Times Colonist from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • 26

mi km PACi TWO TOTES MAGAZINE SECTION VTCTOKIA DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1927 On nrr By Prof. W. T. Allison and Other Authorities Current Literature J-J NEW BOOKS FOR CHILDREN YT7 DAY JL JLJLJU "PETER REAL KID! Birkenhead's Confessions and Spender's Politics Head London Book List Up the Years From Bloomsbury With George Arliss Noted Stage Star Writes With Humor and Charm of His Long and Distinguished Career as a Character Actor in Knjjjlaiu! ami America; How Came to He Written By PROFESSOR W. T.

ALLISON By MARY GJJIAIIAM BONNER Author of "A Parent's Guide to Children's Reading," etc. Often I have been asked to tell those who read books aloud to their small phlldren of something that would Interest little boys around seven years of age. There is a book this year that answers this question wiui x.ib Bvury is so warmly, humanly written, its small hero so engaging and lovable end its other characters so real, that I must give "Peter Pocket" all the room this week. His author Is May Justus, his illustrator Mabel Pugb, and his publisher, Doubleday, Page Co. Peter's home was In the Cumberland mountains.

His father had been known as the Songmaker. It was Granny Messer, poor though she was, who took him in and shared her cabin with him. Peter Pocket, who was always asking people to guess what he had In his pockets, had as many Rroblems and hopes, dreams, worries and sorrows and Joys as have all small children. One of the patronizing: "He'll get over It; the happiest time of a person's regarded as one of our regular authors. His new book, "The Charm of Birds," which Messrs Hodder and Stoughton announce for October, Is planned with the skill of a literary expert, for while It records the personal approach of a sensitive man towards bird life it begins as a kind of "Shepherd's Calender" of the songs of birds.

Each month has Its favored ones for example, January has the wren who, "when he Is In good form, sings as It was said the young Queen Victoria danced at a Court function In Parl3, 'with decision and right to the The book Is illustrated by Mr. Robert Glbblngs, who Is the director of the Golden Cockerel Press, the one publishing hoUBe I know of which has Its premises In the country. assured me that most of the people he knew thought It was a tooth powder. Even In Philadelphia there was a young lady (I have this on the authority of Owen WUtcr) who said she 'didn't know whether he was in the New Testament or the But before long the Drama League took a hand and business Improved. Some peoDle became so enthralled by "Disraeli" that they went to the play five or six times some ten some twenty.

One man visited It twenty-five times. Arliss starred in this play for five years. No doubt many of my readers have seen him In this character part, either In the stage play or in the moving picture. Its success will go down In theatrical history with "Abie's Irish Rosei and "Chu Chin Chow Although there are not any exciting passages In Mr. Arllss's reminiscences, there is an individuality and humorous touch In style which make them most agreeable.

After reading his pleasant and modest account of his life, we come to the conclusion that he Is not only an accomplished actor but a writer as well. We and This World of Ours Are Queer and Ridiculous, When Looked At From Afar In the background. My entrance was greeted with a roar of merriment from the gallery and when the amazed and dazed Sydney went off and left me alone to guard the door. I had the stage to myself and proceeded to exhibit great nervousness and an obvious desire to run away. And when the hero came on and said, 'You can save yourself further trouble, my man, he's I made a frantic rush for the door In abject fright.

"The gallery of the Elephant had never before seen the leading man overshadowed by a comic policeman: the novelty tickled their fancy and they shouted and stamped with laughter. The dramatic denouement was finished in pantomime and the curtain came down to a riot of laughter. I knew then what I had done. I knew then Just how the murderer feels when he gazes on the body that he has struck down by an uncontrollable impulse and deprived of life. It was a terrible moment.

Skinner made a dash for me and I ran for my life to the dressing-room. Who saved me I never knew; I rather think the star was magnanimous and begged the management to spare me. But I learned my lesson and I hope I have never since queered the other man's scene." TEN YEARS OF APPRENTICESHIP After a year in this theatre, George Arliss got a chance to Join an Irish repertoire company which was touring in small towns in England. A year with this company, taking heavy parts Charming Tale for Young Young en life Is when he Is a child." Such a person, however, could never write a book for children. Such a person could nevrr enter lnto tne hcart of a chlld whero Joy8 RncJ 60rrow9 ar6 jUBt aa lmportant and Just as reai a3 ever they And certainly such a person could never have written "Peter Pocket," for one lives along with him In the book.

