SOME NEW BOOKS

1. Regular readers of this magazine will be aware, if they have reasonably good memories, that Miss Madge Blundell, the author of our new serial, comes of a remarkably literary family; that she is a daughter of "M. E. Francis," one of the most brilliant and successful writers of fiction that Ireland has produced, and that she is consequently a niece of the wellknown novelist Mrs. Egerton Castle, and of the poetess Miss Elinor Sweetman. Her sister, too, Miss Agnes Blundell, has ventured successfully both into fiction and poetry. It was in the Irish Monthly numbers for 1889 that the first novel of "M. E. Francis," Molly's Fortunes, made its first appearOur serial is the second novel of Miss Madge Blundell; her first, called Katherine of the Barge, was published by Messrs. Sands, and was reviewed as follows by Father Matthew Russell in the July number for the year 1911: "Madge Blundell has at once proved that she inherits the genius of 'M. E. Francis.' She has already formed a very beautiful style of great clearness and refined simplicity. There is a good deal of originality in the plot of her story. The lake on which the barge plies is realized for us very skilfully, with all' its changes of scenery. . . . We augur the happiest things for the career so well begun."

ance.

2. Paradyse Terrestre. and T. Washbourne, Ltd.

By C. M. Antony. London: R. (Price 3s. 6d. net.)

Many readers of Catholic works of literature will be quite satisfied about the merits of this volume of twelve storiesone for each month of the year-when they have read the generous praise bestowed on it by the late Monsignor Benson in the brief preface which he contributed. He says: "This volume, written by one who has, it seems to me, a very unusually fine gift of words, is a distinct contribution to that pile of impressions which, little by little, are going to make up our understanding of the world. She sees, in those little glimpses of beauty-in a Swiss valley, in a monastery garden, in an Italian terrace, as well as in more homely scenes-that

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very thing which the rest of us seek so often in vain, a vision of Heaven on earth; and to see Heaven in a wild flower' is, a mystic has told us, one of the greatest endowments of man. And, what is more, she makes us see it too." Well written the book certainly is, very pleasantly written, and marked by that delicacy of refinement which is woman's peculiar gift and which man can hardly emulate. The conversations run easily; they are true to life even in this that some of the personages speak at no little length when once they get properly started. Better than the power of story-telling is the power shown of describing scenes, gardens especially; and these descriptions make admirable settings for the narrative of events. The chief merit of the volume, it seems to us, lies in the keen perception of beauty in the physical world, and then, in the grasp of those great supernatural principles which furnish the key to the hard riddles of life and which reveal the beauty of God's love, dimly seen through the mist of human hardships.

3. The Right Note. By Mrs. Armel O'Connor. London: R. and T. Washbourne, Ltd. (Price 1s. net.)

This forms Vol. III. of the "Stella Maris" series, edited by the Rev. Edmund Lester, S.J. It consists of ten short stories, some of which have already appeared in different Catholic magazines. In the dedication, the author explains the meaning of the stories to be, "Take care of the keynote, and the chords will take care of themselves. And, of course, the keynote is Love." We may add that Love is used here in its highest sense of charity, animating to the practice of the different virtues. We specially commend the first story, which gives its name to the little volume, but they are all of interest, bright, and well-written, and the moral in each is very evident. There is an excellent Catholic tone throughout. We trust it will be added to many a Girls' Sodality Library.

4. Anti-Christian Socialism. By Rev. C. L. Drawbridge, M.A. London: Longmans, Green and Co. (Price 1s. net, sewed 6d. net.)

The eighty pages which make up this book are almost evenly divided between two long chapters, one on 'Class Bitterness,' and the other under the title of A Reply to the

Foregoing.' The author is a Protestant clergyman who claims to know the anti-christian attitude of Socialists both from long acquaintance with Hyde Park Sunday oratory, and from a study of Marx and his disciples. To refute the Socialistic thesis that Christianity is all on the side of the "haves," he gives copious quotations from the New Testament which prove that, on the contrary, Christianity strongly favours the "have-nots."

5. The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas. Part II. Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. London: R. and T. Washbourne,

Ltd. (Price 6s. net.)

The latest volume of the translation of the Angelic Doctor's great work is the First Number of the Second Part and deals with Questions I. to XLVIII., the subject matter being Man and Man's Activities. The first treatise discusses Man's Last End and how to attain it; the second, much the longer, is concerned with the acts which are proper to man, and those which are common to man and other animals. The analysis of human passions, which occupies the last 200 pages of the volume, will interest many readers. Here will be found explanations of the nature, cause, and effects of Love; an article on Hatred; many pages on Delight or Pleasure, with its causes and effects; questions on Sorrow or Pain; and questions on the Irascible Passions. In these days of fighting it is interesting to read St. Thomas's discussions on Fear and Daring and on Anger in its different degrees.

