Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-31

IN ~ are unfamiliar with the origin
IN" Of the seat of government, al
though the story of how IT
was selected on the banks Of
Inc Potomac has been often told. Fur
thermore the exact relationship of tire
District 10 the federal government and
tho precise nature of the municipal or
..anization arc not entirely understood.
even hv residents of thee capital. M.
Dodd-s wor. answers such questions as
may arise in the minds of those interested
In the District as an organization or
community, In recognition OF its unique
character ne undertakes to explain the
federal municipality historically and lie
caIly. He first outlines the story Of i.,e
establishment drawing from authorize
rive sources the materials for this MARIA
tive Then &c traces the government Of
the District stage by stage, showing its
gradual evolution. The second chapter
of tic work is espect tally interesting in
that il gives an account of the five dit
scrent jurisdictions which existed orig
inally within the boundaries of the Dis
trict of Columbia-the county of Alexan-
dria the town of Alexandria, the county
OF Washington. the city of Washington
and the town of Georgetown. Each OF
these had its separate system OF admins
tration, and Mr.. Oodd outlines the five
pricIS. IN another CIdPtSI liz SNtS Aoi III
the methods by which the District was
governed between 1871 and 1878. the lat
ter being the year of the organic act
which established the present system OF
paying the local expenses Jointly out OF
the federal and local treasures. Various
branches of the municipality are consid-
cred under appropriate heads. Mr.. Dodd
brings the work up to date by including
the enactment of the last Congress re-
sardinG the estimates of the Com
nissioners and sets forth the somewhat
unsatisfactory state of affairs relating to
rhe formation of the annual appropriation
bill. stating that while the appropriation
committees of the two houses of Congress
probably know more about the District
affairs than any other committees, they
do not and cannot give to the local
finances the careful consideration which
they deserve. An important chapter deals
with the participation of the people in the
District government. including the many
local associations through which public
sentiment is expressed and influence IS
exercised upon the local administrators.
In his final chapter Mr.. Dodd points
out the defects of the Reynolds plan for
the eSta blishment of one-headed govern
ment in the District under direct executive
control. The anthor feels that the govern
ment of the District is probably weak
est on its legislative side, and holds that
congressional action with reference to the
District might be facilitated by the es-
tablishment of municipal library ana
statistical bureau to furnish information
10 Congress and also to the Commits
sioners.
Mr.. Dodds work is OF Importance in
clearly stating the functions and limita-
tions of the District government and the
relations between the municipality and
the United States, and may be read with
profit by every member Of the House and
Senate, as well as by every citizen.
CHILE. Handbook Compiled by the
Tpfo R,ire nS
Republics. Washington, D. c.
The latest issue of the Bureau of Amer
lean Republics deals with one Of the most
progressive and important Of the South
American countries. This volume is an
a admirable illustration of the purpose OF
the bureau for the spreading of informa-
BY means of the handbook
On Chile 1t is possible for any North
American reader to acQuaint himself fully
with the resources. industries, climate,
geography. political divisions, govern
mental organizations and finances of the
of the west Andean repub-
lies. The work is fully and handsomely
Illustrated with characteristic scenes. the
frontispiece being an admirable photo
graph of Senior Montt, president of the
republic.
PoPPEA OF THE POST OFFICE. BY
Mabel Osgood Wright (Barbaray
author OF The Garden of a Com
piece by the kidneys. New York
The Macmillan Company.
This refreshing little story is about a
founding who was left on the steps Of
a New England post Office in the first
year of the civil war. Poppea is the
toundling. Her foster father, Oliver Gil
bert. widowed and chiidless, adopts her
and loves her with the affection he would
lave given to his own Marygold. forever
asleep with her mother. and Poppea loves
aim IN return. The mystery OF her birth
centsrs In the miniature locket of love
~ Young unknown ''Poppea. found
ravelins of this mystery. intermingled
with the mutual love OF Poppea and
Hugh Oldys. make the charm Of The
hook. Lisna Potts and his Satiyy are
clever character sketches. and Gilbert
The postmaster, is very real and Iowa Bile
man, whose almost sublime devotion 10
Lincoln, who appointed him to Office
and his love for the nameless waif are
he chief emotions of mis- life. The 'front.'
splece presents a young heroine OF
sprightly grace and the cover of the book
IS appropriately designed with sealed
envelopes and scarlet poppies on
ground Of cool green.
thor of Susan etc New York: The
Century Company.
Antonio is q young monk of the Bene-
dictine order. in Portugal. whose mon
astery has been Impressed on the morn
ing OF his ordina ton Bound by his
priestly vows. the young monk goes back
10 the world determined that his lifework
shall be the restoring OF his monastery
10 the church. After years of hard labor
in his own country and England, he re-
turns to the neighborhood and buys ne
elected farm adjoining the monastery
grounds
Known merely as wine grower and
merchant. he attains success that puts
the monastery within his reach just as
= becomes the property of AN English
nobleman and his daughter. The girl of
The cloisters loves Antonio who lives
among his vines in a lit lie white house
covered with scarlet geraniums. And the
monk finds that he must fight for his
soul. This romance, which has for its
orange groves and winding
paths through shadowy forests, with an
one of the most captivating stories of the
year. To even outline it's course would
be to rob the book of It's charm. The
author creates his scenes and characters
with a realism that makes one fairly see
the old monastery: its dim cells, it's
chapel. and the blue-tiled kitchen, with a
mountain stream flowing through the
IS final and beautiful glimpse OF gray
robed nun. and another of Father An
tonic. the founder OF the new order of the
Bencdictines, who sands on the fiat roof
OF his monastery after his first celebra-
ton of the mass. conscious that. at last.
,<..1z ~.