Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26

cd fails, he can see no other remedy than
government ownership His book Is re-
q present study OF this pressing question.
He has secured the old world for hints,
which bear more or less directly upon the
peculiar political and industrial conditions
In this country.
THE STIGMA. BY Emily selkirk Boston:
Herbert B. Turner & Co.
This book viii not. although it should.
circulate widely In the south. 1t Is obvi-
ously intended as an answer to THE Clans
man" and Is as strong as that book az
document and infinitely stronger as q story.
1t deals with the race problem as seen In
Arkansas by young white woman who
goes into the state to teach school A
southerner by birth and rearing and SYM
pathies, she IS nevertheless sufficiently
broad to see the horror of mob rule and
the monstrous injustice Of the system which
makes laws for one class of people only.
Some portions of her book are distinctly
disagreeable. The whole subject is nause-
ating, In truth, and any attempt to set 1t
forth must offend the sensibilities of read
ers. But compared with Mr.. Dixon's works,
1t is dignified and impressive Standing on
Its own merits. as piece of fiction, 1t
shows evidences of literary abilities whieb
should be turned to q less controversial
field Of endeavor.
IN VANITY FAIR, Tale of Frocks and
Femininity. By Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd,
author of The Misdemeanors of
Nancy" New York: Moffat, Yard &
Co.
A study of the Parisienne, in all her
moods. her graces. her gowns. her diver
sions. her efforts to keep the fashionable
pace. The author treats her subject lightly,
yet with evidences of thoroughness. She
has clearly lived sufficientl. in Paris to
know the ways of women at the French
capital, in their remarkable mastery of the
art of graceful living. She has seen that
sometimes the apparent follies OF the social
swim cover intrigues of a political nature.
and that there is a distinct undercurrent
of seriousness with all the frivolities Of
Paris gayety. Whether the French woman
is attending the Grand Prix at Long
champs or driving IN the Bots, or gambling
at Monte Carlo. or motor boating on the
Seine, or scorching in her automobile
through the provinces, she Is always chile"
a word which the author despairs of try
ing to translate to her American readers
full comprehension. One of the most enter
tanning chapters is that which describes the
tyrannies of the masters of the dressmak-
ing art, whose ataliers are famous through
out the world of fashion.
LEE. By Lillian Fell. author
of Hope Loring," &c. Frontispiece in
Color by Dora Wheeler Keith. Boston,
L. c. Page & Co.
The real purpose of this story does not
appear for several chapters. Then, when
Caroline Lee has lost her pareats and her
fortune and has been apparently rendered
a cripple for life from a fall from horse
the main motive of the book is disclosed
II is a presentation of Christian Science as
a means for the amelioration and cure of
the Ills of the mind and the flesh. Incl
dentally 1t deals with the problems of the
SOUTH more particularly those of an indus
trial character the intense prejudice of
some southerners against receiving fnan-
cial assistance from northern capitalists
figuring as a factor in the desolation and
poverty of the region in which a young
woman of energy undertakes to establish
business enterprise.
THE TYSONS (Mr. and Mrs. NeviIl Ty-
SOM. By May Sinclair. author of Tho
Divine Fire." &c. New York: B, w.
Dodge & Co.
Ever since May Sinclair presented 1.-The
Divine Fire" to a quickly appreciative
world there has been an eager anticipa-
ton of her succeeding works. She DEM
onstrated in that story the possession of
an unusual talent for characterization and
was rated as one of the best stories and
most finished pieces of literary work Of
several seasons 1.-THE Tysons" is the first
work from her pen since then. 1t has one
merit above 1.-The Divine Fire" It is short
er, the former story being fully 20 per cent
too long. But 1t is otherwise not to be COM
pared with the first success. 1t is relatively
a trife though dealing with strong forces.
Iao rist1
causes the separation Of the Tysons.
mated pair. Mrs. Tyson Is very
beautiful and her husband is an eccentric
character. The whole business ends in
tragedy and wretchedness. With clear-cut
Miss Sinclair opens to view
small English community, socially ruled by
an old maid, who is herself jealous of Iy-
sons wife, and craftily manages to turn
the tongues of neighbors against her. The
Tysons" will not enhance Miss Sinclairs
and she must produce some
thing better to maintain her prestige, 50
easily won.
JR.; a Romance Of Today
By Edward Clary Root. Illustrations
In color by Samuel M. Palmer. New
York: Frederick A Stokes Company.
There is one bright spot IN this story
which is worth all the rest That Is where
Tim Frazer the keeper of a low saloon
In the first ward of DEMAND. makes his
way to the stage OF the Peoples Theater.
where Huntington Jr.. is trying for the
second time to make political speech In
the enemys country, and the tough ex-
pugil!st shakes his fist at the audience and
demands fair play for the speaker. In
that passage Mr.. Root strikes the bell. He
does so well there that much else in the
story that Is doubtful will be accepted. The
tale deals with municipal politics and bust
ness and turns upon the scheme of pow
erful boss to ruin the reputation of an an
Client enemy, now in his declining years.
whose son enters the arena and fights for
t.ae honor Of the family.
CORNISH SAINTS AND SINNERS. BY j.
Henry Harris. Numerous drawings by
L. Raven-Hill. New York: John Lano
Company.
While it Is a bit difficult now and then
fully to appreciate the wittlcisms OF these
travellers In Cornwall the account Of their
and interviews with the peas
antry Is nevertheless instructive. The book
must not be read by Americans for the sake
OF its lightsome qualities. The author Is
saddest when he jests. But he has man
aged to wiring a good deal OF folk lore and
tradition and half-forgotten history and
biography out of the southwestern tip OF
England and between these elements ana
Mr. Paver-Htl}'s7 admirable drawings. the