Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-10
Courtesy of The Ceutnry Co.

she people under the shoguns resulted in a
pronounced reaction when the actual gov
eminent of Japan was once more intrusted
TO the mikado. TO the centuries of popular
suppression he attributes in large part the
phenomenal rebound of the islands toward
the adoption of the western ciyiliza ton.
But far more important was the ultimate
working out of the PHILOSOPHERS and relg
ious doctrines which had for many centu-
ries been preparing the Japanese mind for
grasping the new ideals.
The author shows clearly and picturesque
ly that the accomplishments of the new
Japan are the natural outcome of her his
tory-her religion. her art, her tradition.
He declares that there is no yellow peril"
that the empire. though warlike, stands not
for aggression, but for peace He sketches
the entire history of the country, but dwells
particularly upon modern events and devel-
opments-the opening of the long-closed
door of the imprisoned nation by Commo-
dore Perry, the restoration of the mikado
TO power, the new regime. the occasion of
the of 1904. He essays an answer to
the anxious query of the admirers of the
art of Japan: Will Japans modern sue
cesses lead to the loss of it's ancient and
distinctive art? He indicates some of the
tendencies which may affect the future of
the orient, and he speaks especially of the
Christian attitude toward women as an in
fuencc upon the society and civilization of
Japan. The Awakening of Japan" is GER
tdinly book of peculiar interest just now,
and seems certain to prove of enduring in
tcrest and value.
THE Ey Eyo ITI OF OF THE CoNsTITgTIoN OF
History of the Monroe Doctrine. BY John A.
Mason, LID. Illustrated. Boston: Houghton
Mifiiin Co. Washington William Ballantyne
a. Sons.
Mr.. Kassons story of the evolution of the
Constitution was originally written by re-
quest of the constitutional centennial COM
mission, under whose auspices the first CEN
tennial of the life of that instrument was
celebrated at Philadelphia in 1897. 1t was
then published as part of two memorial vol
umes at cost which prevented popular cir
culatiOn. The edition was soon exhausted,
and is now virtually not to be found by the
student. save in few Libraries. Lately
desire has been expressed for new edition
adapted TO general circulation and for the
use of students of constitutional law. and
that edition is now published in convenient
form. The original text has been only
slightly altered. and the work remains
clear explanation of the conditions prelmi-
nary To the "cOnfederacy;" a statement or
the iniirmities and inerectiveness of the
articles of confederation; the entire failure
OF that agreement national bond and
the recognition of that failure by the pa
triots OF the revolution; the successive steps
by which they sought the consent OF the
states to a general convention to provide
suitable government, and finally the man.
ner in which they accomplished the organi-
cation of nation. Mr.. kasson also con-
siderS separately the leading contested
clauses of the Constitution and gives the
great points of the debate connected with
each In addition he has prepared a paper
upon the Monroe doctrine. which has be-
come virtually part of the fundamental law
of the land. and has. indeed taken an i'm
portant and recognized place in internal
tional law
IMPERIAL VIENNA; an Account of its History
Traditions and Arts. by A. = Leyetus Illus
trated by Erwin Puchinger. New York: John
Lane.
While the author does not neglect the his
toricaI side of his subject rich in all it's
crowded centuries of incident and charm,
he concerns himself mainly with the many
associations OF the romantic and interest
ing capital; with the architecture of the
city, in which point especially the vivid
commentary supplied by the numerous H.
fustratons by Erwin Puchinger is particu-
Iarly welcome, the pageantry of religious
and court ceremonies the musical life. and
all the various activities in art and enter
prise that bring the capital its high re-
nown. With its up-to-date improvements,
its elaborate system of electric tramways,
its metropolitan railways and modern
means OF transit, to mention only one side
of Vienna's urban development. 1t can hold
its own with any of the great cities of the
world. On the other hand. much of the
old medieval charm still abdes. Up to
the present no one had written a book deal
ing with Vienna throughout her different
stages of development to the present day,
mot even in German" the author
adroitly puts it. The Emperor of
Austria gave the author special permits
sion to visit the Hofburg and other palaces
in company with Herr Puchinger, for the