1936-03-24 — Page 2

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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1936.

BOOK REVIEWS

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE

John Murray is to issue at the end of the month the new novel by Violet Campbell whose first novel "Seed of Adam" attracted

so much interest. This new book is called MARCHING MINSTREL Dnd tells a most vivid tale of the wanderings of circus folk through Western Europe a hundred years ago, who were finally caught up in the vicissitudes of Sir John Moore's great

to Corunna. The retreat conviction and power with which Mrs. Campbell depicted mådern life are in no ways lessened by her scene now being set in the past and the humanity of her charac-

iers make this a story,

most effective

OLD KING COLE

"By Edward Shanks, author of "Tom Tiddler's Ground' etc. Crown 870, 75. Bl, net,"

J

Mr. Shanks's new novel is a tory of mystery in the present which has its roots in the remotest past. Old King Cole was not in reality the genial figure of the nursery rhyme. He was, perhaps. a grimmer character, with some- thing of the sinister about him. This is "a tale of what happens when a country squire remembers, not from history-books but from the traditions of his own family, the withdrawal of the Roman Legions from Britain. As a result of his remembering.

a

County Council and the Ministry of Trans- port play an innocent part in the preparation of a terrible crime.

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SNOW STRUCTURE AND

SKI FIELDS

"By G. Seligman, B.A. (Cantab). With an Appendix on Alpine Wea- ther, by C. H. M. Douglas, B.A., FR. Met.Soc. With nearly 400 Hlustrations. 8vo, Abou; 21m. net:" This book should appeal to a wider circle than the scientists, explorers and sportsmen, for whom it is primarily written; snow has some interest for most people.

The book explains first, in sim- ple and clear fashion, much of the physics of ice, and for the first time outlines, from the point of View of both scientist and moun- tain-goer, all the different forms of ice met with in all parts of the world. It describes the changes which take place from the genesis of the snow cloud until the snow

becomes glacier ice. Secondly, it describes in great detail all the tish Delegation which attended the different types of avalanches, and Kathleen Norris's new, romance Empire Preas Conference in Aus-devotes many chapters to other is to come from John Murray attralla in 1925, and it is even less the-end of February. Her heroine, Mary Burleigh, is one of the de- lightful girls that the author can

depict so well and it is around the

Inost adverse and perplexing cir- cumstances that beset Mary and led her into contracting a SECRET MARRIAGE— hence the book's title that Mrs. Norris has written a satisfying romance,

The latest addition to Johil Murray's' well-known Wisdom of the East Series is to be published at the end of the month. called THE SPIRIT OF ZEN and the author, Alan W. Watts, Editor

Il is

ef Buddhism in England." sets

out with great clarity and under- standing the realities of life which the follower of Zen aims to attain and which, incidentally, while it Is the highest achievement of the Chinese spirit, is practically un- known in the Western World.

known that his experiences were put into a book with the title PLACES IN THE SUN and pub-

fished by John Murray. In his Preface to the book the Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin,

says: "IL presents a most interesting picture of various parts of the Empire as seen by a shrewd observer." In dealing with Australla and New Zealand, chap- ters are also devoted to Canada, to the whole book is remarkable for its free, trank and sympathetic discussion of Imperial problems.

Professor Starkic has acnlered

aspects of snow-craft.

What makes the book of parti- cular popular appeal is its illustra- tons, nearly 400 in number, with- cut question the finest and largest collection, of snow and ice photo- Rraphs in existence.

It may be added that Mr. Selig- man is a member of the Alpine Club, of, the International Com- mission of Snow, and a past Pre- sident of the Ski Club of Great Fritain. He therefore writes with authority on his subject..

NANA

MY EXPERIENCES IN ABYSSINIA

"Ey General Virgin, of the Swedish Army, formerly Military Government 01 Adviser to the Abyssinia. 8vo."

some

BIG HORSE'S FLIGHT

The Trail Of War In Farthest China

General Virgin's book is of an extremely important and topical character. After spending years in Abyssinia, in the position

"By Dr. Sven Hedin. With many of Military Adviser to the Govern-Illustrations from photographs and nient, the General recently return sketches by the author, and a map. |

on the go. About 15s. net"

ed to his own country.

Fround of W-health.

In this volume be recounts his experiences in that strarge coun- try, of whose Emperor he gives a

He describes favourable sketch. the general features of Abyssinia. geographical and climatle,, and ex- its relative fertility patiates on He draws a vivid picture of Addis Ababa, and furnishes a detailed account of the country's adminis- brative system. with an excellent résumé of political developments in recent years.

