Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-19

This briefly. III the plot OF the book
| whose Influence We feel, 50 far as II may
exert any. will be distinctly mischlevous.
| Floyd DE Shon, the apostate clergyman
IL a character well calculated to excite
contempt.
Utterly lacking in moral stamina: weak
and vacillating-and burdened with al,
infinite self-conceit. he rattles In and out
| the movement of the narrative apparent
| ~ without rhyme or reason.
Katherine Piling,, pure and charming
| the fashionable circles Of large city.
| finds 1t impossible to become the wife OF
"a clergyman is another inconsruity.
Starting out with false assumption
worker I'm the Christian ministry the au-
thor has had no difficulty in arriving at
an unnatural and illogical conclusion.
A tolerant spirit. and breadth of vision,
do not, as this writer seems to assume.
unfit man for work in the Christian
ministry. Rather do they enlarge his
opportunities for service, and extend the
gracious scope of his influence.
A true woman VINO would refuse to
marry the man she loved for no other
reason than that he is doing Gods work,
is an anomaly.
There is an evident love and apprecia-
tion of nature running through the pages
OF this book, but there is also an obvious
lack of penetration and appreciation of
the strong and rugged virtues of the New
England life and character. We NIGH
well regard the author as himself "a
summer visitor" and a very superficial
observer. For instance, we are told that
persons who live in the little hill towns
of New England. and this Is particularly
true of those who live in the more north
ern Of the states, they who are seldom,
II ever, afforded contact with the big
world of things and ideas, which lie just
beyond the farthest bounds of their
township limits, are disposed to take
both themselves and their little world
more or less seriously"
We know of no hill towns" in New
England, in these days of steam and cleo
trio railroads, of telegraphs and tele-
phones, and daily rural free delivery of
mails that are ever out of contact with
the big world of things and ideas" Peo-
pie born and bred in the big cities are
sometimes conceited enough to think
that this is the fact; but their thinking
so does not make ii so. The ideas" that
have gone forth from the hill towns" of
New England have immeasureably
enriched our country in its art, its liter
allure, its commercial enterprise, its in
ventive genius-in everything that enters
into the potential life of great people.
Take themselves and the world in
which they live and move and have their
being seriously? Certainly they do,
and why shouldn't they? For them life
man VINO takes himself and the commun-
ity in which he resides in any other
spirit. For him there is neither present
usefulness nor future hope.
We trust that Mr.. Patton may here
after fird a theme. whose development
and treatment will be more worthy OF
his powers.
Americans in Process, A Settlement
Study, by residents and associates of the
South End House, edited by Robert a.
Woods. head of the house, North and
West ends, Boston; cloth; II mo-; PIP
3S3; Price s1.50, net; Boston: Houghton
Miflin & Company.
This book is study by group OF
experienced settlement workers, men and
women, of the round of life in the North
and West Ends, the two principal i'm
migrant districts of Boston. These dis
tricts. until about fifteen years ago,
were irha bited chiefly by an Irish popu
lation. Since that time there has been
a large influx of Jews and Italians.
Twenty-Five different nationalitieS are
here represented, including considerable
number OF Negroes. The book shows the
general relation existing between these
districts and ether parts of the city. The
social history of the North End is traced
from pre-revolutionary days, showing the
striking background of American senti-
ment and tradition in which the present
drama of assimilation is being carried
out. The chief traits of the various ma
tionalites are analysed, and their cdpac-
ity for American citizenship estimated.
The continued series of efforts on the
part of tie city TO cope with the sanitary
evils of these crowded quarters is traced,
and further steps suggested. There are
chapters from industrial conditions. up
on the technique of local politics. upon
criminal tendencies, and upon the
amusements of the people.
The influences actively at work for con-
serving and strengthening all that is best
in this strange life are carefully ex-
amined the work of the church in its
various branches. including the Jewish
synagogues. the public schools, and the
entire scheme of organized charity and
philanthropy.
A concluding chapter shows the general
trend of things. 1t points out that as
sanitation is two-edged sword-thdt
there are dangerous tendencies which are
creeping in among the people of the city
in general. as a result of conditions in
these districts. 1t suggests the necessity
Of thoroughgoing effort on the part of the
city as a whole if the task of American
izing these new citizens is to he effectual-
ly done.