Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-13

spondents In Washington and the part they
play in the federal legislation and shap-
ing the opinions of the people.
THE UNITED STATES INTHss TWESTI-
ETH CENTURY. BY Pierre Leroy
Beaulieu. Authorized translation by
Fl. Arlington Bruce. New York: Funk
Wagnalls Company.
The United States interests the thoughtful
citizens of all lands. 1t offers an attrac-
tive field of research for the socloiogist.
re politician, the statesman, the economist.
It is stupendous proposition, this aggre-
cation of eighty millions of people, with
their enormous stretch of territory, their
great natural resources, their unfiagging
industry Viewed from the foreign stand
point, without prejudice, 1t becomes mon
umental fact. and it Is In this light that NJ.
Leroy Beaulieu has regarded 1t and his
book, a result is a document worthy
OF serious thought. He has qualified him
self for the task by a course of similar
treatments of other countries, and is in a
way an expert In the appraisement of for
eign lands. This volume was published in
Paris u little more than a year ago, and
there it attracted wide attention as a
scholarly and illuminating treatise upon
of the United States. For the American
edition, ably translated by Mr.. Bruce, the
author has prepared a special preface, in
which he acknowledges the possibility that
his deduction from the census and other
statistical sources of information are pos
sibly subject to modification in view of the
lapse of time. American changes are fire.
quent and at times revolutionary, so rapid
is the growth of the country In all its
aspects, But, in the main, he holds to
his conclusions, which are almost invariably
commendatory of the fruits of the phenome-
nal progress scored by the American peo-
pie. No foreigner has written book on
the United States quite like Nj. Leroy
Beaulieu's, and none has so unreseryedly
voiced the conclusions that the United
States is, as its people would have it, the
greatest country in the world On this
point NJ. Leroy-Beaullcu says in his
preface: THE first century following the
annexation of Louisiana witnessed the
United States obtain preponderating in
fluence over North America. The centen-
airy of that great event finds the United
States expanding beyond the confines or
America. Before the second century be
far advanced, the United States will I'M
questionably dominate economically all the
Asiatic and American countries bordering
on the Pacific, and will be playing in the
world the part played until these latter
days by England. This is its destiny, des-
tiny resting in large part, to be sure, on
the magnificent gifts bestowed by nature
but resting, TOO, on moral IOunud llOnS- IL
the United States is the richest country
of the world in coal, In iron, in copper, it
is also the richest in human energy. 1t is
pre-eminently, as has been we'll said by
one of the most truly representative of
Americans President Roosevelt, the land
of the strenuous life.
THE AwAKENING; n Novel of Washing
ton Life. BY C. Wickliffe Yulee. New
York and Washington: The Neale Pub
fishing Company.
This is book by new author on an old
subject It is termed "a Novel of Wash
ington Life" although most Washing
tonians would perhaps resent the idea that
the characters We're typical of people living
here This does not mean that the book
follows the general lines of Washington
novels, whose usual tendency is toward
vulgarity Mr. Yulee writes clean book
in a clean style. The trouble with his char
acters is that they talk too much and so
story. Most of the characters, too, includ-
ing the hero and heroine, are not men and
women who are either to be admired or
even found interesting. very charming
character drawing OF young Virginia girl
is a striking exception, however, and shows
that the author Is capable of better things.
Perhaps the greatest weakness in the book
L
chanical. With all these drawbacks, how
ever, there Is a very perceptible charm
about Mr.. Yulee's offering, The life and
spirit of a Maryland country house of the
old school are very delightfully."- sketched in
one of the chapters while another contains
a strong and vivid description of a lively
debate in Congress. Then again there are
very many bright touches and original
ideas in the book. One of the characters
says: ''In fact, society in our big cities is a
trades union; lot OF people get together,
apparently by accident, resolving they will
constitute society Strange to say, the
others all Immediately acquiesce, although
they may possess more ancestry talent and
even money; but they are never content I'M
til they are taken into the union"
Mr.. Yulee shows pretty clearly that he
can write. With experience he will doubt
less be able to handle plot and action in a
tirmer way. when much can be expect ed
from him
LIVING MASTERS OF MUSIC; Edited by
Rosa Newmarch EDWARD GRIEG,
BY II. T. Finck. Illustrated New York:
John Lane Company.
Despite the wide popularity OF Grieg,
reaching almost the point of personal af-
lection for the man through his works, he
has never before been the subject of a
biography. A little has been written about
his works in French and Norwegian but
nothing whatever as to his personality
Grieg himself has resented all efforts to
secure materials for such a sketch as
might satisfy the interest Of his admirers
in his own character and ways of life and
ideals and purposes. Brilliant offers for an
autobiography have failed to move him
to write about himself. In such circum-
stances it is highly gratifying that a work
has at last been produced to present Grieg
the man as he is, the modest master OF
tone, retiring, unassertive, content to
maintain his art upon q high plane and
to give pleasure to those who love his
music The work is well balanced and
draws from all reliable sources for materi-
ais II is handsomely illustrated.
Real Music.