Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

century gives rise Is that Sidney Laniei
was not permitted by fortune to develop his
remarkable talents to the full. Hampered
by poverty and ill-health, he struggled to
solve the commonest problems of life when
he might have been producing immortal
works. Few figures in the history OF all
literature are so pathetic. and yet SO brave
and patient, as Sidney Lanier. Playing the
flute in an orchestra for an income Wnlch
barely sufficed to support his family, ne
nevertheless bravely sought mental eXpan-
sion and, gifted with the true poets soul,
he found obstacles only an inspiration. IL
Is interesting TO conjecture what he might
have done had he been blessed with at least
competence and good constitution.
There are those to declare that he would
have scared high above the range of Amer
lean literary producers. and others VINO as
sert that doubtless Lanier found his maxi
mum amid the trying circumstances ana
the driving necessities which encompassed
him.
However this may be, his studies In Eliz-
abethan poetry, comprising two sets of lee
lures delivered by him in Baltimore during
the winter of 1S19-S0, one at Johns Hopkins
University and the other to a class of ladies
at Peabody Institute, are striking contrl-
button to the finer literary products OF the
period. Scholarly and thorough, they pre-
sent ''Shakspere," as Mr.. Lanter preferred
glory and the elimination of the most mar
velous literary efflorescence the world has
known. The work Is not merely an analy-
sis of Shakespeare's own writings or times
but a comprehensive review of the condi-
tions upon which the poetry of the Eliza
bethan period was founded. The poet him
self and his contemporaries are OF course de-
scribed. and important theories are adduced
as to the mental and spiritual evolution OF
the great writer.
A statement Of the chapter titles will af-
ford as complete a view of the scope or the
work as any other method in brief: The
Flizabethan Writers, the Formal Side of
Poetry: The Supernatural in Early English
and in Shakespeare; Nature in Early Eng.
fish and in Shakespeare; Some Birds of
English Poetry; Women of English Poetry
Down to Shakespeare; The Wife in Middle
English Poetry; The Sonnet Makers From
Surrey to Shakespeare: Pronunciation OF
Shakespeare's Time; The Music of Snake
speare's Time; The Domestic Life of Shake
speare's Time; The Doctors of Shake
speare's Time; The Metrical Tests; Mans
Relations to the Supernatural as shown in
and THE Tempest" Mans Relations to
Man as shown In the same plays; Mans
Relations to Nature, with the same plays
as Illustrations.
The lecture form of the studies Is pre-
served as best revealing the style of dis
course and argument and illustration adopt
ed by Mr. Lanier. He talked easily to his
hearers and led them on from point to point
with the subject. Indeed il is not to be
questioned that those lectures were remark
able for the magnetic influence OF the
speaker upon the listeners. His personality
was winning his voice, 1t is said by those
who heard him, was musical and his deltv-
cry both conversational and dramatic. Be
sides, his great earneStneSS and the enthu-
siasm of his researches and beliefs stamp
all of his works. Sidney I.anier uttered no
note I'm al his life that was not sincere ana
true.
The present edition is worthy the excep-
tional character of the work. The books
are handsomely printed and bound and the
Illustrations chosen with care from cotem-
porary prints giving not only portraits OF
the Eizabethan writers. but scenes from
old productions and pictures of famous
London places intimately connected with
The drama of Shakespeare's day. lnasmuch
as this publication comprises the most I'M
portant prose work produced by sidney La
nier it is fitting that it should be conspicu-
ously presented.
THE STRUGGLE FOR CONTINENT; Edited
from the Writings of Francis Parkman. Ry
Pelham Edgar. PhD professor in The the French
Language and lteratTTs GtoTia III IT.
tie, Brown Co.
Parkman wrote so much and so valuably
about the history of the North American
continent that it Is difficult either to grasp
the whole OF his products or to pass any OF
them over. They form chain OF works
OF the utmost Importance to any student
of western history. The present editor, ap-
preaching his task with a high regard for
Parkman's completeness and the value OF
his least productions. feeling assured that
so careful and conscientious an historian
would not uselessly expand his pages, has
undertaken to coudense nine volumes into
one telling of the struggle for the posses
sion of the continent beginning with the
colonization Of Florida by the Huguenots In
1902 and eliminating In the fal! of Quebec
IN 1859. He has selected those passages
from the historians works which cover the
most important events and describe great
movements most graphically. and has
bound them together by means OF connect
Ing notes. making the work a compact
whole. virtually all in Parkman's language.
The volume thus prepared contains 500
pages. with many maps, portraits and
other Illustrations. Those who have not
already become familiar with Parkmans
works will doubtless be tempted by
perusal Of this condensation to delve into
that remarkable series, while others, who
have read that series. will enjoy the sum-
mary which DR.. Edgar has so capably
prepared,
OBSERVATIONS BY MIR. DooLEY. By F. P
Dunno. New York: X. H. Russell.
This is the third "Dooley book" which
has been given covers, and it is almost as
welcome as the first, which preserved some
the best of those delightful sketches which
Bet the whole western world laughing a few
years ago. Almost as welcome, but not
quite for Mr.. Dooley has become bit too
familiar a figure in the literary or rather
journalistic house hold to be awaited in
new dress eagerly as at first. Yet this
edition OF Mr. Dooley will find many TO
express gratitude, and the book will go on
the shelves to establish a permanent record
OF phase Of American humor which some
critics mistakenly averred would not last
through a single season. Mr.. DUNES
facility in utilizing the latest news event as
a text for his brogue dissertations has
helped him over many dry places, and as
long the taste for this sort of rough-and-
ready philosophy lasts there is certain to be
q fresh supply.
TOM MOORE; an Unhistorcal Romance Founded
on Certain Happenings in the Life OF Irelands
Greatest Poet. by Theodore Burt Sayre, au-
thor OF The Son OF Car!eycroft." etc. Illus
trated. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Com
pany. Washington: Brentanos.
Tom Moores life was romantic indeed.
and novel founded upon his experiences
need not depart far from the actualities to
be highly entertaining. The author of this
story. having doubtless in view the drama
tizatiOn which Mr.. Andrew Mack recently
produced in this city. has taken such liber-
allowed a writer who seeks climax rather
than faithful biography. Men are grouped
with view TO their effect in combination
d. g.