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The Spike or Victoria College Review June 1930

A Review Of College Publications

page 31

A Review Of College Publications

A representative batch of publications from the "Press for the Personal Advancement of Pushing Personalities" has recently come to hand and the books have been placed in the "Wit, Humour and Miscellaneous Oddities" section of the Library.

"The Trumpet Minor: or The Story of My Life," by C - - ley. Perhaps the quickest way of summing up the personality of the writer, which personality is happily revealed in his inimitable style, is to list the chapter headings. They read:—

Chap. I.The City Beautiful—My Personality.
Chap. II.The Walled City Jericho.
Chap. III.Every Man His Own Trumpet.
Chap. IV.A Trumpet Voluntary.
Chap. V.The Walls are Falling!
Chap. VI.The Liberation of Personality.

The whole book is cleverly cross-referred to the author's earlier publication. "The Evolution of Utopian Thought from Cratius to Crossley," and we cannot pass on without referring to the masterly appendix to the book where "Hints to Young Men Aiming to be Successful in Life" appears. As illustrative of the author's Technique of Life we cull the following hints from the Appendix:—

"1.Never credit anyone else with any sense. He might have some, some.
"2.Life is a succession of hard blows. Who blows the harder wins.
"3.Policy-self-assurance is better than State Insurance."

The Librarian wishes to state that this book must not be marked or noted, as the marking, underlining and scoring of books is prohibited.

* * *

"The Self-Reliant Policy as Influencing Self-Development," by H. R. B—r. This book makes difficult reading because it deals with a subject which touches our utmost depths. The author however has shown how shallow in reality are what we thought to be the still deep waters of life. The following paragraph must suffice to serve as a key to the book:

"The Art of Life is the Art of Oratory. In oratory the individual must rely upon his own mouth, speak with his own tongue, think with his own brain. So in life. But words are only sound, so that right-sounding words mouthed loudly are all that is needed. The brain need not exist. I vehemently deny that my words are the children of my brain. Never once in my career oratorical have I found it necessary to go back to fundamental principles when talking of that of which I know nothing. The solution of all problems, rises, as do my words, to the top and may be found on analysis, like my words, all froth and bubbly nothingness. We must take our Pyerian quaffing from the shallow waters. Finally, let me state here that all the mental striving of Dewey, Bergson, Freud, Boas, Huxley, Koffka, and similarly inefficient thinkers has served page 32 no other purpose than to become lost at the root of things, whereas, I say that it is on the surface we must look—yes, on the surface. It is the more difficult the deeper we go." A good book—but, thank goodness, we are out of our depth.

* * *

The New Zealand Builder: B--d W----n Commemoration Number. Specially printed on art paper, with portrait. It is indeed a rare and genuine pleasure to find the devoted labours of a great craftsman adequately recognised by his fellow workers during his own lifetime. We join with the Editor of this volume in paying our respectful homage to the "Master Builder," as B--d W----n is so felicitously described, and we heartily endorse, too, his considered opinion that "here we have a superb and striking exemplification of the truth that professional skill can advance only through the stimulus and inspiration of the amateur." Assuredly the most significant part of the volume is the section entitled "My Life and Labours," wherein the Master himself recounts in vivid, vibrating prose his own inimitable story. After a description of the providential Eastbourne fires, he tells in a glowing passage how, when, one day, moodily pacing the sands of Day's Bay, his eye caught sight of the stark pile of a chimney standing impressively amidst a pile of half-burnt debris, and he was "suddenly stung with the splendour of a great idea." The whole world knows how this idea fructified and developed into the central conception which gave order and significance to his subsequent activities—buy the chimneys, demolish them, remove them, and rebuild anew. With characteristic self-effacement the writer belittles the hardships he endured; but there is unmistakable and poignant hint of sufferings heroically borne when we are told how the author had to catch and sell fish in order that the great work might go on. Despite the wide human appeal of this remarkable autobiographic record, there are naturally passages of great technical difficulty; but the special stndent will not easily forget the penetrating insight of the two supplementary notes on "The Utilization of Victoria College Oamaru Stone" and "Fuel Economy with Special Reference to Chip Heaters." The volume is tastefully bound in brick-red and is stamped with the P—rial coat of arms, a trowel rampant juxtaposed to three quartered schnapper all in a heap of mortar. Our single complaint is that the volume lacks an index.

