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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1936.
BOOK REVIEWS
BEAUTIFUL SONGS
Dark Night and other Poems. By A. W. Samms Lee. Allenson, London, 5/-
'latives regarding Mr. Phillpott's Į "thrillers" fullest enjoyment can "Ned of the Caribbees" (Hutchin-only be obtained by reading it son, London, 7/8). Suffice it to alone at night, with the wind say that it is rollicking good howling cutside, and the house full of strange creakings and whispers.-EG.A. -
story of adventure at sex and ashore, but mainly at sen, con- cerning a young Englishman who | is "shanghaied" very early in life to find his home from home in the tropics, a home which like so many
last lines he uses the words "pur- Į cally complimentary reviews that ple sleep. What is purple sleep? he, at least, will not, object if in If colour is meant, in the sense the present instance the reviewer that the valleys are wrapped in first of all takes the opportunity purple light, that should have here afforded of commenting on been clearer expressed. and what "The Heart of Things" article "The quiet, fragrant twilight which appeared in "Chambers's
can he
Journal" Christmas number. Henry of your hair. And how
Lesch has been contributing this "weave for you a robe out of star-
In "Jamalea Inn" (Gollancz, article monthly for probably as less night?
London 7/6) Daphne du Maurier many years as Phillpotts has been of his countrymen he will not will has given us an exciting story of giving us pleasure with his novels, ingly relinquish even for the antis-Cornwall at the beginning of the while the present reviewer-lefaction of returning to the land last century. The inn from which him seek forgiveness for mention of his birth. It is extremely im- the book takes its name, situated ing the matter-has himself bern probable that anyone-reviewer or on the bleak and lonely moora, is first a regular and latterly an oc-
general reader will lose a night's the centre of a gang of wreckers, casional reviewer of books for some Sleep over "Ned of the Caribbees' smugglers and murderers and to quarter of a century or more. To but. It is equally safe to say that this bleak spot comes the farm- other reviewers who have not seen the many lovers of Mr. Phillpotta's girl heroine to And herself in- it the present reviewer would sug- stories in the old country and volted in a series of wildly strange gest that Leach's article be as
aboard will enjoy this tale of a but perfectly probabe adventures. closely followed and enjoyed as his young English lad who spends the Although written in the customary greater part of his life in getting third person, the story is virtually. Into trouble to emerge successfully told" In the
first person as the from it again, Mr. Phillpotta has heroine-there is no hero worth condescended in the last chapter mentioning-is never off the stage. or two to turn from adventure to all the action taking place in front love and the happy ending, but of her. The character drawing is but this in no way detracts from not so good, most of the characters the appeal of the book-rather the being specially noticeable for their reverse, inasmuch as it is true to | inconsistencies: what little love life as showing that not all our seafaring adventurers end their colourful lives on the yardarm
The author of this book of poems
But these are minor defects and has been Hving in China for a
should not lessen the charm of the number of years and is now in Shanghai. If it were not known poems in which they occur.
The fact that poets of any worth that he has been engaged in re-
in China are rare makes the ad- ligious work the nature of some.
vent of this new singer of beauti- of his poems would indicate a strong interest in the metaphys-ful songs important. He should he if duty to the cal Yet thère la sufficient variety acclaimed. And
critic's code makes us comment a of poems to make the book in:er
litle unfavourably in regard to a esting to those who are not in-
good deal of his work, it would be clined toward religious subjects.
It has been said that if a poet undesirable and unfortunate if produces one or two gems out of a had the effect of lessening the large number of ordinary poems public's duty in regard to their re- he has achieved something really ception of this addition to go
poetry. worth while. It that is so, Mr. Lee's work has been well worth while, for there are more than one or two real gems in this volume. "Mysterium Fascinans" is some thing that will not easily be for- gotten by anyone who read it. The poem dedicated to HL.J.W. At the War Memorial, Christ Church, Oxford," is pure poetry. "Physical Beauty" is another that ought to attract the attention of purista, though not the ordinary reader who wants the easily understood and the metre of the dance. To "show something of the 'beauty cl
Mr. Lee's best work I quote a lew ines from two or three of the Poems:
contributions are by all readers of 'Chambers's Journal" He starts zust a picture which off with please all book-lovers:
The second book season of the year is at its peak and when, the lover of books enters with a wild
anticipation upon the brilliant scene that a well-stocked book- shop in the town presents, he has the sense of voices calling to him from the spirit of more than a million pages, exulting,
the top of happy
My complaint is that, the poet is more concerned with words than with the effect of words, in read- ing this volume one reads on and on, finding the sequence of words rather monotonous unt sudden- vi there stands out a thought that 'is important and beautifully ex- pressed. And, of course, that dis- covery makes the labour of read-stand you on ing through line after line of words nours." nicely enough arranged, to be sure but inconsequential in the main. well worth while.
And the spirit of man pressed has
on
"Now
J.W.F.
