Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15


women. the gypsy proving her love by seek
ing. in the hour of her own death. to warn
him of an impending act of vengeance.
The story is suggestive and entertaining,
but it is not of the "pleasant-endfng
style. 1t is ably written.
At THE SIGN OF THE FOX, Ro-
nance. BY Barbara, author Of Tho
Woman Errant," &c. New York: The
Macmillan Company. Washington:
Brentano's.
Why should Barbara" remain anony-
nous? Why does not sheer he, maybe
come forth TO add the interest Of an In
dividuality to that created by the excellent
products Of a prolific pen? The nom-de-
plume is becoming cumbersome. Few read
ers know her-let 1t be '.her'' for the pur-
poses of convenience-saye as the writer of
that first delight THE Garden of Com
niuters Wife" written when the garden
books were popular; or possibly as the Gre
ator of People of the Whirlpool: or may
be as the producer of THE Woman Err
rant" The name Barbara has no force,
no personality.
These suggestions result from the real
pleasure that is derived from a reading OF
the latest Barbara" book 1t is in some
respects more finished than the other three
1t is more distinctly story. Barbara her-
self does not figure The fiction is frankly
ayoWed and in consequence the action $
more free There is the same tender touch,
the same rapid deliueation of character,
the same clearness of outline, but more at
mosphere.
The sign of the fox was the roadside
token of an enterprise which came into ex-
istence in consequence of a great financial
collapse in Wall street. which swept away
a fortune and all but destroyed a man
life. By a bit of good luck a little New
20 lef DrODertY
the daughter of the house, and there the
family went after the storm cleared BROOKE
Lawton fitted herself to her strange new
environment bravely, and finally turned 10
good account her artistic talents and hcr
administrative capacity. Her tea and sand
witches became widely famous. and me
roadside in the season was often We'll hliou
with the smart vehicles of her patrons.
former society associates And back IN
the field worked her farmer-on-shares,
silent Hollander. Presently the Holianoer
crept into the story. but just how and why
Barbara" herself tells best The story is
bright and clever. 1t sparkleS IN places
with true humor, as when Miss keith
West. spinster cousin of the Lawtons. re-
turns from her fruitless matrimonial eXpe-
dition and tells the tale of her trials IN
Boston.
SERENA; a Novel. By Virginia Frazer
Boyle. author of Devil Tales, &c.
Portrait of Serena by Elizabeth
Gowdy Baker New York: A s.
Barnes & Co.
In the course of this little love story,
slight of structure. despite its treatment of
the vital theme of war, are given several
Interesting views of the south Immediately
before and during the conflict The hero
Inc is lovely young woman, who has
been brought UP in severely scholarly at
mosphere and taught Greek roots and Latin
declensions She is surrounded by admir-
ers and finally casts off her students gowns
for the apron of the housewife. When the
war clouds break her lovers and brother
go to the front and finally she obeys the
call of her section and serves 1t In the hos
pitfalls as nurse. In telling this tale Mrs
Boyle has displayed a rare quality of ten
derness and high degree of narrative
ability. Her negro dialect. in which some
of the incidents are related with force and
humor is true to the life of the old PLAN
tation days.
THE WORLDS EPOCH MAKERS;
Edited by Oliphant Smeaton-SOC-
RATES. BY Rev J. T. Forbes, MA
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Washington: William Ballantyne &
Sons.
In condensed space and in clear terms.
the life and philosophic theories and teach
ings and services of the great Greek re-
former are here set forth in style har-
monious with the preceding works of this
series of "epoch-makers." Socrates says
Mr.. Forbes bequeathed spirit rather than
a system to his age. His aim was to i'm
plant new soul in Athens. His constant
anxiety was first and last about the moral
welfare of mankind He ran counter to the
severe restrictions placed upon the individ-
ual by the rigid authority OF the state and
his condemnation resulted IN direct conse-
n
lions. His life was not uselessly sacrificed.
for he left two stout disciples In Plato and
Xenophon, and from them and the minor
followers of the Socratic school radiated an
influence that eventually wrought great
changes in Greece and through 1t In the
whole range of civilization. Mr.. Forbes
treats Of Socrates from both the philo-
sophie and the personal points of view and
produces useful volume
THE ETHICS OF FORCE. BY H e.
Warner. Boston: CHM & Co, pub
fishers for the International Union.
This small volume had Its origin in a
series of papers read to the Ethical Club
of this city just prior to and following the
war with Spain. The author served during
the civil war and after having been
stricken with fever. was captured and later
was wounded in a way to render an ampu-
tation necessary and finally wound up his
experience with another attack OF fever.
Thus. as he says. he saw war on It's most
seamy side. But he urges that his attitude
toward war as an institution Is not due In
any degree to his personal sufferings. He
regards as wholly irrational and he
believes that the day OF peace will event.
ually dawn. when men will see the unwis-
1om and the folly and the useleSsness OF
strife a means OF settling disputes They
will be more reasonable In their interpreta-
zion of such emotions hero worship and
patriotism. Mr.. Warmers treatment of his
theme is thoughtful and suggestive and de-
serves to be carefully read by all who are
interested in this important phase of the
human relationship.
COMMON-SENSE SERIES-JAPANESE
FOR DAILY USE. BY E. p. Prentys,
assisted by Kametaro Sasamoto. New
York: William r. Jenkins.
I The eyes Of the west are turned toward
| the east Japan has become an object of
| keen attention. In the course of a few
| months doubtless the tides of war will
have receded and peace will reign and
| many Americans will travel to the wonder
I full land that has produced such a remark
1 able people While there thew will want