Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-15
DIXIE, AFTER THE WAR. BY Myrta
Lockett Avary. With thirty-two illus
trations from old photographs. New
York: Doubleday Page & Co. Wash
innton: Woodward & Lothrop.

trations from old photographs. New
York: Doubleday, Page & Co. Wash
ington: woodward Lothrop.
It is not invariable that the publishers
claim for book can be seriously considered
as guarantee for It's contents. The reader
may, however, question whether In the
statement that mo book hitherto published
SO fully and graphically portrays southern
life after the war" the publishers of Dixie
After the War;" are not within their rights.
Mrs. Avarys equipment for her task has
been peculiarly complete. By inheritance
and by childish association participant
with the sufferers Of defeated Dixie. by later
acquaintance familiar with the ideals Of the
conquering north, by training one Of the
guild OF literary workers-as her earlier
book. "A Virginia Girl in the Civil War;"
testifles-by later opportunity q searcher for
material over the whole field Of the south
1t could be expected that her work would
be both appealing and authoritative. That
expectation this very handsome volume
fulhlls.
Too much cannot be said Of the wealth
Of material found in this intimate study
Of southern life. The stories, whether they
depict lights or shadows. are unhachneyed,
the pictures are vivid. and, whether It be
in the mellow philosophy OF Uncle Ran
dolph" or in the defiance Of hot-headed
youth. the temper of the people is well re-
vealed. The author is intensely in SYM
pathy with her own people. This is frankly
sectional literature, but 1t Is sectional lit
erature written with the fullest compre-
hension that the tragic conditions were In
evitable, and that neither north nor south
had the monopoly Of heroism or of human
ity. 1t is always doubtful whether Inn
partial history is either possible or desirable.
Apart from the charm Of personal recol-
lection, there is in the book a praiseworthy
purpose to sift the evidence in some of the
national questions involved. OF this eff
fort, the account OF Lncoln's entry into
Richmond is a most successful example,
while the not altogether clear treatment
of the reconstruction question in "A Little
Plain History is another. further point
which adds to the impression of Impair
TALLY Is the very careful manner In which
Mrs. Avary discriminates between material,
for the accuracy of which she holds herself
personally responsible, and the good sto-
ries'' which she neither aff1rms nor denies.
Moreover. the book Is well planned. The
material is grouped into well-defned units,
arranged in a generally chronological or
der. This secures at the same time an I'm,
preston Of informality desirable in personal
"reminiscences. and definite movement
which makes 1t possible to carry away an
impression Of the book as a whole. Its
scope is comprehensive-it Is possible to say
exhaustive. The chapters on the race Dues
ton are thoughtful and suggestive. There
Is, however, in the diction an occasional
failure in clearness, OF which the opening
cndpter Is, unfortunately, an eAduple. WIN
much real pathos in the book and much
genial humor, the chapter on 1.-The Black
and Tan Convention" is delicious farce
The illustrations deserve enthusiastic men,
ton. Taken as they are, for the most
part from old portraits, and beautifully re-
produced, they preserve for US, In no small
degree, the charm and chivalry of the brave
old days in Dixie.
MAX FARGUs. BY Owen Johnson, author
Of Arrows Of the Almighty" &c. IL
Illustrated New York: The Baker &,
Taylor Company.
Mr.. johnson, who has heretofore held his
vision toward far cleaner things in life,
now-tels a tale of sordid intrigue, crime,
moral filth and degradation, tale absolute
ly without one decent character. It is
study Of the social environments Of the
New York police courts. and shows the
workings Of the blackmail machine out
lining in heavy strokes the 1ife-siZed figure
Of a shyster. There may be some readers
who will welcome this exposition of lifes
meanness. and there is quality and remark
able, II not unusual, power in the presen-
tation, but 1t Is to be deplored that the
author should turn his talents to such
use.
THE MAN IN THE CASE. By Elizabeth
Stewart Phelps. Illustrated by Henry
]. Peck. New York and Boston:
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
The reading public had grown to expect
from this author finished workmanship,
genius for concreteness and a most ten
der. reverent analysis of a woman's heart.
The Man in the Case" is a fine example
Of these qualities. The plot, in which the
mystery is fairly we'll sustained, is evil
IDENTIFY of interest to Mrs. Phelps-Ward pri-
marily as vehicle for developing the hero
inc, noble and suffering under the scorn of
f1oy, {tn lie
section of the heart of Joan Dare, CULVER
ing under the refined cruelty of her posi-
ton, partakes almost too much Tor the
comfort Of the reader-of the inquisition.
Upon Joan Dare and her lover, Douglas
Ray, in the first hour Of a long-denied con-
fession Of mutual love comes a tragedy.
The tragedy, unrevealed until the end, Is
one that effects Joan's standing in an aver
age suburban community. Through all Of
her unmerited suffering but four beings
are strong enough to believe in her-the
minister, her serving woman, Martin Lu-
ther," the dog, and her hard-headed Scotch
man of lover. These will not be rebuffed.
and, deny them as she must. they yet save
her from absolute despair.
The two strongest scenes in the book are
the first and the last. For self-revelation
Of two mature and rich natures under the
influence of the strongest of passions the
opening chapter is impressive. The final
chapter which sums up the elements both
analogy to the moral isolation of Hester
Prynne would have been made by the read
er had it not been suggested by a member
of the complacent flock which ostracises
Joan.
WITCH'S GOLD. By Hamlin Garland
illustrated by w. L. Taylor New York
Doubleday, Page & Co. Washington
Woodward & Lothrop.
Hamlin Garland possesses an invincible
crudity. Curiously enough, to the great
numbers of his admirers-and to some Of
his critics-this constitutes decided charm
It Is so associated with the admirable sin
certify and earnestness of his work that 1t
might easily be considered factor in those
qualities. ''Witch's Gold" is-as was Mr.
Garland's earliest work. It is also, as was
Rose Of butchers Cody convincing
md an appealing story.
The Witch Is mine of wonderful rich
ness. which, having first withheld its Sc
crets from Richard Clement until he was
on the edge Of despair, at last revealed its
treasures, 80 that 1t places him among the
mining kings. In his first interval Of lei
sure Clement meets a beautiful girl who Is