Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14

THE CHAMELEON. By James Weber Linn. author
or The Second Generation New York: Nc
d Lothrop.
Ihese are real people who move and
speak in this book, types of the men and
women met with in life, from the college
student to the millionaire pickle maker.
Inc story turns upon the struggles of a
man TO be sincere in his attitude toward
the people around him. He has inherited
from his father the disposition of the cha
meleon. He takes on the color Of his envi-
ronment, and, in the language of business.
ne strives to please" Even at the expense
OF the truth in minor matters he always
attempts to create a favorable impression.
Ihls form of egotism is by no means I'M
common, although it does not often lead to
tragedy, as in the case Of the father or
Francis Bradford, or to the verge of a tras-
eqy, as In the case Of Bradford himself.
NOT does 1t cause man often to turn his
PACK upon all that he loves and assume the
ol1ncult role OF clergyman determined to
run counter to the wishes of his parishion-
ers, as IN the case Of Father Charges.
charges Is, after all, the real hero of the
tale ana presents most interesting char
acter study. incidentally the picture ia
given OF the forced development of a small
, western ciasslcal college into great uni
verslty by means Of a ten-million-dollar en-
doWment given by the pickle maker for his
own advertisement.
IN PICCADnLY. By Benjamin Swift, author .,
The Game Of Love-" etc. New York: e. p
Putnam's Sons. "
Stories about the social rottennness or
London accumulate e. F. Benson has writ
ten several. displaying a keen appreciation
OF the unfortunate conditions which sur
round the British aristocracy Mr.. Swift
has written others, the latest being this
"Piccadilly," which concentrates the read
er's attention upon a certain phase of
life in that thoroughfare which has been
called the "amazement of Europe" An old
Scotch laird goes to London to please his
son, takes an expensive house and soon
finds himself running behind In his finances
Ihe son plunges into the vortex Of society
and clash occurs between the two, lead
Ing to deplorable state of affairs. The
love OF men for the wives Of other men
forums the romantic theme and leads to a
situation which justifes the culmina ting
tragedy. Yet that tragedy clears the atmos-
phere In one respect and in another permits
a read5ustment Of marital relations which
tne author may or may not think to be
wholesome, but which. most readers will re-
gard as decidedly Objectionable. The rise
and fall OF an ambitious valet lends color
and Vivacity to the story.
oBERAMMERGAU IN 1900; the Village, the People
and and the Passion Play. By Sarah Willard Howe.
1luStTdteu view 1OrK: Inc Abbey Press,
Miss Howe visited Oberammergau in 1900
to witness the decennial presentation of the
historic passion play and has prepared for
the benefit of those who have not witnessed
the remarkable spectacle an interesting ac-
count of what she saw and heard and
learned there. There has been so much
written about the passion play and it's par
Elephants that 1t seems difficult to tell more.
yet this author, who is resident Of Wash
ington and has already secured a measure
OF literary success, contrives to impart
much that is valuable and to present the
story from new point of view. Her chap
tiers are brief and we'll written, and the text
is effectively supplemented by handsome
illustrations showing scenes in and about
Oberammergau
MILLIONAIRE HOUSEHOLDS AND THEIR no.
MESTiC ECONOMY; with Hints Upon Fine Liy-
ing BY Mary Elizabeth Carter. New York:
d. Appleton & Co.
Here Is commentary upon our present
social system indeed-a book for the mil
lionaire class, telling them how to run their
establishments with the greatest regard
for both the esthetics of life and the econo-
mics Of the domestic administration. It
can be regarded in several. lights, as
guide to the newly-made millionaire who
wants to know what to do and how to do
it; as dissertation upon the ways of the
rich for the edification OF the poor; as a
compendium of the aggregated wisdom of
the rich for the benefit of the wise-rich
themselves. But, however regarded, it is
a serious work. and not to be taken light
ly. Indeed 1t is no light or inconsiderable
thing to be millionaire nowadays, how
ever easy may be the road to fortune, Re-
sponsibilities press heavily upon the