Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07

THE WEAVERS: y Tale of England
and Egypt of Fifty Years Ago. By
Gilbert Parker, author OF The Right
of Way" etc. Illustrated by Andre
Castaigne. New York Harper &
Brothers.
In the idea, suggested by the title, OF
the interplay of life between two nations
representing antipodal civi.izations-Sir
Gilbert Parker has found the keystone Of
a dignified and spacious structure of
romance. The largeness OF the theme is
supported by an elevation of style, a
certain epic quality which stamps the
novel with distinction.
Quaker youth is called, by mysterious
voices of circumstance and destiny to
Egypt, sunk. at that moment, in Moham-
medan corrupt on. Filled with an Ideal
toward which he is impelled TO strive, he
Is enabled to accomplish much of the re-
demption of the adopted country of which
he has dreamed. The stra ndS of love
and inner .tanca which at once draw his
longings homeward and Danish him from
that home tangled by Fate, are at length
untangled After almost incredible strug
gle and almost sure death, comes ultimate
triumph.
The romance is full of human appeal
and the plot is a never-slacking current.
But the most interesting phase OF the
book is it's study of opposing temDera-
ments. The English characters are indi-
vidual and varied. The study of David
Claridge, composite of the gentle In
hertance of his Quaker forbears and OF
a fiercer strain that surges into hot anger
at injustice oppression the dreamer
who translates dreams into sharp action
is distinct creation. The author theory
that before the directness of the thor.
oughly honest man even oriental craft
can have no real defense is a noble con-
ception. and the reader is glad that In
this romance. if not in actual life, the
theory is proven true. The orlentals VINO
take part in the action are vivid ana In
div.dual. And all. both orientals and
Europeans, move in a magical, color-fuil
atmosphere of romance.
JAY COOKE, Financier of the Civil
War BY Ellis Paxon Oberholtzer,
author of Robert Morris, Patriot
and Financier," etc. Philadelphia:
George w. Jacobs & Co.
There was nothing to conceal in a life
of this sort, and there have been no con-
cealments" This statement by the author
Is significant of the type of financer rep
resented by Jay Cooke. And the type
merits study, II for no other purpose than
for the contrast with its too prevalent OPP
posite. The part that this man played in
the history of the civil war cannot be too
highly emphasized. During the darkest
days of the great struggle the financier
never wavered in his belief in the fed
eral government His moral influence,
as we'll as his money. were potent fac
tors toward success. Loan after loan
offered by the Treasury Department was
taken up by his company. When his
brother, his partner in the great bank
ing house of Jay Cooke & Co., wrote from
Washington, after the second battle of
Bull Run, that defeat would be 1.-The
end of the republic and advised him to
work cff' his government securities.
Jay Cooke wrote that there was no need
to fear the capture of Washington, and
advised Henry to look after his r'nerves."
with the announcement of Lees inten-
tiCn to invade the north the excitement
became intense. A minor partner Mr..
Moorhead, lost confidence. Unless we
have military success near the heart
of the rebellion all the talent OF the uni
verse combined cannot furnish money
for the government MUprhead wrote.
As late as June, 1864, when Grant was
suffering his defeats in the Wilderness,
Mr.. Moorhead was still ready to give
up the cause, and opposed to Jay Cookies
taking up further loans for the Treasury
Department. But Disbursements and
obstacles counted for nothing with the
patriotic finarcier. a poor woman who
begged him to tell her whether he be-
lieved in the loan. She had a shawl
wrapped about her shoulders:
Il believe in the Union SO firmly said
IL i
take off that shawl, sell it and buy gov
eminent bonds''
In the story of his long and honorable
lie there is much that is OF interest be-
yond the inspiring subject of his service
to the United States government. His
relation of Salmon p. Chase, lis friend
ship for Grant. the disast Gus failure in
which, in his old age, he became involved
largely through the fault of others, his
calmness under that ordeal, his part al
financial recovery and peaceful old age
the beautiful family life that prevailed
through good days and i'll, are topics that
are developed in detail, and with great
Int est to the reader, in tn. publication
THE DAUGHTER OF JORIo: A Pas
toral Tragedy. BY Gabrielle dan
nunzio. Translated from the italian
by Charlotte Porter, Pietro Isola and
Alice Henry. With a portrait and
pictures from the Italian production
Boston: Little. Brown & Co.
Even through the medium of a transla-
ton, naturally distorting, the beauty of
D'Annunzio's drama impresses itself upon
the reader. Miss Porter, whose task it
was TO render the text into verse wisely
made no attempt to confine the lines with
in the limits of any set metrical form In
stead of that she has rendered them into
cadences corresponding in character with
the impression produced upon her own
ear by the Italian version. AS a result
th1 cadenccs are an echo, however faint
OF the native melody of the verse. The
them of the tragedy is as elemental as
that OF Romeo and Juliet. 1t turns upon
the conflict between the individual with
his real loves his art and inspiration
with society. in this case represented by
the family, the clan. While tn re is this
subs tratum of philosoph:c thought, D. An
nunzio has made such good u.s. of he
folklore. superstitions customs that be-
long 10 the country of the Abruzzi as W. I'll
as To something savag2ly primitive that
chnss TO it. that the drama makes an I'm
preston OF almost archaic simplicity Con-
sldered from the dramatic STANDPOINT
also. it is admirable. The action is swift,
each act ends with strong situation. and
the d velopment of the tragedy is inevi-
table from the pening word There seems
gooi reason for believing the claim ad
Eanced by the admirers of the author
that The Daughters of Josir" not only
marks the highest poin; that DAnnunZio
has attained. but that, in its inner truth.
unerring precision of artistic effect and
elevation of thought ii is really great
dramatic poem. The lovers. Mia who
transcends through the Sacriicial charac-
ter of her devotion. Aligi the dreamer
who Is true to the divination of his drea m
are at once humanity touching and mys;i-
cally symbolic.
WITH SPEAKER. CANNON THROUGH
THE TROPICS; 4 Descriptive Story
of Il Voyage to the West Indies,
Venezuela and Panama. By j.
Hampton Moore, member of Con-