1934-09-03 — Page 7

LITERARY NOTES

CORRECT WAY TO READ BOOKS

A Revolt From The Traditional

COMMENT ON CLASSICS

The plain man might be forgiven if he approached Mr. Ezra Pound with anxiety or even trepidation. He knows that Mr. Pound, though regarded as eccentric, is not negli gible. and he suspects that difficul ties, uncertainties, and probably admonitions. are before him. Though in the childish sense hoj may have been taught to read and has the bookish habit he feels him seli very

much at the mercy of custom and tradition. He knows- or thinks he knows-what he likes, but he is not constantly critical; ho makes little reference to first prin ciples.

And when Mr. Pound presents a book entitled "ARC of Reading" he feels that discretion is the better! part of valour and that humanity!

is more beruming than mistrust.) Mr. Pound, indeed, addresses his

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1934.

The Empress of Manchukuo, shown leaving a hotel at Hainklang, after her audience with fie Royal Highness, Prince Chichlhu, brother of the Emperor of Japan. Her attendants are shown carry- Ing the gift which Prince Chichibu, an the official_representative presented to the Empress, from Ent-

peror Hirchito. This was the first visit to Manchukuo of Prince Chichibu.

book to those who might like to WELLS BANNED IN

learn and not to those who have. arrived a full knowledge of the subject without knowing the facts,"

Plea For Realities

LONDON SCHOOLS

Books Unsuitable For Children

AUTHOR UNPERTURBED

The London County Council doey

Wells fit reading matter for chil

CATHOLICS.

HIT CHINA'S

INVADERS

Japan's Action Viewed In New Light MERCIER AND POPE'S IDEAS

MUSIC-HALL LIFE

PORTRAITS

Characters Not True To Life

Miss Theodora Benson's new book, "Concert Pitch," is a decided advance on her last. In this story:

not consider the novels of H. The invasion and occupation of /of music-hal life there are, in the

Lou

music-hall life

been always adequate. The people

A previous book, when I have not read, is described as "a controvers, sial pamphlet summarising tho more active or spiky parts of the author's earlier eritinį skirmishing| and taking count of an enemy," writes Allan Monkhouse in the "Manchester Guardian.” The pre- dren.

Manchuria, Judged in the Light crowded gallery, a few real por

traits,

whom among

Val, the of the Catholic Doctrine and went book is, it appears, lesa con-

In this, L.C.C. stands alone, troversial, but one has some sense

for every other council and educa

According to the Writings of heroine, is pre-eminent, of Mr. Pound casting baleful

Cardinal Mercier, by

The story is good and in places tion authority in the country in glances toward a despicable oppon-

Taeng-Isiang. On French) touching, but the description of cludes the works of Wells in its

Paris: Les Editions du Foyer, ent. There is a warning, by im-

and personalities class reading Ilsts. plication, that he may make shot]

1933.

never seems quite authentic; it is This is a mechanical age. Youth work of some of our

favourites demands mechanics.

By a judicious choice of excerpts palpably drawn by someone who has but he soon begins to cheer us by science In its reading.

It demands from the writings of the late Care merely observed it and never been stimulating remarks. We may be speed-kings, air aces, and inventors dictine monk and former foreign do not, for instance, always say It asks dinal Mercier, the author, a Bene of it, and the observation has of apt to regard a classic as something|

as its heroes. respectfully left on a shelf, but "it

minister of the Chinese Republic, is a classic because of a certain bygone age.

Pirates and soldiers belong to ahas drawn à pointed analogy be

"yer" for "you," and their morala tween China, in the throes of being are not at all lax, as Miss Benson The provinces realise this. But dismembered by Japan, and Bel- rather ingenuously seems to think. atriet as in any gium, 'invaded by Germany in 1914, but quite as It is also a plea for realities prefers to stand by Scott, Dickens, his diocese from 1914 to 1918, Car-

During the German occupation of suburban act. "Ofied philosophic thought"

Mias Benson, too, has still not and Stevenson. whatever that may be--is despic-

dinal Mercler, acknowledged by the conquered the faults of immaturity able, and "the proper method for in the schools has been amazing.

The growth of Wells's popularity late King Albert one of Belgium's There is the same amateurishness studying poetry and good letters is

greatest patriots, saved many of the writing, with too much of contemporary bio for school use. Now something vigorous comments on the method

Before 1930, not a copy was issu-Belgian from abject despair by his jobtrusiveness on the part of the logists." Mr. Pound's illustrations like 100,000 have been issued by termed "a sentiment more profound third-rate moralising; and skill has what he author in her trite comments and are sometimes too learned; I would Messrs. Collins, tot say that they become irrelevant,

than personal interest." By his not yet been acquired in the pre but rather that his grasp of the Invisible Man" have been devoured dimming hopes of his countrymes

"The Time Machine" and "The words on patriotism, he kept alight sentation of her characters. relevant is too wide for me.