But it is rather Leach's strictures
As Mr. Sydney Horler frankly admits in the foreword to his la on" book-reviewing one wishes to emphasize. "He refers to the
test novel "The Vampire" (Hut reviewers, many of whom, appar-
chinson, London, 7/6,) his critics The second part of the book a
will almost certainly tend to.com- endly, have the exceptional fortune devoted to China. Here we see the influence of Tu Fu, Li Po and
to discover "masterpieces" in each pare his atory with Bram Stoker's season and proclaim them, indit-
famous "Dracula." He has, of other Chinese poets, but Mr. Lee
ferent to the fate of their chosen i course, found it necessary to use the given us. in some of
more or less the same materials. poems, pictures of scenes and of the year before, already coma- And the mercy of God reached events that rank high in the realm
tose or worse..........The old and!' Yet," nevertheless, he has succeed downl
of descriptive poetry. The poems experienced professional reviewers, ed in writing an interesting and
whatever may "Thler" and "On Famine Rellef"
be said against entertaining story which is cer- are excellent. But if the book
them, lay a limit upon their tally presented in a more read-
able form than the first closed with that le -master-praises, and their pens would re- fuse to write it down that, after all their years of reading, they could still be captured for an all- night absorption in some new novel, instead of preparing them selves in the proper manner of restful sleep for the labours of the following day;
Till Mary sang to Her little Son In the inn of a Jewish town.
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I must bellëve, knowing how Goe Piece The Flute. Mid-Autumn
is good,
That nothing beautiful" can
pass in Death
bright dawnlight shines Rosy on snowy peaks, while in
deep, purple sleep.
The valleys le, hushed by the
harp of pines.
There is a tendency to sacrifice. verity for effect in some of Mr. Lee's work.
Night" one would put it down more fully bemused with the soft, plain- tive, charm which the cones of the flute and the sweetness of the poems alike inspire.—Carroll Lunt.
NEW FICTION
Eden Phillpotts has written so. many successful novels, and has
and much more on the same lines which should be helpful to review- ers of all ages and classes.
་
After all of which, one is unlike
For instance in the surely read so many enthusiastily" to enter upon a series of super-
HERE AND THERE
Queuing Up-The Egham Urban tain from abroad during November District Council have sent a com- · last.
plaint to the railway company' about delays caused to traffic at the Pooley Green crossing' due to the closing of the gates for an unnecessary length of time.
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Over the Limit-For driving a motor hearse at 48 m.p.h. a Rotherhithe man was fined 108. nt Basingstoke police court
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Play-lime. As a step towards' the protection of children from the dangers of the roads, the
Sledging in the Streets. While sledging down a street in Leeds a young boy of twelve was killed, his sleigh crashing into a motor lorry at the foot of the hill.
The Commissariat A canteen van has been added to the London Fire Brigade for supplying re- freshments to tremen who are engaged for long periods at fires."
"Handwriting Expert--Said by a
*
car,
great
vampire novel. When he was first asked to write the story he de- murred, but shortly afterwards the eerie tale of a man cursed with the vampire taint and moving in the society of London to-day be- gan to formsiktself In his "brain, and "The Vampire," which he re- wrote three times, is the result, Those blessed with a vivid inte agination will find it less of a strain on the nerves if the book its read during the daylight hours, although to a hardened reader of
MOTOR
High Adventure
011. a
A remarkable journey was re- .cently 'concluded,
Morris to British Nigeria and back, involving the doublé cross- ing of the Bahara desert. Tribute is due to the energy and courage of the three Englishmen who brought this attempt to a suc cessful end, as well as
the car
Kent Ratepayers Association has motorist at Highgate police court: urged the Kent Council education "The constable produced & note--an inexpensive British product authorities to allow open spaces; book and took my name down in which was thus tested in "colo- and playing fields of all schools a flash,"
to remain open for longer periods.
=
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Heated.-AL Tottenham police
An O.K, K.0.—Joe Louls, the court a motorist said; "The" con- boxer, is being given the very stable at the corner changed appropriate index mark KO for from red to amber and then to his car registered in Michigan silence.". State.
1 Big Things Have Small Begin Not So Bad Has there been of ¦ nings. -- When driving through late a tendency for such read Edentown, in North "Carolina," á accidents as do occur to be less dog who was riding in the car severe than formerly? This seems with his master apparently sat on to be the case, because the rate something sharp. He suddenly of reduction in fatal accidents Jumped in the air and landed, on (12.5 per cent.) has been much the steering wheel, causing the greater than that in the
motor car to run into a non-
lamp- fatal accidents (5.6 per cent.). post. Both car and the post were wrecked and all the lights and Down to the Sea-Part of North telephones in the town were put Street, Prittlewell, is to be widen-out or order.
ed at a cost of £16,500, and a Road Fund grant has been made
Necessary Speed. A Harley to the Southend-on-Sea Corpora- Street doctor who was ordered to slon. North Street formis & con- pay: 108. costs at Brentford for tinuation of the London-Southend exceeding the 30 mph.", speed arterial road, and is the main ac- limit said that he was on his way cess to the sea front.
to perform an operation when he received a very urgent call to at-
A Second-band Trade.-Eatri- tendo many who was bleeding
burgh motorists are complaining to death. of the number of spare wheels'] stolen from cars left unattended.