One feels what he feels at all times. Peter pocket attends school In the little I mountain settlement, he learns other lessons taught by Nature. He earns money, without realizing what it is all about and having been seen by an artist who puts his visualized subject to good use. And Peter, bless his loyal, generous little heart, puts his money to devoted helpfulness. He does know happiness In the end- His passion for music is satisfied.

a task of honor (no mention of nor the benediction pronounced over war by bishops because somehow bits of Iron In the lnsides of the boys bring out the best in them. Let us leave It to Mr. Montr.gue. He knows all about It. And his book Is abou the war which followed the war to end war.

Had Die Portans and Rians learned anything? Yes, apparently they had. Not either of them would again fight for an unworthy or a doubtful purpose; anyhow, neither would fight when the dispute could be settled by cool patience at a conference table. They had indeed learned from hard experience. Somehow, though, not either Portans or Rians could endure so great an affront to their national honor as to confer with a disputant when a lot of money was at stake. You may lose at a conference, where even-handed Justice has a chance; but It Is natural to fancy that you may win if you are quicker with a gun than the other fellow.

There Is no need to take the miserable chance of Justice if you can secure a divine blessing for your gun. Besides, the militarists have their Jobs to keep. Not likely that they Uould consider the ways and means to peace, any more than brewers would And a Renter's Special to The Victoria Times London, Oct. 29. One of the many Interesting disclosures made by Lord Birkenhead In his series of essays, "Lav, Life and Leters," is his confession that he was taken entirely by surprise when Mr.

Lloyd George offered him the Lord Chancellorship Just after the General Election In 1918. He comments on this Incident In the chapter which he calls "Milestones of My Life." "I made it qute plain (to Mr. Lloyd George) almost In a sentence, that nothing would induce me to accept the office of Attorney-General upon this condition (without a seat In the cabinet). And I added that I was In full sympathy with the Government, but that I was perfectly prepared to resume my practice at the Bar; and that I was sure I should be able to give him Independent support from the back benches. As quick as lightning the Prime Minister retorted, 'How about the It is literally true at that time it had never even occurred to me to bring to an end my membership of the House of Commons." The world now knows that Lord Birkenhead's Judgments as Lord Chancellor, though one of the youngest who have ever sat upon the Woolsack, have won him a high place among the legal authorities of his country.

Lord Birkenhead touches life at many points. In a notable chapter on oratory, while paying Just tribute to the great speakers of many ages, he makes some sardonic comments on eloquence. He concludes with Aristotle that eloquence is "the art of persuasive speech," but he adds "My legal and political experience convinces me that the Devil can be very eloquent upon occasion." But Lord Birkenhead courteously refrains from naming the legal and Parliamentary fiends to whom he alludes. His portraits of contemporary peers and others make entertaining reading. There is an especially interesting' chapter devoted r.

Keddleston, and of Lord Beaconsflcld he writes: "Disraeli, when his long period of prominence arrived, was a witty and sardonic speaker. His style Is so modern that quotations from It would seem, except for their brilliance, transcripts from the Hansard of to-day." It may be regretted, however, that Lord Birkenhead thought fitting to publish the chapter headed "The Truth About Margot Asqulth." Retaliation is not always wise and Lord Birkenhead might well have remembered that Lady Asqulth sometimes sacrifices kindliness on the altar of wit. THIRTY YEARS IN POLITICS J. A. Spender's "Law.

Journalism and Politics" Is a fascinating record of what has been happening behind the scenes in politics for something like thirty years. Mr. Spender was a great leader writer, although an Indifferent Jour nalist from the point of view of news I. And how he loves music and the violin "almost as If it had been a real person. Often and often he longed to tako It Into his hands and draw bow across the strings to make them laugh and sing as they did for the teacher Once, after he had started home, ho heard the teacher begin playing and ho ran back and waited under the pine tree buck of the schoolhouse for a long time until at last the music stopped.

