Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-21
pEHI>n ruE sCENEs WYNN rHE: ME.

DIINS. by David =. Abbot. Chicago:
The open Court Publishing Company.
book of considerable interest for the
curious minded Is this one of Mr.. Abbot's
With growing interest In psychic phenom-
ena 1t becomes of even greater Importance
that truth should be separated from i'm
<osture Mr. Abbot has performed most OF
<ie mystifying feats of so-called mediums
himself. acknowledging the trickery in
volved and laying claim to no occult pow
ers He has devoted much time to the In
vestigatlon of the methods of the spiritual
lists and is prepared with an explanation of
the sources Of tho Illusions they produce.
The billet test" which invariably pro-
duces awe in the credulous. Is explained In
all its various forms Whether the letter Is
skiHfully distracted from SILT In the
sealed envelope or whether 1t be read in
darkened room by means OF concealed
electric pocket fash. the answer to dues-
tions (which no one but myself could pos
sibly know about never fails TO excite Won
der All of the varieties of the slate-wrlt-
ing trick with its related field OF spirit
paintings" are analyzed. The author is
especially skinful In tracing the several
means-shrewd reading Of the face. sug-
gested questions which the sitter does not
know he is answering. mechanical tricks,
sleight of hand dexterity, previously ac-
uui~ed information. the presence of confed-
crates which may go to the production OF
a single Illusion. The matter OF "materlah-
zat'on'' of spirits and of flowers Is ex-
posed as well as Thought reading" OF the
type exploited by popular mediums. The
hook ought 10 be of value in putting an
end to one of the cruelest systems Of I'M
posture the world has ever known.
THE LIMIT OF WEALTH. Bv Alfred L.
Hutchinson. New York: The Macmil-
Ian Company. Washington: Wood
ward & LOthrop.
Under the slight fiction OF future state
Of society In the year 1912 Mr.. Hutchinson
details the Ttopian condition that might
prevail did the state determine to limit the
production of huge fortunes by taxing In
comes Every income from $1,000 upward
throughout the civilized world was to fur
nish It's tax to swell government revenues.
The amount paid by the small incomes was
too minute TO be burden, while the rate
RAPIDLY increased with the increase OF for
tune, until man with a gross income of
$1,000 OOO per year would pay an income
tax Of So $40 900 The enormous revenues
thus brought into the public Golfer were to
he used to better the material condition of
versal insurance against old age and sick
ness plans for effective charity which
should aid the deserving poor and do away
with various forms OF crime plans for the
better educational and industrial systems
were part OF the results of 1.-The limit of
wealth" The government was to have
benefcent and far-reaching powers. All OF
these principles. and many others, werc IN
cOrporated In the report made by a great
committee appointed by a conference of the
allied powers of Eurasia brought together
at Paris TO take such steps as would ad-
vance them to the rank of the Great Amer
lean Republic. The conclusions supposed
10 have been reached as result of this
investigation. formulated as abstract prin-
ciples. are distinctly worthy of considera-
ton.
THE MAULEvERER MURDERS. BY A.
c. Fox Davies. author of THE Dan
Rervllle Inheritance. New YORK:
John Lane Company.
From the first OF CHASTITY series of muir
ders. in which four brothers successfully
lose their lives, the attention of the reader
is absorbed and held to the very end. This
Is detective story of unusual quality.
While in the adventures of Vivienne Vane
and of the Duchess OF MeriOneth there is
something too much of extravaganza even
10 be carried by story OF this character.
the succession of false clues and the final
genuine surprise are admirably invented.
The days of suspense during which the last
Of the Mauleverer sons is guarded from the
death that had overtaken his brothers on
the Goth OF three fatal months calcu-
lated TO cause the reader many thrill.
THE COUNTERsTROKE. BY Ambrose
Pratt author of Franks, Duellist."
New York: X. F. FenHo & Co. Wash
ington: Woodward & Lothrop.
There can he no complaint that the
author has been niggardly with tho sources
of sensation in "Fhe Counterstroke." Nj
hilism. a society of ruling sovereigns TO de-
feat It. a remote island off the Corsican
coast. a mysterious castle with under
ground passages. piles OF Arabian Nights
treasure mute African slaves a girl who
has been brought up to believe herself a
boy, lurid adventures. a centenarian
fend incarnate. who sends his enemies tum-
bling down trap doors. has them destroyed
by em!ssar!es or reserves them for private
torture. and incidentally invents perpetual
motion machines these are a few Of tho
ingredients which seethe together under the
very indigestible crust OF Ambrose Pratt's
latest romance.
SPANISH ARMS AND ARMOUR; Being n
Historical and Descriptive Account of
the Royal Armoury OF Madrid BY
Albert F. Calvert. With $50 illustra-
lions. New York: John Lane Com
pany.
The whole history Of feudal Europe is
bound up with its discarded armor. BY
rea: l OF its glorious past, as well as by
t. great mineral resources which made
possible its pre-eminence in metal work,
the collection OF armor at Madrid is unique
With an accurate knowledge of Spanish
hIsto-y, sensitive appreciation of line
and form. the author is well equipped for
his task she book deliberately Illustrates
the various periods in the history of ar
NOR with coats of mall shields helmets
swords of beautiful workmanship. daggers
of all styles and countries and saddles that
were used when the knight arrayed for
war. The book is of the greatest interest
to antIquaries and Connoisseurs.
A LOST LEADER. BY F. Phillips Open
helm author OF - Maker of History"
nv ErPd RpSfon.