Traffic Officer--The US. traffic control expert, Mr. WP. Eno, has been promoted to Omicer of the Legion of Honour.
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man
-nial conditions" "of the most
severe description.
some
The distance covered, 6,000 miles by land, without re- course
to a base, is alone an achievement of no small mérit. whilst the nature of the route put a great premium upon reliablity If serious personal inconvenience, even hardship and danger, in the desert were to be avoided.'
country
The country traversed, from north to south across the Sahara, if not now, uncharted, comes as near to motoring across totally unknown territory relying upon the car. unaided, to reach the next source of supplies three, four, and nearly five hundred : miles distantas can be imagined
in these days of rapid land deve- lopment.
interest the story does possess lacks sincerity and would have been better amitted unless it could have been developed, more. The background of the story is well marab done: wintry moors and lands, high tors and stormswept
heather.
story, but some what lacking in In short, quite a good
Anish.-H.C.F.
Clare Sheridan's “Genetrix” (Thornton Butterworth, London. | 7/6) is a book the value of which will be realized by many and cri- ticized by some. It deals with Mary O'Donnell, a war, widow, who is left with a son Rory. Life becomes so unpleasant for Mary that she leaves for the Continent, where she has varied experiences with mer of such a nature as to make the book undesirable for young readers. Mary's efforts to give Rory, an education that will fit him to be a citizen of the world draws her into various complica tions, with the result that she is forced to make many crifices. The story is infinitely deep, .com- plicated and subtle and many adult readers will delight in read- ing it.-W.HC.
JOTTINGS
TROLLEY BUSES IN LONDON
each other for orders from city. transport.· authorities or · their latest types of electric trolley buses.
LONDON-A safety door to eliminate the dangerous practice of passengers jumping onto or off an omnibus, while it is in motion was on show here at the Com- meicial Motor Transport Exhib-peting Arms showing luxury speed tion.
This door, somewhat similar to the automatic doors used on Lon- dons underground railways operated by the driver. A press of a button when he starts the bus and the door shuts; a DIERS when he is stopping and the door opens. In an emergency the doors can be opened from a hande in- side the bus.
A special feature of this door is the "accident cushion" on the door pillar. Should anyone be caught by the closing door, as he scrambles onto the bus at the last minute the door automati-
cally opens itself enough to let him in,
Other entries at the exhibition ranged from are engines end milk floats to rail cars and élec- tric trolley buses,
The advance of coach travel was illustrated by the many.com-
coaches for express travel. “Every one of these coaches was stream-« lined.
14..
Another advance ilustrated by the exhibition was that of the heavy oll engine. Almost every manulacturer had several types of Diesel engined vehicles on show. One firm also exhibited an electric luxury coach
A streamlined fire bridge can- teen van attracted considerable interest. This running restaurant is intended for use on lengthy duties. There is a shelter for fre brigade omcers at the rear. This modern canteen van was built to the requirements of the London Fire Brigade.
'DREAM' AUTOMOBILE
PREDICTED BY 1946
INDIANAPOLIS A Automobiles: The latest developments in so much better than those of to- transport were shown. The fea- | day that they challenge the im ture which many considered most agination will be developed by striking was the great number of the end of 10 years in the trolley buses on exhibition, show- opinion of Ralph R. Teetor, the ed to as closely as possible, the | ing the demise of the tram Anext president of the Society of time taken by alternative methods great many large towns to Great Automotive Engineers.
It is of distinct genoral interest that on the outward journey from England to Kane, the objective, when a strict schedule was acher,
though it may not be by to
of transport was beaten hand-Britain are now said to be scrap-They will not only be more eco- Over-confidentA Perth man somely from "door to door" ping Jarge sections of their tram-nomical in fuel consumption but ways in favour of electric trolley they will give better pert rmance buses. The southwest section of greater riding comfort, and be London's tramway was developed much more durable, he said yes- in this way only. recently. terday. Bournemouth Corporation ia sell of the
place and drove off was involved apportion credit fairly as between in a collision with a bus. He went the mechanicat and the human back to the parking place and element in an endeavour of this took another one. He had another nature, certainly additional eri- accident with this car. Result, dence has been given that the Coming Over? There were 10,- | appearance before the Perth She-, fbirit of adventure is not dead 530 visitors Landed in Great Bri rin Court.
ing its old transvink
At the Commercial Transport | cars Exhibition 11 firme competed with
Average
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