Then he went home and inter went to bed without milk for his supper, for there was not time to go to Uncle Tobe's after It. And this he did, not once, but many times, for he could not go away and leave the violin playing. It would have been to lose too much." And the chapter having to do with Peter Pocket's funny pie is one all children will love for Its keen understanding of their feelings of pride and of loyalty. There Is the dog, too Pickle Pup by name. Taking It to pieces, thinking of it as a whole, I not only admire "Peter Pocket" and recommend him to parents of young seven and eight-year-olds, but I know that children will say as I do childish as It may sound In a reviewer "I Just love Peter Pocket." show us the path to prohibition.

We must not put on human nature more than It can bear. Brewers may be found In church, but not In the temperance hall. Militarists here, however, we had better be careful. Booze has gone, to a large extent, but still the gentle gun and Its allies have defenders who cannot bear the thought of cruelty to armor plate. All this Mr.

Montague most modestly hints, as becomes a gentleman. He does not wish to hurt anybody's feelings. Heaven forbid that he should be brutal and directly Insult a torpedo, that he should bring a blush to the face of contractor. There are some things gentlemen will never do, and Mr. Montague never does them.

Let the galled Jade wince, but the withers of the old war horse are unwrung. His story, In any case, Is a good one, and we may take or leave Its sly implications. There is, however, one thing we ought to take from him, and, being sentimentalists, we will take It; and then clean forget It, after our tears are dry, as is the way of sentimentalists the world over. In the war he describes which followed the one to end war, at the finish of it the orators lived on, though they had denied the light; and so did the bishops, though they had said, "Blessed are the warmakers," and so did the other publicists, though they had done as usual after their kind. Who did not? The ex-soldlers.

of course, who had once sworn, by the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, that they would never fight again, yet had been persuaded that this next war was different In nature from all other wars, as every war always Is, we know. They died. Heroes perish, but gold 18 Invulnerable. mtv Helnrich Heine, from a portrait by Carl Bauer man had many conquests among th fair, and was quite a sheik but "always discreet, as befits a gentleman' man." From the kitchen to the boudoir, he made his cautious way until dalliance led him to the matrimonial altar and silenced him. It Is an Interesting chronicle of the life of the day.

Benjamin Franklin, it appears, was a letter writer of parts as well as an inventor. His correspondence with Polly Stevenson and Catherine and Geor-glana Shipley has been edited Into a sizeable volume, "My Dear Girl." Many of the letters never- have been published before. They reveal a kindly, human side of Franklin, and show that the women of nearly two centuries ago were very modern In their Interest In science and history and in life. Essay-writing, known to be highly unprofitable, is being neglected in this day and hence "Stuffed Peacocks" by Emily Clark Is welcome. She writes most charmingly of Richmond, her native city and her home, and of characters and scenes that survive In th Old Dominion of to-dax ii ij i 'WtwlWrfunrii 4 AN EXPLANATION OF HEINE Lewis Browne's BiogTaphy Accounts for a Famous Poet's Queer Quirks He was a Journalist of opinion and the; (Geoffrey Bles).

The author is L'Es-old Westminster Gazette was his pul- trange Fawcett, dramatic and film pit. Better leaders were never written i critic to The Morning Post, who has than his and they supplied excellent spent much time In Los Angeles and material for thousands of Liberal 1 in Berlin studying the art and secrets sneakers No one could criticize an i of the screen. He has a good deal to ACTORS, like poets, are born not made. The urge for expression cannot be denied when it is in the blood. Thi3 is the conclusion I have come to after reading the lives of hundreds of these artists In words spoken or written.

And the autobiography of George Arliss, which he calls "Up the Years From Bloomsbury." is no exception to the rule. If Pope "lisped in numbers, for the numbers came." Arliss from his earliest years had a taste for 'dressing up" and at the age of seven found self-expression by donning a clown's dress that his sister had made for him to the amazement of his boy friends danced round the block in his gorgeous costume. He made a sensatlou In quiet. Old Museum Street, London: it was, he says his first hit. At the age of twelve, at a children's Christmas party in his home, he and two other boys put on a one-act farce, "Mrs.

