Evening star., 1928-04-07
THE LIBRARY TABLE
By the BoOklouer

time good reading in itself, is entitled
Adventures in Reading" It's author
is May Lamberton Becker. editor Of the
regular readers guide feature of the
Saturday Review of Literature and the
writer of an earlier and more systematic
Readers Guide Book" Although "Ad-
ventures in Reading" is primarily ad-
dressed to girls and boys, it will arouse
response from almost any bookloyer
since it recounts the exploits Of vora-
cious but discriminating reader who
has ranged over a wide field and also
is able to communicate her enthusiasms
to her readers.
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Mrs. Becker's first chaper is called
your Bookshelf: Making a Beginning.
1t is devoted to the books that all boys
and girls of whatever age should read
and reread-fairy tales and the poetry
and fiction of childhood. OF one OF
the books mentioned she says that
mot long ago a man older than l told
me that at least once year he went
through Kenneth Graham's The Wind
in the Willows" and then remarks
The best books for young people have
this quality; you cannot only read
them but reread them again and again
and find that they have grown with
your growth" Appended to each chap
ter of the book Is list of the titles
cited, conveniently arranged.
The chapter on Novels New and
Old. What Makes a Good Novel?" Is
devoted to some of the most important
pieces of fiction of earlier times and OF
t1Ey ftln littaC uNIHh
Mrs. Becker demands to admit a novel
to a place on her own book shelves.
To be admitted 1T must have sincerity,
vitality and technique adequate to
Its purpose" Some OF the other chap
ters have these engaging titles: Read
ing for Companionship: Some Books
With Friends in Them; Discovering
the Delights OF History: ''The Golden
Hour: Suggestions on Reading Poetry;
Reading by Subject: Excursions IN a
Public Library; Travellers Books and
Books About Travel: 1.-THE Theater at
Home: Hints on Reading Plays; New
Eyes, New Ears: Some Books About
Nature, Science and Invention; out
of the Dumps: Books as Gloom Dis
pellers": points of View: a Word
About the Essay and THE Romance
of Words: the Dictionary and Other
Word Books as Reading Matter"
One of w. Somerset Maughams nov
els, written nearly 80 years ago, MRS.
Craddock," has been revived In new
edition, with somewhat apoiogeuc
preface by the author. He says tnat
at the time of its first publication ms
publishers found fault with some parts
as too frankly emotional, but that row
he is unable to identify those parts, as
the whole book seems so innocuotis. II
is a study of the marriage OF neurouc.
passionately imaginative woman ana
stolid, uncritical and altogether self
satisfied man. Bertha Ley, when she
marries Edward Craddock after our
weeks engagement. has created an ideal
Edward. endowed with all the qualities
which she requires in husband. cnier
among them an unlimited devotion TO
herself. The real Edward turns cut TO
be an entirely different person abb
sorbed in the cultivation of his wife S
land, caring nothing for beauty and
everything for material results. kindly
but obtuSe. expecting TO settle down
after the honeymoon to prosaic q 'mes-
tic life, with a nap after dinner instead
of continued courtship OF his w1e. Il
Is only when, after repeated reoufis
over a long period. Bertha ceases to
be interested in her husband, that he
is completely contented: she has finally
settled down." he thinks. and their
marriage is proving success after all.
The distaste of Queen Victoria for
Gladstone and almost all that he stood
for is revealed in The Letters OF queen
Victoria: lS79-l885." edited by George
Earle Buckle. The Queen was an I'M
perialist; Gladstone was not. From this
difference arose almost all their dls-
agreements. When the Conservatives
we're defeated and the Queen was ad-
vised to consult Mr.. Gladstone ABOUT
the formation of ministry, she replied
that the great difficulty was that Il
could not give Mr.. Gladstone my con-
fidence." On the other hand. Gladstone
and his colleagues of the Liberal party
were often seriously annoyed py what
seemed to them the Queens ipterfer-
ence in matters intrusted to them by
the constitution. Vehement letters and
telegrams from the Queen were likely
to be transmitted to the prime minister
In cipher on occasions of crisis, when
the queen knew that the policy OF the
cabinet would almost certainly not suit
her. When Gladstone came out for
home rule for Ireland the Queen wrote
TO Mr.. Goschen: II appeal to 'ou and
TO all moderate. loyal and really patri-
otic men who have the safety and we'll
being Of the empire and the throne at
heart, and who wish to save them rom
destruction, with which. IL the govern
ment again fell into the reckless hands
of Mr.. Gladstone. they would be threat
tr Ntc a1Ntta FNa artN anFf IN hN fFtip
patriots"
John Masefleld, poet. Is also John
Masefleld. writer Of stories for children.
Iii THE Midnight Folk" a small boy
prowls by night In the fashion OF
Stevensons boys in the "Child's Gar
den." and meets a black cat called
Nibbins. bats, foxes, owls and witches.
There is a lost treasure. which the boy.
Kay Harker. sets ont TO find. 1t all
happens after ne has been put TO bed at
night by q disagreeable governeSs With
Nibbins as his guide. Kay goes through
smugglers' passages and into various
mysterious rooms where queer things
are being done. Stealing two witches
broomsticks. Kay and Nibbins so flying
Off over the roofs and chimney pots.
They finally come to Wicked Hill.
where In magic circle the midnight
folk are talking In hushed tones about
the very treasure Kay is out to seek.
Then begins the struggle for the
treasure, with some of the midnight
folk for the boy and some against him,
All these adventures are OF the sort TO
be followed with breathleSs interest by
normal children.
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"The Poetry Cure" a poetry an
thology edited by Robert Haven
Schautiier. contains both music and
pictures to aid the poetry In its cura-
tive effects ON the weary or emhittered
mind Many poets and artists have
been drawn upon for the cures in the
volume. which contains something for
almost every mood.
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In tha aVuorld List of Notable Books !"