The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
BOOKS AND BOOK-REyIEWS


b William ElsFoy Curtis. Snthor q The Yan-
kees & the Esst. e" Between the Andes and the
Ooean." 'Mo1en India The Turk and His
Lost PrUTiBces To-Day u syria and Palestine, .
&c; Illustrated; Dufield & Co. New York.
This is q book that may be read with
pleasure and profit Mr. Curtis name is
known the country over His daily let
ters in the Chicago Record-Herald, the
Washington Evening Star. and other
newspapers are widely read. He writes
not only entertainingIy, but knowingly
HIS work has lasting value. He has VS.
tied sll parts Of the globe. and through
the medium OF his letters has put the
reading public Of the United States in
touch with the affairs OF the world and
made il acquainted with men Of ali ma
tons
For those who have never spent a
sumner in Ireland there remains a de-
lightful experience, for no country is
more attractive, unless it be Japan. and
no people more genial, Or charming. or
courteous IN their reception Of a stranger.
or more cordial IN their hospitality" SO
writes Mr.. Curtis in the opening chapter
{
ticularly interesting just now because OF
the mighty forces that are engaged in the
redemption OF the people from the pow
erty and the wretchedness in which e
large proportion Of them have been sub
meTged for generations No government
ever did so much for the material vel
fare Of its subjects as Great Britain IS
now doing for Ireland and the improve
ment in the condition OF affairs during
the last few years has been extraorii-
nary Il the several chapters Of the
book he tells OF this wonderful redemp-
ton and the marked improvement IN the
condition OF affairs. He spent the sum
mer Of 1905 visiting various parts Of Ire
lard; then he narrated truthfulIy what
he saw and heard
Hundreds Of American tourists every
year. he says. land AT Queenstown. run
I'D 70 Cork. ride out 10 Barney Castle
IN jaunting car, and across 10 Killar-
ney; then rush Up 10 Dublin. spend a
lot OF money at the pOplin and lace stores.
take train for Belfast. glance at the
Giants Causeway. and then hurry across
St George Channel for London and the
continent Then these tourists write
home rhapsOdies about the beauty OF
Ireland But they have not seen Ireland.
according 20 Mr. Curtis mo one.' he
says. can see Ireland n less than three
months, FOR some Of the counties are as
different as Massachusetts and Alabama
SIX weeks is scarcely long enough 20 visit
TIE most interesting places. The railway
accommodations. the coaches. the steam
ers. and other facilities for travel are as
perfect as those Of Switzerland. The ho-
tells are not so good. and there VIII be a
few discomfoTts here and there 10 those
who are accustomed TO the iuxuTies OF
London and Paris. but they can be en-
dured without rufling the temper simply
By thinking Of the manifold enjoymeGts
that no other country can produce"
Mr.. Curtis gives the reader an iuti-
mate knowledge OF the cities OF Ireland.
Its old and new universities. descriptions
OF its beauty spots. the details OF lts gov
eminent. the characteristics and customs
Of its people, wealth q information.
indeed. that is worth having
The book Is written IN his most attrac-
tive style and holds the attention Of the
reader from cover 70 cover Il IS graph
ically illustrated, and a work that VIII
adorn any library
To fail 70 read "One Irish Summer IS
70 fan 20 know about Ireland many
-h.ngs that al enlightened Americans
really ought 20 know.