Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19

Valliere. Corneille. Mile. de Scudery. Mo-
liere, La Fontaine Pascal, Nine. de Sc
vfgne. Bossuet, Boileau, Racine, Nine de
Caylus, Fenelon, Comte Antoine Hamilton
and the Princess des UrSins while a his
tory of the French Academy varies the
text and presents an important phase of
the history of intellectual France.
CLASSIC MYTHS IN ART an Account of Greek
Myths as Illustrated by Great Artists. BY Julia
de Wolf Addison. author of The Art of the
Pitt Palace &c. Illustrated. Boston: l.. G..
rage Co. Washington: William Baiiantyne
& Sons
The Greek and Roman myths have fur
nished to artists of all times subjects of
great beauty and power. Eliminate from
the lists of the worlds greatest paintings
all canvases which depict scenes from
these myths and the remainder will be
slight indeed. In this work are told the
stories most frequently chosen by painters
and sculptors. but the chief effort is to
show the influence which the myths have
exerted upon the painters, in the formation
or their styles and the encouragement of
their genius. The Illustrations are chosen
not especially with reference to their famil-
iarity, but rather for the purpose of ac-
quainting readers with the less well known
of the great paintings of this character.
The book makes a handsome present for
these who are interested either in art or
in the legendary stories of ancient Greece
and Rome.
HERBERT SPENCER; Estimate and Review
BY Josiah Royce. Together with a chapter of
personal "reminiscences by James Collier New
York: Fox, Duffeld & Co.
The death of Herbert Spencer, shortly
| followed by the publication of his autobio-
| graphy, has started the production of what
may grow into a formidable literature CEN
tering upon the philosopher, his life and his
theories The autobiography itself tells a
most interesting story. revealing the man
by process of self-analysis seldom before
encountered. Here in hand is a critical
comment upon that work and its writer. a
contribution to the thought awakened by
the definite completion of a remarkable life
task. Mr.. Royces admiration for the phil
SsopGer does not extend TO an approval of
Spendars theories upon education. He
marT
Let us honor him for what he was But
let us be glad that he is not the trainersof
our children"
Mr.. Golfers contribution to the book is a
brief sketch of the personality of Herbert
Spencer based upon an intimate acquaint-
ance with him covering nineteen years, nine
| of which were spent as his amanuensis and
ten as his assistant. He shows Spencer the
man. with his eccentricities his physical
frailties, his wonderful breadth of view
which stamped him as essentially a man
apart
SWITZERLAND; Picturesque and Descriptive BY
Joel Cook, author of France, Picturesque and
Descriptive, sc. Illustrated. Philadelphia:
Henry Il. Coates Co. Washington: Wood
ward Lothrop.
Some one has said that if all the books
and articles ever written about Switzerland
were piled in single heap it would rival
some of the Alpine peaks for altitude. Here
is another cast upon such pile, a beautiful
book in its covers and print and pictures,
unusually so in point of the pictures. Its
text is attractive, too. But it tells little if
anything that is not already well known.
Why then, another Switzerland book? Be
cause perhaps the author has told of his
own journeys and has shown the Alps and
the Rhine valley through his own eyes and
has thus impaired to his story the touch of
personality that makes one book different
from another. The result of this enter
prise is account of the Alps and of ad-
jacent Germany that will interest alls who
have never been there. will perhaps amuse
some who have, and will in any case serve
as a handsome gift to those who like to
read attra ctively prepared accounts of the
various parts of the earth's surface.
THE MOUNTAINS. By Stewart Edward White
author of The B!azed Trail Sc Illustrated 1r;,
Phillips & Co Washington: Woodward & 10th
rop.
What is it that calls the man unspoiled
altogether by civilization out into the dam
gerous places, the mountains the woods,
the desert plains? What draws him from
his city comforts and safety, his regular
meals and luxuries of travel and clothing
and service to endure the privations of
camp and trail? Mr.. White has offered
various explanations in the course of his
hoo ifa Les.
aptly fit the general case of the average
man. But of exact analysis there is none,
for the reason, perhaps, that the call of
nature is not attuned always exactly
alike. Perhaps, also, for the reason that
the primitive spirit of mankind resists all
analysis. being elemental At all events.
even the city-dweller who has no spirit 10
go forth. or who has, to put it otherwise,
the spirit to resist the temptation, responds
in his soul to this summons and contents