Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

TEN MONTHS CAPTIVE AMONG FIIIPINoS;
tion During Imprisonment on the Island Of Lu-
zon. p. l. By Albert Sonnichsen. hew York
Charles Scribner's Sons. Washington: VIM.
Ballantyne & Sons.
Sonnichsen. who went to Manila as quar-
teTmaster on the transport Zealandia, was
captured late In January. 1899 and was
detained by the Filipinos until vigan was
occupied by the marines from the Oregon
late in the following November. His ex-
periences as prisoner of war were excit-
ing, often to the verge of death, and al
most uniformly distressing. There were
| bright spots in the period. as when the
prisoner, having learned Spanish during
his confinement, succeeded In ingratiating
himself with liberal-minded mestizo fam
lilies by teaching their members English
and thus secured relief from the rigors of
Imprisonment. On such occasions he found
the more intelligent natives kindly and
sympathetic. Even some of the radical in
surgents were kind to him, such as Col
Joachim Alejandrino, who clothed him when
he had been recaptured at Vigan after an
attempt to escape and who later refrained
from searching too far for him when Som
nichsen lay concealed in the quarters of
the local ''presidente," who had under
taken to prevent him from being sent up
country to the other prisoners in return
for the Americans promise to recommend
him to the naval force hourly expected off
Vigan.
Sonnichsen and his companion, Huber
were the first Americans to be captured
They were Joined at intervals by others
and finally, at San Isidro. by the Gilmore
party, captured at Baler. The longest So
journ of the prisoners was at Malolos
which was deserted by the Filipinos when
the American advance began. Then pro-
longed stops were made at San Isidro and
taken into the mountains at Bangued, there
to rest until the Oregon's men landed and
Col. Hare's force began a persistent and
finally successful pursuit which ended near
the northern extremity of LuZon Sonnich-
sen had meantime slipped out from Ban
gued to Vigan and was there trying to Sc
cure boat to get off-shore to meet an
American warSfip to hasten the rescue of
his comrades, when he was retaken.
The story Of the wanderings and suffer
ings of the prisoners Is graphically and In
telligently told. There are evidences of a
sense of justice on the part of the mar
rator, who sees both the good and the bad
sides Of the Filipino character He has
no regard for the Spanish soldiers whom
he met in large numbers in confinement.
In the effort at escape they proved worth
less. Some Of their officers showed ad-
mirable qualities. Sonnichsen saw Agui-
naldo only at a distance. He has a word
to say In defense of the insurgent leader
as to the charges that he slew Luna out
of jealousy and that he allowed himself
to be personally bribed by Spain to aban-
don the first insurrection. The writer re-
from Filipinos. AS far as a prisoner oc-
casionally on parole and with a limited
opportunity for observation can testify
Sonnichsen gives the Filipinos in general a
good character, although he shows no signs
Of sympathizing with their propaganda
By Anna Alice Chaplin. author of THE Story
Of the Rhinegold" Illustrated. New York:
Dodd, Mead Company. Washington: Bren.
tano's.
There has been an abundant output Of
musical literature during the past few
years, "reminiscences biographies and ana
lytical commentaries, until the field seems
with each addition to be well filled But
somehow new compilers. biographers and
authors find room for their observations
which, as In the present case, are usually
contributory to the musical thought Of the
ical and critical sketches of Palestrfna,
Scarlatti, Handel. Bach, Marcello, Bergo-
lese, Gluck, Haydn. Mozart, Beethoven
Weber, Meyerbeer. Rossini Schubert. Ber-
lioz. Chopin. Mendelssohn - Bartholdy.
Schumann. Liszt and Wagner. Following
each biographical sketch Is a list Of the
most famous works Of the composer with
word or two OF general characterization.
A KINGS PAWN. By Hamilton Drummond, au-
fsSI Hs p Mse @ NsT f1sI
lantyne Sons.
The romantic school of fiction scores
heavily in this, tale Of adventure to suit
the most insistent, with free fighting, some
dying, some love making and an ending as
happy as the novelists of adventure can
afford 1t Is a story OF Henry Of Navarro
trying to wean province from Spain by
an appeal to latent sympathy through
personal visit fncognito with three trusted
companions. one Of whom tells the tale.
The scheme fails, but it suff1ces to precipi-
tate a rush Of complications. involving a
Spanish vendetta The love motive Is Sec
ondary, and the interest Is thus con-
centrated on the intrigue and the sword
play.
FRENCH LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY By
Hannah Lynch. Illustrated. New York: @. p
Putnams Sons Washington: Woodward
Lothrop.
This ID q sociological study OF France of
today, not from a scientific basis. but pop
ular In Its treatment, an endeavor. sue
cessful In the main. to present q picture