Bottlewasher's Apartment." George had to get up his lines lu half an hour, for he was called upon to take the place of a fat boy who was 111. He thinks this party was the turning point in his life which led him to the stage. The two boys with whom he acted at the party were Henry and Joseph Soutar. sons of Nellie Fan-en. an actress who was for many years the darling 6f the London public.

Their father was a stage manager. So through them George Arliss made acquaintances in the theatrical, world who gave him his first humble Job. OI)i CHARACTERS I ROM Ml'SEl LIBRARY If George Arliss was helped into tfie "profession" by friends that he made in his boyhood, it was queer characters with whom his father as- sociated that supplied him with valu- able suggestions for make-up and i manners In his character studies in later years. His father himself was quite a character. He was familiarly known as "The Duke of Bloomsbury." for he dressed exceedingly well, al- ways wore a monocle, and never ap- peared to be doing any work.

He started three local newspapers in the Bloomsbury district but loved to spend most of his time in the tavern company of literary hacks who frequented the British Museum reading-roofn. From a corner seat at the Museum tavern, young George Arliss used to watch these men as If fascinated by their oddities. In later years when he was cast for an old professor in Merrick's play, "The Elixir of Youth." Arliss says that from memory he Imitated the diess and manners of Mr. i Oldfield. Recalling him in one of several delightful reminiscences of the seedy but Interesting museum gentry, Mr.

Arliss writes, "Mr. Oldfield was not a regular habitue of the tavern, but he would turn up there at Intervals. He was a thin, diminutive Englishman of i advanced but uncertain age, who had lived In Paris most of his life. I re- member he was supposed to have cut some figure IB the French Revolution, I have a hazy idea that his business with my father was the printing of a revolutionary newspaper called La Lanterne, which, if my memory serves me right, was carried over to France in i a balloon. He spoke perfect English, but with all the volubility and ex- treme gesture of a Frenchman.

He had a habit of trying to speak right in your face, and as he was very small this kept his head continually up in the air. If you turned to the right or left he Jumped round you from one side to the other and always seemed to be about to climb up you and settle on your shoulder like a maro-sette. I reproduced these peculiarities to the best of my ability In playing the professor." HOW GEORGE QUEERED A PLAY The Soutar boys had a stage-room In the basement of their home and there George Arliss took part in many a play. In his 'teens he also spent many an evening giving dramatic readings and Impersonations at working-men's clubs. At last, when he was eighteen, he and the two Soutars, through their mother's Influence, were engaged at a few shillings a week as "extra gentlemen," what would call supers, In the Elephant and Castle Theatre, a house across the Thames on the Surrey side where the gallery was usually filled with boys who paid threepence for their seats and bought their chipped potatoes and fried fish along.

Some weeks after he was taken on, George Arliss was entrusted with a small part. He had to go on as assistant to a police sergeant. At a critical moment they were to arrest the hero. Arliss thought he would be helping the play along IX he pretended to be a nervous policeman. He put on a red wig and a helmet much too small for him.

The sergearX was Sydney. "I look back with horror on that opening night," says Mr. Arliss. "Had I known that our entrance led up Immediately to the great dramatic moment of the play I am feure I should cot have done it, but the rehearsals had left me In the dark as to this and I thought of it only as a scene with Sydney. Nobody saw me before I went on, not even Sydney; I kept well Humphrey Mllford's forthcoming additions to the "World's Classics" Include "More Ghosts and Marvels: A Second Collection of Uncanny Tales," made by V.

H. Collins; a third series of "Selected English Short Stories," edited by H. S. Milford, covering the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and extending from Nathaniel Hawthorne to Katherine Mansfield; "The Amber Witch," a reprint of Lady Duff Gordon's translations from 1844 from the German of Wilnelm Meinhold, and two of Lord Lytton's works "The Coming Race" and "The Haunters and the Haunted." Several publishers are bringing out books about Paris this Autumn. "On a Paris Roundabout," in which Jan Gordon gives an intimate picture of artiat life In the French capital.