The later chapters are devoted to the outbreak of the present war and its causes. The story of the Walwal affair, the pretext for the war, is fully told.

ALL STAR CAST

of 'Fake, etc. ziet."

swedish explorer, was sent by the Dr. Sven Hedin, the famous

Chinese Government to the distant province of Sinklang to mark out

two motor roads between it and

China, proper. Arriving in Sin- klang early in 1934 at the head of an expedition, he was caught up

in the whirlwind of war which bad swept the province since 1931, but which Nanking belleved to have died down.

The man of the moment in Sin- klong was the young Tungan gen- eral Ma Chung-yin ("Big Horse"), whom the Turkish..population had called in to help it in its rebellion against the local Chinese rulers. To him, as the dominant factor, the expedition was bound to have recourse. But when the Chinese. with Russian help. turned the tables on Ma, Dr. Hedin's party was caught up in his retreat and

More than once their lives bung by a thread,” and they were obliged to hand over their lorries to Ma Chung-gin to his flight-which in help him made the expedition for a time gravely suspect in the eyes of the

Crown 8vo. 7s, 6d. and dangers.

This novel of theatrical life is an experiment in two forms.

It presents a controversial theme I stated in terms of the contempor-,

manner of a musical fugue.

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THE DOUBLE QUEST

"By R. J. Cruikshank, 8vo. 7s. 6d. net."

Crown

of

to

charming irrationalism of Engilsh civilisation. Throughout the book there is an ingenious weaving gether of English and American A young Englishman, exiled in themes, and the large yet intricate "By Naemi Royde Smith, author Involved in the gravest difficulties, New York, meets a cultured and pattern their experiences

charming American girl on the

gradually becomes apparent eve of her departure for a long visit to England. Their brief them. The novel, original in theme meeting is an implied challenge to

treatment, Introduces B 36 in to each to discover the secret of

varied gallery of English and the other's country behind the mists of prejudice, ignorance and

American figures in politics, fin- misunderstanding.. The story of ance and society. It is not only a their adventures in search of the

study of two national tempera- opposite country and of them- selves is told In **The Double ments, but of the modern temper. Quest."

It seeks to present cross-sections of The Englishman in America is two great English-speaking civi- perplexed, amused and irritated by lisations in a period of transition, many of the scenes through which'

and suggests the role that they he moves in patient search of his goal. "The girl pits her keen and have to play in the world that is candid American mind against the now in the making.

something of a miracle, He finish. A Memory Of An Old Nursery theatre and treated in the

1

"By Harriet Keen Roberts. With Frontispiece in colour. Crown 8vo.

woman.

new victorS.

war

This is the story Dr. Sven Hedin. The psychological argument in favour of capital punishment is tells, clearly and vigorously. In the the subject of a play. The play it-present volume. It vividly depicts

the horrors of This is the portrait of an Irish- self, the acting, the stage effects,

as waged in are recorded, and, interwoven with Central Asia, the strange inter- their progress, the reactions of a mingling of civilisation and bar- sensitive but inexperienced drama- tic critic. are contrasted with other responses evoked in the audience by the drama on the stage. "All Star Cast" is an attempt to record the complete experience of seeing. hearing, and feeling a play in the theatre.

Catherine Loftus, whose parents died of starvation in the famine of the 'forties, left Ireland when she was fifteen years old and went to America. Her account is, as far 2 we know, the only record of life is the steerage of a sailing vessel from the emigrant's po'nt of view.

rd writing the last chapter of his new book DON GYPSY surrounded by 3,000 · Italian soldiers and tallitary mission on an Italians. 6d. net": troopship between Naples and Ita- Ian Bast Africa. "There is a mill- tary misson on board." he writes "composed of an American staff "Major, a Hungarian Colonel, an Austrian General a Japanese staff Captain and a Albanian Cpionel. play Waltzes of Vienna for the Austrian and talk of "ezardas" and Hungarian women with the Hun- garlan Colonel." With his fiddle he should make an interesting figure in Asmara and he should be in view of the prominence re-note to draw many interesting cently achieved by Mr. Anthony | comparisons between the presunt "Eden anything that bears on his day and that time during the war early career has a wide general when he was in control of the en Interest...

It is not generally known tertainments for the whole Italian that he was a member of the Bri- Army.

Cheap 3/64 Editions to come from John Murray at the begin- ning of March are R. H. Mcttram's well-known novel BUMPHREYS: and two of Kathleen Norris's du- lightrai romances, WIFE FOR SALE AND FALSE MORNING,

She spent the rest of her long working life as a chlidren's nurse. Mrs. Roberts was her last charge: and to this American child "Nana" told stories of her own childhood in Ireland.

