Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15

scribner's Sons. Washington: VIM. Balan-
tyne & Sons.
Mr.. Barrie has never more closely reached
the heart of the multitude than in this tale,
nor yet has he ever insnuated a more beau
tiful thought into his writing than is here
to be found by the reader who interprets
the text. Here and there in Sentimental
Tommy" occurred a strain suggestive in
recollection of the infinite tenderness and
the wholesome pathos of THE Little White
Bird But nowhere else has Mr.. Barrie
been able to offer so clear-cut a character
study without direct description. The rather
stiff, sedate, touchy Samaritan, who dimes
well at his club and looks through the WIN
dow and watches a romance developing I'M
der his nose, is novelty which increases
when later that middle-aged bachelor takes
a hand to aid the love affair to proper
climax and then continues to regard the
domestic life of the young couple with the
eye of father, or rather let it be said,
an elder brother. Perhaps even this rela-
tionship is too close, for there are strong
hints at times, despite the bachelors refusal
of Davids repeated invitations to meet his
mother that the Samaritan holds the ideal
of Mary A" close to his heart in by no
means brotherly manner. The relations
between him and Marys child, David, are
beautiful and lead to a series of fairy
stories which have their best purpose in
the revelation of Mr.. Rarrie's understand
ing OF cIlld character and his eApoSltion VI d
charming manner of entertaining the little
folks. If all youngsters were cared for as
jealousy In their mental growth as was
David by his "father,'s this would be a bet
ter, SWeeter world.
The part played in this tale by Porthos
the great dog of the story teller, is never to
be forgotten, even in the flush of sympathy
for the bachelors loneliness and the hint
of It's solution which marks the close of the
book. Porthos may have tried the sad ex-
pertinent Of being turned into a man in
order to be like his beloved master. The
master does not venture the assertion
merely reciting the facts But if so, it
was well that the splendid beast had the
chance to return to his shaggy covering
and renew his dearer, closer, more sympa-
thetic relations with mankind There is no
need to pity dogs after this recital of Por-
thos' suppoSIuIious experience.
THE Little White Bird is a book to think
about, to read a second and a third time
and to discuss. 1t should be read to chill
dren-some parts-and from beginning TO
end to some adults who have kept tight
grip on narrow views Of life and have for
gotten that they once were little folks them
selves.
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI. By Gabrielle D'Annun-
Zio. Translated by Arthur Symons New York:
Frederick A. Stokes Company. Washington
Brentano'S
This version of the Immortal Italian ro-
nance is just at present of unusual inter
est because of the fact that Eleonora Duse
is now on tour in this country with it in
Guided in her repertoire. The translation
now presented affords a clear conception
of the difference between the D'Annunzio
drama, and that of Stephen Phillips, which
a few months ago attracted attention in
English-speaking countries. The two are
radically apart in the development of the
story and in atmosphere. D'Annunzio's
tragedy is harsh and cruel unsweetened by
the tender innocence of Francesca and the
noble struggle of Paolo against his passion.
1t may be faithful picture of the period,
when brother fought brother and assassina-
ton and cruelty were common to daily life
Perhaps it is the more dramatic because of
this ruggedness. 1t is less appealing to the
ear or the sentiment of the reader. The
blank verse is cratic even to the point of
absolute freedom from metrical regulations
Some fundamental differences in situation
are to be noted between this and the Phil
lips version, notably in that the tragedy
does not occur in D'AnnunZos writing for
some years after the relations between
Paolo and Francesca were established.
Paolo is a husband and father in this ac-
count, while Phillips presents him free from
ties. Francesca is mother to Giovannis
children in the D'AnnunZio story, and in the
Phillips play is only a bride of a short
period, young and timorous. D'Annunzio
causes Malatestino, Giovanni's brother to
be the betrayer of Paolo's love for Fran
cesca, being himself her rejected lover,
whereas Phillips introduced Giovannis old
nurse for this purpose.
MY LIFE IN MANY STATES AND IN FOREIGN
LANDS; Dictated in My Seventy-fourth Year.
BY George Francis Train. Illustrated. New
York: d. Appleton Co.
George Francis Train has been called
the strangest man In America" His
career, as now narrated by himself, fully
bears out this charac terization. His very
attitude today, that of a recluse, silent in
the midst of millions, communing chiefly
with children, is such startling contrast
with his early activities and enterprise
that the change in itself stamps him as an
anomaly. For thirty years he has been
under the ban of the law, which pronounced
him insane, and has never rescinded that
verdict. He dropped out of public activity
Immediately upon that proceeding which
was the elimination of a red-hot political
campaign, in which Train confidently ex-
pected to be elected President of the United
States Prior to that time he had been
constantly before the public, as a shipper.
railroad promoter, investor, capitalist, agi-
tator and lecturer. He was never at rest
His activities were phenomenal, his schemes
endless in number and marvellous in va
riety.
Reading this autobiography purely as a
human document, 1t is plain that young
man starting with the self-assurance of
Train would ultimately become conspicuous
were as naught to him, but rather melted
his desire to crush them. When as a ship
ping agent in Liverpool al twenty-five he
forced the opening of the docks at night by
organizing a combination which threatened
to remove the trade to another port he gave
evidence of what his own countrymen were
to expect from him. But something was
lacking. Train would have stirred the
world to its foundations had he possessed
better balance and more consideration for
others. Two centuries earlier he might
have risen to great heights. He did not fit
these days, and the melancholy spectacle
he has lately presented is the consequence.
His book Is intensely interesting, reveal
ing as it does, the motives which animated
Train in his enterprises and the sentiments
which inspired him as he whrIed around
the world 1t is remarkable achievement
for septuagenarian legally classified as
insane.
CHARLES KHLBUCK; ain Indians Story of the
Border Wars of the AMERICAN Revolution. By
Francis c. Huebner. Washington: The Her
bert Publishing Company.
The book is essentially a Washington
product since it is written by a Washington
author and printed by local publishing
house 1t tells in graphic style of the trou-
bles between the redmen- and the whites
along the borders of eastern Ohio during
the revolutionary war; and Mr.. Huebner