SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1024. -- THE DAILY BRITISH WHIG X in abundance, and exhibited it in many forms. Dryness in a historian Lette of literature is in some respects a rs | weakness; and until a few years ago To Santa Claus | Mr. Saintsbury was chiefly known as * {a historian of literature. Dryness - 4 Writing VAY "Mother, I want to write a letter to For about sixty or seventy per sent. of the people one gives Christ- E mas presents to, there is no better ; present than the right book. For about thirty per cent. a book is the wrong thing. Some people are im- 'mune to books, so to epeak; théy have never "caught" them. Since it is quite possible to be a very wise and even a very cultured person without reading any book save the 'Bible, and equally possible to be "8 perfect fool and read everything that one can lay hands on, there is Bo reason for 'feeling superior to people who are immune to books; they may be much better people than we are. The utmost that one peed do about them is to be a little ooncerned about what will happen * 0 them when they are old, and re- tired from businéss, or relieved of the cares of the family, or other- wise left unoccupied for a part of and Cabell. tast® rather than below it. It is something quite worth while to have been the first to guide a progressive young mind up to a higher step on the ladder of literary discrimination. And after all, that is what happens whenever the book is the "right" book....It is no longer necessary to be ashamed of "Canadian" books. It is no longer mecessary to be written by somebody who is not a poet laureate). It is no longer ne- cessary to be ashamed of transla- tions; it is now recognized that few people will ever be able to read the classics of more than three races in their original tongues. I* js no longer necessary to be ashamed of an ordinary binding; fuzzy bindings are recognized as a nuisance and in- appropriate to a book of any real value. But it is h'ghly necéssary to © thelr lives. And even them, there A fs always bridge and mah jongg and the radio. Better not worry about ' them at all. Better not worry about anybody. But for sixty or seventy per cent. there is, as we have already observ- od, no better present than tha right book. There is no worse present for anybody than the wrong book. And therein is the difficully. It Is easy to find out what size stockings | the young lady wears, and what | kind of cigarettes the young man smokes. It is harder to tell what kind of books the same two persons like and need. Tha! fis, it is hard, if you have never given any thought to the subject until you have rushed out three hours before the present Las to be mailed, hoping that inspi- . rstion will coma to you in the book store. It would not be hard if you would think of it a littla eariler, and do a Ifttle talking abou! books in ocnversation or in a lettaz, sound- fng them out as it were, telling some of your enthusiasms and ask- ing for theirs in exchange. It would not even be hard If you would think about thalr characters and dispositions a little and draw your own conglusions. : ) Remember also that the book Is © a gift from yourself as well as to the recipient. I. should not only please him, but it should also re- present you. Never give a book that be ashamed of bad type and bad paper; in an age when thousands of well-printed books can be had for less than a dollar each, it is an in- sult to give one that is a bad speci- men of the printer's art. OLD PROVINCE TALES, By Archibald MacMechan, Decora tions by J. E. H. MadDonald. MoClelland & Stewart, Toronto. History is something like a great modern hotel. The affairs of state are transacted before the eyes of all in the vast ball-rooms, banqueting halls and lobbies; but meanwhile in the little rooms with nothing but a number to distinguish them, thous- ands of little ordinary people are liv- ing out their lives in obscurity and taking no part in the pageantry of the vaulted apartments and the colonnades, Yet there is drama in these little rooms and tragedy and mystery in these little lives, Dr. MacMechan' is fond of delving in the records of history for the human tales of the lesser peoples; and in this volume he presents us with a dozen such episodes of past ages in Canada. - What historian could re- member, at any rate while historis- ing, that during the siege of Quebec there were nine British prisoners within the walls of the French fort- ress? But there were, and here is But it is also well to aim a little 'above