6. The Elder Miss Ainsborough. By Marion Ames Taggart. New York: Benziger Brothers. (Price 3s. 6d. net.)

This well-written and pleasant story tells the tale of the last survivors of a New England family. These are two halfsisters, one the daughter of a German Catholic mother, the other of a Puritan mother, the former being the heroine. The contrast of religions is supplemented by the differences in character, conduct, and fate. There is much heroism, much pathos and humour, and plenty also of excitement in each of the twelve chapters. Although the personages are for the most part Protestant, the tone and outlook are very Catholic; and the excellent moral of the tale is written large VOL. XLIII.--No, 504.

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and clear in the reader's mind when he regretfully finds himself at the end of the story.

7. Beata Bréandain. Le Seán Ua Ceallaig. Baile ata Cliat: M. H. Macguill & a Mac. (2s. 6d. net.)

This interesting and well executed life of our most romantic Irish saint is intended by Mr. O'Kelly for the use of senior students of Irish in our schools and colleges. Such a use, implying the close natural connection between our language and religion, is in keeping with the admirable tradition of the Gaelic tongue; one can hardly imagine the life of a saint, if written in any other language, being intended as a text-book for Intermediate pupils. St. Brendan's youth, early training, exploits and death are charmingly described and three of his voyages are given in detail, with a wealth of incident and adventure calculated to delight the unstaled heart. While not demanding the reader's belief in all the wondrous sights said to have been witnessed by the holy navigator, it is well to point out, as the author does in his preface, the accounts of like marvels given by ancient travellers of other countries. The language is rendered somewhat difficult in places by an archaic touch, but for the most part is not, or at least should not be, above the powers of the ordinary Senior Grade student. Useful appendices include a vocabulary in which the less usual words and phrases are explained (in Irish), and lists of the names of places and persons with English equivalents.

8. In its issue for April, 1915, The Catholic World, the well-known review published in New York by the Paulist Fathers, celebrates its golden jubilee. The number is an exceptionally fine one, and worthy of the noteable occasion. It opens with two Papal messages of congratulation, one from Pope Pius IX. sent in 1868, and one for its jubilee from Pope Benedict XV. commending its "noble and holy apostolate in defence of the Church and of Christian civilization." Very warm in its friendship and congratulation is the letter addressed to the editor by his Eminence Cardinal Farley, of which we quote a passage:-" I know the abundant fruit which has come to the cause of religion in the United States from your excellent publication. I have been from its birth a constant and interested reader. I can remember well perusing the whole first number issued in April, 1865, in my

undergraduate days at Fordham. Since then I have watched this child of the illustrious Father Hecker's brain as it grew year by year. Except at rare intervals of absence or heavy duties, I have read every number. The Catholic World, though not the first, was one of the most valiant and most efficient defenders of Holy Church. It was hailed with joy by the Catholics of this city, who prophesied for it a splendid future, which has been more than realized." The Irish Monthly very gladly and heartily adds its voice to the chorusof congratulation which is being offered to the review.

9. St. Juliana Falconieré, a Saint of the Holy Eucharist, by Marie Coutraville. London: R. and T. Washbourne, Ltd. This is an excellent sixpence worth, pleasantly written and becomingly brought out. In it is told in graphic language the life-story of the Foundress of the Mantellate, one whose life resembled, more than most others, the great Model and Mother of all nuns, Our Blessed Lady. Love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary the Mother of Dolours were the vivifying principles of her own spiritual life and the lessons that she constantly and quietly taught to the girls and matrons of her native Florence. We should like to see the little volume in the hands of every convent-going girl, the class for whom it was primarily written. Prefixed to the work is a very flattering Foreword by the Rev. M. Phelan, S.J.

By Rev. M. Barrett, (Price 8s. net.) leisurely half tour, half

10. Rambles in Catholic Lands. O.S.B. New York: Benziger Bros. The author brings his readers on a pilgrimage from Hamburg to Rome. Churches and monasteries in the Rhineland, Switzerland, the Tyrol, and Italy are visited, and are described in a style which if unpretentious is so direct and easy as to suit very well the straightforward and discriminating description. Naturally the great Benedictine monasteries receive special attention at the hands of a Benedictine traveller and writer; he gives us interesting accounts of such places as Einsiedeln, Beuron, Maria-Laach and Chiemsee, though indeed they ought to be of interest to any Catholic. The book is very handsomely produced and is supplied with a large number of unusually fine illustrations.

11. The Catholic Truth Society of Ireland has made some