Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09
RECORDS OF THE COLUMBIA HIS
TORICAL. SOtIETY. WASHINGTON n.

I'D. 4. Compiled 10y the Committee on Iuhlica-
t"n and the Recording Secretary. Volume T.
Washington: Published 10y the Society.
In the ten years Of its existence the Co
lumbia Historical Society has more than
justified the expectations of it's founders
In the degree of interest maintained among
Its members, the volume OF important and
valuable original papers read at its meet
1neS. and finally by the eStablis hment of a
series of annual reports or records which
take their place with the historical archives
of the capital, and in many instances CON
tribute vitality consequential facts to the
public knowledge of the beginnings of the
seat Of government. In the matter of origi-
nal work by its members this organization.
II is believed. stands unique among all
similar bodies in this country. The sew
enth volume of records. recently issued is
an evidence OF the important work which
the society is doing in not only collating
the records of the Districts growth. but in
spreading an interest In local history
Throughout the community. During the
year 1903 seven meetings were held, at
which ten papers were read, one of the
meetings being devoted To "A symposium
In the volume now published these ten
papers and the COmmuni 'atiOus comprising
the symposium are printed. with a paper
read before the society in May, 1897, by
Justice Alexander Is. Hagner on the street
nomenclature" Of Washington The records
for the past year include the following ar
ticleS, Historic Fort Washington" by
James Dudley Morgan. NJ. d. Early His
tory OF the Washington Library Company
and other Local Libraries by w Dawson
Johnston. "A Forgotten Philanthropist of
Georgetown. John Barnes" by Miss Cor
della Jackson: The Life and Times of
Iontius u. STEELE" 10y Miss Maud Burr
Morris. Notes ON General WaShineton's
Homes on Capitol HIN" by Henry H.
LOCKER; Hotels of Washington City Prior
- l.A Won Isl h,4 4
the city Went Westward From the Capt
toll by James Dudley Morgan. NJ d..
Glenn Brown. Allen & Clark. W. b. Bryan
and Hugh T raGgdTt, old Residences and
Family History in the city Hall Neiphbor-
hood 10y Douglass Zevely: The First
Master Of Ceremonies at the White House"
by John II. McCormick. NJ. ID Houses of
Brick Imported From England" by Geor;e
Alfred Townsend. The Lyric Element in
American History by Ainsworth r. Spot
ford. ana the paper by Justice Hagner al
ready noted. Portraits. maps and other il
lusirItions enrich the volume and add TO
its value. some of these illustrations being
from rare prints or negatives The book
Is bound in sun covers Cor preservation
and thus Is OF permanent value. 1t was
prepared by the committee on publication
of which Mr.. John Il. Larner is chairman
and by Mary stevens Bedll. the recording
secretary Of the society
WHAT IL ART. Ivy Leo roIsioy Translated
from the original Ms. with an introduction by
Aylmer Maul"- New York Funk X Wagnalls
Company.
This edition of Tolstoy's celebrated book
what is Art2" issued with the full an
prevail and Endorsement Of the author. has
peculiar interest because as he states in
his preface. 1t appears now for the first
time in its true form. Several editions were
published in Russia but In every case the
work was 50 mutiated by the censor as to
lie not only incomplete. but also to msrep-
resent seriously the authors views and to
make him responsible for the thoughts OF
other men-thoughts utterly opposed to his
own convictions. In introducing the present
edition Tolstoy points out a number of in
stances wherein the Russian editions were
thus mutilated and altered In this study
OF the perpleNing question. What is Art? he
considers the problem In It's most vital re-
Ittlons to human perception and activity
mistaken theories and definitions hereto
fore advanced had to be examined and
cleared away before the authors views
could be clearly stated. The task was one
OF great difficulty. and II has been accom-
plished with brevity and lucldity that
are surprising. The translator Aylmsr
Maude, says In his introduction TO the
book: "Of the effect this book has had
upon me personally | can only saw thar
whereas | was blind. now I see / took
1t up much in the dark on questions of
esthetic philosophy. When | had done with
1t l had grasped the main solution of the