Here are some of these stories, told in "Nana's" own words as the

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eager little girl took them down; and the stories are woven into a narrative of rare simplicity and loveliness-a sor.g of experience rendered as though it were a song ef Innocence.

barism which stamps the life of Sinklang, and the good-fellowship. skill, coolness and courage of Dr. Hedin's Swedish and Chinese com rades.

i

Each type of INDIA TYRE

WINTER MOTORING

It is abundenly clear to those who dove a week-ends that this winter in particular there is no great falling-off noticeable in the number of cars upon the roads within the usual radius of the big towns. For some years past, indeed, there has been a growing reversion from the one-time prag- tice of many owners to lay up their cars in winter however, even comparatively recently the number of cars remaining in còm- mission during the rat quarter of the year, or the use to which they have been put, has been stin very appreciably reduced com→ pared with the summer time.

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MOTOR

TOWN HORSES

The Anti-Horse- Traffic Movement 'In London.

Shall-horses be abolished from Londou streets? Whichever side in the controversy wins will prosper at the other's expense, and at present it appears that the anti horse trac party may be suc cussful in obtaining its objective.

Delivery vans, buses. and all

JOTTINGS

WINDSCREENS

CLOUDED

Windscreen wipers have reached reason the cloth used for the in

a reasonably high pitch of effic-side of the glass should not be used tency, so that, given care and at- tention, the exterior surface of the windscreen can usually be kept clear. This, however, only seems to accentuate the fact that mist forms easily on the inside surface cf the screen of a saloon car.

The colder it is outside, and the warmer inside, the worse the re- sult, and for that reason we still do not get a really clear view through glass in bad weather.

With this cloth the interior of the wind-screen, fairrors, or, indeed, any glass on the cff, can be kept free of mist for a reasonable period, and a practical test proved that the treatment is effective.

for the external surface, but if an- other cloth of this type is used on the outside the glass certainly frosts over less easily, though that is a quite different thing from misting.

TI

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It is possible that a cloth im- pregnated with this substance would be extremely useful for pre venting goggles from misting. The price is 2n.

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Even in so small a component as cially impregnated cleaning cloth, ¦ a thermometer "or an oli pressure bearing the trade name of Mistoft, gauge, there is ample scope for has now been produced by Pul- | good craftsmanship. The range di cramanus Products, Ltd., 5, Row- Instruments of the Accurate · Re- cording Instrument. Co., Lid., Aris Works, Teddington, is of inter- est to discerning motorists. Boti in the case of the oll pressure gauge and the thermometer, the recording is made by means of a bourdon tube and a rack and pin- { lion movement with jewelled bear · Inga. A thermometer costs 30s. A dual gauge showing both ofl pree- sure and water temperature costs 40s, and a dual thermometer for both oll and water temperatures costs 50s.

commercia, vehicies are mkut affected by the slowness of the horse, as they are themselves Jess agle than private cars.. It hores were suddenly abolished fromley Grove, Reddish, Stockport. London a great deal of harm would be caused. It is urged. Would there be enough motor take vans immediately ready to the'r place? The. Minister at Transport 1 sounding Lendoz horse-using Orms and urging them where possible to 'replace horses, with motor vehicles. has not yet received replies from all of them to his questionnaire. Nor has any provincial authority yet submitted a scheme restricting the use of horses in any area: such a proposal would 'certainly receive, the most careful sideration by the Min'ster,

Horses are already prohibited

Не

EQT-

↑ London from using certain areas during, certain hours This bus led to a

considerab'e improve

ment in traffe conditions.

Alko.

It must not be forgot en that horses 'cause considerable disloça- tion of the trame-light system by

The glass should first be clean- ed and dried. It is then polished with the special cloth, and for the next two or three days there is no misting. The cloth itself must be kept in a dry place, or it loses some of its effectiveness; for that

their slow speed. How often does one Fee a horse vehicle crossing on the red through sheer inability to put up in time. This 13 12 source of danger. Another potat. at night a horse and cart seem to create much more, noise than a motor vehicle.

With the total absence of the horse in London, strects would be

cleaner, and save, for the exhaust. fumes more healthy. Cases of a horse becoming panic-stricken at an accident would no; longër occur; though this is almost un- heard of to-day, the possiblity still remains that a horse may for some reason bolt. The horse, wa never created to live in towns.

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