Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-25

her successful appear TO king william, is
wildly and cenvincingly told with a faithful
rendering of the scenes and tcustoms of that
period. 1t is q well-balanced stirring tale
OF love and daring which Is well worth the
reading. sE
THE ART OF THE MUSICIANS; Guide
to the Intelligent Appreciation of
Music BY Henry G. Hanchett. New
York: The Macmillan Company.
Washington: Brentano1s.
The author best states his purpose in the
following language IN his preface: This
book is the outgrowth of aIcourse of popu-
lar lectures intended to give to persons fond
of music, but not thoroughly versed In its
intricacies. an idea of the reasons which
prompt musical critics to approve or disap-
prove of compositions. 1t is intended chiefly
to stimulate investigation of that much-ne-
elected subject-music-and may serve as
text book for instruction. 1t is designed
to emphasize the distinction between the
real study of music and the study of the
arts of playing and singing which has so
long been mistaken for it. But it is cal
culated most of all to supply the demand
of those ma ture lovers of music who wish
to understand the aims and purposes of a
composer some of the methods of his work,
and to get some ground for fairly Judg-
ing his attachments and results. 1t aims
to supply such information should make
concert-going more satisfactory, listening
to music more intelligent, and assist In
elevating the standards of church, theatre
cal and popular music. Technicaiities nave
been relegated to the background far
as possible, but where they are demanded
by clearness or accuracy, they are intro
duced with what it is hoped will prove am
pie eXpla nation. The ability to understand
musical notation is all that is presupposed
of knowledge of the art The book is
handsomely printed in clear type with
large number of illustrative scores.
THE DiGRESsIONS OF POLLY. By
Helen Rowland. Illustrated in color.
New York: The Baker & Taylor
Company.
Thoughts of the Dolly Dialogues arise
rresstibly when the reader finds that this
volume is composed of series of CONVEX
sations between Polly Lee and Jack Cut
ting, who are very much engaged. 1t is
always somewhat disappointing to find that
a new book is built on old lines, and equal
Iy pleasing to find, as here, that the old
lines are traversed cleverly. Miss Row
lands work is none the less attractive be-
cause of Anthony Hopes more famous pro-
duction. She has created in Polly young
person of infinite charm and variety. Mr..
Cutting is of little moment, save a foil
for the sprightly wit of his dancee. They
discuss their past lives and the problems
of life as lightly as BELTS two young per-
sons dwelling in elysium. 1t is altogether
a surprising finale that the author has pre-
pared for her readers, and quite in keep
ing with the character of Miss Polly. "Di-
gressons' is book for a circle of people
to read aloud, provided they are the right
people, with a due appreciation for the
sharp interchange of epigrams.
THE LIFE OF REASON; or, The Phases
of Human Progress. By George San
tayana. In five parts. Parts l and II.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Washington: William Ballantyne &
Sons.
Prof Santayana's lectures at Harvard,
where he is engaged, are doubtless the basis
of this extensive work which has thus far
appeared in two of the five parts pro-
jected. The plan of the general work is
thus to be described: Vol. I, Introduction
and Reason in Common Sense; Vol. II,
Reason in Society; Vol. Ill, Reason in Re
ligion; Vol. ", Reason in Art; Vol. V,
Reason in Science.
In his introduction Prof. Santayana states
his thesis broadly as follows: Progress
is relative to an ideal which reflection
creates. and efficacious reflection is reason.
The Life, of Reason is a name for all prac-
teal thought and all action justified by its
fruits in consciousness. 1t is the sum of
art and has a natural basis which makes
it definable Positivsm is no positive ideal
Christian philosophy is mythical, misrepre-
senting facts and conditions, while liberal
theology is a superstitious attitude toward
natural world. The Greeks thought
straight in both physics and morals. Mod
ern science can avoid the expedents to
forced.
ON GOING TO CHURCH,; an Essay. By
G. Bernard Shaw. Boston: John w.
Luce q Co.
This is one of the most popular of Shaw's
essays and it's reprinting in attractive form
is always a welcome event in those circles
,Tha 40 liCbr admired
For sthe benefit of those who have never
had the good fortune to encounter this de-
lightful bit of writing it may be explained
that it is a dissertation on the inspiration
to be derived in churchgoing from the
architectural beauties.
A PRINCE TO ORDER; Novel. BY
Charles Stokes Wayne. New York:
John Lane
This is a stirring romance. At the open
ing the hero finds himself, without the
slightest knowledge of how he comes to be
there, in a luxurious private apartment in
Paris, and waited upon with all the cere-
mony of a court. He discovers that he is
passing as the crown prince of a small
European kingdom called BudaVia. His
last recollections are of some passing de-
tails in his Wall street brokerage office.
1t appears that he has been thrown into
the power of a group of conspirators, who
attempting to place him upon the
throne at the death of the reigning king,
then seriously i'll, as the long-exiled prince
and heir. The method by which the con-
spiratOrs have subdued his own individu
atty through the minstrations of keen
old student of phrenolOgy and chemist of
unusual power makes q deep mystery The
hero is made the pretender to the throne of
small European kingdom against his own
will and is thus exposed to personal risk
from the emissarieS of the opposing ducal
party and the treachery of his own allies
when hard pressed. On the other hand,
he finds himself involved in the embezzle-
ment of all the funds of his New York
firm. To clear himself he seeks to entrap
the conspirators by continuing as their APP
parently docile tool and goes SO far to
enter the capital city of the kingdom as its
rightful ruler. The love story upon which
the romance is constructed is thus very
prettily complicated.
THE PHYSICAL CULTURE LIFE;
Guide for All who Seek the Simple
Laws of Astounding Health. By H.
Irving Hancock, author Of Japanese
Physical Training" &c. Illustrated.
New York: G.. p. Putnam's Sons.
Washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
Mr.. Hancock was the first to give to the
western world a series of books on the
Japanese system of jiu jitsu. But he is not