Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22

" 5E>sii5S3S,
THE BLUE FLOWER. By Henry Van Dyke. IL
instrated. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
Washington: William Ballantyne Sons.
One of the most delightful of DR.. Van
Dykes traits in story writing in his manner
of prefacing his books. His introduction to
THE Ruling Passion was in itself bit Of
real literature. 1t breathed great philos-
ophy in a few beautiful words Now to In
troduce 1.-The Blue Flower" a new collec-
ton of tales, he writes a preface which is
likewise a word gem. 1t explains that the
nine stories are really only parts Of the
same longer story. the story of the search
for happiness which is life" The ex-
plantation of the title Of the collection is
given in a brief reference to the unfinished
work of Novalis, Heinrich Won Ofterdin-
gen. the first Of DR.. Van Dykes compost
tons being a free translation of a fragment
of that poetic conception Finally he says
to the reader: And SO, will you take this
little book, and see if it belongs to you?
once it was not mine, and then it was
mine. and now it Is no longer mine alone.
The stories are simply, quantity, told.
They are imbued with deeply reverential
spirit, many of them relating directly to
religious thoughts. They are variations OF
the theme OF the search for happiness. Now
it is beauty, now love, now ambition, now
piety, now worldliness Turing on the travel
er and searcher. THE Other Wise Man"
is remarkable tale of a supposititious
fourth who set out to accompany the
three wise men from the east to the
manger birthplace Of Christ. He was de-
tanned by his good deeds to the day Of the
crucifixion. dying then blessed with the
realization that he had been working
throughout for the Savior whom he had
been vainly seeking.
Memorial Verses. By william Ellery Chan
ming. New edition, enlarged, edited by f. b.
Sanborn Boston, Charles E. Goodspeed.
Channing's Thoreau first appeared in
serial form in the Bostons commonwealth
in 1864, and was only partly published in
that form, the manuscript being withdrawn
by It's somewhat erratic author because the
publisher had chosen to omit one INSTALL
ment. Nine years later the book was is
sued, but not in most satisfactory shape,
Its size having been eked out by the addi-
ton of much extraneous matter. The pres
ent edition corrects some of the mistakes
Of compilation which marked. that issue
and gives a more comprehensive and sys-
tematic view of Thoreau as he was init
mately known by Claiming. Claiming
was himself a poet of considerable merit,
and he so sympathized with Thoreau's pc
culiar temperament that he was we'll quail
fled to draw from the latter's diaries the
material for personal account of the
poet-naturaist. Some Of the biographical
matter consists Of descriptions of Thoreaus
walks with his friends and of dialogues be-
tween them, including Emerson. Chan
ming and Alcott. This matter Is interest
ing because Of the light it throws upon
the small talk as well as the weightier
deliveIances Of these persons. Admirers
of Thoreau will. welcome this addition to
the literature of the strange man who had
so much of the hermit and so much of the
companion in his composition.
SCIENCE FOR EVERYBODY - ASTRONOMY
FCl EVERY BODY; Popular Exposition OF
the Wonders of the aearen5 By Simon Te
Illustrated Must. New York: Mcclure, Philips 4
Co. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
A few years ago Prof. Newcomb pub
lished in McCiures Magazine a series OF
articles on the unsolved problems of as
tronomy total eclipses Of the sun, etc, and
they attracted such marked attention that
from them grew the plan of presenting
comprehensive statement Of modern as
tronomy before the unscientifc reading
world IN what is known as popular" form.
This is the work. 1t elucidates many trou-
blesome problems which daily, or rather
nightly, vex the star-gazer and the I'M
trained student Of the universe. Prof New
comb has neither SmOthered his reader In
technical language nor deprived him of the
lucidity and eXactness of statement which
such language only can give. He has COM
promised the difficulties and presented his
statements in form to be clearly grasped
while doing no violence to the demands of
science. A remarkable photograph Of the
sun at total eclipse, taken May 20, 1900, by
the Smithsonian party, forms the frontis-
piece, and effectively introduces series
of instructive and in some cases beautiful
illustrations.
SAMOA UNA; Where Life is Different By Lew
ella Pierce Churchill. New York: Forest and
Stream Publishing Company.
Mrs. Churchill lived in Samoa several
years, her husband being consul general at
Apia. She observed the customs Of the
people closely, made copious notes, listened
to the folk tales, directed the taking Of nu-
merous photographs, and in general pre-
pared for this publication in thorough
manner, though apparently without being
conscious of the fact that her labors would
lead to the production of a valuable work
on the distant Islands. Now that Samoa is
again In international evidence owing to
the decision of the King of Sweden upon
the Americana erman-B British claims, Mrs.
Churchills book will be read with especial
interest Yet there Is little of political in
formation in 1t, it's chapters relating more
especially to the ways Of the people, their
daily occupations, their superstitions, their
food, drink, dress and surroundings.
They are picturesque people, only
just succumbing to the softening in
fluences of civilization and already ac-
curing some Of it's harsher effects. They
are poetic, beautiful as the South sea
standards go, and when thoroughly under
stood they make captivating friends. Mrs.
Churchill acquired their confidence and
heard many of their stories, SO that her
work is above the average of books about
distant climes and peoples for this reason
Of an intimate knowledge.
FORSTER'S LIFE OF DICKENS; Abridged and
Revised By George Gissng. With Portraits
Illustrations and Fac Smiles. New York: Nc
Clure Phillips Co. Washington Woodward
& Lothrop.
Forster's Life Of Dickens is regarded by
some authorities as the equivalent. for
thoroughness. precision and general fidelity
to truth, Of Boswell's Johnson. 1t is In
some respects almost too intimate in its as
pect of Dickens to satisfy those who hold
critical views Of his life and works. But
Judged as partisan presentation and quail
fled accordingly it is unquestionably one OF
the greatest Of modern biographies. 1t Is
too bulky in volume, however, for ready
reference and 1t is boon to students Of
Dickens that Mr.. Gissing who has himself
undertaken a close study of the novelist,
has now prepared this abridgment. None