Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22
on THE KNEES OF THE GODS. BY

very mine of richness for the investigator
of oriental characteristics.
on THE KNEES OF THE GODS. BY
Anna Bowman Dodd, author Of
Cathedral Days." etc. New York
Dodd. Mead & Co. Washington:
BrentanO.
The author has made an interesting at
tempt to revivify the Age of Pericles. the
Golden Age Of Athens. While the classic
scholar will doubtless find much for which
he cannot subscribe. il cannot be denied
that the pictures of the life of Athens.
Corinth and Syracuse have vitality and
effectiveness. In the desire to populariZe
information regarding the manner of life
of a vanished epoch an author is always
open to the danger OF merely undermining
conversation and emotions. This danger
the author of ''On the Knees Of the
Gods has not entirely escaped. 1t is
doubtful whether Greeks of the period
ever talked or thought or felt just as she
has made her characters do. On the other
hand, certain phases of classic civiliZa-
ton. certain details concerning the posi-
ton OF women Of the various classes, the
national attitude toward art, religion. life
itself. she has rendered vividly. And in
that she has undoubtedly performed a
service toward that greater element OF the
public which has had no opportunity Of
familiarizing itself with what remains to
Liz IuOOClH W OIiQ VI tllc SIOIy ludl WAS
Greece.
The plot concerns itself with the fortunes
OF a beautiful slave girl of Corinth.
Through the hazard of fortune. possible
TO her class, she is brought to Athens,
where the secret of her origin begins to
be revealed. There she meets a youth
the flower of Greek nobility and culture
who falls in love with her. as she with
him. Even when the death Of an elderly
patron, who has married her and EN-
hnr writ hi
alliance possible between the two lovers
they are defeated by determination of
the father of the young man to marry
him to the daughter OF a noble Athenian
house.
On the very eve Of the proposed mar
riage the fate of the romance becomes In
volved with Alcfoiades luckless eXpedi-
ton against Syracuse. where Ion, in COM
pany with the flower of Athenian youth
is taken prisoner. II is only after much
suffering that Maia, grown powerful, is
able to rescue him.
THE MAGISTRATES OWN CASE. BY
Baron Pale Rosenkrantz New York !:
The Mcclure Company. Washing
ton: woodward & Lothrop.
A good detective story is always appre-
ciated by lovers of plot. 1.-The Magis.
trate's Own Case is unusual. both be-
| cause OF the ingenuity with which the
thread OF the story is tangled and because
of the very sympathetic love story in
volved. The action takes place in HON.
burg. in Prussia. where the visitors at a
popular health resort are Mortified by the
murder of young English nobleman, one
| or the most popular members OF the
pleasure-loving colony. A succession Of
clues is started. only TO he found mis-
leading: The young magistrate of the
| place. Fritz Sterner. who is to act as
prosecutor. is soon shown to have a per-
sonal interest through his evident affec-
ton for beautiful woman involved in
the case. The story proves persstently
battling to curiosity. while interest Is
aroused for the magistrate and the youn r
Frau Saarbrucken. The secret of their
| relations and the identity OF the real
| murderer are revealed in their proper
i p1ace-at the end. The interest will be
| increased to readers on this side of the
water by the atmosphere of German life
and the picture of the stiffness of Ger
man offfcialdom.
vIRGINIE. BY Ernest Oldmeadow, au-
t thor OF susan" New York: The
| Woodward & Lothrop.
A story that begins with a beautiful
young woman embedded In a cake Of ice
| in an aluminium case promises we'll for
the lovers of novelty. And that Is ex-
actly the manner in which Virginie is
| introduced to her public. Since the au-
| thor leaves her a healthy young woman
about TO be bestowed in marriage. it may
| be imagined that the romancer has a suf-
| ficiently engrossing task The author
proves quite equal TO the demand. So
! plausible is his style so lifelike the act
| ors in the drama and so marvellous the
| involutions Of his science that the reader
| finds himself subscribing trustfully to all
! the marvels chroncled. Virginie proves
SO very real a young woman after her
wing. and the perplexities OF the young
an:iquary to whom she is confided are
so exactly what would have been expect
ed, that. somehow. Mr. Ol6meadow makes
an excellent case for himself The story
is ingenious to a degree and full OF a fan.
taStic humor