Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02

ing string of circus wagons with an ele-
plant as leader of the horses. From the
moment of this spectacular entrance al
fairs begin to grow lively In Palermo. Ill
ram manages TO keep the ''mossbacks' agi-
tated, and to give his gentle. long-suffering
brother much anxiety and distress. Pnlneas
is compelled for sentimental and mghiy
moral reasons to take issue with his brotn-
er and to administer to him sound politi-
cal defeat In public. The story grows eX-
citing a that point. II is a bit OF mastery
writing. Eventually the wheel or rate turns
around so that affairs fall into place prop
erly and all is well. But there have been
some hard bumps meanwhile.
Mr. Days next bit of long fiction will be
worth waiting for, If he goes on at MS
present rate.
INAND OUT OF THE OLD MISSIONS OF
CALIFORNIA; an Historical! and re
torial Account of the Franciscan MIS-
sions BY George Wharton James, au-
thor of In and Around the Grand
Canyon" &c. illustrated. Boston: Lit
tie, Brown & Co.
This IS not a history nor the work OF an
expert in research, but it is merely an ap-
precation of the beautiful and the interest
ing phases of the old California MISSIONS
as they once were and as they are To-Day.
II IS necessarily historical to the point of
explaining how and why the missions were
founded and how they developed, and, in
cases, GeSeilt4 dAtu- DNN S'AN ''NN'-0N
has chiefly concerned himself in investigat-
ing. with notebook and camera, the condl-
tions of today and describing them with
wealth of detail and ancedote. Much at
tention is given TO the condition of the In
dams for the conversion of whom these out
posts Of the church were established, and
an important chapter treats of the subject
of secularization, making clear to the read
er the various plunderings from which the
missions suffered. The Illustrations set
forth the mission buildings and their fur-
nishngs, statues and other items or equip
ment The author has confined this volume
10 the missions of Upper California, reserv-
ing for another work a similar treatment
of the missions of New Mexico, Arizona,
Texas and Lower California.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS; Ancient and Mod
ern Edited with notes by Joshua Syi-
vestre Illustrated. New York: a
Vessels Company. Washington; VIII
liam Ballantyne x Sons.
While the custom of singing Christmas
carols is not in vogue in this country
lnore's the pity-there is sentimental, re-
ligious and literary interest in the examples
OF the English songs of the Yuletide. and
Mr. Sylvestre's collection, here presented
I'm a highly artistic book form, with an in
structive introduction briefly outlining the
history of the custom and indicating the
sources OF lne most nOldDle CdIOiSt Is WEI
come. As holiday book this is not to be
improved upon in character and in appear
ance.
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST. 1904 =
1905. BY the Military Correspondent
of the London Times. With maps and
plans. New York: Z. p. Dutton Com
pany.
The most perfectly censored war In his
tory is being followed by It's natural after
81 In,
fled correspondents at the front are pre-
senting their belated dispatches In the dig
nified form OF permanent contributions.
The unidentified author of this volume,
whose anonymity is characteristic of GER
tain OF the more conservative opponents OF
English Journalism, has been persuaded to
undertake this reprint In large part by the
argument that the contemporary color OF
the articles which were mainly written
within the very atmosphere OF the fighting
may add something of value to the study
OF the war. He holds that historians dc
not sufficiently take into account the minor
factors which often determine large move
ments, and he thinks that these factors
are best identified and cited in the course
OF a journalistic treatment of the subject
He has written with commendable
sweep or the horizon, viewing the war as
development of world politics rather than
as neighborhood quarrel He preserves
too. judicial balance of judgment between
the Russians and the Japanese and the
fact that he dedicates his book to the EN-
peror of Japan Is not indication of par
tisanship. He scores Russia heavily for
having been caught mapping by the Jap
anese. whose preparations for the war were
apparently not appreciated by the govern
ment at st. Petersburg. Russias conduct
throughout was affected by this initial
blunder. capped by the fact that Japan de-
iivered the first stroke Of the fight and