Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-10

cater to a false taste for the abnormal;
they make profit at the expense of every
finer principle of living. and they eventually
bring discredit upon all concerned in their
production. Mary MacLean of Butte Mont,
may be a myth devised for commercial
literary purposes. Indeed, the dangerous
smartneSs of the text, where it Is not
laughably Whitmanesque in its repetitions
and maunderings, suggests more mature
mind than that of a frontier girl who has
never travelled beyond the pages of certain
books. But genuine or artificial, this per-
sonality is thing to be deplored from every
point of view. A sharp course of discipline
at home would have done her more good
than the publication of her views, rawlings
and immodesties in book form.
Bangs. New York: Riggs Publishing Company.
Washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
Mr.. Bangs reputation as a humorist
causes the reader of this excellent compla-
ton of the American record in Cuba to
wonder somewhat at his choice of theme.
He has evidently undertaken the task, how
ever out of combination Of journalistic
enterprise and public spirit, feeling that
the withdrawal of the troops and officials
of the United States from Cuba soon to be
accomplished is worthy of a formal and
comprehensive acknowledgment. He tells
the story of Uncle Sans trusteeship In a
satisfactory manner, beginning historically
with the discovery and settlement of the
island and leading swiftly from that point
to the story of the Spanish misgovernment,
with its subsequent reaction in revolution
and finally American intervention. A large
part of the work is devoted to the Ameri-
can accomplishments in Cuba outside of
the war of 1898. the sanitary reclamation
of the cities, the organization of the people.
the institution of schools the incubation
of public spirit, the demonstration to the
Cubans of the benefits of stability in gov
eminent. 1t is an optimistic work through
out, cheerful and hopeful 1t expresses the
belief that the seeds sown by the United
States in Cuba will bear rich fruit in the
years to come. Mr.. Bangs bestows praise
upon the men who have labored in Cuba
during the past four years officers and
civilians. The illustrations he selects are
Instructive and graphically tell the story
of the truSteeship in the material achieve
ments of the Americans against the sorry
conditions accumulated by the generations
of Spanish misrule and corruption.
AT THE lack f. *. OF ,, BEYOND Ry Jane Barley
Mead d Co. Washington: Brentanos.
AT the back of beyond" in Bogland, ex-
plains the author, means next to no.
where" or ''at the jumpng-off place." as
our western vernacular runs. Her stories
under this title relate to remote hooks OF
Ireland, unfrequented places, the shy cor
ners where romance and ira edy Turk undis-
closed, save when some folk-loving pen
prizes them out to view. The dozen tales
comprised within the volume are delightful
pastorals, chiefly cheerful in tone, occa-
s1onally sOmber, as The Wrong Turning
and Notice to Quit the latter of these
being of exceptional finish and artistic quail
ity.
CHE BANQUET BOOK. By Cuyler Reynolds. au-
tn thor rG of ,Janet "A Character Study etc;
u. T. Putnams Sons Washington: Woodward
Lothrop.
Next in Importance to the man who first
voices a great thought" says Ebert Hub
bard in his introduction to this compilation
of wise, witty and beautiful thoughts per-
tanning to the banquet table, lis the man
who quotes It. knowledge consists in hav-
ing a clerk who can find the thing-and
here 1t is for you, all pigeon-holed and
labelled. Give thanks, then, and partake."
The quotations contained in the large VOL
ume are designed for general reference and
as an aid in the preparation of the toast
list, the aftcr-dinner speech and the occa-
sional address. The libraries have been
finely Sifted to furnish the hundreds of APP
propriate texts, conveniently classified and
indexed. Those who propose to give or
those who are to eat formal dinners VIII
find this work appetizer for the feast of
reason and the flow of soul.
LIZ Emerson
Indianapolis: The Bowen Merrill Company
John Law. the man whose system of
speculation. which was aforetime called
finance, set France half crazy with the
gambling mania, is the hero of this novel
whose scenes are laid in three countries.
In England. romance and tragedy in Amer
lea, adventure; in France, intrigue and ex-
piation. The story is spirited and interest
ing. The character study of John Law is
searching and analytical. OF his hero and his
schemes the writer says: "Berated by later
generations as an adventurer, schemer,
a charlatan, Law originally deserved any,
thing but such a verdict of the public.
Dishonest he was not, insincere he never
was, and as a student Of fundamentals he
was In advance of his age, which was ever
to be accursed. His method was but the
forerunner of the modern commercial sys-
tenn, which is of itself today but a tougher
faith bubble as may be seen In all the
changing cycles of finance and trade
America-its trade, it's future he was
the colossal pioneer. He saw in his dreams
R Wnat we see today in reality; and no bub
Die OF all the frenzied Paris streets equaled
this splendid dream of a renewed and a
revived humanity that is fact today
T. BACCA QUEEN; Novel. BY Theodore Wilson
wilson. New York: ID. Appleton & Co.
A clean atmosphere pervades this story Of
the slums of Westmoreland town, with
occasional glimpses into the finer life of
the social life environing them. Two young
women, cousins, widely separated socially
and financially, are contrasted mentally
and morally, with an advantage eventually
on the side of the less fortunate one Rut
Doth emerge from their trials satisfa ctorily
Inc love stories at times intermingle en-
riously. A few well drawn characters of
the lower English strata brighten the
pages, with tender touches here and there
TO distinguish this story from the average
run of novels.
VAN BERGEN'S STORY OF CHINA Rv r Van
Bergen. MA, author of The story OF Lamar
New York: American Book Company
The middle kingdom" Is becoming moro
and more the focus of the worlds diplo-
macy. and such a book as this is most
timely Written by one long resident in
China, 1t draws largely on personal observa-
ton for Its facts Commencing with a de-
scription of the physical features of the
country, 1t next considers the people them
selves. their beliefs, customs and educa-
ton Then the history Of the Chinese en-
pre- Is briefly sketched, from the earliest
times to the Boxer uprising. The book is
attractively Illustrated from photographs
and forms an interesting and valuable sun.
Elementary geogra phical reader