Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01

posal of SO much space to him. Entertain
ing and instructive sketches of Voltaire
and Adrienne Lecouyreur are given in the
course Of the story.
THE CLIMAX: or. What Might Have Been. By
Charles FELTON, Pidgin, author of .'Blennerhas-
sett," etc. Boston: c. VI. Clark Publishing
Company.
Mr.. Pidgin's persistent effort to rehabili-
tate Aaron Burr in the esteem of the
American people found its most logical ex-
preston in his novel, "Blennerhassett,"
which has already attracted considerable
attention. both favorable and unfavorable.
Now he goes beyond the legitimate range
of historical novel writing and pictures
Burr as he might have been" under other
circumstances than the actual. He causes
him to be elected to the presidency, to be
reelected. and then to decline further cleo
ton only on the ground of intense patriot
ism, after having aroused the steadfast de-
votion of a great majority of the people
who are only too eager to heap honors upon
him to the end of his days He causes Burr
to be the dominant figure of the whole re-
public, the promulgator of the great doc
trlne or the Americas for the Americans
known in history and popular parlance as
the Monroe doctrine-the direct participant
In successful war with Great Britain and
IN snort all sorts of hero. with charac-
with which history and biography have in
vested him. The story is filled out with
the variations of a more or less coherent
plot. in which the Burr family participate
with only the faintest resemblance to their
true record. THE Climax is appropriately
named. as marking the limit to which lit
erary partisanship can 60
THE EARTH AND THE FULI.NESs THEREOF.
sS y meter k9seegsr Translated by Frances D.
washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
In this romance of modern Stvria the
author has given to his readers a breath
from the earth, and the scent Is by no
means repulsive. but it is full of strong
life There Is an atmosphere Of whole
someness about the story that will COM
mend itself to readers who are able to rec
ognize and appreciate the beautiful in life
even when the environment apparently pos
sesses no attractiveness. The book is writ
ten in letter style. The life of the Syrian
peasants is described infinitely and the
author tells of their work, opinions
religion and customs with such direct
ness that the reader is enabled to
characterize the people distinctly The
story deals with the transformation Of a
city-bred man into peasant, and 1t teaches
that even in squalid surroundings with
work that is scarcely better than drudgery
happiness may be found. A love story with
a pleasing denouement adds to the interest
OF the book, but it is not made the princi-
pal theme. In a book composed of letters
the reading at times is likely to become
tedious, but in this story this fault is re-
duced to small proportions
THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR; The Romance Of
Aerial Navigation By John Alex ander. With
Preface by Sir Hiram Maxim. New York: A.
Vessels Company.
In these days of startling experiments In
human flight the mind of the person who is
content to stay upon the earth becomes
somewhat confused and unable to recollect
all that has preceded and led up to the
Santos Dumont dirigible balloon. Mr.
Alexander's summary of experiments in
aerial navigation Is, therefore, of unusual
interest and value. 1t is illustrated by
many drawings of old-type balloons and
flying machines some of which are Yeri-
table curiosities in complicated mechan-
ism. In conclusion he thus prophesies: THE
ordinary balloon will be only partially d.
rectable when the air currents have been
charted; the 'ballon dirigible of the
Zeppelin and Santos Dumont type will
never be comfortable in strong head winds;
to the heavier than air machine. using
aeroplanes the Maxim principle, or
some other invention we must look for
the final solution of the problem of aerial
navigation"
CHATTERB0x. Edited by J. Erskine Clark, MA.
i"Stoh. bdha i1SleS " W.
Chatterbox was established in 1878, and
has been continued without a lapse yearly
since that time, having become an institu-
ton in the nursery and chdren's reading
rooms 1t has preserved the original out
ward aspect with a highly colored cover
and frontispiece and over 200 illustrations
in the somewhat old-fashioned style of
drawing, dearly beloved by children.
ToPsYs AND TURvYs; A Rhynlng Colored Pic
fure booE; ny Peter Newell. New York: The
Mr.. Newell's Topsys and Turvys first at
tracted the joyous attention of children in
1898, and were followed by another INSTALL
ment the next year. They are reversible
colored pictures, with cleverly appropriate
two-line verses. There Is really right
side up to the book, but at first glance it
is rather difficult to find. Each side of
the drawing has it's distinctive value and
when reversed has another quite as indi-
vdual. The collection of the SO and "a
books in single form now is welcome con-
tribution to the chidren's holiday volumes.
Florence Howe Hail. author Of Social Gus
TOMS Boston: Dana Estes Co
This is a revised edition Of earlier
work, the revision including the correction
Of styles which have changed in the last
dozen or more years and the addition Of
new matter to CONFORM to the rules or So
ciety, which are not like the laws Of the
Modes and Persians in all particulars The
book is conveniently printed with 1.-The cor
rect thing on the left-hand page, with the
antithetical Incorrect thing" opposite.
These admonitions and directions are cas-
sified In groups though without distinctive
headings With such work the social
initiate should never go; astray.
PATIENCE; or Bunthorrle,s Bride By W. S. Gil
bert With new fntrodactIon New York:
Doubleday, Page & Co. Washington: William
Balantyne Sons. =
1t has been so long since Patience" was
enacted in conspicuous manner that this
reprint of the ''bookq ,is,auite like a voice
from the past. Separated from its bright
music the work must, Of course. appeal
solely on its literary merits. but that 1t has
such merits eannot1be denied. 1t was re-
garded at the time Of its original produc-
ton as one Of the brightest skits In En-
glish musical comedy, and can now be read
with pleasure by those who appreciate the
graphic satire of Mr.. Gilbert.
ST. NICHOLAS BoOKs-THE CRUISE OF THE
DAZZLER. By Jack London. New York: The
century Company. Washington; Brentanos.
This is new series OF books for chill
dren. including stories which have appear
ed recently In the st. Nicholas magazine.