* * *

"John and St. John"—a study in dual personality—by J. L. MacD-ff. The review of this interesting book we hold over until next issue.

* * *

"America—its Cause and Cure," by W. J. M. M----joy. Published and reviewed by arrangement.

* * *

"Waves," by I. L. G. S-th-rl-nd. This work deals not only with wireless, marine and crime waves but also with the well-known marcelle variety. So far it has been published in quarterly editions, but we feel justified in urging that it should become in the future a monthly, or even fortnightly, event.

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"The Answer," by W-nn M-s-n, tells of a sweet and shrinking maid who conceives a consuming passion for a species of rake—a man wholly unworthy of her child-like simplicity and faith. She prays for him. The last chapters deal with the Answer to the Maiden's Prayer. It is intensely human, well-executed and especially recommended for victims of unrequited love.

* * *

"The Passionate Pilgrim," by B-rw-ll, is a gripping tale of the Wild West Borderland and is rumoured to be largely autobiographical. Hank Horton, the pert young hero, errs slightly on the side of flippancy perhaps, but nevertheless his innate buoyance of spirit and cheerful camaraderie in this mental and moral wilderness builds up one of the most popular characters in modern fiction.

* * *

"The Best and Bravest," by J-hn M-cD-ff, is in the form of a series of open confessions which show that even the most saintly and inspired of our leaders has his moments of doubt and weakness. The writer has a skilful pen and the manner in which he drives home his contention that virtue is long and time is fleeting—and that it is a very long lane that has ho marble bar, is of no little merit.

* * *

"Psycho-Analysis" (Brook) is described by the author as being his thesis and was begun shortly after his being appointed to the Chair of Traffic at Victoria College. The work deals with the whole gamut of Corridor Instinct and has been developed gradually through the medium of constant and vigilant observation. Mr. Brook exhibits an uncanny profundity in his comments and his brief word pictures of his friends the Loiterers and Pests are recommended for study.

* * *

"Confessions of an Ice-Cream Eater," by A. C. K---s, is a powerful work which affords—especially the Committee in charge of several recent dances—a wealth of information regarding the mind and spryness of a man completely under the influence of frozen cream. The opening chapters are of an especially frank nature and deal with a certain gastronomic devastation which took place in the Gymnasium shortly before the dances began. The work is tastefully bound in Eskimo Pie cartons.

* * *

"The Souvenir," by M-sk-ll, is a very poignant little tale and is specially recommended for adult readers. It tells of a certain possession—highly valued on account of its numerous pulsating associations—a passionate woman and an innocent man. The whole story is teeming with appeal and the manner in which this priceless possession is never restored to the lithe form of its owner we shall leave to the eager public to read for themselves.

* * *

"Contemporary Scientists." Book One. , ("Einstein and I"). H-rd-ng. In this weighty tome the theories of the eminent scientist are heartily endorsed and the entire scope of his doctrine on Light is not only envisaged by Mr. H-rd-ng but extended to further applications undreamt page 34 of by its discoverer. Professor Einstein is now expected to divert his sphere of activity along different lines. We eagerly await Book Two. ("I and Sir Ernest Rutherford.")

* * *

"The Law of Good Taste," by C--n--h, deals fully with those admirable qualities Discrimination and Restraint. Part of the volume is confined to a description of the manner in which people become the constant prey to the indiscretions of another. Some of the instances cited disclose the fact that at least two of the victims might well utilize the advantages of the point of privilege. This interesting book, which can be the work of only one with a rare sense of verbal chivalry, will be welcomed by third year law classes.

* * *

"Simple Doom," by D-n Pr--stly, is a valuable addition to the Psychological section of any library. The title of course has been taken from that well-known quotation, "It is my simple doom to be beautiful," and the greater part of the work deals with the trials and set-backs experienced by the Fair of Form. The writer shows that he has a firsthand knowledge of his subject, and we extend to him our heartfelt sympathy in his unfortunate plight. We suggest that he should interview some specialists and call for tenders, who may be able to devise some method by which his face may be lowered.

* * *

"Myself," by Bowser T--g--d, is an intimate story of "a loving little life of sweet small works." It deals mainly with the good the author does by stealth and blushes to find is fame. Of simple taste, the writer confesses his weakness for pea-shooting revolvers and curling pins, and reveals the fact that he intends to devote his life to research work in the D.I.C. Tea Rooms. He requests that after he is dead the name Joyce be written on his heart and the name Malfroy engraved upon his tomb.