Is coming from Messrs John Lane Immediately. Next week Alston Rivers arc Issuing "Twenty Years in Paris With a Pen," containing the recollections of Somer-vllle Story, doyen of English Journalists in Paris, while towards the end of the month Messrs Cape will prob- ably have ready "A Book About Paris by George and Pearl Adam, who ha.e book, Illustrated by H. F. Waring, is Intended for a companion volume to James and Mulrhead Bone's "London Perambulator." Among the biographies which will be Issued are "Eighty Years," a book of recollections by General the Right Hon. Sir Neville Lyttelton, G.C.B., Governor of Chelsea Hospital; and "Reminiscences: Personal and Diplomatic," by Sir Vincent Corbett, D.S.O., whose chapters range from recollections of Rome during the Ambassadorship of Lord Dufferln, and the Foreign Office during the 'eighties, to diplomatic life in Berlin.

The Haeue. Copenhagen and a stUdy of R. L. stevenson by K. Chesterton In the Intimate Biographies series.

Everyone interested in the present and future of the film industry will welcome "Films: Facts and Forecasts," tell of new lightning, faked crowds cardboard cities and so forth, and the book Is admirably illustrated, and, as an added attraction, contains a fore word by the intlmltable Charles. Archibald Marshall, who Is shortly going to Bavaria, has arranged with Collins to publish his cycle of his stories of English country life in a uniform five shilling edition. Another series from the same house is a three-and-sixpenny pocket edition of the novels of Francis Brett Young, who, last SDrlne. reached the high water with his excellent mark of success "Portrait of Clare." The Klngsway Classics, another Collins enterprise, now Include "Heritage," by Miss Sack-vllle West, who is the latest winner of the Hawthornden literary prizes. The story of Mr.

Lawrences' book on his Arabian adventure did not come to an end with the enormous price charged for the American edition, for the abridged version. "Revolt in the Desert," which is all that has been available to the public at large, is now to be allowed to go out of print. No reason for this is given except that "certain conditions having been fulfilled," the author has exercised his right to decide that no more copies shall be primed. The conditions, I think, provided that the profits on the abridged edition should pay off the deficit on the very costly "Seven Pillars of Wisdom." This having been done, Mr. Lawrence Is unwilling to make any personal profit out of the Arabian affair.

It is probable that existing copies of the book will now show a very marked appreciation! in price. It was. I think, the late Ltwls Hina, who sponsored John Masefield. The young man, fresh to London, was Introduced to the Academy office Mr. Hind was then editor of ThAcademy by W.

B. Yeats. Mr. wma usea 10 draw a vivid little picture of a group of literary men. Including himself, listening to Yeats reading his poetry In his rooms at Bloomsbury.

"The poet knelt on the floor by the light of one candle, guttering on the table; on, on he read. Impassioned, oracular, fine, until dawn came, and we crept downstairs, leaving Yeats, I think, still reading." Lord Esher's new volume of essays, "Cloud-capp'd Towers," Is finished and will be published next month. Next week Cassell will publish another story by H. de Vere Stacpool, who has called It "The Mystery of Uncle Bollard" COLD IS GOLD RIGHT OFF THE MAP By C. E.

ON TAG IE Garden City Reviewed by II. M. TOMI.INSON The title of this Book is Mr. Montague's fun. He is full of fun.

only you would never guess with a bare glance at his straight-faced book. The truth is, he is fooling us. The book should haye faeen caled Qn He tells a story of war. in a world said not to be this, bptween Portans and Rians; but those people bear Christian names; they even employ bishops to look after their souls, in quite the proper way; they put their trust, as usual, in that selfless patriot-Ism of orators, Journalists and other publicists who dread the devious de vices of financiers and proprietors more than the dangerous operations of their country's enemy in the field. Portans and Rians enjoy great oratory, distrust the newspaper press, but believe anything they are told if it accords with their prejudices, go to church, and hate the barbaric foe who I is, as ever, the only one who would stoop to poison the chivalry of war with dirty tricks; and they ardently desire peace while adoring their own noble display of military power.

