Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05
HE KNEW LINCOLN. By Ida NJ Tar

HE KNEW LINCOLN. BY Ida NJ. Tar
bell. author Of Life of Abraham Lin
coin" New York Mcclure, Phillips
K Co Washington: Woodward &
Iothrop.
Whoever makes a study of Lincoln's life
and comes to know the zcst of collecting
facts that illustrate his personality. char
actrr and spirit, realizes that an influence
Is at work that inspires and sweetens as
do few other personal traditions. Once
touched by curiosity to Lincolns life
and nature, thence on no man or woman
of an age TO have lived through the war is
safe from the question, Did you know
IiEColn?' With the years as they go there
is evcr-inCreas ng ardor about a man
whose profound democracy and simplicity
of heart still holds down all mere flights or
fancy in the minds of his h storiaHs and in
ttrpreterS. There is acCru.n g mythology
about Lincoln. Other American heroes have
been deified; he remains most dignitied in
his humanity. II has been Miss TarbelfS
privilege not only to write an accurate life
of Lincoln but also in the present classic.
from an imaginative and intuitive point or
view, to contribute striking picture OF
lluCOlnS influence upon men. NO one VINO
reads her story VIII fail to comprehend the
essential note of Lincoln's individuality.
und - whatever presentation may be made
OF X in other writings. She has from a
complete historic Information distilled fine
essence of Lire ON spirit which gives her
random anecdotes and yarns the unity
of great art, and all S Infused with such
poignant plthos that no man can read
without sympathetic tears But beyond
all else there radatss from the story
quality, part Cf Lincp ms own influence,
the v!gor of absolute truth. No who
understands Lincoln could write of him
mere fiction. NE Knew Lincoln is sig
rifcantly true.
PARTNERS OF PROVIDENCE. BY
Charles ID. Stewart, author of The
Fugitive Blacksmith" Illustrated.
New York: he Century 90.
Since Tom Sawyey' and "Huckle5erry
Finn there has been nothing like this book
nor anything Of similar character good.
1t is worthy of forming a triology with
those delightful stories of the western
rivers Indeed. without beng subject to
the charge of Plagiarism it might appear
to he sequel to, or ratEr- continuation of.
them. The principal member of this firm
in Partners with Providence" is Sam,
cabin boy on the Big Muddy" and the
Miss ssippi" He tells the story in his own
way. and a charming free and easy col
louuial way il is choCk full of sage re-
marks and old-mannish boyisms. 1t takes
IN pages to reel off the yarn, and when yaI
get through you are sorry that II does not
say End of Vol !.
II is Elkins. the pilot, who incites him to
write the book. Start her up full steam
ahead SAYS ElkinS, and take what comes.
You was raised on a crooked river and so
you have got to tell crooked story. No
body would expect you to go straight ahead
at 1t. like fellow that was raised on a
canal" Whereupon Sam remarks. Ell
kirs meant the Mississippi, l guess, and
that is pretty crooked when it tries. Half
the time you'd think you was travelling on
a return trip ticket and using 1t up all at
once But | was raised the Missouri.
where IL is SO crooked you cross your own
smoke So Sam starts up full steam and
tells a story of v.cissitudes of life on the
great rivers, from Madison City to New
Orleans. with enough of a plot to carry the
recital of the yagabondage of the Partners
of Providence" enc charm of the book is
its entire simplicity and naturalness. which
will be Immediately recognized by anyone
who has ever stepped down a gang-plank
they call 'em stage-planks, out there) west
of the Alleganies. The book is destined to
live in the literature of the western -coun-
try
THE WHITE CAT; A Tale of Dual Per-
sonality. By Gelett Burgess, author
of ''Nivette." etc. indianapolis: Bobbs-
Merrill Company.
The White Cat is delightful yarn,
cIeverly written. and of the sort that it
seems best to read when one is lazy and
.oafy and hammock bound, in the shade
Of the old apple tree. A theme nearly
eriOuS. a plot almost weird, the pages