Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09

sought to present an accurate nara tive of
the origin and growth of the country and
its institutions in such a form as to inter
est the general reader. His book is indeed
readable and entertaining. 1t tells the IA
miar story with grace and finish, and yet
in good proportion He brings his account
of the national development to the very
present, closing his volume with a recital
of the circumstances of the final selection
of the Panama route for the isthmian
canal His account of the events within
the recent memory is fair and unprecedented
giving both sides of the controversies that
have lately ragged in our politics and setting
forth what appears to him. as historian, as
the net result of the national Judgment
The work is not illustrated. save by maps,
of which there are eight of full-page size in
colors and twentysiX smaller ones in the
text.
AMERICAN MEN OF LETTERS SERIES
FRANCIS PARkMAN. BY Henry
Dwight Sedgwick. Boston Houghton Mitiin
& Co. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
The career of Francis Parkman is told
by Mr.. Henry D. Sedgwick in a volume
based upon the historians diaries, notes and
letters, and particularly full in its account
of his youth Parkmans plan of writing
history was formed early; his travels fixed
in his mind the scenes and figures which
he to portray, and the rest of his life,
is well known. was spent in the retire
ment of an invalid scholars chair. His
working time was frequently reduced to
less than half an hour day, yet the great
er part of his career was one of such te
nacity of purpose and such magnificent en-
durance as has scarcely parallel in the
history of American letters Many personal
letters are used to show his close friendship
with the great men of his day.
THE SEAGULLS; and Other Poems. By Enid
Welsford- With portrait, New York: G.. +.
Were it not for the preface and the por-
trait this volume might he accepted as the
creditable work of adult. now and then
somewhat unfinished. but always pure in
thought and clear and sweet in expression.
But the preface explains that the poems
are all the products of an English child
who Is now twelve years of age and who
began her creation of them even before she
could write, her mother serving as her
amanuensis. The portrait is that of an at
tractive little girl with deeply expressive
eyes. The preface is written by Reginald
Bosworth Smith, late assistant master at
Harrow School. England, who voucheS for
the authenticity of the poems and the cir
cumstances of their production and notes
the interesting fact that the child herself
assumes a most modest attitude toward her
wonderful gift, declaring that she is only
the jug out of which water is poured"
Il Is clear, fresh stream that comes forth
at times however, being tinged with the
hues of sadness. If the precocity that has
produced these poems does not die out with
the physical maturity of the child there is
reason to expect her development into one
of the remarkable writer's of the period.
THE ETHICS OF THE GREEK PHI
LOSOPHERS, SOCRATES, PLATO AND
ARISTOTLE; Lecture Given before the
Brooklyn Ethical Association. of 1861
BY James II. HysOp, professor Of logic and
ethics, Columbia University author of
ments of Logic" &c. Edited by Charles NJ
Higgins. Illustrated. BROOKLYN: Published for
the Brooklyn Ethical Associa ton by Charles NJ
Higgins 4 Co.
This book forms Volume l in a course Of
lectures on The Evolution of Ethics"
given by the Brooklyn Ethical Association
covering the ancient oriental and the Med
iterranean schools of thought. as well as the
various modern schools down to our own
day, eliminating in the Evolution School
which is a revival of the old Greek Schools
The lecture in the present volume on The
Ethics Of the Greek Philosophers, Socrates
Plato and Aristotle" Is the work of Prof
James ii. HyslOp professor of logic and
ethics N Columbia University. The book is
edited by a member of the Brooklyn Ethical
Association. concluding with brief life of
Socrates and including numerous extracts
from the works of the philosophers with
notes and comments to illustrate the points
of the lecture and show the close relation
OF the Ill Greek thinkers to modern schools
of thought, and their undoubted influence on
the religion, ethics philosophy and politics
of our own day.
NEW ENGLAND IN LETTERS. BY Rufus
Rockwell Wilson. author of ''Ramb!es in Co
lonial Byways. New York: A. Vessels Com
pany. Washington: William Ballantyne &
Sons.
New England's literary traditions are so
toto ael
all the bookish background of American life
that this title seems to be rather too broad
ly inclusive to be really descriptive. Tho
work is in fact account written in
charming style and in a spirit of deep rev.
crence for the masters Of American litera-
ture. of q series of plgrimages to the New
England scenes and places associated with
the men and women who have written their
names high on the roll. The point of view
Of the touring critic and appreciation is not
lost at any stage of these journeys. though
Ike sometimes becomes biographer for
brief space. He serves as guide TO the
works of the authors whose homes and
Eaunts he visits and stamps his descriptions
with his own personality in delightful
manner. The Illustrations consist in series
of handsome colored prints Of Elmwood. the
Cambridge home of James Russell Lowell;
the birthplace of John Greenicaf Whittier,
at East Haverhill: the odd rnanse" at Con-
cell Holmes; the ''Old Oaken Bucket Home
stead" It Scituate. and Edgewood, the home
Of Donald G. Mitchell.1,e 'r
TAT.TLINGS OF A RETIRED POLITI- |
CLAN; Being the Letters Non partisan) of
Hon. William Bradley. Ex-Governor and for
mer Veteran of Practical, Politics. written to
his Friend Ned who Is Still Busy Carving a
Career Back in the Old State" By Forrest
Crissey, author of THE Country Boy" Illus
trated by John 7. McCutcheon. Chicago: Thomp-
son & Thomas.
The letters comprising this book. when
published serially. attracted wide attention
because of their naturaIness, their truth to
the eternal political proposition. 'Old Bill
Bradley was recognized by western par
tlsans as type and welcomed for his |
homely philosophy. his quaint humor. his
never-failing fund of anecdotes and his
abundant wisdom. 1t is related that when
William ]. Bryan read the ''Tattlings' he
declared that this politician retired too
soon Being out OF the game. the ex-gov-
ernor can sit back and watch and advise
and this he does to the extent of COM
fortably large book the humor of which is