Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-07

what books should girl read? somebody has
put that question 20 Marion Harland and she has
answered that she cons ders .fnsidious" books
worse than bad ones, and would be especially
arefui TO keep hem out of girls hands. In the
rsaim OF action she makes some interesting dis
uncuonA She would give girl Tnaekeray CON-
paees, but would except from Miss woolsons
novels EAST Angels" and from Mrs. Burne rs.
Tnrougn One Administration" But II the sug
esstion OF domestic improprieties In these forbid
osn DOCKS Is the cause OF their rejection i Is hard
70 zee now We can safely trust the Uniformed mi nd
OK girl 70 trace Its own away among the per-
plexities that constantly arise In Thackeray. A
noveiist who portrays so much that Is intere sting
N Becky sharp, and so little in the uncouth but
taafhfui Doooin, whose pen throws q magical fas-
canatlon about the character OF the wayward
6eatrfx while leaving his noble Laura only
eoadowy outline, and makes the riotous young
Virginan 30 much more OF a man than his schol-
ariy brother, may have mucn 10 commend him as
satirist Tor the weIl-developed and experienced
member CT society. but should hardly be picked
out OF crowd as a moralist for the guidance Of
the young and callow. IL cannot be said that
either Ma Burnett or Miss Woolson has written
anything 70 gloss over sin.
The speed OF the famous "Flying scotchman,"
mas been beaten on competing line OF railroad,
and the newspapers OF England and Scotland will
overflow for time with comparisons OF records
made prior 10 this. IL Is an easy thing 10 make
fass time On roads laid and equipped these Brit
fsh roads are, with their long unoroken stretches
OF straight track and the protection OF the road
bed from distractions 80 that the engine-drtvers
do not require 70 De nearly so yigllant IN this
country. II would be q very different thing II one
OF the low-swung English locomotives with its In
elastic train OF cars, were put upon an American
road with It's numerous curves and twists and infe
rior road oed equipment The annals or American
railway speed, therefore, though they may not
boast a long run at the rate OF seventy-nve miles
an hour. are really much more wonderful In their
way than the British. The American passengers
may mis- the excitement OF excessively rapid mo-
tion, but they experience the stronger excitement
OF greater dangers TO be confronted Not even the
most intense national pride should demand from
the American roads speed equal 10 that Of the
"Fly1ng Scotchman" until the American road-beds
are a. straight and as safe as the English.
Now that somebody nas raked out OF the waste
basket dispatch from General Drum congratu-
lating NJ. Harrison on his nomination for Presi-
dent, thus establishing, 10 the satisfaction OF
anxious inquirers. the generals loyalty to the
publican party, it Is TO be hoped that the whole
Confederate fags business Will be given a long and
much-needed rest. The famous order for the re-
turn OF the nags was written by a democratic
President at the suggestion Of a republican adju-
tAnt-genersl Both, doubtless believed that they
were doing patriotic thing. and that the coun-
try would be grstined at the wiping out OF even
an historic reminder OF the clash OF fraternal
armA when they discovered their error, they
promptly retraced their steps as FAR as possible,
and thus no harmwas done To drag the matter over
and over, long after II occurred and when nothing
can be accomplished by it-not even partisan
point msde-is q sad waste OF time, especially
when IL Is the tarin which the line between
the parties Is to be drawn In the coming fight.