laid bare each nerve and mental prcceas makes her story painfully nbjurbing. Hor description of the dreadful dream iu whioh this victim of an evil pa-it und a diSbssed imagination sees herself gradually ovorwhoimsd by an insidious tide .if blood if, for descriptive force au-i finish, detail, and originality of construction, equal to almost anything in that extraordinary novel 'Salambo,'for ij3:auce, but it is not alto cssher plaaiaut reading. Nevertheless Mr*. Spoor is an tvosorlnng, if repulsive, study, and lilt* delineation of her character bears the iCaoip of naturaineas. There are few re lieeming points in it ; she yearnB for and clings to respootaoility, not iu the noble Hpirit of a Morcy Mernck, but rathor from vanity and lovo of luxury, the glimpws of her bastur nature are few aud far between, the shadows of her animalism are bro»d aud ieep. The artificial atmoiphere iu which she !ive» is in itself unwholesome: her husband is

a cold calculating cynio ; hor guests saltish b'asi ty pea of th* uppar ten. . ' Kitty ALONE.' — By Baring Gould. MotUuwn'H Colonial Library Seriea (received irom Messrs. George Robartson & Co.). Mr. Baring Gould is on his own ground in the ' West Country,' and few writer* have civen us more charming tales of Devonshire village life. Kitty, the huroine, ia excellently drawn. Her lines in life nre severo, and r.hu is subjected Co tr&gio ordeaU ivhich only a girl with a large and brave heart could overcome. Human nature is the same the world over, and in P.isco Peveril, the villain, the viliago speculator, wa recognise many of the traits of the ib'.eondiug or incendiary boomer. We can confidently commend this Devonshire story — a thoroughly absorbing plot, with iu :cr«Hdy varied by rauoh entnitaining comedy, good chcractor drawing, and what for lack of a better adjeotive we m»y c»!l ''pretty' writing make a very entertaining whole. 'Passion's Pcpp2t;£' — Uutchmson &Co., Loidou. 'Tintts differ, or there would bo no fancy waistcoats,' is an old and trite saying,. Fancy waistooata, by the way, are not ia vogue, but; there may be still iuch variety in tastes that the unpleasant story can command it* ci»ota of readers and he worth the vrumg. These should but satisfied with 'Passion's Puppets.' The author has pre ferred to remain unknown, and although there is some smart writing and origi nality in cbaraoter-drawing to show that his it no 'prentice hand, it is not likely that he will have difficulty in preserving bis incognito. Much may be for given when »n ideal ifi involved or the pro verbial moral pointed; but of any such ' PaHtioii'a Puppets' is innocent— it* only innocence perhaps. It vt-rges on immoral, and wer3 it a question of choice we should prrfe-r not to be on terras ot intimacy with any of the puppets. All of them are, how ever, smashed at the end, and the reader will not b« ia the least depres-cd. A philosophic and notnltofcHther malevolent murderer is a distinctly original conception. 'Joan Haste,' by Rider Haggard ; Lon? rnann &O«., London (received from M^srs. E. S. Wieg k Son). In this story Mr. Haggard, leaving the realms of the heroic, follows, the paths of every -day modern life, where filthy pelf it Ih* ruling passion, and where mer cenary considerations rule the roast. 'Joan Haste' may not satisfy the same class of reader that 'Allan Quactarmain' appealed to, but for all that it is a tale of entrancing interest, giving the experiences of a young

girl of noble qualities, who loved not wisely but too well one who, partly by the force of oiroumstaoces. partly through her persistence in s»lf-abnegatiun, was uuable to givo her the position as his wife, whioh he was willing and anxious to bestow upon her. In her quixotic resolution to sacrifice herself shu submits to a hateful alliance with a sooundrel who has per secuted her with his attentions:. Tho tale is powerfully told, is crowded with incident, and strikingly illustrates tho writer's dramatic skill in thrt delineation of character. 'Ekskst Enolam), or fho Soul Laid Bnrf,' a Drama ior th- Cio=et, by.T. A. Parker, Luadeuhall Pre?t!, LiT.ited, London. — The Into f.litor of the Indian Daily News, Cal cutta, has givan us a vary peculiar production in his endeavour to lay bare s, soul iu bi&nk verse. Thure are tine, Wdll-expreased, poetio sentiments in many passages, and there occur aho extraordinary turns of speech and strained sentences such as ?'Muieeil niih fluidic tiro, a glorious night!' ' Peace with lier poppy stupors, vagroia airR Undriiied o' sleep ami still pained Nature's throb,' &o. The readei will be l«d iiiong by and buoome intereoted iu a iiiio piece of word-painting, and then bo confronted by suuh erratic lines as thr-se — ' When men's e-irs leap ajape as mine do now. Its j'uniier-worhlcc hanil upim my heart; Wheels round strange apaes there,' bolts sterner f.ir Than the Phiilipian gaol where Paul was pent.' In a jaarmjt .