The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-15

One of the most pretentious as wen as
the most readable histories Of the Unit
ed States is the work of Elray Mcheh-
dree Avery, which is being published
by the Burrows Brothers company OF
Cleveland, Ohio. The work is in u vol
umes, of which the first has recently
appeared 1t is q beautifully printed
and well illustrated book and the work
manshiD as well the text procialfns
the fact that no pains have been spared
by either author or publisher TO make
the history one OF which any person
might we'll be proud.
The author. Dr.. Avery, has devoted
19 years to the preparation OF his MS
tory and while he has previously done
nothing pretentiOus. this volume proves
that he is q master of literary style as
well as a deliver after facts He has
been editor, teacher and electrical pro
mOter and is the author of avery s
Elements Of Physics" and other well
known text books. This might be con
sfdered little justification for giving TO
the public another history with such
standards as Fiske and Bancroft and
Motley and Guy Carleton Lee already
occupying the stage but it is evident
that Dr.. Avery understood his capabil-
tiles and no one will regret that he en-
barked on the monumental undertaking,
The author says in his brief, pointed
and modest preface: This volume is
the beginning Of an attempt to tell the
have made the United States what it is.
In this work I have tried to meet the
wants Of men and women of general
culture rather than those of professional
historical students. Whatever may
have been thought a generation ago, it
IS now admitted that such a design is
entirely legitimate.
There are no foOtnotes in the Avery
history because Dr. Avery has conclud-
ed that they interfere with the CONT
nuity Of thought by the reader. The
authors style is so lucid and his presen-
tatiOn Of his subject so interesting that
there are few who Will not agree that
his theory is correct as applied to
work which is for the general reader.
The first volume is devoted to the
Prehistoric Periods and the DiScOv-
cries. One reviewer says of this vol
ume: The first volume treats Of the
FIRST Americans. The ''neolithic Amer
leans" and the Mortimer are more
cOmprehensively treated than in any
single volume anywhere. Columbus
is an imposing figure in this initial
installment, as he should properly be;
and his part as the pioneer representa-
tive of the race beyond seas is given
adequate prominence. The germina-
ton and carrying out of his great idea,
and the voyages, vieissitudes and dis
cOuragements of the dauntless naVi-
gator are eloquently portrayed. This
authors radical treatment of the
Morse remains and legends will sur
prise many for he does not hesitate
to say, whether the shades of Cam
bridge like it or not, exactly what is
his opinion after a careful study of
the evidences"
THE Lounger'' in The Critic has. ''af-
ter discussion with q group OF intelli-
gent men and women chosen the fol-
lowing books as the best-nOt the best
sellers" in every instance but the best
books published within the past six
months:
The Six Best Books:-Fact.
The Awakening Of Japan" by Okla
"The wonders Of Life" by Ernest
HaeckeI.
Letters of John RusEin to Charles
Eliot Norton"
"Reminiscences Of Moncure D. Con-
way"
''The Opening Of Tibet by PereevaI
Landon.
Emerson, Poet and Thinker" by
Elizabeth Luther Cary.
The Six Best B0Oks:- Friction.
The Secret Woman by Eden Phill-
potts.
The Golden Bowl by Henry James.
1.-THE Divine Fire. bv Nav Sinclair
1.-THE UnderCurrent." by Robert Grant
1.-THE Marriage Of William Ashe,' by
Mrs. Humphrey Ward.
THE Fugitive Blacksmith" by Chas.
d. Stewart.
With Mr.. Robert Grant, more than
any other contemporaneous novelist,
the divorce problem seems to be a sort
Of Obsession. In his latest novel The
Orchid, he deals with it again and his
new heroine like the heroines of The
Dndercurrent and Of UnleaVened
Bread, marries. Is divorced and re-
Marries, more or less as a matter of
course and for reasons which seem to
suit her and the people of her circle
however unconvincing they may be to
readers of the book. The Orchid may
be the last of Mr.. Grants novels on
this subject or It may be only the third
of q long series of studies of modern
divorces. Mr.. Grant has by no means
exhausted the subject. He has treated
divorce for on the grounds of in
fidelity, divorce for on the grounds of
desertion and now in The Orchid. di-
Vorce for the frank and avOWed pur-
pose of taking another mate There
are sui many other reasons, such as
incompatibility, cruelty and habitual
drunkenness which might actuate posi-
PIE herolnes Of still unwritten novels by
inns author who knows so well how to
make ms people human, lkabIe and in
teres1ng- And besides, there are the
husbands as plaintiffs So far. Mr.
Grant mas only considered the wives
but you know men frequently seek di-
Norces, Tor reasons of their own. Mr.
Gfant might try his hand at that theme
but whatever aspect of this modern
problem Mr.. Grant considers there Is
Freedom