Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-25

the close the action is rapid In this style
or novel 1t would be well. perhaps. to elm
mate some Of the lengthy political discus
sion which appears in the recital and adds
scarcely more than bulk to the book
THE WHIRLwIND. By Rupert Hughes Boston:
The Lothrop Publishing Company.
This story of the civil war is rather too
long and in places too colloquial in the au-
thor's own text to be as acceptable as II
would be with a little revision and excision
1t is strong in places even to the point of
being disagreeable In the war scenes,
which fill the greater part of the story,
there is too much blood. The central fig
ure is distinct and human, strong and COM
handing. He rises from the humbest orr
gin to be a general officer in the Union
army, then a representative in Congress
and finally a senator, with the presidency
awaiting his acceptance. Some readers
will aver that the story contains a few too
many chapters; that it should have ended
before John Mead committed the sin which
for time estranged him from his wife and
earned for him the murderous hatred of an
other man. On the other hand John Mead
was, as stated, human. and his misstep
was perhaps not unnatural however de-
plorable and wrong. Had the story ended
before he took 1t, or had it been eliminated
and the story carried to logical conclu-
SiOH WltHuul II, ptedSduleF ldSle WOulu
have been left One fundamental fault
mars the structure of the tale. John Mead
could not, under the American system
have been nominated for the presidency
as stated in the story, more than year
before the presidential election. There Is
no reason for the liberty thus taken with
the facts, and it is to be regretted In what
is otherwise so lifelike and characteristic a
novel of American life in the middle and
latter part Of the past century.
rlor
at Oberammergau. BY Wihelmine Won Hfllern
and Mary ]. Stafford. Illustrated Philadel-
phia: Drexel Biddle.
A romance based upon the love of a wo-
man of title for the peasant who assumes
the role of Christus in the celebrated Ober-
ammergau Passion Play forms the basis of
this well-wrtten though somewhat tire
somely. long novel. The theme Is daring
to the point of exciting controversy as to
its propriety. AS story of ardent passion
it is of interest AS embodying remark
ably vivid description of the Passion Play
itself it is intrinsically valuable.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE PURPLE BY George
Gilbert. New York: r. f. Fenno Co.
Washington: Woodward Lothrop.
The intrigue of George " of England
9Th Mrs. Fitzmorris. which some historians
claim to have been an entirely honorable
alliance far as she was concerned. with
a strictly valid marriage ceremony, formed
one of the most interesting features of all
the distressing incidents in the life Of that
monarch. I'm the Shadow of the Purple
is designed a defense of Mrs. FitZmor-
ris' honor. 1t is not an especially impor-
tant point that is thus raised, but much
poorer novels have been based upon weight
Ter historical subjects. 1t affords graphic
picture of court life during Georges time,
and bears unmistakable evidences Of a sin
cere effort at accuracy and fairness.
THE AMERICAN IDEA; as Expounded by Ameri
can Statesmen. Compiled by Joseph B. Glider
Int PRODUCTION by Andrew Carnegie. New York:
Dodd Mead & Co. Washington Brentano's.
Mr.. Carnegie believes dhe American
idea" to trend toward great commercial ex-
panSion rather than territorial, toward the
arts of peace rather than those of war, to-
ward the establishment of the United States
as the greatest world power through the
simple force of the laws of supply and de-
mand, this country becoming finally the
purveyor for all the other peoples on earth.
His introduction is couched in a vein of
compla int against recent tendencies Of this
government, but he believes that the prin-
ciples for which he contends are too deeply
engrained in the people to permit what
he holds to be national decadence. He
points to the great state papers and ora
tons which Mr.. Glider has compiled
evidence of the evolution Of the democracy
toward his ideal Of Americanism. These
papers are as follows: The Declaration of
Independence, the Articles of Confederation,
the Constitution, Washington's inaugurals,
the Farewell Address, the Monroe Doctrine,
Lincoln's Cooper Institute Speech, Lin
coins inaugurals, the Proclamation of
Emancipation, Lincoln's Gettysburg speech,
Websters Bunker Hill speech, Minister
James Russell Lowells speech on Democ-
racy at Birmingham, England, October 6,
1884: Cleveland on the Self-made Man,
last speech al Buffalo, Hoar on Free Speech
and Hay on Our Recent Diplomacy. What
ever the reader may hold to the safety
or danger of the present trend in American
affairs, he cannot deny that this compilation
is of practical value for convenient refer
ence.
LITTLE WOMEN: or Meg Jo, Beth and Amy BY
Louisa NJ Alcott. illustrated by Alice Barber
Stephens. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
A fine new edition of Miss Alcott's classic
series is of the most acceptable fea-
lures of this years output Of the book
presses Little Women has acquired a
permanent place in the affections of several
generations of young people already, and
1t will doubtless remain a favorite as long
as child nature remains as 1t now is. The
new edition is attractive the illustrations
being artistic and satisfactorily productive
of cherished ideals of the charming charac-
tiers who people the story.
LETTERS FROM A SELF-MADE MERCHANT
TO HIS son: Being the Letters written by
John Graham. Head of the House Of Graham
and Company Pork Packers of Chicago, Fa-
miliarly Known Change "Old Gorgon
Graham" TO his Son Pierrepont. facetiously
known TO his intimates Piggy" By George
Horace Lormer. illustrated. Boston: Small
Maynard & Co.
OF course, in real life John Graham never
would have written such long winded let
tiers, however deeply he may have been en-
crossed In his sons welfare. But that point
may be passed over as immaterial. AS the
case stands John Graham did write letters
which are full Of wit and good sense, 1t is
perhaps proper to say as full Of meat as
"Old Gorgeous" own sausages. Homely
epigrams tighten the burden of advice and
enforce the lessons taught. piggy Ora
ham was especially vulnerable to such ad-
dresses and stands as fair type Of some
rich mems sons, not blessed with strong
tendencies toward hard work. These letters
attracted marked attention while they were
appearing in q weekly periodical, but they
are doubly interesting when given covers.
EUGENE FIELDS FAvoRITE POEMS Com
piled by Ralph A. Lyon Evanston, HI: Will
lam 8. Lord.