Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE CRISIS. By Winston Churchill, author Of
Richard Carvel'' etc. Illustrations by How
ard Chandler Christy. New York: The Mac
MILAN Company. Washington: Brentano's


MILAN Company. Washington: BrentanOs.
Mr.. Churchill is paying the penalty of
early success. The remarkable popularity
of Richard Carver' whetted the public ex-
pectation and his subsequent works are
judged wholly by the standard ne
thus set. with the inevitable result
OF some disappointment. The Crisis
is different, however, from its pre-
decessor in many ways. in atmosphere,
in setting, in period and to a certain extent
In mode of treatment. 1t Is similar in some
phases. 1t is based upon an historical event
and includes personages of world fame. 1t
perpetuates the Carvel traditions by Great
Ing as heroine the great granddaughter of
Richard Carvel. 1t is not altogether as
sured that this device is pleasing. for the
story is in no sense sequel and the author
seems at times to take the liberty of as
Stunning that the whole world must have
read the preceding novel
The present story describes the conditions
prevalent In st. Louis prior to and during
the civil war. Mr.. Churchill is adroit in
avoiding the giving of offense to either side
in his expressions although the story de-
velops his own personal leanings toward
the north. There are some strong charac-
ters In the fiction, but none so vivid as the
Abraham Lincoln and the Sherman of Mr..
ChurchillS conception. There Is also a
glimpse of Grant now and then, as a man
In extreme hard luck in civilian life and as
successful soldier.
Although the novel Is blend of history
ana romance, such as is often highly sue
cesSful in literature, in this instance the
Joints are at times too clearly apparent
The historical characters and episodes are
used as vehicles or as Incidents. Some pas
sages are strongly written, notably the de-
scriptfon of the Vicksburg campaign and
later the climax OF the story, when the
Union lover of a southern girl pleads with
In fnr h. IL
who has been captured in the Union lines
as spy. The Crisis would be more sue
cessful if 1t Were to close at this point but
the author permits himself a supplement-
airy chapter which serves only to revive
memories of the "Carver' story and he
furthermore adds an afterword which de-
tracts from the novels interest as a work
Of fiction.
sAWDtsr AND sPANGLEs; Stories and Secrets
Chicago: Herbert S Stone Company.
Mr.. Coup was one of the pioneer showmen
or the United States, and until his death
six years ago he was more or less closely
Identified with the circus business. He had
engaged In some enormous enterprises and
knew the tented spectacle in every phase.
1t was he who originated the railroad show
which revolutfonized the old-time methods
of wagon travel His "reminiscences die
tated at odd moments during the busy sea-
son, are now given publicity for the first
time and throw much light upon the pro-
cesses of this great entertainment enter
prise. Mr.. Coup could doubtless have told
even more startling secrets about the bust
ness than he did divulge. but what his
chapters do reveal Is enough to change
some opinions Of the life and practices of
the showmen and their helpers The excit-
ing adventures of the old days the willy de-
vices of managers. the transformation of
ordinary human beings into freaks, the dis
ri ipn Of rir ttn g.
tenance, the advertising processes all are
vividly described.
INDIAN BASKETRY. BY George Wharton James
author of I'm and Around the Grand Canyon"
etc: With 300 Illustrations. New York: Henry
Malkan.
Basketry, 1.-The mother of pottery" has
been favorite subject for many archaic
ologists and students of North American
Indian life. Mr.. James has applied himself
diligently to both the history and the
poetry and art of the subject, and his
work, now published, is replete with valua-
BILE Information. He deals with bas-
kerry in legend and ceremonial, the art of
construction and coloring, the symbolism
of basketry forms, the present decadence
of the art, the means for its preservation
and the standards whereby to Judge spect-
mems. The illustrations afford a graphic
idea of the wide possibilities of basketry,
besides affording glimpses of some inter
esting aboriginal types.
OUR LADY OF DELIvERANCE BY John Oxen
ham, author of Gods Prisoner etc New
York: Henry Holt & Co. Washington: Vim.
Baliantyne Sons.
Everything happens beautifully in this
story. The plans of the hero work to a
charm, even in the face of a fierce gale
which blows him out to sea when he is due
at a certain hour at French coast town
for an abducting enterprise. Consequently
the reader who likes pleasant progress for
the benevolent personages of the book will
find himself rewarded by faithful perusal
for barring few periods of suspense he
Will be given nothing but successful In
trtgue for the sake of the true. the good
and the beautiful The story is based upon
a Dreyfus-like incident of French army
life.
THE MONEY SPINNER: and Other Character
New York: A. Mackel & Co
1t Is impossible to discriminate between
the products of the collaborators In this ex-
celent series of character studies They
have blended their craftsmanship admira-
bly, and to the end of producing some re-
markedly life-lfke portraits of personages
in the ordinary English walks of life Most
Of these can be readily translated into
American terms for human nature is the
same on both sides of the ocean. Reading
Harvard for Oxford Wall street for The
City" dollars for pounds, and similarly
along the line of Anglcisms the silhou-
cites might very well pass for western
characters.
THE CAREER OF BEAUTY; Novel. By
John Strange Winter, author of 1.-The Truth
Teners,' etc Philadelphia: j. b. Lippin-
colt Company Washington: VIM. Ballantyne
& Sons.
There is material In this novel for a DOW
erful story. But somehow the author lets
1t get away from him. He does not fully
meet the expectations which the title and
some of the earlier incidents and sugges-
tions warrant Although he uses the first
person singular, speaking for his heroine.
the acknowledged beauty of the Eng
fish swell set, he does not Undue her with
the vivid personality which should arise
from this expedient. The story is conse-
quently disappointing because of its rich
promise and it's scant fruition.
PRACTICAL HYPN0TISM; Theories and Experf-
ments. Compiled and Edited by Comte e.
de Saint-Germain ABB. LID. from the works
Of Baird. Charcot, Luys, LiebauIt Wetter-
strand, Bernheim. Moll, De Courneles etc
Illustrated. Chicago: Laird & Lee