In fact, they are both Portans and Rians, the chosen of God, the fulfillers of their Creator's purpose In an unworthy world. Obviously they cannot both be owners of the same auriferous line, though both desire it and mean to have it. Gold Is gold. When you know quite well that divine favor is yours, then all else Is added unto you, and what seems not to be added you may take with a ciear conscience that it was omitted by an oversight. Mr.

Montague Is one of the most delicate ironists now writing English. Critics talk of his beautiful prose style, arid the critics are right; but about it and cares less. He has some-thing to say which he is sure is for doubtless Mr. Montague knows little our good, and, though in the ordinary way we should prefer to have a plain tale, unmixed with disturbing thoughts. Mr.

Montague artfully de vises a way by which we shall get not only what we Ilka but what he thinks might physic us. Shakespeare did the same thing. So did Swift. But we have a ready means of stopping the little game of such men. We begin to talk with rapid enthusiasm of their beautiful style, their poetry, their exqulsite diction, and so they are dis armed We take their style and mount it for an attractive decoration, and hand their opinions to the dustman.

Even Swift's terrific Indictment of his fellowmen has been edited into a delightful gift book for children. "Right Off the Map" is fated to be an entertaining and perhaps even a popular story. Still, when "Gulliver's Travels" Is trimmed for decorative nursery purposes as a matter of course, It is but fair that Mr. Montague's present little satire should be accepted as a pleasing interlude while cooling after a round of golf. So Mr.

Montague's book will there- fore remain right off the map for us. Y'et I fear there may be heard in it, if a reader is sufficiently attendant, a faint adumbration of Gabriel's horn signifying doom. Fcr Man, as once was said by a despairing critic during the last war to end wars, is the silliest creature in the whole range of creation, for he is the only one who might know the best, yet accepts the worst. Even a puppy never puts its nose to a red-hot poker for a second trial, but Man, In spite of all his dread experience recently in Europe, is once more preparing to try whether Lewisite is gas. He is a noble creature, yet now and then one feels that some of his nobility might be exchanged for a touch of good will and a little common sense.

It would be unfair to reveal the artful plan of Mr. Montague's satiric phantasy about the Portans and the Rians, and their war promoted by financiers who could not bear to see a lot of nice gold lying about without visible owner, nor that promotion ol war popularized by great Journalists LITERARY NOTES WHEN Colonel T. E. Lawrence, who now calls himself Private Shaw, yielded to the importunate pleading of a London publisher and allowed the story of his exploits in Arabia to be abbreviated, bowlderlzed and printed under the title, "Revolt In the Desert," he Insisted on the lnclu slon of a clause In his contract the like of which it is unlikely any publisher was ever asked to sign In the history of the world. It was this: at any time the publisher had to withdraw "Revolt In Arabia" from sale If the author so requested.

Ever since he came over the horizon of fame Col. Lawrence has expressed his strong dislike of publicity. This may be a clever pose, but it must be admitted that he Is not anxious to make money. For he has sent word to his publisher, Mr. Johnathan Cape, to withdraw "Revolt In Arabia" from the market.

Recently the publisher sent him a cheque for 22,000 as royalties on this book and the eccentric author turned over the whole amount to charity. He has a horror of money. In spite of his professed hatred of publicity, however, we learn that a friend of his. Robert Graves, the English poet, is, with his authority, writing an Intimate record of the little colonel's extraordinary adventures in Arabia. C.

E. Montagues' new novel. "Right Off the Map," has been chosen by the American Book of the Month Club as its book for October. This club has now 70.000 members, and the book chosen by the vote of a majority for each month's reading Is obviously sure of a large sale, which Is often only a prelude to a very much larger sale in the world outside the circle. The August selection was Miss Rosamond Lehmann's "Dusty Answer." England has, as yet, no such club to encourage reading, but there is talk of starting one, and authors would like to see It.

