Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-24

GOOD caso for her when she has over
stepped the moral boundaries anu aIlShed
the better part If her community against
her The story betrays the iamentanle
weakness Of the British nobility In It's
impecunicus state. 1t will not take place
with Mr.. Hawkins greatest works
NARRATIVE LYRICS. Fly Edward
Lucas White New York: G.. +. Put
MANS Sons Washington; Woodward
x Lothrop.
A personality of no ordinary quality Is
revealed in this interesting collection O.
poems While Mr.. Whites poetic individ-
i1aIity has been recognized by the Milan
tic Monthly, and by the late Mr.. Edmund
Clarence Stedman, who selected one OF
the poems, The Last Bowstrings, to
represent the author in The American
Anthology" as well as by other authorl-
ties, IL is probable that the full breadth
of his poetic achievement is for the first
time suggested by the scope of the pres
ent volume. Obscure passages OF jewish
history and legend. medieval romance,
classic myth, eastern mystery, alike have
furnished themes for vivid magma
ton. 1t is not too much to say that Mr..
White has thoroughly realized. in each
case. his setting, and has contrived to
present dramatic situations as we'll as the
underlying psychological content The
somber power of the poem .'Rhampsini-
tos'' is case in point. In it the author
has vivified legend suggested by a pas
sage in Herodotus regarding the EgIQ-
tian king into almost startling realism.
The passage describing his descent into
Hades to challenge the pale Queen Deme
ter TO game of hazard in which his
soul is to be the wager set against a
naughty demand for eternal life and pow
er and love are strongly effective.
N nj ,,f q
the of meter, in which the author has
experimental with boldness, and. in some
cases, with success In other instances
he has not made entirely plausible his
contention that the classic meters are
adapted to English verse. In general.
however, the energy of the verse move
ment is factor in the vitality of the
poems.
In the last analysis, even with the in
terest aroused by all this new material.
1t is probable that the public will dwell
longest upon the already we'll known,
powerful and moving drama of The
Last Bowstrings.'
THE RELIGION OF EVELYN HAS
TINGS. By Victoria Cross. New
York: Mitchell kennerley.
That nothing is sacred to the modern
novelist is given new illustration in the
present novel by Victoria Cross While
the reader, docle from long tutelage is
willing to accept the authors statement
The prologue is the simple relation of
an incident in my own life.'' he does
balk at the final proofs of Evelyn's in
fuence with the Almighty, and finds the
situation dangerously close to comedy
when the prayerful heroine influences the
unpleasant. If usual Maud to pray that
she may become engaged mecca of
the well brought up English girl-and
that her freckles may be obliterated In
passing. it may be noted that while the
Power that rules the universe does not
see nj TO suggest desirable lotion the
rose flush on both cheeks obscured
ecilpsed them"-the freckles. But this
was when-by the discreet use of PRAYER
Maud had become engaged. Cavil as one
may at the authors monopoly of Provi-
dence as a plot-device, it is gratifying
that by this means she succeeds in
achieving happy ending in the face of
great difficulties, and in telling pretty
love story.
THE POINT OF HONOR. A Military
Tale. BY Joseph Conrad Author Of
Lord Jim" etc. Illustrations by Dan
Sayre Groesbeck. New York: The
Mcclure Company Washington..
Woodward & Lothrop.
This effective bit of fiction is con-
ceived in spirit of delicate farce that
is Irresistible. While the continuous per
formance of the Feraud- d Hubert duel
is impaled upon the point of the authors
lance of satire, Mr.. Conrad has decreed
that the pleasant mixture of Don Ouixote
In the badgered d Hubert should win the
affection of his public. 1t is therefore
inevitable that the public should echo the
pronouncement of D'Hubert's pretty
Madame la Generate" when she saws
appfeclatively: You are a brave homme.
Armand"-which statement is true in both
Sity -
the adjective. 1t is pleasant to encounter
so admirable piece OF literary artistry
Slight though the sketch may be. it
makes clear. beside the central story
certain aspect OF French provincial
society at transition period in its his
tory. and throws a clear if unusually
genial light, upon the tragedy Of
Napoieons triumph and downfall. in
which this excellent bit of fooling'' Is
more successful than many a serious
minded romance.
THE GREAT FIGHT. Poems and
Sketches. BY William Henry Drum
mond MI. Edited, with Biographi-
cal Sketch. by May Harvey Drum
mond- With Illustrations by Fred
erick Simpson Coburn. New York:
e. L. Putnams Sons. Washington:
Woodward * Lothrop.
This volume. which brings together the
poems and sketches which had remained
unpublished at the time OF DR.. Drum
mond's death. adds the final touches
70 the portrait OF "Everybody's friend"
already dear 10 every lover of reading and
OF humanity The biographical sketch
by the authors wife will be welcomed hy
all who had previously known of the
author only as the man OF letters His
broad and friendly spirit, the love of
the outdoor and of his felow-men must
have been inferred by every lover of his
verse. but it gathers pathetic interest
from the fact that ii is confirmed by tho
dlgnihed. restrained and yet illuminating
comments OF the wife who survives him
In the collection are several OF the charm
ingly humorous and intimate studies of
the French Canadian field which he has
made peculiarly his own. well as sey-
eral tributes TO the Irish inheritance of
which he was so proud. There are records
OF the final activities OF his life in the
poems connected with the Cobalt district
OF Ontario. with its attending tragedies
and comedies of mining life. There are
even few prose sketches, but only few
for the doctor hated to express himself
In prose" Altogether the volume is an
adequate tribute to the personality OF one
OF the most beloved of Canada's literary
brotherhood.
UNOFFICIAL LETTERS OF AN OFF,
GALS WIFE. BY Edith Moses. New
York: ID. Appleton g. Co.
The episode OF the recent tour of the
Philippines by the officials of the civil
government commission has been already
almost forgotten, rapidly is history
being made by the United States This