The Washington herald., 1909-08-22

siXpence a visit are admirably portrayed
in "SIxpenny Pieces" by A. Nell Lyons.
The reader will gain a striking impress
sion of the London slums. an impression
which. though realistic details are not
always omitted. will not disgust him.
James, the artist Baffin, and a host Of
other jewellers IN poverty should find
many friends. There Is, above all. some
thing kindly and human about Mr.. Ly-
ons' point Of view, and this book should
win as great a success as the author S
popular "Arthur's."
Many of the followers OF Darwin, say
Messrs. Denver and Finn, authors OF
The Making OF Species" have carried
the theory Of natural selection too far
they have made OF It creed and have
gone even further than Darwin would
wish. The aim OF this book is 10 show
In language so clear that II may be un-
derstood by the layman, as we'll as the
trained biologist that natural selection
IS not the sole cause Of organic evolution.
Natural selection falls to account for pro-
tective mimicry or the phenomena OF
sexual dimorphism. Familiar animals are
cited, wherever possible, 10 support the
authors statements. The book should
be considered one Of the most important
contributions to biology since the "Spe-
cies and Varieties OF De Vries.
Mr.. Jack London is one OF the literary
men who have found delight in the
verse Of John Myers OHara. Mr..
O'Hara has just issued new volume,
entitled Songs Of the Open" The initial
poem "Atavism." was published in the
BOokman IN 1902, and Jack London has
used the first stanza az the beginning OF
his novel. The Call OF the Wild" Last
March MIR. London sent his own copy OF
the novel to the poet, all the way from
! Sydney, Australia, and on the hyleaf he
wrote:
Dear OHara: Here IS my desk copy
Of The Call of the Wild II cruisad with
the Shark for tao years all over the
South Seas. And now, In sickness, I am
saying farewell 10 that wonderful cruise,
and sad az heart. lie depart for my own
land in the hope Of getting well
Your four lines head this yarn. They
I epitomize what I have written In 20
pages. I found your lines IN the sea OF
/ fugitive newspaper verse. and never
dreamed at the time to call their author
friend. Anectionately yours.
JACK LONDON"
The FIRST English biography Of Boccac-
clio has been written By Mr.. Edward
Hutton, and viii be published during the
autumn by John Lane The title IS
Giovanni Boccaccio: His life. His Love
His Work" and the volume deals al
some length With BoccacciO's love FOL
/ Fiametta. an affair which the biOgra-
| pher holds 10 have had a greater inhu-
| ence upon BoccacCio's career than Is
! generally supposed. In addition 70 hav-
K ing written several books on Italian
/ travel, Mr.. Hutton is the editor Of the
/ 'Decameron" IN the excellent Tudor
TRANSACTIONS"
Doubleday Page & Co. have JUS
/ issued a little booklet for general fire.
distribution. entitled 90 Henry-Who H,
Is and How He Works" II Is attractive
! " printed In green and black The pub
/ lisher's intention is 10 issue. from time Il
time. other booklets dealing with thei
authors.
R. F. Foster, author Of Foster
Bridge Manual" and other works on tn,
! subject Of bridge whist. has lately bios
! somed forth as a magazine story writer
/ Half the Nine Of Hearts" Is the It'll,
/ OF story which we note IN the Popular
| Magazine for September. AS the it'll
/ implies. and as IS 10 be expected from
so noted an authority on the subject o.
cards. the story has 20 do with a poke
/ game In which the deck was half car,
/ shy, owing TO the peculiar fancy OF
I girl whom the hero encountered at
fancy dress ball
Messrs Henry Holt & Co. hope L
issue in September the third volume O
De Alva Stanwood Alexander's ''Pouuca
History Of the State OF New York,
bringing II down TO Cleveland's first term
The critics have pretty generally com
mended Congressman Alexander for hi
ability to combine historical accurac.
with telling and human character sketche
OF the leading men who figure In hi
pages.
Graft Is bad. Thanks be 10 the muck
rakers. there is less graft to-day thai
there was five years ago.
do not belittle the muck-rakers. The,
have done II 6isinterestedly, even II the.
were paid for their articles. They hav'
done It as good Americans who wished I
see their house put in order.
They have helped 70 better the world
There is no question but that tn
'naIefactors OF great wealth. 20 quot
a memorable phrase. have helped to bet
ter the world with the money they hav'
| gained
7 am not making excuses for the wa,
they got Il, but they have certainly pu
IL to great uses.
1T may have been fear Of the populac
that started them on the right track
but they have gotten a taste for well
doing. and the hospitals and the instl
I tutiOns for the study of disease wOult
not have been possible II these men ha,
not aTnassed great wealth
'All turns out right in the end."-Frou
! Concentrated Optimism" by Charlie!
Batten LOOMS, IN the September Smith 5
THE PARTING WAYS.
The sun is over the golden gates;