Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-10

r Raimond). author of The Mag
netic North" &c New York The
Macmillan Company. Washington:
Brentanos.
1t has been said that every novel to be
worthy the name and place even In
aphemeral literature. should be an evolu-
ton of fixed forces that lead to one inevi-
table result: that given certain characters
at the outset in conjunction. the conclusion
should follow as logically and irresistibly
as does the night the day. Miss Robins has
scored high in a Dark Lantern" when her
work is viewed thus She sets in motion
certain influences which. In the course OF
human e tnts. could have no other result
Had Katharine Dereham been different
than she clearly shows herself in the be-
ginning. a naturally pure-minded, pure
souled girl she might have yielded to the
temptation TO become the morganatic wife
of Prince Anton of Breitenlohe Walden
stein But being whaI she is, the prologue
leaves her dfsillusioned and free. And being
herself she Just as naturally drifted into a
relation with Dr. Garth Vincent, even less
conventional than that of a morganauc
wife OF 4 German prince For she mas
changed and the change Is what Wouiu
take place in the case of nervous woman
Her later marriage to Vincent in clrcum-
stances that assure her social status I'M
clouded is unnecessary to give her conduct
the color of reasouabeness, from the point
of view of her state of mind and health
The novel is in some degree a study IN
nerves A high tension of energy pulses
through It, The author keeps up the strain
from beginning TO end. sShe mas perhaps
put too much vital force into her work
Her characters talk in a choppy, cross-hre
fashion that gives the reader plenty OF
work to hold the thread of the tale Much
of the dialogue, while suggestive or tne
inlay of finer forces, may be cut out or the
reading. and the book would have been the
stronger for their elimination from the
printing. 4,
II, temperament Miss Robins holds closely
n Ter conception of him as dark Ii =
tern" Inscrutible, showing only BRIEF hash-
rs Of himself rough, cruel ana even pro-
fare in his relations 70 his patients ana 10
ire woman he loves. he is never thoroughly
understood by others. Not until the emu
l. the shutter 10 his soul withdrawn so that
the light may flow forth and reveal the
true man. In the maintenance OF an lll.
reuetrable reserve which shuts vincent
from even the reader. Miss Roons mas
achieved d remarkable degree OF success
Her story is vital. and it deals with rae
Tors In the daily social life of England
hardly applicable TO the western world
which are easily comprehendeo'
THE HOME LIFE OF WILD BIRDS;
New Method of the Study and Pho-
Biography of Birds. BY Francls 30
bart Herrick. Revised edition. with
100 original illustrations from ma
ture by the author. New YORK; U.
p. Putnam's sons. Washing loH'
Woodward & Lothrop.
This reissue of Prof. Herrick's excellent
bird book is especially adapted to the re-
ouirements of field workers who are en-
gagged in frst-hand study of the birds in
their homes 1t has been entirely rewritten
from the form in which it first appeared
four wears ago and much new material has
been added with many photographs. Par
ticularly in point of demonstrating the pc
culiar characteristics of different species of
birds in their nest making and in the feed
ing of their young. has the author enriched
his work which now stands as a delight
fully complete account of the ways and
manners of a large group of well-known
derizens of the woods and fields. The chap
ter on the king fishers is exceptionally in
teresting and instructive. and the comical
ways of the young birds of this family are
humorously described
THE CHILDREN OF GOOD FORTUNE;
an Essay in Morals. By c. Hanford
Henderson. Boston: Houghton. Milf
fin x Co. Washington: Woodward
a Lothrop.
Dr. Henderson is in harmony with the
trend of the most advanced and authorita-
tive thought in holding with the Greeks
rather than with the Germans that there
can be no conflict between genuine individ-
uaI happiness and true social welfare Good
true worth in social efficiency-is he holds,
an experience. not an abstraction and he
believes. as he says finely, that only those
VINO live can say anything very helpful
about life" Accordingly. his book is not
meant so much for the technical moralist
though even he will find it important, as
for the earnest men and women who
confronting practical questions of morality
in the affairs OF life.
ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS SERIES
SIDNEY SMITH. BY George w. E.
RUSSELL New York: The Macmillan
Company. Washington: Brentano's
Sidney Smiths biography has been often
md well written. but his career is of such
interest TO students of men and thought
that there IS always we.~ome for we'll
written treatise upon his life and works.
The present sketch takes its place in the
notable Men OF Letters series. and, the
author, utilizing all available Information
and materials. presents Smith, the man.
accurately as It is possible TO disclose him
To posterity. His critical analysis Of Smiths
writings and achievements show him TO be
an earnest admirer OF the philosopher
SOUTHERN WRITER'S; Selections in
Prose and Verse. Edited by w. p.
Trent. author of "A History of Amer
lean Literature" &c. New York; The
Macmillan Company. Washington:
Brentano's.
DIT Trent's purpose in preparing this vol
has been 70 OIIcT lOT use III SCLlppi anu
college classes In the south text book es-
pecialIy fitted for their needs in the study
OF the literature of that section. He recog-
rlizes the fact that the history of the south
and its literature cannot probably be d-
vorced from the history and literature of
the entire country. but II is at the same
time desirable that southern students
should have opportunity to be particu-
ltrly instructed in the literary history of
their region. II is rather i supplementary
work for reading and information. The
work is arranged chronolOgically, with di-
visions into periods the first period run
ming from 1901 TO 1883. the second from 1870
TO 1850 the third from 1866 to 1904. with a
special classification of the poets OF the
civil and another of the latter-day
poets Selections from the works of each
author serve TO characterize his style. and
DIR. Trent has added in each case brief
biographical note. while there are numer-
GUS foot-notes to explain obscure refer
ences in the extracts.