"Under the Grey is an account In sketchy story form of a visit to Palestine by Marian Keith. A good deal of solid Information is given about the Holy Land but It Is conveyed In pleasant style because half the time we are being amused by the adventures ar.d eccentricities of the party of travelers described by the authoress. The book Is plentifully Illustrated by reproductions of photographs of places and of members of the party A Edward Newton, author and bibliophile, recently paid a record price for a first folio of Shakespeare, when he bought the Earl of Carys-forts' copy, one of the most perfect In existence, for $62,000. Among the other gems In his library are first editions of Defoe, Samuel Johnson, Dickens and th manuscript of Lamb's essay on "Dream Children." Three of Mr. New-tons' books, "The Greatest Book In the World and Other Papers," "The Amenities of Book-collections: and Kindred Affections" and "A Magnificent Farce: And Other Diversions of a Book-collector," deal with the fascinating hobby of collecting.

"To raise the dead I am In no wise Impotent, but to cure the foolish I am Indeed Impotent." This, according to Mohammedan tradition, is one of the sayings of Jesus that are not recorded In the New Testament. Another saying, one of the most striking In the book. Is one that was discovered by an English missionary on the gateway of a ruined mosque near Agra. In India. Said Jesus: "The world Is a bridge, pass over It.

but do not build upon It." A collection of these sayings and other references to Christ In ancient Mohammedan literature has been published by Professor Asin of the University of Madrid. The book, which is in Latin, embodies all the latest researches on the subject, and supplements a volume on the same subject Issued two 'years ago. "Historical Reminder: Quebec and the Isle of Orleans" Is the title of a guide book de luxe to the old city of Champlaln. It has been written by J. Camllle Poullot, Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec Province, and Is Intended more especially for English-speaking Canadians.

It Is dedicated by permission to H.R.H. the Prince of at eighteen shillings a week, and George was back in London again looking for another Job. An amusing experience on "a fit-up tour" down Devonshire way, the company being supported by an eccentric wealthy man who paid the shot simply because he wanted the fun of running the limelight, makes a capital chapter In which we are Introduced to a group of very lively stage people. And so we go on, readlrig chapter after chapter, abounding In vivid stories of this famous actor's storm and stress period, in which he traveled with various companies and had the usual run of hard work and poor pay. His first big part was that of the Duke in Mrs.

Patrick Campbell's play, "The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith," In this company he visited all the important provincial theatres in England. Finally, after ten years in the provinces, he realized his ambition of breaking into the London West End theatrical world by obtaining a character part In a play "On and brought from New York to London by Charles Frohman. THE WRITING OI" "DISRAELI" It was Mrs. Campbell who gave George Arliss his opportunity to visit the United States, but it was Mr.

Belasco who converted him into a star by engaging him to play the part of Sakkurl, a Japanese minister of war, in "The Darling of the This was a great success and from that time to the present, a quarter of a century, Mr. Arliss has spent most of his time on this side of the Atlantic as a character actor of the first rank. He gives us a detailed history of all the productions In which he has starred, a list too long even to enumerate here. His account of his most brilliant success. "Disraeli." Is the climax In this brightly written volume.

At breakfast with George Tyler one Spring morning In Cincinnati, Arliss said he once had an Impression that a play written round Disraeli would be the very thing for him. Tyler Jumped at the suggestion, said he would get Louis Parker, the English dramatist, to write the play, that he would produce it in the Fall. Tyler went to London, gave Parker the commission to write the play, and in September, when Arliss was In London, he was told by the dramatist that he would require more time. On October 1, Arliss was invited to call on him. Parker told the actor that he had failed, that he had tried hard but he couldn't make It go.

that the life of Disraeli wasn't dramatic. Dizzy did lots of great things, but not for the stage; he was In love with his own wife, and with nobody else. After toiling over the theme all Summer. Parker had to confess that he had written only the first act. He read It to Arliss and the latter saw that the act practically suggested the whole play.

Arliss sat up like one awakened from sleep and In two hours made a draft of the whole four-act play. WENT TO SEE DISRAELI TWENTY-FIVE TIMES By December 20 the play was finished and rehearsals were begun at once. The first performance was given at Montreal on January 23, 1911, and after two or three weeks the company went to Chicago for "a run." For several weeks the audiences were slim, but Tyler fought on. "Apart from the Jewish population," says Mr. Arliss, "I think very few of the theatre-goers knew anything about Disraeli.