the recipient's ashamed of poetry (even thought have been possible to provide a great if in a wine and in a literary philoso- pher is emphatically a virtue; and ever since Mr, Saintsbury produced vital of modern problems, the com-| his "Notes on 'a Cellar-Book' and bination of local autonomy with re-| his first "Scrap Book" he has been lationship with unit. Hence everything connected with it takes on a far more than Canadian importance. to get his 'study within three hun- dred substantial pages Dr. Trotter has had to delimit his subject very be printed on asbestos paper. sharply. He has, was think, includ- ed all the essentials, and they have not hitherto been so well arranged or-- scientifically sifted. It would deal more background, and much of it would have been illuminating; but perhaps it would belong more properly in a History of Canada than in a history of Canadian Federation. And the great History of Canada still remains to write, Confederation, as a more or less shadowy dream, crops up sporadic- ally in many places and during two generations before the first true movement for its realization, and Dr. Trotter does justice to many such dreamers. One of them was a railway man, The Grand Trunk Railway, unlike the Canadian Paci- fic, has never stirred the heart of the Canadian historian; it was an allen corporation, and it never conciliated Canadian affectior by any brilliant success, But Dr, Trotter reminds us that B8ir Edward Watkin, the English financial diplomatist who came out in 1861 to try and settle the rallway's problems, was-6ne of the first men to entertain a living vision of a transcontinental British Dominion and a transcontinental railway linking it from end to end. That he conceived of such a Domin- fon chiefly as a means of relieving the Grand Trunk from {ts troubles is no discredit; after all, Confeder- ation, to every one of its advocates, was more of a way out of some ex- isting embarrassment than a se'l- sufficing ideal. But as we read, this fascinating narrative we feel that all of these men were men of imagi- nation; that if it was a way out théy sought, they were at least seeking it in high and courageous spirit; that their way out was never in the back- ward direction of a return to narrow parochialism, "state rights and mu- tual distrust. George Brown in par- ticular makes a worthy showing in these pages; John A. Macdonald shines mainly by his political dexter- a larger political | known as a philosopher to more thousands than ever knew him as a critic. This, he tells us, is the last And In order | "Scrap Book"; and {it is true that if {ts author were to get much dryer and more caustic he would have to For here is an unrepentant Victorian riding full tilt at almost everything that the 1924 Georgian prides him- self upon. It is a delicate spectacle. The Copec Conference decides to de- cree "the absolutely equal value, in the sight of God, of every human soul;" and "blasphemy is the mild- est word Mr. Saintsbury finds to ut- ter. Photographers, thanks largely to the improvement in artificial teeth, adopt the practice of making their clients smile when sitting; off goes Mr. 8. into a dissertation upon "the grinning she." Psychological tests of '""educable capacity' come into vogue; and Mr. S. assures us, in very beautiful and convincing English, that "the thing cannot be done." Some Anglicans seek for "re- union' with Rome; and Mr. 8. asks: "Why hurry God about the millen- nium?" And Mr. B., by the way, is "fond" of the Thirty-nine Articles. It is well that such men should be still with us and still vocal. PIPERS AND A DANCER. By Stella Benson, Macmillan, To- ronto, $2, Miss Benson is already famous for her disillusionising pen, first ex- hibited in {ts full acridity in "I Pose." It is an incredibly, uncanni- ly, deplorably clever implement, It is undoubtedly true that there is a lack of genuineness in most of us when we are exhibiting ourselves in the presence of fellow-humans; that we pose, "act up," turn ourselves into what we think our friends want us to be. This fact revolts many young writers; but unless mankind is to consist of Induviduals separate- ly marooned on so many desert is- lands it seems to be rather necessary for the general comfort. It is true also, and much more dangerous, that some characters have a tendency to "boss" and even to depersonalise those with whom they come in con- tact; and there is some reason to Santa Claus." How many mothers in Kingston heard this from their little tots dur- ing the past week or