Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29

seems to be an arraignment of the dis
honest advocate who uses his unden1able
brilliancy for selfish advancement, instead
of considering it as gift to be held in
trust for the benefit Of suffering humanity.
While the thought Is often lost as the au-
thor follows the eccentricities of wild
and mystical fancy, as a whole the book
makes a definite, If somewhat overgrue-
some, impression. No one could possibly
consider it a thoroughly wholesome book,
and it may be questioned whether-f Mr..
Snaiths purpose be that of a reformer-
any good can be effected by anything so
distorted and grotesque. He has again
demonstrated that he possesses power ana
the public will wait for something con-
corning which 1t need make no reserva-
lions.
THE GIRL IN WAITING. By Archibald
Eyre. Boston: John w. Luce & Co.
The fact that 1t is possible for a certain
train of events to be set in motion In real
life which. in fiction, would be stamped as
improbable is the basis of the very clever
plot of 1.-The Girl in Waiting" The author
deliberately uses this assertion as a device
for establishing atmosphere of actual
!ty, and In doing so shows that he knows
how to employ a skillful device. For the
rest the dialogue is unusually light and
sparkling and the situations pleasantly
fantastic. The element of farce Is never
suffered to become really broad and the
plot has surprises to the very end Alto
gether the book is attractive to rather
uncommon degree.
DANIEL SWEETLAND. By Eden PHIL
potts author of The Secret Woman.
New York: The Authors and News
papers Association. Washington: S.
kann, Sons Co.
The peculiar vein which Phillpotts has
made all his own in the rural mining dis
trlct of western England has never been
worked to more advantage than in Daniel
Sweetland." Contrasts of types of poachers
and tapsters, noblemen and noble maids
contribute material for an absorbing
story of adventure and mystery, and the
divergent elements of England and the
West Indian Islands localities furnish
a setting of exceptional romantic interest.
The special touch which makes the book
of the Philpotts order, however, Is the
clever characterization of the wits at the
white Hart Tavern. Johnny Beer, who
has his own public at Warren Inn is
not the least deserving of these worthless
and his poetic gift is a genial touch of
realism and humor which would lift any
book from the ordinary into distinction.
SIM GREENE; a Narrative of the Whis-
key Insurrection. By Richar1 T.
Wiley. Philadelphia: The JOAN c.
Winston Company.
The whiskey instruction in southwestern
Pennsylvania furnishes the framework for
Mr.. Wieys story. 1t is an interesting de-
velopment of an incident in American his
tory which is but little Known. The part
played by Tom the Tinker" who, while
he issued orders to the distllers banded to-
gether to resist what they considered an
act of tyranny-an impost on their liquor
cOntrived to so conceal his personality that
by many he was considered to be myth
is historically revealed The author con-
siders it as well established that this Tom
the Tinker was John Hollcroft. a promi-
nent citizen in comfortable circumstances.
a distiller and an office holder. portrait
of the man is made the frontispiece. In
addition to Its historical interest the book
is the romance of early pioneer life and of
youthful matingS.