Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-23

stepmother should be. In this book Mrs.
Jimmie Is more in evidence, she being the
wife Of the son of Mrs. Jim's husband
There we have the relationship straight
ened out. In the course Of the talks of these
two women with their friends are dis
closed the affairs Of their community, the
church troubles, the love stories. the TRACE
dies. the comedies. There is a slender thread
OF plot, but not enough to prevent the
book being opened, with delightful results,
at any page. Mark Williams, the crippled
philosopher who straightens out many Of
the town tangles, Is introduced with all his
sweetness Of character. The author whose
full name is Stephen Conrad Stuntz, Is q
resident Of this neighborhood and Is a mem
Der Of the Library of Congress staff.
SEFFY, a Little Comedy of Country Man
ners. By John Luther Long, author of
Naughty Man" &c. Illustrations by
Z. d. Williams Indianapolis: The
Bobbs- Merrill Company
This comedy" which begins broadly and
threatens to degenerate into a farce ac-
quires tragic touch before 1t passes the
three-quarters point. Indeed, in one re-
spect, even the farcical beginning is tragic
What can be more depressing than the
spectacle of the matchmaking old Pennsyl-
vanilla Dutch father auctioneering Off his
son In a country-store joke? What more
gruesome than the belle of the community
bidding that SON in for a dollar-and pay
ilS Tie Ha0ueyl Il. Long QGIlCaCY OF
touch Is somewhat lacking here. Have his
fingers become dulled by their constant use
In MISUNDERSTANDING? The story itself is
entertaining after one gets past the slap
stick stage, and there is some strong char
acter work in the latter pages. 1t is hand
somely Illustrated IN colors.
THE CARLYLEs, Story of the Fall of
the Confederacy BY Mrs. Burton Har-
rison. New York: d. Appleton & Co.
Richmond tottered to Its fall. Lee was
about to retreat and Grant to advance. JEFF
ferson Davis was ready for flight. The tale
opens with the residents OF Richmond in
| desperate straits for supplies, the old fami-
lies reduced to want. The conditions were
such as to make heroine out OF a very
commonplace girl But Monimia CARLYLE
was not commonplace. She was pretty to a
distracting degree sensible bright, graceful
and altogether charming. an ideal heroine
for a tale of love and war. When the fires
swept the confederate capital as the Union
Troops entered there was urgent need OF pro.
lection for Monimia's home. where rested
her invalid mother and her rapidly declining
father. Escorted by Britannicus. the faith
full black follower of the family. Monimia
went 10 the federal headquarters and be-
sought guard, and there began the ro-
nance. For young Lindsay was a true
knight, even If his blue uniform was faded
ana untidy. sMOnimla was tentatively en-
gagged to her cousin. Launeelot Carlyle but
later this young colonel of the confederacy
became accidentally enmeshed in a net Of
circumstances relating to the assassination
| plots aimed at the federal administration
officials and he was brought into dra-
matte encounter with the beautiful daugh-
ter of a confederate spy. Carlyle was ar
rested and held for months In prison. Mrs.
Harrison weaveS an absorbing romance
about these four young people, and incl
dentaily presents a vivid picture OF tho
south in the last days Of the fighting and
the first days of peace and of Washington
at the time of the execution of those con-
demned for the plot against President Lin
coin and Secretary Seward.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. HIS PT.Avs.
BY Henry L. Mencken. Boston: John
w. Luce & Co.
Regarding the Shaw cult as something
established for few seasons, such a book
as this is uuquesstionably useful It IL q
guide to Shawland, compass whereby the
direction OF the Shavaan breezes may be
ascertafned For 1t Is no easy matter to
know Just what Shaw 10 driving at in his
plays. His novels, by the way, are COM
paratively simple and easy OF understand
Ing Take the mans use OF his own name
for an instance. Now 1t is George Bernard
Shaw; again It Is Bernard shaw: once mora
It may be g. Bernard Shaw. He has not
vet ventured the prosaic tradesrnanIike
Georges B. Shaw, hut a. his own play titYo
runs, You never can te11.H So IN the caee
at q man who II personally and arffSffcallv
IN enisuna hand book u Wel1ono Il VII