Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-03
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THE LITTLE CONSCRIPT; Tale of
the Reign of Nicholas 1. By Ezra s.
Brudno, author of The Fugitive"
New York: Doubleday. Page & Co.
Washington: Woodward q Lothrop
Mr.. Brudnos first book. The Fugitive"
described the terrors of Russian persecu-
ton of the Jews and the escape of one of
the suffering race to American shores. In
this second novel he describes the career
of Jewish boy who is kidnapped at tender
years to become a soldier and who re-
mains true to his religion throughout his
service. 1t is tale of bitter suffering. of
unspeakabls crueltieH of tyranny I'M
measured. In its opening chapters 1t re-
rates the story of the .'beholo.' or reign
of fear, following the command of the
emperor, Nicholas /, that every Jewish
village furnish a certain number of con-
scripts for the army. In many villages
there were not enough youths above the
military age of eighteen, and rapacious
conscript officers, to fill their pockets,
blackmailed parents and stole children
from those unable to pay until columns
of children were sent marching across
the country in the bitter winter to the vari-
Gus headquarters. In these chapters lie the
most vivid portions of the book. The starva-
ton. fogging and burning Of the children
are narrated with dramatic power.
military custodian, and at this period his ro-
nance develops. Later he is sent to join
the army, and his fortunes seem to improve.
He is promoted to be a captain of the COM
missary, and insists upon honesty. In the
course of the narrative Mr.. Brudno power
fully indicts the Russian military and civil
system showing that 1t is honeycombed
with dishonesty and immortality.
The story hastens to tragic climax
Punishment, assassination, treachery and
execution Tlay their parts. Gloom, gloom.
gloom, cries the reader True. there Is
nought but sordidness and suffering and
cruelty and gloom in the book. But it is
for that very reason the more faithful
picture of the Russian empire.
THE VOYAGBUR, and Other Poems.
BY William Henry Drummond, MD,
author of The Habitant," &c. With
Illustrations by Frederick Simpson
Coburn. New York: G. p. Putnam's
Sons. Washington: Woodward &
Lothrop.
Every one will take up with pleasure
new volume by the author of Little Ba-
teese" and johnnie Courteau. The work
Of DR.. Drummond is full of the love of
men, and he revives Saith that the humor
and pathos of everyday life can be ex-
pressed in poetry. The sentimental qua
trains which have 81 somewhat decorative
value in the magazines, when the essay or
story is bit too short. have led the. public
into an animated discussion of modern
verse. and The Slump in Poetry has been
the subject of all sorts of articles. No one
denies that a great many people are en-
gagged in writing bad poetry but it Is also
true that n great many people are engaged
IN conducting business badly; so that lit
tie is proved against the profession after
ALL When man writes verse with warmth
and spirit he will always find his listeners.
l1,x-tI1 Irl7x-
and 1.-The Voyageur" Is welcomed no. only
for its fine vein of humanity, but Sor the
sweet, soft music of the lines. The voIurne
IS named from the first poem of which the
story is told in the ruSidy Iamp-ight Of
the log cabane."" while the wind blows out
on the river and the snow drifts in the
valley. An illustration of this indoor scene
the story-teller lit his rough red shirt
is chosen the frontispiece. and the warm
rich color of the reproduction suggests the
spirit of the book.
Through all these verses the reader feels
the fresh breath of the NORTH and If he
loves the open he will read with q. touch
of exaltst ton of the golden flower and the
loon, the moose, the caribou, the beaver
plunging in TIE lake. the wild goose crying
the otter sliding in the pool. He will live
for moment in the wilderness, refreshed
and charmed.
Here is a stanza, in the soft French-Ca-
madam dialect, which lends itself SO easily
TO rhythm:
"De blaze of bees camp on de snow I see,
An i nssea bees En- Roulant,'
On de Ian were de reindeer travel free.
Ringin out strong an clear
Onen de gray wolf sit before
De light is come from lees open door,
An caribou folier along de shore
De song of de yoyageur.'
THE MILLBANK CASE; Maine NIys-
terry of Today. By George Dyre Ed
ridge. With frontispiece in color by
Eliot Keen. New York: Henry Holt
& Co. Washington: William BALKAN
tyne & Sons.
1t seems rather hard on poor Detective
Traford to deal him a dangerous blow at
the very climax of his great success, for SO
little purpose. and especially hard en- the
reader to end the story leaving Mr.. Traf
ford's fate in doubt. He has been an inter
esting parsonage throughout the unfold
ment OF the Millbank murder mystery. He
has dug out secrets, enlisted the aid of
men whose interests caused them first to
shrink from him. has played with the MUIR
derer until his suspicious have developed
into certainty and has remained faithful to
the end to the trust imposed in him. He
is indeed quite an ideal detective, not one
of the ''inspirationaP' kind. he occa-
aionally declares to himself. but patient.
sensible assembler of stray facts and an
analyst of motives in terms of everyday
humon nature. The murder itself is COM
liicated by several unusual elements. The
oead man had enemies on three sides. from
any one of which the blow might have fall
len There are plenty of false clues which
the asture Mr.. Trafford shrewdly elimi-
mates And there is a desperate group OF
business men intent upon the recovery OF
certain papers closely connected with the
crime, and In the pursuit of which they are
willing to kill all who stand In their way
Altogether, Mr.. EIdridge has devised a tale
that holds the interest and arouseS the
kympathies and there Is enough OF good
uii-fashioned detective story" merit In 1t
10 inspire the hope that Trafford was only
stunned. so that he may appear again In
his well-f.lled role.
rruE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIONS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. BY John A. Fa1rlie. Ph;D,
assistant professor of administrative
law University of Michigan New
York: The Macmillan Company.
Washington: Brentano's.
With all the exhaustive books on the
processes of the American government there
has not until now been produced work
dealing exclusively and comprehensvely
with the federal administration as a d-s-
unct institution. The government IS