Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-31
G&II1l TIIE REALM - - ERAIUKE AND ZARII 60

gregarious tendency of men, telling of
the innate charm of the city. the joys
of its pulsing thoroughfares, the beauty
of fellowship and historic associations,
the inspiration and the opportunities for
work which the city affords. The poetic
side is by no means neglected, for in a
charming chapter entitled when Phyllis
Is in Town the author in three pages
epitomizes the feminine interest of the
city. Those who read this persuasive
volume in it's attractive type will be likely
to tremble less than before at the dangers
of the city drift" of which the statisti-
clans write warningly.
THE LURE OF THE CITY, a Book for
Young Men. BY David James Bur-
BILE Collegiate Church, New York.
author of The Religions of the
World" New York: Funk & Wag-
nails Company.
In interesting sequence to Mr.. Robin
sons essay on the esthetic attractfveness
of the city comes this other volume.
wherein the author undertakes to set
forth the dangers that beset the young
man in town. DR.. Burrell does not paint
the city as essentially wicked. He recog-
nizes that large part of the world s
work is done within the urban area, with
humanity touching elbows, and he seeks
in this book to point to risks that are
run by the unwary in the hope that the
reader may be strengthened morally and
led out Of temptation into opportunity.
CoUNsELs BY THE WAY. By Henry
Van Dyke New York: Thomas Y.
CroWell & Co.
DR. Van Dykes position among Ameri-
can essayists is pre-eminent. He repre-
sents essentially today the highest liter
3yyo m.
eral heads he strikes note of strong,
vigorous admonition and counsel. The
contents of this volume have been pre-
viously issued in pamphlet form and their
preservation now in permanent library
style will greatly please those who have
come to appreciate DR.. Van Dykes Optim-
:sm and graceful literary polish.
VIVA MEXICO. BY Charles Macomb
Flandrau Author of Harvard Epi-
sodes" New York: d. Appleton and
Company.
Mr.. Flandrau sauntered through Mex
leo leisurely enough to see much that Is
denied the usual tourist, who hurries on
ward with a guidebook and gets only a
glimpse of the real beauties of the great
southern republic. Better than merely
SEEING however. he tells about his ex-
periences in a charming style. He has the
faculty for comparative statement that
yields the most readable OF travel letters
He takes exception to the complaint
often uttered by travellers that Mexican
towns are exactly alike. and sees some
thing distinctive and interesting in all OF
the communities that he visits.
OCEAN LIFE IN THE OLD SAILING
SHIP DAYS; From Forecastle to
Quarterback. By Capt. John D.
Whidden. Illustrations from photo
O. ~
can orphan at five, on shipboard at
twelve, exposed to temptation in every
port. subjected to the rough usage and
strict discipline Of our merchant marine
of sixty years ago. serving apprenticeship
as boy. ordinary and able seaman In the
forecastle, graduating to third. second and
first officer with quarters In the land of
knives and forks, l. e.. the ships cabin.
and the sacred precincts of the quarter
deck, ending with the command and part
ownership of a fine craft; in all that time
his feet clear of ships plank but twelve
months
Thus is Capt Whidden's experience
epitomiZed and there is ample justification
for his conclusion: There certainly
should be something interesting in such
an experience" Any one who will read
this book through one chapter Is practi-
cally certain to go to the end. because 1t
Is as interesting as romance Capt.
Whidden writes chiefly OF days that have
gone beyond the possibility OF return. He
tells his story simply and yet dramatically
and packs every chapter full of useful in
formation without in the slightest degree
rendering his work academic. There are
numerous. well reproduced illustrations,
giving pictures Of the ports mentioned In
the text and some of the famous ships
of the old time
RECOLLECTIONS OF A VARIED CA
REER. BY William F. Draper. With
illustrations from photographs. Bos-
ton: Little. Brown & Co.
Gen. Draper has earned the right to
prepare a biographical work by his sue
cess in many lines. AS a manufacturer.
as soldier, as national legislator and
as diplomat, he has achieved distinction,
and now. practically in retirement, he
has taken advantage OF continued good
health to write a volume which Is replete
with human interest and affords a valua-
Bile commentary upon the history Of the
past century. His Washington friends.
who are numerous, owing to his having
lived here for many years, will be doubt
less delighted with this volume. 1t is In
teresting particularly to note one of his
closing paragraphs. written apropos of his
retirement from business few months
ago: II am often asked whether 1 antic-
ipate any further public life, and my
well considered answer is No BY this
do not mean that If there seems to be
some service that I am considered espe-
cially qualified to render I shall refuse
to render it: but there are few positions
that would attract me if offered. If no
sense of public duty were involved. and
none that l would seek Under these cir
cumstances it is hardly likely that 1 shall
vary largely from the plan laid out for
myself. 1 expect to keep in continuous
touch with public questions. and, through