Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26

admirably presented for reference. Inc
chapter dealing with mechanical movements mems
contains nearly three hundred illustrations,
and they are more reliable than those pun
lished In any other book-they are opera
tive. Weights and measures occupy con-
Siderable section OF the book. ana are IN
dispensaoie for purposes OF reference.
coREA. THE HERMIT NATION. By william
ssaos aSss' &c. lapse Seventh aasao edition lsvsed
SONS. Wsshins Ssn viii %ilila@ Bsllantyns {
Sons.
The first edition Of this work was is
sued In October, 1882, and since then 1t
has been regarded Justly by scholars and
statesmen as the leading work OF Its
kind. Its repeated reprintings have at
tested to the steady demand for 1t, a de-
mand that has been stimulated by the
chain Of events which have drawn Korea
into the forefront Of the far eastern stu
alton. Indeed, this seventh edition, al
though brought up to date with supple
mentary chapters descriptive of the hap
penings of the past few years, leaves the
story at stage of the most acute inter-
est with Russia and Japan battling In
Manchuria for the prize of dominance
over the eastern edge Of Asia, including
Korea. That unhappy land has been
pawn on the international chessboard of
the east for many years, and its fate is
even now In the balance. DR.. Griffis is
warm advocate of Japan In that countryS
contention for a right to exercise de-
termining influence over Korea. He shows
the retrograde effects of Chinese suzer-
ainty, successfully combated by Japan
ten years ago, and the unfortunate re-
suits of the Russian intrigue which has
led to the present conflict. Under jap
anese influence Korea has advanced re-
markably, with the aid of American ad
yantages and enterprise. There Is pros
pect of peace and progress in the ancient
land II the country ceases to be mere
political stake. In 1882 he closed his work
with the remark:
AT this stage of affairs, when Corea
ceases to be hermit nation and stands
in the glare Of the worlds attention, we
bring our imperfect story to aAclose. The
is Corea. On her soil will be decided the
problem OF supremacy, by the jealous
rivals. China, Japan and Russia
Since then Japan and China have met,
and the latter has ceased to be a direct
factor in the fate Of Korea. But greater
contest is waging, and the author now
closes his work thus:
AS we close again, in the autumn of
AID. 1904, our story Of the once hermit
nation the Japanese, confronted with
the practical difficulties of assuming
real protectorate over Corea, while NOM
1nally but sincerely striving to maintain
hCI luuSpcHueUce are sui determined TO
control the peninsula as vital possess
sion. One hundred miles of the Seoul
Fusal railroad are in operation. The
sound of blasting night and day in the
deep rock cuts near Seoul announce their
purpose to finish speedily a highway of
steel to the Chinese frontier. The real
purpose of the war is the integrity of
China, upon which depends the safety of
Japan, perhaps even the political saliva
ton of ASIA
FAR AND NEAR. BY John Burroughs With por-
trait. Boston: Houghton, Mif1in & Co. Wash
ington: Brentano's.
The publication of a book of John Bur
roughs' nature essays and descriptive ar
ticies is always to be regarded as a treat
by those who look between covers for some
thing besides stories of people For he in
vests his subject, whatever it may be, with
an interest no less appealing because 1t is
drawn from inanimate objects or the crea-
lures of wood and field About one-half of
this volume consists in a reprint of an ac-
count of the authors experiences during
the expedition to. Alaska, organized in 1899
by Mr.. Edward H. Hartman. The habit
Of observation was strongly displayed at
that time by the veteran naturalist, and
his story Of the trip is replete with valu-
able notes of the flora and fauna Of the
northwestern tip Of the continent. Follow
luS tHIS SeCtIOH VI the DOOk COIl0 ScVeTdi
shorter sketches. most of which have been
printed in the magazines. One Of these is
wild Life About My Cabin" in the course
Of which appears in striking measure proof
Of Mr.. Burroughs intimate acquaintance
with the tiny creatures of earth and air.
The only matter of the volume heretofore
unpublished is a long and entertaining
chapter on Jamaica. which Mr.. Burroughs
visited In February. He did not find much
to interest him there as regards birds and
animals for the island is singularly de-
ficient in fauna, and many Of the winter
bird inhabitants are but temporary visitors
from the mainland, many Of them being
old friends of the visitor. Nevertheless the
story of the excursion Is told with the cap
tivating simplicity and quaint humor which
characterize all of this delightful mans
work.
THE BRIGHT FACE OF DANGER; Being an Ac-
Of II the Seue de- s on nT ae
lated into Modern English. By Robert Nelson
&c. Illustrated by H. G. Edwards. Boston: L.
Q. Page & Co. Washington: William Ballan-
tyne Sons.
Henri de Launay loved dearly to gaze
upon the bright face of danger" It Is to
be suspected that he loved it better even
than the face of his dearest one. He would
rather be cornered in a difficult situation
than eat a meal in comfort: and he could
fight, too, when the pinch came, bravely.
diplomat. ardent lover intrepid intriguant,
he swept through obstacles which would
have deferred ordinary mortals at the very
outset of their expeditions. The author has
achieved wildly dramatic style of telling
of the adventures of such gentlemen of the
slashed doublet and the ready rapier. This
tale is. he explains, In distant way a
sequel to "An Enemy of the King" but
those who have not read that attractive
romance need not be deferred by the fact
from reading this, for 1t Is altogether intel
ligible without knowledge of the first
THE PRACTICE OF sELF.cULruRE. By Hugh
Black, author Of Culture and Restraint" SC
New York: The Macmillan Company. Washing
ton: Brentanos.
Rev. Hugh Blacks philosophy tends to-
ward the rounded life. the perfection of the
self through many channels of improve
ment. He does not believe in asceticism. In
specialism of culture. He believes rather in
proportion, and to this end in the present
volume he urges the care of all the souls
needs and of the body's needs as we'll, to the
end that perfectly balanced result may
be attained. The book deals with the prac-
teal ways In which the self can be equipped
for service. It admits that self-culture is
not in itself a complete ideal. for human life.
but has IT'S place as the necessary education
to make mans contribution to the world
worthy. ro i
Is IL