Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
THE MAKER OF MODERN MEAICo,

die (nee Harley, author of Mexico
as / saw It," &c. Illustrated New
York: John Lane Company
In 1900, says Mrs Tweedie In her intro
ductlon to this handsome and valuable
book. she looked upon the map OF the worid
for new subject, and saw rich possipli-
ties In Mexico. She went there, armeo
with introductions. and spent six deiishtfui
months visiting all portions OF the country
The result was volume which mas oeeh
rated as one OF the most satisfactory treat
ments of modern Mexico extant- Inc
author mOdestIy says that lit had CONSIDER
able success both in England and Amer
dca" 1t had a very material success, NJ
deed One dire L consequence o. that hooS
IS the present. its logical successor. So
impressed was President DiaZ with Mrs.
Tweedie's fairness and thoroughness that
when in the autumn of 1904, she revisited
the country and asked permission to pre-
pare a biography OF the ruler of the re-
public from personally supplied materials
she finally persuaded him, with the diplo-
matic assistance OF Nine Diaz, to sit for
his portrait" so to speak. He addressed
her a highly complimentary letter of per-
mission. expressing his confidence In her
capacity. as demonstrated by her previous
work. Thus it was that Mr. Tweedie en-
tered upon her task under highly favorable
auspices. and the product of her effort is
now In hand, a satisfactory, clear. COM
plete and entertaining story of the man
who has made modern Mexico what II IS
a prosperous. progressive country. peace
full with the world and within Its own
borders.
Porfrio Diaz is one of the most striking
personalities In all the world range or
statesmen. He has won his way to the
front by dint OF hghting-in the field when
Mexico was struggling with the imported
emperor and later in the council halls when
reactionaries were endeavoring TO prevent
a full fruition of the victory for independ-
ence. His courage. sagacfty high personal
character and broad intelligence have
proved an invaluable asset for Mexico In
fhe struggle In the early days and the ad-
vance march of later years Throughout
this volume his personality appears-the
man of high ideals. Of modesty. of latent
strength. The story of his exploits as
soldier are dramatically written. with
many important contributions to the rec
ord from the diary and portfolio of the
president himself Mrs. Tweedie has amply
Justified the trust reposed in her by Mex
iCO's ruler.
The volume Is profuseiy- and handsomely
illustrated with reproduced photographs or
Mexican scenes and portraits.
BALZAC; Critical Study BY Hippolyte
Taine. Translated. with an Apprecia-
With portrait New York: Funk &
Wagnalls Company.
Taine was the last to die of the great
group of writer's who revived the literary
glory OF France during the nineteenth CEN
tury, He passed away in 1898 leaving the
world remarkably ignorant of himself. his
personality his ways Of life. his individual
judgments save as they had been expressed
in his works. Thus II is entirely appro-
pirate that a translation of Taine's essay
on Baizac whom he rated as a genius of
the first order, should be accompanied by
an appreciation OF himself by an American
writer with a keen conception OF the values
of French art. Mr.. O'Rourke has evidently
engaged In his task with hearty admira-
ton OF both Tame and BalZac. He weighs
the factors OF Taine's success discriml-
natingly however. and Is not carried to
extreme statements by his approval Of the
man and the worker
Taine'S sketch of BalZac brief and crisp.
Is a treat for those who have experienced
the remarkable charm of the interchangeable
novelist in his lifelike reproduction OF
French life in all its phases. He treats
OF his life and character his genius. his
style his world" his great characters
and his philosophy Taine's final Judgment
of him is that with Shakespeare and Saint
Simon, Balzac is the greatest store house
OF documents on human nature that we
possess
THE SANDS OF PLEASURE. BY Filson
Young Guy ThOrne). author of When
II Was Dark" &c. Boston. Dana Es-
ties 4 Co.
Guy Thorne," from whom came that
strong story Of the possible results Of
destruction OF faith in the divinity of
Christ. is now announced as Filson Young.
whose name is unknown to American ic
ton readers IT, however, he keeps up
his present pace he will not remain I'M
known long. He is an artist of remark
able power bold. even iconoclastic. grace
ful in expression and subtle In suggestion.
His present theme is intensely disagree
able IN the MAN. a dramatic rendering of
the fable OF the Dead sea fruit that turns
20 ashes on the lips. Richard Grey. who
IS capable of building lighthouses that will
Withstand the giant force OF the sea. falls
victim to the beauty and seductiveness of
"a woman without soul. without morals,
whose past he cannot endure to hear men
toned. With her he drinks to the dregs
the intoxicating wine of Montmartre the
beverage that destroys the spirit. that
wrecks lives He awakens I'm time and
urns to his work saddened. stunned, but
real ling more than ever the sweetness
and joy to be found in honest toll and con-
struCtive efforts. That portion of the story
that deals with his management of the
work or lighthouse building Is remarkably
artistic. fine and pure In style. striking
contrast TO the fetid tale OF Partisan pleas
urc that follows.
THE sTATESMAN'S YEAR BOOK; Sta
tisttcal and Historical Annual of the
States Of the World for the Year 1906.
Edited by ]. Scott Kettle LID, sec
rotary to the Royal Geographical So
cety SC. with the assistance of /. p.
a. Renwick. MA. LIB. Forty-third
annual publication London and New
York: The Macmillan Company. Wash
tngton: Brentano's.
The new edition OF 1.-The Statesman's
Year Book" has been subjected to very con-
siderable alterations and additions One of
the principal changes has been the addi-
ton OF more than $50 pages to the section
devoted TO the United States. These ad-
ditional pages contain a detailed account
OF each state OF the Union on the same
plan as that followed IN dealing with other
states of the world. This has been done
partly TO satisfy suggestions which the