Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-08

daughter of great financial magnate.
When she discovers that Erskine loves
Olivia Brooke gives hum up in order that
he may be happy, although he has been
true to her. Then just as he and olivia
have become engaged the latter encounters
social problem that involves her mothers
standing in the higher world to which the
family has been boosted by it's millions, and
it becomes necessary, in order to save the
mother from social humiliation, to contract
marriage with one of the inner circle.
Thus is Erskine sacrificed even as Brooke
had sacrificed herself.
1t is difficult to understand just what
the story teaches, if it We're the authors
purpose in truth to teach anything. 1t is
a strong study of temperamentS, showing
an insight into the lives of people in a
small town and great city. Olivia Win
wood character is not So strongly outlined
as perhaps the author conceived it to be.
The girl evidently understood herself bet
ter than will the reader when he finishes
the book. 1t is a story to leave a vivid
impression after it is read through.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPEND-
ENCE; Illustrated Story of Its Adop-
ton, with the Biographies and Por-
traits of the Signers and of the Sec
rotary of the Congress. By William
II. Michael Lewis and Clark edition.
Washington: Government Printing
Office.
The announcement that the original off,
cial copy of the Declaration of Independ-
is rapidly fading and that it must be
kept more carefully from the light griev-
ously affected multitudes of people, who
regard it as physical symbol of the Amer
lean liberties. But complete are the rec
ords thorough has been the research
into all subjects more less remotely con-
nected with this famous document, that
there is no danger whatever of its fading
in the hearts minds of men. AT every
one of the important industrial expositions
held in this country there is, with other
government displays, exhibit from the
Department of State which includes items
pertaining to the Declaration, and this vol
ume, the work of Chief Clerk Michael of
the Department of State, has been prepared
primarily as an aid to those in charge of
such displays. But probably it's broadest
function will be In the instruction of a
much wider circle than of those who at
tend the expositions, in the intimate details
of the signing and the lives of the signers.
Mr.. Michael has attractively told the
story of how the Declaration came to be
signed, and the manner in which 1t was
promulgated, besides giving in convenient
form and excellent style biographies of all
the men whose names have been immortal
lied by their appearance on the American
magma charta. These biographies, with the
accompanying portraits, gathered from the
best available sources, are In themselves a
valuable guide to the study of American
history. 1t is to be doubted II the govern
ment has ever published a more instructive
work than this.
THROUGH ISLE AND EMPIRE. By the
Vicomte Robert D'Humieres. Trans
lated by Alexander Texeira de Mat
tos. with PREDATORY letter by Rud-
yard Kipling. New York: Double
day, Page & Co.
This is book of real artistic merit by
writer with the rare gift of style. The
somewhat formidable and misleading pref
ace by the author attempts a brief analysis
of the French and English peoples, treating
of social and political conditions and pro-
jecting Utopian schemes for the eventual
union of the nations; but the distinction
and literary grace of the first chapter prom
Use something quite apart from the ordi-
nary race comparisons and speculations.
The subject matter is divided into four
parts, the first of which relates to England,
the second to Egypt. and the third and
fourth to India. These are In reality Sc
ries of exceedingly artistic essays, ex-
pressed with an elegance and finish pecu-
liarly French. The point of view is char
acteristic of the national temperament
There is much delicacy and truth of per-
ception in these sketches of isle and en-
pire. but they are always perceptions rather
than comprehensive studies. It is the YER
satile curiosity of the artistic mind that ex-
presses itself. This is perhaps the secret
OF the charm, the source of quality best
described as precious" using this word
after the manner OF the French.
Undoubtedly the matter rather than the
manner of this book accounts for the inter-
est shown by Kipling in 1t; but Ii Is a point
of interest that these two temperaments so
sympathetic relation. In q chapter en-