Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-16
LITERARY NOTES.
MANS BIRTHRIGHT: Or, THE HIGHER LAW
OF PROPERTY. BY EDWARD Fl. q. CLARK
New York: q. p. Puinams Sons Washington

LITERARY NOlES.
MANS ~ p BIRTHRISHT: Or, THE HIGHER Law
OF PROPERTY. BY EDWARD H q; CLARK.
Robert Beaii.
If Mr. Clark has solved. as he thinks he has,
the great problems of right in property. just
taxation. and good government, il il greatly to
his credit considering the magnitude and In
tricaces of his theme, that he Is able TO dispose
of the matter in the brief space OF one hundred
and thirty odd small pages Of large and clear
generation of the human race have D natural
right to ownership in some portion of the sur.
exc e w the
ual property, upon which the existence and
development of society is concededly based.
10 remedy the evils which now exist, his plan
is 10 make the term of ownership fifty years or
IN other words, that the assets of the earth shall
rener, 10 me common OWNERSHIP every nall
assessing perpetual tax of two per cent per
annum on all property, which will of course
the nominal owners will in that time have prac-
tcally given up their possessions or their equiv
aieht 10 the other members oIthe human fam-
hy, though still retaining title. Ont of the
money SO produced all expenses of carrying on
the government are to be first paid, and the
balance is TO be expended for internal improve
ments, etc., the construction OF which would
give Employment to all persons desiring to
work; On paper the plan looks well but, like
all other schemes for making the industrious
and thrifty support the lazy and shiftless. il
probably could not be made to work in practice
WitIfOul ConSlueTaOlc IrlcllOn. Ii at all.
THE ADvENTURES OF TIMIAS TERRYsTONE
By OLIVER BELL BUNcE, author of Bachelor
pun; MY House, an Ideal etc. New York:
ID Appleton q Co. Washington: W. II. Nor
A charming story, this, with attractive
/ glimpses Of both Already and Bohemia 1t con-
Germs an artist, who tells the story Of how he
was courted by two women, each fascinating in
her way, while he is himself in love with a
sweet Quaker maiden. Those who have read
inSr from, Mr. Ia
told that the experiences Of the hero are told in
"A most delightful way. His descriptions of both
of true artist, who is equally at home in
wicked Gotham or among. the pastoral scenes
of the valley of the Mohawk, while his sketches
OF character are not less true to life. As story
II is simple and unpretentious and its charm
to the cultured reader win lie not so much in
me adventures of the hero as In the little bits of
which sparkle through the narrative like
threads of gold deity woven in a tapestry of
choice design.
ACROSS THE CHASM. New York: Charles Scrib-
ners sons Washington: VIM. Ballantyne & Son
This is rather slight story to be expanded to
| the dignity OF volume of three hundred and
odd pages. Yet, while 1t is not novel of the
| first class, even as novels go, NOWADAYS, it
| might easily be worse. Its heroine is a south
| ern girl, of the winning. sunny type, who visits
Washington. where she meets her fate in her
cous in $ household in the form OF young New
Englander, also of the most approved type.
Inc inherent views they entertain in cOnse-
4uence OF their training and associations are
the "chasm which separates them at first but
| 1T Is crossed at last, as might be expected in
bridal array and to the tune of a wedding
march. The work Is evidently that of an anna
teur, but the description, it gives of life in
Washington are rather better than those Of the
average novel which treats Of society at the
national capital.
FRAGMENTS 4, FROM AN OLD INN. BY LILLIAN
RozELL MESSENGER. New York: G. T. Putnam $
Sons Washington: Robert Beall.
In htc off 1,nl~
senger gives her readers very pleasing mosaic
| of prose and verse, in the guise of some papers
which came INTO her hands while an inmate of
| quaint old inn which had formerly been a
stately family mansion, where they had been
left long before by former guest of its old-time
occupants. Though uneven i'm quality all the
contents are marked by fine feeling, with an
occasional fancy remarkably well expressed,
though, as rule, the prose is rather better than
the verse, considered literary performance
| ROBERT GRAHAArS PROMISE A Story for Bows.
BY the author Of the Win and Wear Series" etc.
ton: VIM. Rallantyne Il Son.
u will.' was Robert Graham's answer to his
mothers last words" Love your God, tell the
truth. and keep your PROMISES he left her
protecting care to go out and fight lifes battles
for himself; and this is the promise" that gives
ne book its title. How the young hero kept it,
through sore trials, makes an excellent story
Tor boys. who will be alike interested in his
school experiences and in his manfu! struggles
TO win the victory his fond mother had in view
MY BOOK. BY JESSIE GARLoND nncluding the
Introduction 20 the Mysteries OF Isis.) Washing
ton: Gray d CiarksOn
The mysteries of Isis" are not the only pug
zles about this book. Why it should be written,
why it should be published, and why it should
be read, are riddles equally beyond the compre-
employment in struggling with the hard facts
of everyday life.