However, the book may well be But by children of twelve. he can give us epigrams that are "Food of the Gods," "The First of the invaders' yoke.

that Belgium would one day be free popular and parts of it are good; to the point: "Literature Is news Men

though the impression It made of on the Moon," "Tales of

"Although our provinces are oc-me was rather like a bed-time story

somewhat precocious younger sister.

eternal and irrepressible freshness."|

Mr. Pound'a bank is very much a London, saying the scientifio plea for that eternal fres】mess.

romances of: Wells are unsuitable,,

that stary news:" "Good writers Wonder" have been snapped up by cupied, they are not conquered." he told by a girl in her teens to a

are those who keep the language children of thirteen and the "Short said. efficient." More open to discussion History of the World" has gone into

These words became truths long!

are the convictions "that music the senior schools-in the provinces before November, 1918. begins to atrophy when it departs

When the Minister of Education

So the author wishes to counsel

too for from the dance; that poetry was asked to explain the difference the people of China, and although begins to atrophy when it gets too in attitude, he refrained from com-hc, himself, makes no comment in far from music." And, of course,

this small brochure, the message is

ment.

there are times when one suspects Mr. Wells himself didn't appear too obvious to put aside.

the platitude in disguise.

Study Of Shakespeare

fam afraid that I take Mr. Found too much in detachments; I have not the power to fit his suggestive fragments into a philosophic whole.

Ito take the ban on his works in

London's schools very seriously.

BEFORT HISTORY

Volume :

There is something of the prophet's New Thinker's Library dogmatism, incitement to rebellion. revolt from the traditional. Jane Austen and Henry James figure honourably, but even in a translation!

you may perceive that Homer nati-) cipated James.

NOT TOO SCIENTIFIC

ADVENTURES WITH

THE PIRATES

"Nanchang" Officer's Book Published

In a fitting conclusion, he recalls the message sent to the people of China on August 1, 1928. by Pope.Pirate Junk," by Mr. Clifford Pius XI.

Johnson, has just been published by "The Pope has complete confid-Scribners. Mr. Johnson recently ence that the legitimate aspirations returned to Shanghai a few weeks and the rights of a nation numeric-ago because, as he said, "I'm home- ally the greatest in the world, a sick for the China coast." nation of ancient culture which has

"Pirate Junk" describes the

known grandeur and splendor, will piracy of the s.s. Nanchang on be fully recognised. And if this March 29, 1982, near Newchwang.

Mr. Pound could "Men of the Dawn," The Story of nation maintains herself under the Mr. Johnson, Mr. Blue, and Mr. Man's Evolution to the End of precepts of justice and order, she Hargrave, officers on the boat, were

held by the pirates for five months.

+

set a shrewd examination-paper.j

"The way to study Shakespeare's

the..

Stone Agc. Thinker'a will not fall to have a Library No. 45.-By Dorothy future."

language is to study it side by side with something different and . of

Davison. Watts, London, 1/- equal extent.... The proper

This compact little volume in the antagonist is Dante, who is of Thinker's Library traces the pedi equal size and different. To study gree of mankind through the pre- Shakespeare's language merely in human and prehistoric stages. It ial comparison with the decadence of written in popular language; but is, the same thing doesn't give one's nevertheless sufficiently scientific to mind any leverage." I do not know interest the more advanced student whether this is right, but there is of anthropology, ethnology, or evolu-

tion. an idea in it.

4

great

"SOCIALISM'S NEW START"

English Translation Of German Document

AN AUTHOR FINDS HIS FEET Unique Thriller With Bright Theme

In his first book "Simon" was

A secret German Socialist Mani-feeling for his feet. In "Death on feato is published in an English the Swim" he has found them. There Is an excellent list of some translation by Allen and Unwin en-This pleasant little story about The succession of related extracts 60 llustrations, with particular titled "Socialism's New Start." murder among a group of Channel-

emphasis on prehistoric art and

Superfluous Ornament

century

verse and the growth of concern

from the fourteenth

The primary purpose of this book swimmers is something of a novel onwards gives an interesting indica-utensils. Certain of the "men of the is to present to the German So-as well as a detective story. tion of the evolution of narrative dawn" are revealed as ambitious cialists a new conception of their It is very easy to read, and there

caricaturists.

tasks; but it is also hoped that is a certain mild artlessness about with its form. There is the con appeal to persona in school and out, will be able to profit from the thou side is adequate, and the This book should have a wide Socialist parties in other countries it which is attractive. The detec tention that sophistication has brought inflation and superfluous It is a companion piece to Profes experiences of the Germans, and descriptions and atmosphere of ornament in place of the old director. Elliot Sraith's "The Search for will apply the principles outined Channel-swimming, scem authentic. ness; modern technique may be

here to their own problems,

An excellent little holiday book little more than laborious recapture.

EDITH WHARTON'S "FIRST PASSION"

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daring. "First Passion,"

told in the first person by a young, girl who lives with a married man,

It may not be Mr. Pound's fault that than merely knuckling under to Mr. one sometimes finds him difficult to Pound. They may be refreshed by follow; what can be expected of a his book and yet continue to believe "Victorian halfwit" who rertainly that there is not only one way to

The title of Edith Wharton's used to find "Sordello obscure? learn to read or to write but twenty, forthcoming reminiscences-k "A The half-wits and the Ignoramuses that you may never have heard of Backward Glance" is taken from may continue to do their best, the people, from whom he derives Walt Whitman's line "A backwar

Mr. Crawshay Williams must by seems to have had its inspiration in Their chatter about literature is bis exhibits and yet be good giance o'er travelled roads." The now have sequired a reputation in nothing more than the opportunities better than nothing, perhaps better reader in one way or another. book will be published by Appleton.the

for being, terribly it offered for further daring:

COUNTRYSIDE STORIES

A new book by Padraic Column

will shortly come from, Macmillan This is "The Big Tree of Bunlaby: Stories of My Own Countryside," with Illustrations by Jack Yeats.

RELIABLE PRINTING

no orde

too