Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

memory.
TIE UNDYING FAST. BY Hartmann
Suoermann author of Regina. or. the
pms or the Fathers" Sc TRANSLATED
Lane. '0i"
ohe OF the most fascinating propositions
OF physical science is that III the ocea,
were perfectly stilled stone cast into
the sea on the Atlantic coast would cause
ripple that would last In infinite y,hra
| tions until 1t reached the shores of f,u-
rope. This doctrine of the persistence of
disturbance Hes at the root of Suder
ihahns latest work. There is. he AYERS.
no escaping the consequences of sim The
man or the woman who violates the moral
laws loses control of the forces that make
a.lu uinake lives. In his straightforward
styie ne presents a situation of extreme
subtlety, based upon the deep love of two
men, menaced by the knowledge that one
OF, them mas committed a grievous offense.
"A vivid picture of German farm life Is
painted, the loose living of the lower
classes. the dishonesty of stewards the
bumptiousness of the corps students A
pathetic, appealing figure appears Ulrich
kietzingk. husband of a frivolous, beauti-
ful, erring woman. Strongly contrasting
with him is Leo Sellenthin, man of action,
fmpulsive, dramatic, vigorous. Ulrich is
an invalid, scholar, q dreamer. Leo is
all ardor, force and intensity. He has
been abroad for period to allow the eff
feet of a fatal duel he has fought to die
away. On his return he finds conditions
such that he is eventually drawn into q
semi-intrigue with the woman over whose
name he was forced upon the field OF
honor. Complexities arise. The situation
becomes desperate. The gloom of an inn
pending tragedy hangs over the tale. light
ened occasionally by flashes of Suder-
manns grim humor. Unfortunately, the
translation is unsatisfactory. Lapses OF
English grammar annoy the reader, and
the style of the German master is only
imperfectly reproduced. Sudermann de-
serves the most artistic treatment In the
transition from one language to another.
ELIZABETH AND HER GERMAN GAR
DEN. With sixteen full-page illustra-
lions in color New York: The Mao
milan Company. Washington: Bren-
tano's.
The authorship Of this charming outdoor
book has never been divulged and specula-
ton as to the identity of the writer re-
sponsible for 1T and it's successors con-
tnues That the author is woman is well
generally accepted. The texture of the tale
is too feminine to admit of much serious
question. The publishers have now given
It q glorious dress BETTING its character
and prestige. This illustrated edition VIII
be welcomed by even the possessors OF pre-
vious prints. The sixteen color plates by
Simon Harmon Vedder. are, with perhaps
one or two exceptions, highly artistic They
reproduce the spirit Of the book the gen
tleness Of the author, the nature love and
child love that animate her in her writing.
Thus embodied the work is a thing of rare
beauty worthy of place of honor on the
reading table or the shelves.
THE PRAYING sKIPPERy and Othor
Stories. BY Ralph D. Paine. Illus
trated. New York: The Outing Pub
fishing Company.
Mr. Paine is short story teller Of the
first rank. with a swing of style, clean
Tone a vigor Of expression and a subtlety
of construction rarely combined In one
producer of fiction. His Praying Skipper"
is classic. 1t Is In truth one of the best
American short stories The others are
all in the authors breezy, outdoor vein.
with many highly dramatic periods, pulls
ing with the surge OF the sea. The volume
makes excellent reading in summer days,
with the mind turning fondly toward the
shore.
THE VINE OF SIBMAH; a Relation OF
the Puritans By Andrew Macphail.
Illustrated New York: The Macml-
Ian Company. Washington: Bren-
20 tano's.
20 vine of Sibmahr' cried the prophet
jeremiah, thy plants are gone over the
sea-" Even so did the plants of the Crom-
wellian dissent spread across the Atlantic
and take root in the soil of the world.
But their growth was not one of peace
and harmony. Rancor and bitterness of
dogmatic belief lay like a canker at the
heart Of the perfect flower of religious free
dom. The peace-loving Quakers. fleeing
from the prosecutions of Charles II, landed
upon the shores of the western continent
only to be warned away as heretics scourg-
ed from the villages and sent forth into
the wilderness to die. One of these was a
frail young woman from London, and the
=.
by a Cromwelian soldier who had gone
forth to the new world to seek a refuge
from the new kings revenge is told with
high dramatic quality and convincing
son singular Captain Dexter Is an engage
ing fellow Of mighty prowess and no small
capacity Of mind, shrewd and faithful, pey-
severing and daring. Whether sailing with
Phineas Pratt, master Of the Covenant, or
battling with Indians in the New England
forests or arguing with the narrow mind
ed Puritan bigots who would forbid any
man to think for himself. he is refresh
ing personality, and he we'll deserves his
success and reward when he finally mas
tiers the forces that have been thwarting
him for many months and takes his bride
to his heart Mr.. Macphail has turned out
story to stir the pulses and quicken in
terest In the history of the early religious
settlements in North America
IN>THE HOUSE OF HER FRIENDS. New
York: Robert Grier Cooke.
The anonymous author of this brilliant
bit of fiction may be suspected of conceal
ment possiblgpfor the purpose of telling a
tale that has its sources in real life. The
figures he or she offers on the scene of the
action, small college town not far from
New York, are plainly drawn from living
models The gossiping old woman of the
college clique, the plotting men of the
faculty, the patient, long suffering, reserved
woman who was so grievously wounded .in
the house Of her friends" all are distinct
and true. This woman had loved man
who was unworthy of her. who lost himself
in indulgences and who married beneath
him. He kept her letters to him, oh erished
them with all the strength of his affection.
After his death they are found by NEEDLE
some spinster, who has a passion for pos
sessing herself of and retailing secrets
harmful to others. Thus does the story of
Katherine Lawrence's romance become
common property. In the midst of all the
buzz and hum Of gossip. malicious. un-
Christian she bears herself with dignity
and reserve that betray the purity of her
character and the marvellous strength OF
her spirit. There is not much else to the
tale. It is plot without climax. an e1-
tended character sketch, with side lights