Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-04
BERKSHIRE HILLS.
NEW PUBLICATIONS,
SENATOR NORTH. By Gertrude Atherton.
York: John Lane.

SENATOR NORTH. By Gertrude Atherton. New
York: John Lane.
Mrs. Atherton spent few months in
Washington recently. imbibed what is
termed the "atmosphere' of the capital.
and forthwith wrote that overcoming
literary type, a Washington novel. 1t tells
the rather incredible story OF the daughter
of an "old Washington family who had
never previously become acquainted with
the official facts or persons surrounding
her and who suddenly decided to go in
for politics by studying men and questions.
This she does with such ardor as to fall
in love with an elderly senator. whose in
valid wife is no bar to his conducting
not altogether platonic yet quite moral
Irritation with the Investigating miss. Her
love is reciprocated and then ensues a
period of waiting which is at best harrow
ing to the sensibilites Of the delicate
reader incidentally the author injects the
race question in what would seem a quite
unnecessary manner, throwing at least
three characters into moral spasms with
out advancing the dramatic movement of
the work In the least. A third phase of
the novel deals with the development Of
the sentiment which led to the war with
Spain-it Is thus to be seen that 1t is an
altogether current COMMUNICATING OPP
portunity for much htgh-fown sentiment In
depreciation of the strife. One OF the UNI
that portraits or half-suggested personal
outlines are continually occurring, to the
confusion of the informed reader and per-
haps to the indifference OF those who are
not familiar with the official population of
the capital Senator North" cannot be
called q success as a portrayal of Wash
ington life, although 1t is smoothly written
and in many respects highly entertaining.
CUPID AND cREEps: By W. ]. Newton, author
Of "Brambleton Fair" etc. Washington: The
Neale Company.
Mr.. Newton, who is a well-known men,
Der of the Washington bar. has written a
story of love and religion which is alto
gether credit to his literary style and to
his sense of proportion. The characters
portrayed are natural and sympathetic.
and the action of the story is brisk and
unstrained. 1t marks another success for
the local literary talent.
THE FIRST AMERICAN, His Homes and His
New York: Harper 4 Brothers.
Miss Leila Herbert, whose death in De-
cember, 1907, shocked her hosts OF friends
in this city, which had been her home for
many years, was not generally known to
possess literary talents. She had carefully
concealed from most of her intimates her
powers Of observation and Interpretation,
vet she found opportunity to compile one of
the most charming books about the first
President that has yet been written. She
had q strong patriotic sense and the chance
and inspiration to put 1t to account were
afforded when she was named a Vice re-
gent of the Mt. Vernon Association, a po-
s,tion once filed by her mother. The book
is published now in sense as a memorial
volume, yet 1t deserves higher station than
a mere personal souvenir. Senator Lodge
has expressed the opinion that the work Is
entitled to a permanent place in the Wash
ington literature. Molly Elliott seawell
writes for it an appreciative preface in the
style Of memoir Of the author. which dis
closes phases of Miss Herbert's character
not realized by the large circle in which
she once so charmingly moved.
WHO OUGHT TO wIN-OOM PAUL OR QUEEN
VICTORIA; q History Of the Dutch English
settlement IN South Africa. NJ Spencer Ran