so ? It is safe to say that every youngster had a desire to write to Santa Claus--the friend of all children. And the pile of letters received by the Whig to be forwarded to Santa Claus will verify this. "How are you, dear Santa Claus and how is dear Mrs. Santa Claus?" writes one Kingston girl. {I hope, dear Santa Claus, that there will be enough snow for you and Mrs, Santa Claus to make your trip with your big sleigh and rein- deers," writes another. "I will leave a piece of cake on the parlor table for you," says an- other Kingston "kiddie" in his let- ter. : Laura, who 1s five years of age, writes as follows: "My grandmother has been read- Ing some of the Santa Claus letters appearing in the Whig to me, and I thought I would send one too, and tell you what I would like for Christ- mas. I would like to get a horn, overstockings, mitténs, candies, nuts, and do not forget to bring something to mother and grand- mother. Grandmother lives with me, and she is s0 good to us all. Also, remember all the little "Kiddies" all over the world." > Little Horace in his letter says: "Will you please bring me a train and tracks, a drum and a monkey on a stick, and please send me lots of nuts and candles." Little Jimmy has a thought for other boys and girls, as his letter will show. Jimmy says: "I am not asking you for very much this year, as there are other little boys and girls to think about, but I would like to have a sleigh, a steam engine and I also want to thank you for all the nice things you gave me last year." Carrie lives out in the country. "I am well and I hope you are the same," she says in her letter. "I wish you would call at my place Ohristmas and leave me a doMy and also leave one for my little sister, also a carriage for our-dollies." Willle, who lives about tem miles from the city, writes the following: "How are you and Mrs. Santa Claus? I am nine years of age. Will you please bring me a gun, a box of : YOU HAVE HAD AN Anuradha wetting Ready for the Christmas Party YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF LOOKING YOUR BEST mw Elmer's Hair Dressing Parlour EXPERT AND COURTEOUS SERVICE -- MODERATE PRICES > J BOBBING AND SHINGLING ARE OUR SPECIALTIES, p MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENTS EARLY, [ 161 PRINCESS STREET. d i 4 APPOINTMENT AT hhh hd bh A 4 4 4 AA A sll aa AniuAnniniukahrhhdd a a sewing machine so I can make | dresses for my dollies." A girl who signs her name Mary tells Santa Claus that he will find a nice piece of cake and pie awaiting Him on the dining-room table. | It looks as if Santa Claus is to have a big feast the night he makes his rounds, A youngster named Verdun, who lives in Yarker, says: "You look so jolly in your pic- tures. I am sure you must be a nice old man. I am only six years of age, but I know what I want you to bring | me. Please bring me a top, a small | gun, an axe, a jacknife, a train, | some nuts, and some candies. Please] don't forget all my playmates. I hope I am not asking for too much." "If you are coming to my place this Christmas, will you please bring NIAAA inna) milk and a plece table." | Charley !ives in Portsmouth and he evidently wants to be a fireman when he grows up. He is asking Santa Claus to bring him a 'big fire engine, also a fireman's hat. een The Di Sir Philip Gibbs tell bor AA introduced to an audience by a man who had forgotten the ledturer's name. " 'We have. on our platform to-night a man,' the' chalrmian be- gan, 'whom it ds unnecessary to introduce, whose name--er--whose name--er. . , .* here he cast a be- seeching glance at me, and I mur. mured 'Philip Gibbs' as he bent slightly 'down over the speaker's desk. He rose triumphantly and in- troduced me, with a sweeping ges- you ary aismptuvas about sop the tale of one of them, John With- ity; Cartler's services as "reconciler | Protest against institutions and con-|oranges, a watch and a little toy [me a gun with a cork in it to ehoot,| ture and a bow, as 'Sir Frederick Fourself, ih ent cong | Cfspoon, dome luto literature from | "i..." (canada" are adequately | ventions which give aid in this pro- | horse." some peanuts, and some candies. | Boggs.' Pooks for children; the best child- yen's books are thosa that grown- the bald annals of the Nova Scotia Historical Society. Here too is the valued but might have been, describ- ed at greater length. Dr. Trotter cess. But when the bossing is a re- sult of nothing on earth but boss- "I want two pink and two blue hair ribbons," writes little Sadie, Don't forget my