Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18

compa MON. in the Funk and Wagnalls safe.
in circumstances which to DIR. Funk s mno
precluded the possibility of fraud in the
mention of the matter In the mediumistic
circle. the author prepared a statement
of the case and submitted it to the leading
psychologists of the world. and upon the
instance itself and their replies he has pre-
pared large volume OF evidence. which to
his mind points strongly to the possibility
of communications between the living and
the dead. In addition to the recovery of
the widows mite he gives number of
other instances of the restoration of lost
property through the mediumship of con-
trolls or other agencies of that character.
But his work is by no means confined to
these details, there being a great volume of
argument and inquiry and statement along
the broad line of psychic research. He has
not attempted to pass upon the facts he
sets forth or to vouchsafe an explanation.
Rather does he offer his book as problem
for the scientists themselves to attack and
solve If possible. The sum of his own
researches and thought upon the subject
is a question mark. and the conspicuous
printing of such a mark upon the cover of
the book is both appropriate and descrip
tive.
That there is meat for much thought in
this work is not to be denied by the most
skeptical. That it proves anything be-
yond the point that there are certain phe-
nomena of which man Is aware which
cannot be explained in terms of exact
science is not contemplated by the author.
DR.. Funk. in passing, urges his readers to
cooperate with him for a furtherance of
the research and proposes certain rather
startling terms of agreement for the pur-
pose of continuing the study after death.
OUR MOUNTAIN GARDEN. By Mrs Theo-
dore Thomas (ROse Fayl. Illustrated New
York: The Macmillan Company: Washington
Brentano's.
This garden book will not appeal as a
practical guide to very large number of
people, for it is the exceptionally favored
person who has the opportunity of Mrs.
Thomas to paint a floral picture upon a
mountain side But apart from it's direct
appeal to those who would like to follow
her example and avail themselves OF the
advantage of her experience, it is de-
lightful narrative of adventures with roots
and bulbs and cuttings. a simple story of
great JOY derived from wrestie with
ture in one of her most stubborn moods.
Judging from the numerous Photographic
Illustrations, Mrs. Thomas succeeded re-
markably. although her text is sprinkled
with confessions of mistakes and failures.
Her mountain garden overlooks the Fran
coma range in New Hampshire.
THE QUEENS QUAR-; or. the Six Years
Tragedy. BY Maurice Hewlett. New York:
The Macmillan Company. Washing ton: Bren-
tanos.
The title, we'll as much OF the text of
this latest product of Maurice Hewletts
pen, needs translation. QUAR- means a
| little book. and in this connection is in
tended to signify the book in which the
story of Queen Mary of Scots is set forth,
not by herself. as the use of QUAR- might
suggest, but by a chronicler who has
sought to ascertain and to occupy her
point of view. So much for tie title. The
text displays a lamentable tendency on the
part of this brilliant writer to becloud him
self in much style, in many historical refer
ences, and a mass of collateral details In
patience of many of his admirers who loved
his way of telling a story. and who had
found in Forest Lovers a tale of great
delight and beautiful delicacy But 1.-The
Queens QUAR-" is as far advanced on the
road to obscurism was Richard Yea
and Nay from Forest Lovers" 1t would
almost seem though Mr.. Hewlett is TAX
ing his cue from Carlyle, and creating
method of historical narrative as confused
and comprehensive as that of the author
of The French Revolution Yet, as in the
case of that remarkable story of an epoch
narrative is at times wildly dramatic bril-
liantly picturesque, intensely sympathetic.
After course of reading in Scotch, English
and French history of the sixteenth GEN.
fury. one can thoroughly enjoy the greater
part of The Queens QUAR-. A seeker
after a new and not unkindly light upon
Mary's character will find this book very
as impossible. Mr.. Hewlett works with the
precision of master dramatist, with no
computations as to a liberal use of stage