Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21

Right Honorable Sir Henry Drum
mond Wolff. G.C.B, G.C.M.G.. late
British ambassador in Spain. In
Two Volumes London: Macmillan &
Co. WaShington: Woodward G. 10th
rOp.
who are susceptible to the charms of
Renaissance will be fascinated by these
Rambling Recollections'-all the more
because they are rambling. The In
tellectual. diplomatic. human spoils of
lifetime are gathered together In spirit
of leisurely good-fellowship. Sir Henry
Drummond has had a life rich in ex-
perience. He has, moreover, known how
to value friendship at it's worth. The re-
suit is a career almost incredibly rich in
associations of every nature.
The activity Of his career has been in
the line OF diplomatic service. With the
exception of brief period in the house
OF commons, his life has been spent in
the foreign office. in the 1onian Isles
with whose administration he was con-
nected-with Persia. where he was min
lister, and with Spain. where he was am
bassador. But this does not cover the
extent of his association with contempt
ra1y events. Vacation times and other
periods of leisure were utilized for visits
I
matte duties often took him into other
countries. Turkey during one OF her
many crises; Russia, the territory of the
Franco Prussian war; in fact 1T is prob
able that there was hardly European
event of Importance where this dispas-
sionate and shrewd observer was not
found. There were. moreover. acquaint
ances with the leading men of the world
of letters and art. Sir Edward Lytton.
and his nephew, Owen Meredith: Sir
Henry Drummond. Don Pascual de Gay
angos, Thackeray were friends or &C
quantances of the author.
1t is fortunate that Sir Henry Wolff
has so good memory for good story.
His book is full of remembered bonmots,
anecdotes. witticisms. which reflect the
tore of the society in which they were
coined better than philosophical could do.
And even more fortunate is the freedom
from bitterness or prejudice that marks
every page. The author has maintained
admirable discretion in his comment on
public men and women. AS rule his
motto is nihi nisi bonum. The personal
comment, in fact. Is marked by reserve
and certain lightness OF touch. The
author is either a man of inherent re-
serve or Is that pleasant thing, wide
lilier. The reader is tempted to believe
in the latter opinion.
MONEY HUNGER; Brief Study of
Commercial immortality in the United
States. BY Henry A. Wise Wood.
New York: G. p. Putnam's Sons.
Washington: Woodward & .-othrop.
o. great opportuneness Is this calm
analysis of modern American tendencies
The initial statemen mt is that 1.-The gen
eral spread of commercial immortality
among all classes OF our people Is of
such comparatively recent occurrence
thai the writer has felt constrained to
isolate and examine the causes to which
il NAV be REFERRED In examining the
causes he considers the sponsibility Of
the home. the church. the playground
and the press-the four great educative
factors in the nations life. He COM
merts on the excellent spirit of the world
of sport the voluntary submission Of it's
members in the rules Of the game" the
severity of the judgment that Is melted
out to any man who evades them, who
cheats Until the word Of sport has
come to be universally trusted. He pre-
sents the contrast Of the business world.
in which there Is a prevailing impression
that the pursuit of wealth is an end that
| justitles all means: general understand
ing that no principles of common hon
esty apply to business operations. "It
is indeed curious thing" says the au-
thor that the love of fair play. of the
equalization of opportunity. which is the
vita, force moving within our sports,
should stir feebly in the serious work
Of our lives.
In the discussion OF the relative
sponsibility of the home the newspaper.
the church and the playground Mr.. Wood
points out that the playground Is prac-
tically the only place where the principle
of fair play holds exclusive sway. He
shows clearly wherein lies the difference
between the right and the wrong atti-
tude toward the wealthy thieves and sue
cessful lawbreakers. whom the press and
the church so often COndOne and whom
the home authorities too often laXly eX-
cuse The general trend. however. of
the book is optimistic. The author con-
siders that this paral. sis of moral stand
ards is passing phase due TO the ex-
altation of material prosperity in the new
country and the difficulty of assimila ton