brother, my sister and my cousin, With love to Mrs. Santa Claus." Tell Us, Santy. up people also have admiration and | story of an American sympathiser h 1 SL differs from most authorities {in |ishness on the part of the active ele- | who also sends her love to Kris Tell us, Santy, tell us trum, respect for. The bearing in mind | who lived on the Nova Scotia coast spelling Willlam Macdougall *"Mc-| ment and bossability on the part of | Kringle. Vivian, who lives in the country,| How you know just what to do has the following: of this principle would prevent the during the Revolutionary War and the passive, what can be sald? Miss This is what a certain little girl What to bring in games and toys A 3." ~ sending out to th)usands of unfor-| helped many an escaping American Douga Bensor seewme - Bi 0 to be in revolt against |named Ver has to say: How are you and Mrs. Santa] To the waiting girls and 8? : itunate [ungstars ot Siusanda of | prisoner to get away from captivity the results of the "inferiority com-| "I am just like | other girls in|Claus? I am nine years old. Are boy ly, meaningless, papor-wasting|in the British Dominjons; but the MARIA OHAPDELAINE, * plex;" but she does not tell us how | Kingston--waliting for you to make [you coming to my house? If s0,| Ma and pa and all the rest books, when there are far more good children's books than any child can ever read, if we would only take 'ghe trouble to look for them, i fd story is the astounding things that happened to him at the hands of the Republic whose friend he was. Most ofgthe dozen tales are sea- By Louis Hemon, Translated by W. H. Blake. Drawings by Wilfred Jones. Macmillan, Toronto, to get rid of it. This i¢' an exces- sively clever novel, partly laid in China, ini, ] Booksellers say that only newly | going adventures, not unlike those $2.50 {Published books, and a few newly | which many Canadians 'already| The agricultural young woman of NOTES OF NEW BOOKS. | * published reissues, are sold for | kmow and love in "Sagas of the|pgrihonka, of the Lake St. John | Cbristmas presents. That is be-| Sea." Some of them are not very|.ountry, goes on her triumphant| 'Gentlemen of the Jury" by Francis L. Wellman (Macmillan, To- pause people are afraid to give that have heen out for more Yet it seems a shame to give the _ fatebt murder mystery or the latest . sheik throbber to a young man or & young woman engaged in the ear- pest effort to build up a working 1{b- yary of the best literature; and there are such young peoples, in Kingston and vicinity, ~~ It is well to keep as near to the Motual present-day taste of the re- "elplent as possible. Do not giva Rob- far back in history. You do not have to go back of last year to find ro- CANADIAN FEDERATION, By Reginald George Trotter, Dent, Toronto, $1.75. The amazing thing about Con- federation is the ever-growing mass of knowledge concerning it, and the equally ever-growing importance of all of that knowledge. The event, of course, marks a step, and the most definite step ever yet taken, ort Frost to the lovers of Robert 'Service, nor confuse Keable, Cable 4owards the solution of that most » D in excellent It The Inner Circle A History of Farmers' self first, for you will probably get|long as there are political parties By Rev. Trever H. Movements in Canada much more fun out of it than the|striving for success by attacking pew volume by the Wet the. Soren ais Yeood children will. For instance, "Tea- them. - EB ureh, Toreuto, sub- through 'various organizations Taking": The Department of Mines, Ottawa, | : --- In Tins in the Associates since 1872 for their own interests h of Jesus," an attractive and in their polftical movements, as issued a highly important meno- garments, ew ide on such Now these have affected clhe It is as odd as odd can de graph on "Development of Chemical, ; Reh Sonn Soil av economic o ~ To think of ladies taking tea Metallurgical and Allied Industries . angela Negitie! Simos pag. sped Away | fom Jome. They go so far|in Canada in Relation to the Min- Cyrene, Redemption n or in a motor car . eral Industry," by A. W. G. Wilson, a fanciers Svar. "Beanigill Rhodes schiisTtkies Willsen They must be tired when they go|Ph.D. It includes a series of lists THE BEST VALUES OBTAINABLE. J cessssesscananses BA | Sanada from Oxford nts in- home. of the raw materials employed in ' life As he Sees I In the Nght of If they would ring, the tea would |all the chief modern industries, ce come showing which of them are obtain- Kingston People Particularly Will Be