Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25
THE FIGHTING CHANCE. BY Robert ".

THE FIGHTING CHANCE. BY Robert W.
Chambers. Illustrated by A. b. Wen
yell New York: d. Appleton Co.
Mr. Chambers is one of the very best
story -tellers now writing for the delectation
of the American public. He has the faculty
of narration to a degee which enables him
to hold the interest of his reader whatever
may be his theme. He possesses clear
vision into human character and as an
analyst of motives there is today no keener,
shrewder producer of fiction. His humor is
a lambert flame appearing now In situa-
tion now in dialogue, now In phrase ano
oftentimes a mere word. Yet 1t is not the
object of the authors effort, but rather a
means to the end of telling his story. In
1.-The Fighting Chance he develops a
theme of modern society, its vices and
comparative virtues, it's business affairs
and its diversions, its votaries and Its
climbers Interest centers In two young
people-the eternal twain. The man is
tainted with an hereditary weakness for
LIQUOR the girl is touched by the corrupt
ing desire for great social power and high
position The man cannot give these to
her. but another can. She accepts the
Croesus and loves the inebriate. He de-
mands a fighting chance for her and finally
wins 1t and with her he accedes to new
strength In his struggle against his NOR
tai enemy.
Brilliant scenes are presented to depict
society at play, shooting, gambling motor
Ing. feasting. drinking. the artificial life
of the time-killers. Dramatic scenes are
shown of life in the centers of the money
power. Intensely sentimental passages oc-
cur between the lovers witty dialogues. au-
dacious speeches by both man and woman,
grading from instructive philandering to
serious attack and defense. Mr.. Chambers
has the knack Of carrying conviction. His
people talk humanity. His processes are
artistically adjusted and concealed and the
product is a delight to the sense Of pro-
portion.
In Beverly Plank climber, stands for
ward one of the best bits of character
drawing Mr.. Chambers has ever done.
The man wins the sympathies by his whole
someness, his honesty, his shrewdness, his
peculiar duality Of nature-marked by his
shrinking approach to the shrine of So
ciety and his efficient masterfulness In
achievement. Howard Quarter, whom the
artist who drew the Illustrations has caused
to resemble young Mr.. Hyde. Of life 1nsur-
ance notoriety, is background. bit OF
human mechanism, necessary and never
negligible, yet held to the end In a certain
mystery of delineation. Leroy Mortimer is
a vivid study In degeneracy. The women
are delightful creations. as Mr.. Chambers
book to read slowly, carefully, miserly,
and when the last page is reluctantly and
yet eagerly reached. with gratitude to-
ward the author.
LETTERS TO CHINESE OFFICIALS,
Being a Western View of Eastern
Civilization. By William Jennings
Bryan. New York: Mcclure, Phillips
& Co.
While Mr.. Bryan was travelling in China
that undeniably clever literary product.
Letters From a Chinese Official" was
brought to his notice, and he read it with
an interest whetted by his environment.
Later, while on shipboard, he wrote a
series Of letters in reply, and sent his
manuscript back to his home with instruc-
lions to have 1t published. Just on the
eve of publication he learned how much to
his surprise cannot be told, that these sup
posedly native Chinese comments on west
ern affairs were in truth from a European
source, a fact which many western critics
had from the first glance suspected. The
author of that work. 1t has since been an
nounced, is G. Loves Dickinson, an Eng
lish essayist of marked ability.
Thus Mr.. Bryan's reply appears, with a
note of explanation added to the preface.
The situation Is rather awkward. What
ever comes from Mr.. Bryan's pen is inter-
esting, especially at this juncture. And
this work Is indisputably worth while, as an
expression of the distinguished author g
faith in the western civilization and ideals
and aspirations and achievements. But in
the light of the exposure of the hoax, 1t
really seems like fighting windmils thus
to elaborate a series of earnest replies to
q set of opinions which are now known
to have been at best only secondhand and
possibly at no time seriously intended In
deed, the final effect of reading of this
book is that Mr.. Bryans book is little
more than an essay upon the ethics of the
west against the PHILOSOPHERS and GUS
toms of the east.
Is 1t worth while seriously In these days
to argue that labor-saving machinery is a
factor for civilization? Or that universal
education is uplifting? Or that interna-
tional intercourse is creative of breadth
and growth? Yet, Mr.. Bryan proceeds to
establish these doctrines profoundly SOL
EMMY. earnestly. and, it is always to be
said. ably. He might, however, have per-
formed this duty to his faith in the new
world and its advances and its possibilities
more effectively had he eschewed the rather
clumsy medium of reply to nonresident
Chinese critic. with whose pretended views
no one has heretofore thought to take Issue,
even while they were read with relish as
examples Of excellent English by clever
westerner.
1t would really seem as though Mr.. Bryan
had hoaxed himself
THE PILGRIM AND THE PIONEER; the
Social and Material Developments in
the Rocky Mountains. BY John c. Bell,
Montrose, Colo, for four years district
judge and for ten years Representa-
tive in Congress from western Colo
RADIO. Illustrated. Lincoln. Neb.: The
International Publishing Association.
Washington: Brentanos.
Mr.. Bell, who is wildly remembered In
Washington. sde-steps critical comment
upon his production by the somewhat IA
miliar expedient of stating in his preface
that 1T is not intended that 1t CHS work.
shall follow any literary form or meet the
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