The times., 1897-11-07
~Amelican Ideals"

pact. legih,e anG nicely dressed, comes
fresh from The press 10 the hands of the
November reviewer, tlTs quality of brains
is more thar ever present. and those who
agree with NJ Rooseyelt's political ana
social ideas, 0nd those who do not, WI be
alike interested ln its perusai. He calls II
..AmeTilan Ideals, and other Essays,
which VIII give a severe shock 10 those
fin ae sietle aesthetics Nhu do not be-
lieve we have any ideals at ALL much les
that thcy are worth talking about
other Scvere shocks win he administered
10 other readers who do not agree with
Mr.. Roosevelt, al through the look, ami
this 'rIn be donc N,lta "a celebrity auo aaroH
ness only comparable 10 Tie tactics OF the
football field. As Ar. Roosevelt hiHstlf
saws IN his preface, he believes that sue
cess can only come 10 tlie player who hits
The Hne hard. IN literature, as in other
thine. tiiat is his style. lie does moi
nsandsr about the subject, OF use long
words OF say pretty things; he is an all
round athlete, and can use the gloves ana
the duarter-staff as wen as the FOIL ana the
tennis racket Be knows his subject
at least. one side uf it-and his view is
clear and exact. and expressed with
terSeneSS which only comes from the man
wto has something 60 say, and not toGmuch
time IN which 20 say it This is why
''Americsn Ideals" IL notable little
book.
one of lie things in which this book Is
comi-al!y different from the book which
the average college graduate would per
laas write on these subjects is ia its readi
o. ness Uo ,ieaI with facts and persons. TIL
sch0olbuy Is taught, in writing Of American
ideals, hat ne must only refer - men who
are leaG. He can talk Of Washington, OF
Lincolu or or Grant, but not Of Mckinley.
Of BRYAN o. OF Reed He can abuse Bene-
dict Arnold 10 his hearts content, but ne
must not attempt TO see in what way the
traitors of the present day are seeking
TO steal our commonwealth. And too many
essavistS keep 10 this schOulboy model aud
act as II the character OF the American
nation were made for all time, instead
or being shaped continually faster than
we can follow tie process.
There is none Of this mock timidits
about Roosevelt. He does not hesitate -
call names aud 80 cite examples. He does
not hesitate 10 tell what he himself has
done or rried 10 do. And he is most un-
sparing in his deuunCi3tion of what he
considers rotten ia the United states Of
Americr. lie doesn't waste his time dis
cussing the rCtJeHnoss Of Denmark. Yet
because of his earneStness, This DutspoSen
trick OF manner does not become offensive,
because ne never drugs in a name merely
30 abuse IT.. He gives one a peculiar I'M
preston that he really cares as little to
be revenEed on his enemy as TO get reward
FOR hinssls. and thar some other name would
have done just as well for a horrible eX-
anpl-- rs the one he has used.
il is rather hard OF people who have not
had college education. tliS way which
Hr. Roosevelt has of bringing the whole
his,ors OF the universe 10 bear On nachine
politics u hits hard and is as hard TO
answer Il Is pretty hard on a ran
10 tell him he Is a survivor OF the Stone
Age, " her he does not know what the
Stone Age is. and whom he does not even
FDow en- ,ugh 10 Toe able % 5e;t Mr. Roosevelt
that he has some sava yes among his . wa
following who belong TO exactly the same
geological period.
IN fact this tumahawk style Of warfare
which Nr. Roosevelt himself affects is as
near the Stone Age Is one can come and Use
good English Bot some savages are very
clever and bralny, and that is The way
with tins literary IToquois. He believes
that the Lord Is on his side sure enough,
aud that ct makes il right for hius to fight
Of course. Il Is perfectly delightful in this
bcvNacred and mixed up world, waele hall
of Us are moi sure what We ought 10 do.
and a good proportion OF the othe- haf
haven't the moral courage to DO. what we
k9oG We ouEht, 10 find man V 10 knows
be S right and then goes ahead with sucn
cousgmuate football force aud vim as is
dispIa vel by Mr. Roosevelt.
There = an essay here on the New York
police force waich should au.use the Tam
many ciiefuains; there is al essay on the
campaign afI sos, which hmakescoEstder ble
fun OF the other fellows; there is an article
on How Not T. Help Oar P3or.< Brothers, '
an which Mr.. Roosevelt is after The sealps
az the labor Ieader and the milk-aud- water
philantsrupist, claiming that only 10y hon
esj government Of "a. city of New York via
the author party car New YorE be really
helped; nnd there are two or three essays
dealing ia general with the problem which
istothering many of 1ur thinkers; tha ques
ti,n whether "a nations character is under
uiRed by civilization.
on thi> poiut Mr Roosevelt is rose
c,larcd ofiintist. IIebellevest that whatever
other races have done or may 90, We shall
not decay because we are Anslo-saXoHS,
and we arc yiri!e and scif-sustatning iHl
alive. 8r. Roosevelt himself cert..illy j..
all Of this and hIs t0bust Eopcfu!ncSs j.
checrnE.
Alto@ethcr the book is both interesting
and exciting and very remarkable in its
WAY. When man Whose souls essentially
LEA
with sl has heart he can make "a three
volume uovcl oUt of ah election for cor
oner, 10 say nothing Of national politics
and the destiny OF a great cosmopolitan
town. Roosevelt is the Rudyad Kipling
or New York politics. New York g. P
Putnam. Washington. Erentano. 81 .501