Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25
THE MASTER-WORD, a Story of the
South Today: By l.. II. Hammond.

1
So many novels depicting race conditions
in the south today are pitched in high
key of partisanship on one side or the
other that such a book this, written dis
passionately and compassionateiy, with ten
der regard for the sensibiities of the reader
and for the unfortunate subjects of the dis
course is to be heartily welcomed The
theme is. however. not pleasant one in its
inception A young husband dies in cir
cumstances which before his death disclose
to his wife the fact that he is the father of
an illegitimate child by light mulatto
woman. Mrs. Hammond treats this delicate
topic artistically and without giving Of
tense. 1t is necessary in order to yield the
dramatic situations which follow the death
of the husband and the mental agony of
the widow, who feels that she was too
harsh upon him in her judgment. She has
the child brought to her pfantation-the
scene is laid in the phosphate regions of
Tennessee-and tries to do her duty by 1t as
guardian. The girl grows into a beautiful
woman, whose blood-taint would not be de-
tected in another region. She is the play
mate of the two white children of Mrs.
Lawton, boy and a girl She Is the de-
voted slave of the latter. always maintain
ing her respectful distance When all
lions ensue. A stirring love element enters
into the case. The girl Viry rebels against
the necessity to associate with members of
the colored race, and knows fully that she
cannot mingle on terms of equality with the
whites. Mrs. LaWton tries conscientiousy
to save the girl from the consequences of
her brooding over these and other troubles
and meets only her resentment Perhaps
the best statement of the social aspect of
the race problem in the south that has been
formulated of late is this passage in one
of the older womans speeches to the
younger:
one formed in us; 1t could hardly come
until race consciousness grew up, and that
comes late with every nation and race
When the negroes develop more of It, 1t
will be help to us all. But that it is late
in coming is no discredit to its truth; nor
the fact that the old instinct sometimes
overcomes it any proof that it will not
triumph In the end as Il deserves to
triumph. Do you not see, Viry, that you
yourself are a double witness to the truth
of what l say? If your existence testifies to
the strength of the old instinct. your hatred
OF the negroes is a proof of the ineXtin-
gufshable power OF the new"
AS novel Mrs. Hammond's story eX-
erts powerful appeal to the reader. 1t
is consistently developed, dramatic in his
heights of interest and a. vivid description
of conditions in the phosphate mines Of
Tennessee as representative of the indus
trial regeneration OF the south and the mi
nor political problems that have attended
THE STORY OF THE CONGO FREE
STATE; Social, Political and Eco
nomic Aspects of the Belgian Sys-
tenn of Government in Central Africa.
By Henry Wellington wack. FR.G.S.
(Member of the New York Barr. IL
Illustrated New York: G. P. Put
MANS Sons. Washington: Woodward
& Lothrop.
At least one good end is served In the
of King Leopolds administration of the
Congo region. 1t is yielding a generous
amount of printing from both sides which
may incidentally instruct American readers
as to the conditions in that section of the
world which are not subject to dispute. 1t
thus has a certain educational value. In
the present large volume, devoted chiefly to
a defense of the Congo company, are many
pages which are entirely outside of the
range of the controversy and contribute
richly to the readers world knowledge.
In the quarrel itself, which has ragged for
many seasons, there is no very marked
American interest. 1t is apart from the
sphere of this governments influence and
1t involves considerations of humanity which
appeal only vaguely to the individual cti-
zen. 1t is of course, deplorable if there
is oppression in the Congo, If cruelties are
practiced upon the natives, if the admins
tratlon Is corrupt, as the critics of King
Leopold's representatives so vigorously con-
tend. And it is not natter for wonder
that certain Europeans, notably English
men, have taken up the matter and are
trying by every known means to secure an
overturnng in the Congo. They are close
to the scene of political and commercial
activity affected by the Congo dispute.
Mr. Wack's book is an exhaustive treatise
upon the Congo, geographically, historically
ethnoloeically and commercially. 1t traces
the rise of the influences which now domi-
nate. 1t shows the natives as they are, and
explains the objects of the administration
In Its dealings with them and the necessi-
ties which have dictated the various poll
cies. 1t goes directly at the controversy
itself and meets the points that have been
raised by King Leopold's critics, Offering
volumlnous arguments and statistics to re-
iute thelr claims. 1t is exceptionally we'll
illustrated with 125 finely engraved half
tones and two valuable maps.
THE FIRE OF SPRING. BY Margaret
Potter, author of The Flame Gath
erers.' &c. Illustrated by Sidney
Manson. New York: d. Appleton &
Structurally this story is a slight affair
the theme being that of the young unso-
phisticated wife of Chicago millionaire
somewhat older than herself, who falls
victim to the destinations of a hand
somer man more nearly her own age. Dis
covery and a tragedy follow, and finally re-
Cancellation. Around this somewhat con-
ventional plot the story has been built as
an artistic character study, showing the
development of husband and wife through
suffering. The author has proved herself
in this novel to be mistress of the art of
presenting an entertaining analysis of tenn
peraments, coupled with enough action to
keep the reader alert for succeeding situa-
lions.
THE FOUR DOCTRINES; With the
Nine Questions. BY Emanuel Swe-
denborg. Translated from the orig
inal Latin works and edited by the
Rev. John Faulkner Potts, BA.
dondon). New York: The American
Swedenborg Printing and Publish
ing Society. rs
This is the first of a new edition, newly
translated and revised carefully from the
Latin, in new form and style. The edition,
when completed, will consist of twenty
eight or twenty-nine volumes. Some of the
other volumes are nearly ready for print
ing, provision has been made for the trans
lation or revision OF most of the others,
and they will be issued as rapidly as pos
s.ble. The present volume is 1.-The Four
Doctrines" 1t is translated by the Rev.
John Faulkner Potts, r. A. Lond., the
compiler of '"The Swedenborg Concord