Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-27

lead to a grave temptation. But by a sud-
den turn of affairs she is saved from maxi
ing disastrous move, and happy solution
of the problem is presented.
Mrs. Darrell will be the subject of
much interesting discussion. 1t Is full of
good character work, based on keen OBJ
servation. The Washington senator and
his family are rendered with great clev-
erness-a cleverness relieved. however, by
touches of fine feeling and real sympathy.
y subordinate love affair is charmingly con-
ceived and written, and the plot of the
whole Is based upon series of episodes pre-
scented with that drectness and rapidity
which is the secret of good storytelling.
At no point in Mrs. Darrelrs career arc
her moral responsibilities more than d.mly
perceived. but she is redeemed by her in
born refinement. Her very charm largely
springs from a quality of dependence which
makes her helpless. Her father Is delight
futile type of Virginian gentility who
formed at one time the aristocracy Of the
national capital. and who have given to
the atmosphere of a restless and cosmopol-
itan city certain touch of perfect breed
ing and repose, local note distinctly
southern.
trated by j. c. Leydendecker and
Karl Anderson and decorated by Ar
thur c. Becker. New York: d. APP
pleton & Co.
1t Is an achievement to write a book that
is genuinely funny, and another to write
a book that is truly instructive. But 1t Is
the greatest of achievements to write a
book that is both highly amusing and subtly
suggestive of an important truth at the
same time. This is Mr.. Chambers accom-
plishment in 'Iole." more delightful
satire upon the follies of the ultra art fad
dists and the literary cranks has not
t.,
probable chain of circumstances could hard
~ be forged by an inventive author Yet
with the fact always borne in mind that
everything is possible it may be accepted
that fat poet ana his eight lovely daugh-
tiers might establish themselves in the
depths of the country and live there a nat
ural life, writing poems and making
'dinky" furniture ard vellum- bound books
There is no doubt of the books and the
furniture and the poems. That is done at
various places, notably in the western end
of New York state. But the eight beauti-
ful daughters. growing up close to nature
pure as the freshly fallen snow in thought
and action, pajama-clad by day and sleep
ing uncovered by night on eight rugs
these are the elements of doubt. When the
world finds them they are of course adj
mired, loved. And here is where Mr. Cham
bers scores his chief point, the serious OBJ
Ject of his enterprise, if he really had one
Subty, so subtly indeed as to be almost
an evanescent effect. he breaches an elo-
quent sermon. The power Of purity. it
might be called, with the ennobling infu-
ence of innocence a subtitle. Now as
a matter of fact tracts have no place in
really truly fiction and treatises that are
disguised as novels are abomnation to
many. But here is g. tract, a treatise and
Il preachment that cannot fail to do good.
while the world weeps tears of hilarty over
the fat poet and his naive daughters And
10. hoe ~ 10 hat will ha dor tOlE ay,
b. practically all readers for the sake of
the fun and possibly the attractive pictures.
An indirect blessing is oftentimes the most
lasting.
HEROES OF THE REFORMATION,
Edited by Samuel Macauley jackson,
professor of church history. New
York University--JoHN KNOX, The
Hero of the Scottish Reformation BY
Henry Cowan, ID, professor of
church history. University Of Aber-
deem. New York: G. p. Putnam's
Sons. Washington: Woodward &
Lothrop.
DIR. Cowan does not hold to the view that
John Knox was born in the year 1905. upon
which was based the decision of the Brit
ish and American churches to celebrate
last Sunday the quater-centenary of his
birth. He believes that the weight of
testimony. after reviewing all the known
facts and all the deductions therefrom. in
dcates the close of the year 1913. or the
course of the year 1514 as the probable
time. Notwithstanding his disagreement
with the authorities OF the Presbyterian
churches on this score he has prepared his
biography with view to it's appearance in
conjunction with the celebration. There are
three modern accounts OF knox's life thai
of Rev. DIR. McCrle, published nearly a
century ago; that of David Laing, issued In
parts between 1886 and 1864. and compris-
ing all of Knox s works, and that of Prof
Hume Brown published ten years ago In
two large volumes Or. Cowan's biography
does not seek to cover all the ground ira
versed by any of these predecessors. He
aims TO give the chief facts relating &c
knoX's career and to surround them witt
an account OF the historical circumstances
which led to his activities as reformer
or, he says, ITO describe those portions
OF the career of Knox which are most like
ly to DO OF general interest; to place his
life work in its historical setting; to facfli.
tate FOR students the consultation of orig
nal authorities. and to present a picture OF
the reformer which, without concealing hi:
iniirmities. would help to vindcate his right
10 enrolment alike among the foremost
heroes of the reformation and among the
greatest and noblest OF Scotsmen."
TALKS IN A LIBRARY WITH IAU-
RENEE HUTTON. Recorded by Isa-
bel Moore. Illustrated. New York
@. p Putnam's Sons
The late Laurence Hutton was regarded
by his friends and acquaintance as one OF
the most delightful takers of the period
In his own library. surrounded by his books
and pictures and souvenirs of his literary
activities and his friendships. he was a
source of never-failing pleasure to all who
were privileged to listen His "reminiscences
were rich in incident and widely varied
His memory was keen, his sense OF humoi
particularly sharp and his manner of mar
ration charming. One who signs himself
&c. II. p" initials by no means difficult
=, OF Identification suggested to Mr. Hutton