Interested In || THE BACKWOODSWOMAN ribated a worthy QUOTE bo : con a. ; b; master -ploturer of events in 'histo: Gothons'by the master plete sold stamping astsssstnccsanes SOO = OTHER ATTRACTIVE CANADIAN BOOKS: style of the women whe in toneer days, ing. Illus- TY, oularly in the Canada's up-bul Ms gives Thiak sbout Bo os The Quemchless Light Laut way; and if, within the lifetime of this reviewer, there has ever been a merit, he cannot at the moment re- call it. The rural French-Canadian has many aspects, and this is not the aspect revealed by Dr. Drummond (who doubtless did his share to pave the way for the general appreciation of the work of Hemon), But He- mon's picture is in no respect con- tradictory to Drummond's, and it is much more profound and signific- ant. The new volume contains many charming monochrome pen decora- tions and several two-color illustra- tions, the latter seeming a trifle sophisticated for so primeval a tale. It is hard to belleve, for example, that the Chapdelaines had a first- class collie dog. But it is a highly presentable volume, and will enable those who love 'Maria' to present her story to those who have not yet learned it, in a form possessing the true gift-like appearance, children, Note, "about," not "for." You can give this book to children it you like; we rather suspect that the publishers hope you will, But don't do so without reading it your- In their own rooms, right on a tray; I wonder why they go away, \ ronto, $4.50) is an extensive but not ay three months, for fear that the | mance in a Nova Scotia tishing- great popular success more com-| Very original dissertation on "the + Peciplent may already have a copy. | Port. pletely justified by true artistic | Profound JuDot tance and dignity" ntended to con- of the jurorship, vert American citizens to a higher view of their duties as such. It is anecdotal rather than scientific, and many of the anecdotes will be famil- far to all who have some knowledge of the history of the jury system; but we""assume that most of those whom Mr, Wellman addresses L.ve not. "A Chapter in American Educa- tion," by Ray Palmer Baker (Scrib- ner, New York), is an account of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, now celebrating its centenary. With- in reasonable compass, it contains a great deal of interesting matter up- on early technical training in Amer- fca. Its author is the eminent aunth- ority upon Canadian literature, who is Professor of English in the Insti- tute. The Slason Thompson Bureau of Railway News and Statistics has is- sued the 1923 "Rallway Statistics of an attack upon the Senator, it is campaign stuff which has ceased to be interesting. But there is and al- ways will be need for an able setting forth of the case for the railways, so your visit. I hope you will not leave the North Pole before you get my letter. I would like you to bring me oo will you bring me a doll's carriage a little table and chair, also a ball and a top. You will find a glass of ' You just give whiat they like best Tell us how your plans are fixed That you never get things mixed. BUY A KINGSTON MADE PRODUCT, { GIVE EMPLOYMENT TO KINGSTON 4 PEOPLE. WINDY LEAF, the United States of America," a n. ; By Mrs. A. D. Skelton volume which is prefaced dy a vig- 1 : THE BACKWOODSWOMAN By Frances Gill. Macmillan, To-|orous vindication of the transporta- j Hy Mrs. A. D. Skelton ronto, $1.50. tion system against the attacks of f This Is a book of verses about Senator La Follette. So far as it is I - - Jn Ti ' ns of cake on the! & That, which is delicious irony to us, | publication. ' f pb . . is tos child a mere statement of Seems [J / 'nis one the most commonplace grob- the . 4 = Fir RR i mone) ecmertead fl GG, A. McGowan + rors eBegal og 0 there is no assignable reason for this | one should be careful about the b ° ° Ay tT socigl practice, but the child solemn- | choice of the holly flor the decora- I) . : ly believes that there must be, but |tions. Pert. should be smooth and h A * ! that 8 To one of thaws she when | Som. prea. Tor demos tad | fg Cigar Mfg. Co only grown-ups can understand.... | kinds are carried info the house at { \ . ye «ss. However, we like Miss Gill's the same time, all will be well. But poems very much, and after all, it should the prickly variety be taken Jou fife teil 14 8 Chl. the Child in first, then the husband will rule will p bably grow up some day. the household during the heoming A ------ year; if smochh Is brought In * A LAST SCRAP BOOK. first the wife will be dog."