Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19
the intrinsic merits of the work, but who
ara mislad by the eIlar,laceIneIf


are misled by the emplacement.
MI Taft calls especial attention to one
OF Washfngton's most artistic and least
known sculptures that bronze figure by
Augustus Saint Gaudens in Rock Creek
cemetery. which. hidden behind a hedge of
evergreen Is overlooked by all save the
comparative few who have heard of 1t and
take the pains to seek il out. OF it the
author says: This memorial speaks lam
guage of its own which leaps directly TO
the soul and requires no halting translation
into sounds articulate. One feels
no concern in trifies when confronting eter-
nifty. And that is where one finds himself
when under the spell of this amazing WORK"
The book is replete with interesting bits
OF information. with striking comments.
with suggestive comparisons. 1t is admir-
ably written In a temperate spirit of de-
scription and kindly comment. and is never
so technical in expression as to confuse
the non-technical reader. The illustrations
are handsome and helpful One Is inclined
to complain that the publishers have not
presented portraits of the sculptors whose
works are described and illustrated. The
historical and in large part biographical
character of the book calls for scch aids
to the complete understanding.
Three other numbers of this series of
American art books are planned. The one
next in order is THE History oil American
Music, by Louis G. Elson, musical editor
or the Boston Advertiser. The third one
Will be The History of American Paint
ing by Samuel Isham, member of the
Society of American Artists and the last
one will be THE History of American
Etching. Engraving and Illustrations" by
Joseph Pennell.
THE CoLoNEL,s OPERA CLOAK. BY Christine
kemble and Arthur E. Bechcr. Boston Little
Brown Sc Co.
This amusing story was first published
twenty-four years ago and promptly be-
came a general favorite. 1t has had many
subsequent reproductions, but none so sat
isfactory as the present edition. For the
benefit Of those who have not heretofore
encountered this work in some of its past
rendftions Ii should be explained that 1t
tells the story of how the coloners opera
cloak. that blue. red-lined, brass-clasped
article Of general family comfort, partici-
pated in pretty much everything of i'm
-portance that happened to any of the st.
Johns or their friends. The author avows
that the cloak is her hero. Certainly 1t
appears at many critical junctures, to the
temporary confusion and the ultimate re-
union OF the interesting young lovers. In
cidentally an entertaining. though perhaps
now hardly to be recognized. picture is
drawn OF shfftless family. impoverished
by the war and living between extremes of
occasional prosperity, as the colonel sells
some lands or stock, and customary pow
erty. when the funds run low through ex-
and amusing. The illustrations OF the pres
emit edition notably those Of Mr.. Eemble,
are decided help to the story.
Of THE Literary Shop" etc. Illustrated by
W. Glackens. New York: Dodd. Mead 8. Co
Mr.. Ford suffers from the usual fate or
the satirist He cuts too deep and his work
therefore lacks the convincing power which
a calmer dissection of his subject would IN
sure. His present theme Is society and
it's gaping admirers. The brazen calf is the
token Of New York's select social circle. as
portrayed in the Sunday newspaper supple
ments. There is much that is true in the
book, much that Is gross exaggeration,
much that Is actually untrue. There is
however. no installing the fact that Mr.
Ford in his rather too earnest denuncia-
tons of the fashion following mob has rea-
son on his side. He describes with unde-
niable accuracy certain scenes which NAV
occasionally be observed in the metropolis
such as the great crowds in the streets
whenever the heiress to millions marries
the wearer of foreign title. His story OF
Mary and John, in the course of which such
picture is painted, is unduestonably
clever. His characterizations of the crew
of hangers-on and nlake-believes at the
"Nfckel-Plush' hotel, too, are beyond
doubt in a large degree true to the life.
much that Is added to give edge to the
satire, that the discriminating reader won
ders whether the author is after all really
and truly concerned about the welfare and
future of American society. or is merely
intent upon the making of a bright and en-
Pertaining book. Such book he assuredIy
has produced, whether 1t makes for reform
or not.
THE WORLD DESTROYER. By Horace Manu.
Washington: The Lucas-Lincoln Company.
This book. locally noteworthy because it
is the first product of a newly estab-
lished Washington publishing firm. Is
a well simulated rendition OF the vagaries
of maniac Naturally. it suffers from the
requirements of the theme. as, for instance
it lacks conference. The author Is both for
tunate and unfortunate in thus dealing
with rendering the rawlings of a diseased
mind. What disadvantage accrues to the
plot and the style from the necessity of the
case Is balanced by the advantage of
reference of every possible fault to the
mental condition of the fictitious narrator
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND
MR.. HYDE. By Robert Louis Stevenson Illus
trated by Charles Raymond Macauley. New
York: Scott-Thaw Company.
This is a notable reissue of Stevenson's
story, once regarded as his most striking
product. The illustrations by Mr.. Macau-
Some of them are vivid with the spirit of
the text Others are almost grotesque in
their suggestion of an effort to produce a
weird design in keeping with the "creepi-
ness Of the story. The photographers, of
which there are nine, reminiscent of the
pictures In old editions of that once popu-
lar story, Valentine Vox. The line draw
ings, more numerous, are well executed.
The Typography Is excellent and the book
work as a whole commendable. The prod
uct is commendable in that it presents
fresh edition Of this wonderful fiction I'M
der superior auspices.
TWO CENTURIES OF COSTUME IN AMERICA
MDCXX-MDCCCXX. BY Alice Morse Earle
author of "0ld Time Gardens etc. In two
volumes. Illustrated. New York: The Mac
milan Company. Washington: Brentano's.
Every student of the past every writer
Of fiction bearing upon the 200 years clos
ing with 1920, every feminine lover of the
quaint In dress, in fact, very large class
Of people, viii be delighted with this pro-
duction. In two volumes the author, who
gives evidence on every page of the most
indefatigable industry, tells the story or
human garb in this country during what
may be broadly termed the late colonial and
early republican eras. Her methods of re-
search are evident in the pages and Illus
trations She has hunted through the books,
the memoirs. the museums and the por-