Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17

was the first head Of the first American
school for the blind. Starting from almost
original methods. for it had not been pre-
viously considered worth while to spend
much time on those deprived of three OF
tfeir senses, he evolved a system Of teach
ing Laura Bridgman which formed the bas-
Is for all that has followed in this direc
ton in this country. She was the daughte:
Of farmer of Hanover. n. H., delicate
from birth. and when two years old was
stricken with scarlet fever, which left her
deprived of sight. hearing and speech But,
as DR.. Howe says. she was endowed with a
distinct consciousness of existence which
often in such cases becomes an exaggerat-
ed sense of personality. She was intuitive
and preternaturally keen to interpret i'm
press.ons. When brought to the attention
or Dr. Howe she was OK course unlea rned
save to the extent that she had acquired tn /,
meaning O.. the commonest household fur
n1shiEgs and had met nature at first hand
when walking out with a kindly old man
VINO TOOK al interest in her. The process of
education was fundamental from the
ground up, and it was difficult and dis
courag1ng, But 1t succeeded In producing
trained intelligence. capable Of communi-
eating with others. of self-entertainmen
ana of some cleverness Of expression.
Laura's letters are marked with none OF
the peculiar GJGlity which distinguishes
Heen keliers epistles. for the two girls
must be regarded as distinct types. But 1t
may not I've doubted that II the same
methods and experiences had been avail able
Tor use In the education Of Laura Bridg-
man as have been at the disposal of those
In charge of Helen Keller, and there had
Teen SO early in the century the same ia
clhtleS for exploitation Laura BridCman
would have teen considered quite as great
a marvel. This account Of her education is
fascinating and instructive
DOCTOR .Is,l IA; xAviER by Max Pemb.r.on author Of
New York ID. Appleton & Co.
1t Is unfortunate that this novel was Illus
trated The story turns upon the fortunes
OF one who is proclaimed and recognized in
the tale as the most beautiful woman in Eu-
rope. If SO the artist has grossly libeled her
or else the taste Of the author is severely
challenged by the artists conception. 1t is
story of intrigue and of mysteries which
are not fully cleared to the satisfaction of
the reader The Prince of Cadi suppositi-
uouS country lying between the borders of
France and Spain, must marry within a
certain period, and furthermore he must
marry Spaniard. The Duke of Montalvan
pots to lure him into marriage which will
tie his undoing. He all but succeeds the
wicked minister falling at the critical time
under the knife of one of his victims. The
author has neglected to explain the inter-
esting circumstance Of her presence in Cadi
at the psychological moment. Doctor
XAVIER. in short does not hold up to its
nrst promises, although it includes an
abundance of excellent dramatic material
THE PERSONALITIES the Story of an American
CIR. who Took a Voice to Europe and Found
Many Things. by Albert X. Carman. Boston:
Herb TT b. Turner & Co,
Among the things" Jessica Murney found
in the pensions of Dresden, Lucerne and
Paris were a handsome and well conditioned
young Englishman, a poetic German ideal
ist, an enthusiastic German vocal teacher,
great opportunity, then her heart and
finally peace without professional career
She passed through experiences of which
she was only family conscious She was
awakened in her inner self by means of a
thunderstorm while weatherbound in Il
SchiosS in the company with the idealist
She was near to being kidnapped at Lucerne.
but she did not know it. She was almost
captured by a French artist, but she sus-
pected his fortune hunting motive and kept
him at a distance. a number of entertaining
people fit across the pages of the novel,
types of travellers met with in the pensions
and preface tells the reader about those
institutions in spirit of real enthusiasm for
them.
IN OLD PLANTATION DAYS. BY Paul Laurence
Dunbar, author of Lyrics Of Lowry Life etc.
Illustrated. New York: Dodd. Mead & Co.
Washington: BrentanOs.
Mr.. Dunbar has wisely abandoned his
effort to depict the life of the white people
in novels. his one attempt in that direction
having been unsatisfactory. His latest liter
airy output is series of well-written short
stories about the old-tine colored people
of the plantations They have humor and
pathos, two inSeparable qualities when
dealing with this race. and the dialect, as
may be expected, is eXcellently reproduced
Mr.. Dunbar has indeed scored high in this
look, and his publishers have gwen his
stories handsome and effective dress,
with admirable Illustrations
THE HOME: It's Work and Influence BY Charlotte
Perkins Gilman. New York: Mcclure, Philips
d Co. Washington: Woodward Il Lothrop.
Mrs. Gilman IS rather an iconoclast, hav-
ing protested in previous volumes against
domestic and social conventions. She now
presents her views on the home as an
institution. and runs counter to many es-
tablished conceptions of that haven of the
ideals and the hopes of humanity She
dedicates her book "to every man who
maintains a home; to every woman who
Keeps house: to every hOuSe-Servant,
owned, hired or married; to every boy and
girl who lives at home; to every baby who
better homes for all. Undoubtedly. il
society were regenerated and human nature
transmitted into more precious metal,
these suggestions would work a most de-
sirable reform. And they are excellent
ideas, and well worth trying as the case
stands. But 1t is hard to believe that a
book written in such a highly literary
spirit as this. and cOuched in terms which
are above the intelligence of the great mass
of home-makers, will do much good. 1t
makes interesting reading, and may make
converts of some readers. The process Of
domestic evolution is likely, however to
begin at the bottom.
WASHINGTON. Its Sights and Insights. by Mrs.
. Harriet Ea;hart Monroe, author T The Art
OF Conversation" etc. New York: Funk d
Wagnals Company.
This is more than a guide book to the
capital city. 1t is a running commentary
on men, events and scenes i'll the District,
affording rapid glance at official and So
ciaI life here and permitting the stranger to
gain a fairly accurate conception of the
city's attractions. The author. who has
evidently participated considerably in the
Washington life, has not hesitated or
scorned to draw from other sources than
her own pen for her materials. quoting free
ly and at length from newspaper articles,
official reports and congressional speeches
in order to cover the ground. These credit
ed extracts add to the variety and the spice
of the book, which. being well illustrated
and brought UP to date, is welcome addi-
ton to the literature explanatory of Wash
ington's peculiar characteristics
VOCAL. AND LITERARY INTERPRETATION