-iarcftstio mood he apostrophises livened aarvantB thus: — Thoutt flunki-yb! .h! e^art, ecstatic things! Kejhuitil uka men, bubsUrtliii); nil our nerves As iioiybiuts of colour— bitzin^ forth 'run washing glory o: at-ra-:- qailt! Dear j-iai;t!i bread, 1 thank t^os --r tuoaa calves, Woiiu aini uf iinisdrf intslied m pink en silk! Miiii'i^Uu mii(ic.e-! Ui^li alpaof fiesi:! -i'hich uuco lu'vo scbq muit 'suiye tho pang of death. iiis dramatis psrsoncc, an artist, % lord, a vicar, laJuu tivangoli-c, soldiers, sailors, ladie-i fair and frail, express themselves iu every maud— uwtatiu.satirical, heroic, epigram matic, mirlhiul, uud gloomy, so chut tn the dialogue ihe readcra tiavo plenty of variety, and many will weary ou the wuy. ' Vovaoes and Tkavels.' By Lord Braashy, iv.C. B., D.C.L. Longmans, Green, aud Cj., L-jndon. L'nt'so two servioua'jly uoaud voluinus give the dotails of Lord Bra*3ey's voyages aad travels from 1SU2 to 18'Jl ; tor the most parti in the form of a log, wish the contents of which people who havo lollowed his ;uovementri aru futrly fitmiiiar, becnuae much ol thu material has already ap peared t;t diffuront tnnts in tha daily P ess. indeed copious extracts art* in ado from auws papura in various parts of the world visited by htm. Th-ira is nopresennion to literary style ; it is but a plaiu uuvarni-iied narrative of ex prineuces on «ea and land, though decidedly tutere.scinsr oecause of tbe reliable information it gives. I'heru are soul? maps and i- appen dix giving a -mminary of the voy»Koa compiled I ruin logbooks. The whoio has been arrauged aad edited by Captain S. E'irdly Wilrnot. 'iHOKT riTIIUIES ON GUEAT SUBJECT3,' Vol. IV., by tho lato J. A. Froude, M.A. Long mans'Colonia! Literary Series. Tliuusaays contain the ohauihts of the great professor of modern history on the problems whioh have Hiiiiroadad cub attisntion of the present genera tion. Tho preface, whioh refers to changes spiritual, moral, xocial, and political, con cludes thus: — 'The observations and expe riences 01 a single voyager, who is drawing near the end of his jouroev, inuy have au interest for others who art) floating down the sain 1 river, and ate »iike unable to conjecture whither they art) bound.' L'he book opans with 'Lifo and Times of Thomas Beolcet.' It is a splendid picture of the great Archbishop aud the troublous times in which he lived. In tho efasay en titlad 'The Oxrord Countfir-rteformation' we hear a gaud deal of John Henry Newtntu, at whose feet Mr. Froudo sat at Oxford. Newman's fuoe is described as bhing re markably like the face of Julius C-2--*r, the forehead, the shape of tha ears and nose, and th» lines ot tho luuiitb being esaotly the «ame. 'Cheneys and thu House of timsbll' is Hniraucin^ reading, whilst 'A Siding at a Hail wuy Station' is a most vivid allegory. I'ho reader, after studying theae beautifully wntten essays, will feel himself a wiser and a better man. 'The Essentials of Logic,' containing ten lectures on 'Judgment and Inference' by Tl chord Bjsanquat, formerly Fellow of University Coliegu, Oxford. Maomillan and Co., London. Only the two lasi disoourseB deal explicitly with inference, those whioh preoede them treating of that single develop ment which in some stages is called judgment aud in others inference. The volume will prove to be of value to those who desira to pursue tho study of logic and its relation to knowledge, aud to craaa the comiQOting prin ciples and inactions thnt permeate the intel lectual world. 'The Hoi:se or Cargill'' is an tmpre teatioud, but by uo maaud uninteresting, story of tha snuii-'g ing days, by Margarot Aloyes Rlnck, and comes to us through tho publishers Oiiphitut;, Anderson, k Farrier,' of Eliuburgh.: It is asroiiK'ly flavoured with good, sturdy, homely Scotch, and ranks well forw.ird with the rest of M. M. Black's novels, such as ' Botweon the Ferries' and 'Dminherited.' The characters are eiTcoiively drawn, and the descriptive mutter though meagre is not lack ing in colour. ' Wisdabvsk,' a record of bygone times in Australia, by George K-.nkin, published by Remington & Co., Limitttd, is a characteristic «cory of bush life ia Australia iu the early 40';\ written with a pnrfeut knowledge of t!ie subject -»nd thoroughly mtereatihg from HtarC to finish. The local colouring is stood and purtionsof the dascriptivu writing.notably a Ktampede of thirsty travel-Btaiued cattle, is r»alistio in theextreine. The book should be ou the shelves of all Australian bibliotheques. 'The Cuack of Doom,' by Robert Cromio, liabliahod by Uigby, Lung, & Co., ia written tvith an amount of qiinsi-scieusifio detail whioh remuda ona of Jules. Verne. Tho imagination of tho writer is allowed full play, the plot well worked out with con siderable constructive power, nnd the etory is attracts v« throughout, thn dramatio incident heinj.' ?tuffioiuut to sustain tha interest of the most blase of novel-readers. 'Tue Stouy oi1 Akijhew Fairfax,' by Joseph Hocking.— This admirable story, .vhich somn time ago was published in the Addaide Observer, h»s been reprinted in a cheap form by Messrs. Ward, Lock, and liowdeu. It is well worth} of the distinction thus conferred upon it, and those who havo not already read it should lose no time in doing so. The copy before us has beec supplied by Messrs. E. S. Wipg &. Sou. 'The Stua.vd Novelettes,' Vol. II., Illus trated ; G«orRn Newnei, Limited, London. — MesHrs. l'i. '6. Wigg & Son have sent us a copy of this volume, which embraces a baker's doznn of thrilling stories hy more or le^a well-known writers of fiction. Every ono of tha tales con tains a full share of exciting incident served up piping hot.