Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-10

its pictures. which are numerous and
artistic. are calculated to win hosts of re-
cruits to the great crusade which is setting
forth to master the complex problem of
existence along the road to nature.
THE SEA-WoLF. By Jack London author of 1.-THE
CaIl of the Wild &c. illustrated by W. j.
Awkward. New York: The Macmillan Company
AS far as his work shows to date, Mr.
London really cannot write a novel, In the
sense of maintaining strong narrative
interest in the doings of two people a man
and a woman, with other appurtenant
characters That is to say he has not yet
mastered the sentimental element He
does, 1t is true, introduce a woman into
this story, and he closes 1t with proposal
and an acceptance, quite in the usual way.
But the love interest is strictly subordinat-
ed throughout to other elements and its
addition to the need of the tales qualities
is almost an intrusion. Had 1t not illu-
minated a new phase of Wolf Larsen's
complex character 1t would indeed have
been serious artistic mistake
But 1t does not need the advent of Maud
Humphreys upon the schooner Ghost to
make the 1.-The Sea WOLF intensely,
humanity interesting from start to finish.
AS long as Wolf Larsen is alive and active
the tale Is a continuous appeal to the
reader. 1t matters not that in all proba-
Dillly SuCn d combination OF the brute ana
| the philosopher never existed. He is. never
| theless, possibility. and he stands in this
| tale an absorbing psychological phenom-
enon. Mr.. London has perhaps gone to ex-
| tremes to make his contrast between Lar
| sen and the narrator, Humphrey Van Wey-
den, sharp as possible. He has perhaps
| been unnecessarily bloody in his descrip-
| lions of Larsen's fights and pastimes The
| tale, indeed, reeks with the odor of human
gore. 1t is in places a mass of raw flesh
But that it is as broad picture true OF
the conditions in the sealing fleet may not
be questioned. 1t is brutal business.
Some careessness marks the story here
and there. For instance, it was unneces-
sary for the author to date his story in
| 1S93-pages 129-130-and then to refer-page
215-to certain biographical handbook
the publication of which was not begun I'M
til six years after that date.
Norton In two volumes With portraits. Bos-
tom: Houghton Mifiin & Co. Washington:
William Ballantyne & Sons.
The friendship that existed between John
Ruskin and Charles Eliot Norton was one
of the most notable in recent times. 1t
covered many years and survived strong
strains of differing opinions. 1t resulted in
correspondence which, for volume and
richness of thought and freedom of ex-
preston, was perhaps never eXcelled.
Prof. Norton has cherished the letters that
reached him from Ruskin as among his
most precious possessions. His natural inn
pulse was to hold them from the public
eye Their Importance and value as re-
vealing Ruskin's character perhaps more
intimately than in any other way possible,
however, appealed to him, and he thought
to leave them in condition for publication
after his death. But upon consideration IL
appeared to him unwise to leave them to
others who could not possibly know the full
circumstances of the correspondence and
could not bring to the task the close sym
pathy with and understanding of Ruskin
afforded by his own long contact with the
man. Consequently he has. with some re-
luctance, decided to print them to afford
unique picture of Ruskin's character. The
letters are prepared chronologicaily, WITH
obviously necessary excisions and occa-
sional explanatory notes. Thus printed,
Prof. Norton says of them:
1.-THE letters afford remarkable picture
of parsonage altogether exceptional. me
measuring rod which serves for common
men will not answer for him. His nature
was in the highest degree complex: 1t was
full of contradictory elements which ne
never succeeded in reconcllng so as 10 op-
tain steady equilibrium and tranquility of
soul or persistent fixity of aim. His VIII
was unstable for in him reason was subject
to sentiment and often to transient emo
tion.
OUT TO OLD AUNT MARYs. BY James Whit
S c9Ms decorations BY Margaret Armstrong
indianapolis: The Bobbs Merrill Company.
The annual "Christy book from the
Bobbs-M Merrill press is this year an edi-
ton of that delightful old friend from
Whitcomb Riley's pen. "Out to Old Aunt
Mary's" which is as great favorite now.
seventeen years after its first appearance,
as ever 1t was. Mr.. Christy has drawn a
large number of pictures, enough to afford
one for each verse of the poem and to
spare He has presented Aunt Mary as
the loving readers of the poem have pic
tured her, sweet-faced old woman, behind
whose unfailing smile is to be read a life
time of patient suffering and tender affec-
ton. The boys of the poem are romping
rascals, dear little chums who enjoy to the
full their visit to the farm The atmos-
pnere of homely comfort and unbounded
hospitality to be found at "Old Aunt
Mary's' is reproduced artistically, and
every one fortunate enough to find this
book will feel the heart grow warm with
recollections and yearnings
cAunnIpGE RHETORICAL SERIES; Edited by G.
College Cambridge-EURopE AND THE FAR
EAST. By Sir Robert X. Douglas. keeper Of
oriental printed books and Mss; at the British
College. London. Cambridge: The University
Press New York: The Macmillan Company.
Washington: Brentano's
The purpose of this book Is to give a con-
nected history of the relations which have
prevailed between the nations of the west
and the empires of China, Japan, AMMAN
and Siam. It begins with the earliest re-
corded intercourse between the people of
the two continents, during the egn OF
HWangti 2697 BE-, when Cinnamon re-