Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-25

professional men and ss63diers are among
them. with excellent srsfords as citizens.
clearly old. strong family of high-mnd-
ed men and women, whom it is a pleasure
to know through this medium. Mr. Shinn.
thu author of this exha uStfve genealogy is
a member of the Historical and Geograph-
icaI Society of st. Petersburg and author
of "A History Of tine American People,"
"A History OF Arkansas and "A History
Of Education in the South" His present
work is the product Of many years of dill
gent research.
TWO PLAYS OF ISRAEL, David of Bethie-
hem and Mary Magdalen. BY Florence wilkn-
son. New York Mcclure. Phillips Co. Wash
ington: Woodward & Lothrop.
These dramatic rendftions of Biblical cpl
sodes are sufficiently true to the Scrfptural
text to be accepted by all students of that
great history Of the early days Of the dwell
ers in Palestine. Yet they digress from 1t
sufficiently to yield a decided romantic in
terest. The character Of David Is sketched
rather than clearly drawn. He is shown
as an impetuous youth, at his best in the
beginning and the ending of the play and
not especially interesting in the mid por-
tons. The dialogue is pitched in a high
key of soiemnity. with occasional indul-
gences In collOqulalism which do not hnr-
monize closely with the general tone of the
dramas. Great tenderness and pathos are
displayed in the "Magdalen." The action is
| dI dlk times, IN DOtn pays, DISK and vivid
and stage rendition is by no means i'm
practicable
| THE OPENING OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Struggle for Supremacy in the American In
terror. By Frederick Austin Ogg instructor in
history In Indiana University. New York: The
Macmillan Company. Washington. Brentano's.
The celebration Of the anniversary of tho
Louisiana Purchase has occasioned a great
effux of books, both fictionaI and historical
| on that subject. This Is one OF the largest
! and most complete and comes from the pen
| OF diligent student and competent au-
| thor. His purpose has been not merely to
present the story Of the Purchase but
| to state the circumstances of the strug-
gle for the control of the Mississippi in
which that great land transaction was only
| an incident. He admits that 1t was most
| important incident. but 1t was not until the
second war between the United States and
England that the ownership and control OF
| the Mississippi ceased to be the subject Of
almost perennial diplomatic negotiation.
Thus his work consists in collection of
all the facts relating to the great campaign
for the ownership and use of the continents
most important waterway His account is
based upon a chronological narration of
events. following chapter on the import
ance Of the Mississippi valley. Especial at
tention Is paid to the diplomatic phase of
the case. Mr.. Ogg shows the qualifications
Of the many intrfgues for the control Of the
mid-region Of North American and renders
a fascinating account Of the steady march
of events which finally gave the United
States full control of the river and It's trib
utaries. He has produced a valuable and
important work which appears at most
timely season.
REGIONS OF THE WORLD SERIES
Edited by II. ]. Mackinder. M.A.-NORTH
AMERICA. By Israel c. Russell. professor OF
geology in the University OF Michigan. With
orb
& Co.
No more accomplished authority on the
geography Of North America could have
been chosen to prepare this number Of the
valuable Appleton World Regions Series
than Prof. Russell. His services during
many years geologist of the United
States geological survey have led him into
researches in the field and explorations in
strange places, well as thorough
study of all available materials gathered
by other workers. He is probably as IA
miliar with the continent in it's physical
features as any other North American.
And yet he notes the incompleteness and
inadequacy of the printed records relating
to the geography of the continent. Exten-
siye tracts, he points out particularly in
the far north. have not as yet been trav-
erSed by obserYant men; vast areas have
not been surveyed and mapped and even in
the somewhat thicklyO settled portions there
are large districts In reference to the geog-
raphy OF which therestts little critical lnfor-
nation available. Thus he docs not claim
that his work Is a complete presentation
of the geographical and geological facts re-
specting the continent, but IAN attempt to
describe some Of the more prominent and
attractive aspects of the natural condi-
TONS" 10.
His method Is selective. and he refers the
student to large literature on the special
subjects of which he allows himself to
treat but briefly. He has particularly cur
tailed his accounts Of the economic phases
of North American geography and given
lists OF works wherein the reader may find
more detailed information. Numerous
maps and diagrams render reading OF the
text easy and instructive. The chapter on
the aborigines Is particularly interesting.
ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH POPULAR
BALLADS. Edited from the Collection Of
Francis James Child by Helen Child Sargent and
George Lyman Kittridge. Boston: Honghton.
Mifdin & Co.
Prof. Childs original work consisted OF
ten parts, In five large volumes, which were
printed from time to time between 1882 and
1898. 1t was Of such character that,
while being Of the greatest value to the
special student and to libraries 1t did not
meet the needs Of the casual reader or the
seeker after particular bits Of old-time
poesy. Consequently this condensed edi-
tlon-ln the style or the Cambridge tdI-
ton Of poetical works-has been prepared
in single volume and sufficiently compact
for individual use 1t contains all of the
ballads originally collected by Prof. Child,
305 in number. but omits the many vari-
ants, which in that work were printed In
full. The editors have noted the salient
features Of these variants. In the five
volume work were also exhaustive COLA
tons. elaborate photographers. a collection
OF tunes, etc, constituting veritable lit
erature of English and Scotch balladry.
In this work these features are either
omitted or condensed. The notes are suf-
f1ciently full to illuminate the remote ref
erences and to permit an intelligent under
standing of the significance OF the ballads.
The editors note that the present Is neither
a edition Of the original Child collec-
ton nor a substitute for 1t, but Is COM
plete collection based upon that one and
Offering Its own features with the purpose
OF leading those who may be especially in
terested in the subject to apply to the five
volume work for the last word obtaina BILE
KOREANS AT HOME, the Impressions Of a
Seotswoman By Constance J. d. Tayler. H.
Illustrated from color Sketches, drawings and
photographs by the author. New York: Cas-
sell Co. Washington: William Baiiantyne &
Sons.