One of the newspaper men opponent's case more shrewdly ana more urbanely. Mr. Spender. I imagine, has never lost his temper in his life and, throughout all the troubles of the Liberal party he was always a cementing force. He, indeed, describes himself as a "smoother." and his tact and good humor helped the party throuhg many difficulties.

Mr. Spender has a neat wit and he is a shrewd observer of men. He has known all the big men in politics on both sides In the past thirty years and all the big men in the Civil Service. He is excellent as a narrator of all the scenes through which he passed, some, times as an actor and sometimes as an observer, and his book has made bygone political Issues alive again. Lord Oxford and Lord Grey are obviously his heroes, but Lord Rosebry Is also one of his favorites and he is signally Just In his appreciation of other political leaders, although, in their cases, he is evidently more conscious of their little weaknesses and foibles.

BEST SELLERS New books are now coming out In great numbers, and there is an Inevitable, but rather unfortunate, tendency on the part of the public to demand, the most popular and to let others take their chance. Miss Woodward's Queen Mary had the largest sales last week, but within the last two days It has been outdistanced by Lord Birkenhead's work on "Law, Life ind Letters," which Is running a neck and neck race for public favor with Mr. J. A. Spender's "Life, Jour-Jiallsm and Politics." The favorite novels of the moment are Mr.

J. W. Locke's "Kingdom of Theophllus," Mr. Geoffrey Moss's "New Wine." and Mr. Chesterton's "Secret of Father Brown." BOOKS AND WRITERS Lord Grey of Fallodon must now be Wales, in remembrance of his visit to Quebec on July -30, 1927.

The arrangement of this beautifully illustrated book is novel, for It follows a suggested Itinerary for the sightseer to the historical monuments of the city. This itinerary is arranged under Beven promenades and, as each group of places and statues is described, we get in the 220 and more pages an excellent Idea of the romantic past of the venerable and picturesque city. Judge Poullot has built his guide book according to a skillful plan and he has manased to present to his readers In letter-text, map and picture an amazing amount of Information. The cover design of his book Is very artistic, with Its golden maple leaves and blue fleurs de lys against a cream background. W.

T. A. There are compartively few books published in English that deal at all adequately or understandlngly with the German lyricist, Heine. Lewis Browne's book, "That Man Heine" Is a new and valuable one. Here, indeed, is a worthy subject for biography a pitiful specimen of maladjustment a man without a country.

Born of Jewish parents, in a German city in the early nineteenth century, when anti-Semitic prejudice was at Its height; fleeing to Paris, where he found himself as a poet, living always In a world of dreams and fancy Helnrich Heine is a tragic figure in literary history. Emotionally he was Ill-balanced. He was licentious. He was low. He was not discriminating.

Yet he always was the victim, never the conqueror I One moment a maudline sentlmenta- list, he was hopelessly pessimistic the next. He dramatized, he stormed, he raged, he broke down and wept, according to his mood. In other words, he behaved as a poet is supposed to. Yet some of his loveliest poems were written to his casual acquaintances of a night, and crystallized the moods that most tortured his soul. Browne has taken the lamp of psy- 1 chology to Illumine the man and ac- count for the obvious inconsistencies.

He sets about to explain what pnee seemed quite Sympa- thetically and almost tenderly he goes back into the boy's earliest years and traces the Influences to the days wM he was a paralytic old man. He shows how though Heine was essentially weak, he could rise superbly above himself. With the seriousness and thoroughness of a criminal lawyer he examines much evidence, follows many clues that seemed to lead nowhere and builds up a strong case fo' a man who was doomed to be a failure at life but a genius in letters. In a year when biographies are more popular than romances, "That Man Heine" stands out as a consistent, keenly Interesting portrait that was well worth writing. A book that fell flat upon Its first appearance and Is being republished In a more auspicious day Is "John MacDonald, Memoirs of an Eighteenth Century Footman." Eighteenth century England was not interested in what came from so humble a pen as of a mere footman.

This was really England's loss, for the debonair foot-.