Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16


the Revolution to the Year 1908. BY
Heinrich Ewald BuchholZ. Bait
more: Williams and Wilkins Com
pany.
VHE Governors of Maryland. as
presented by Mr. Buchholz, are
wildly real men, who tell the
story of their state from the
colonial period to the imme-
date now. In his preface, which, incl
dentally, is partly written TO save re-
viewers 1.-THE necessity of reading the
text proper the author declares that
his aim has been Ito paint. as back
ground for each biography, some phase
of political economic or social life OF the
commonwealth contemporaneous with the
characters studied"
His sense of Justice is early manifested
In the word of defense he makes for those
colonists who were conscientousiy III
favor of a continuation OF British DOM
ination He does not claim that they
were right. but merely calls attention 10
The fact that those who remained neu-
trail through loyalty to England hao
their virtues as we'll their vices; their
heroes as we'll as their traitors. ms
liherality of spirit finds no echo III .ie
fife and drum histories of the Sirussle
for independence" but the reader teeis,
some way that the author Is rlsht IN lac'
if not in popular tradition. since the ue-
scendants OF these same colohlsts W.
so torn with discussions OF opinion at Tie
openiny of the civil war as TO save Mary
land to the Union, though her Sympalhies
were southern. , -.
In the opening chapter. devoted TO
Thomas Johnson, whose portrait serves
for a frontispiece the author makes TINS
first and. in many respects, most emf,
men. of the state governors OF Maiyia AZ
pulse with the life of his times. Tie
was 81 CLOSELY identified with Its great
events that the army coveted the cour-
age which his presence brought the leg
islature claimed the wisdom OF MS m
tellect: the bench sought the sound
ness of his judgment, and to each ne
gave what was asked but never thought
To husband his reputation so that pos
1erity might give him place OF glory
in the story of Il nation Whlch lie So
largely helped to make.
II is a worthy tribute to pay TO SOL
der who sacrificed military fame fer the
good of the commonwealth. ana 10
Statesman who failed to sign the Declare
ton of Independence for which ne hau
voted because he was needed at nome.
Maryland's share in the revolution ana
in the war of 1872. with the Baltimore
riot of the same year; her state Stfile
between the eastern and western shofes'
and its settlement: her enfranchlsement
of the Jews her burden of debt and res
cue from the shame of reputation; her
political ups and downs, her commercial
failures and successes, and, with IL all
the underCurrent of romance that ebDS
and flows in the lives of men and Keeps
history from being dry-these- and many
more vital happenings that make the past
and present OF the old state the autnor
reviews in his Biographical sketches of
the forty-nne men who have served as
governors of Maryland.
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, AND
M ~
Frank Merry Stanton, MA. late
scholar of Keble College. Oxford.
New York: q. +. Putnam's Sons.
Washington: Woodward & Lothrop.
William the Conqueror is one of the
few tremendously imposing figures of the
past whose acts, in his way-back century.
are vitally impressed on the world of to-
day. To write a history of his life and
reign is to read many other histories 10
study ancient maps and charts and coins.
to tread the weird mazes of the tapestries
OF BayeuX. and to penetrate the jungle
of myths that hedge about the man VINO
was Duke of Normandy until he invaded
the land of Harold and became its king.
The author has done these things ana
more. for. considering that "a life OF
William the ConQueror which ignored
the changes in constitutional organlZa-
ton and social life which followed the
events of 1865 would obviously be very
imperfect thing" he has reserved the
last three chapters of the book for some
examination of these questions. and there
are footnotes to the text which serve
as guides to the more difficult problems
arising out of the conqueror'S lie ana
reign.
The twelve chapters open with the
minority of William. and close with a
description of the Domesday Book, the
greatest record of medieval Europe,
and which was to be the lasting monu-
of III 10 in la nd Rot
the beginning and the end the author
presents, in forceful sequence. the events
which made William the supreme man of
Normandy: his invasion and conquest OF
England the central and closing years OF
his reign and his attitude toward the
church as king and spiritual son A
thread of human interest winds in and
out among these great happenings. There
is briefest glimpse of that Robert the
Devil who was Williams father. and of
his mother. who was Arlette. the peasant
girl There is more than glimpse of
Matilda. whom the conqueror married i'll
defiance of the church, and whom one
pictures forever recording the tri-
umphs Of her royal spouse on tapestries
that. however bewildering they may he
works OF art. have their important
place in the historic archives of her time.
Reproductions of several of these weaves
add TO the interest of the text and there
are many plates OF old coins. seals and
genealogical charts: portion of a page
from the DOintSudN OIL
the conuueror. as conceived by Il French
painter OF the sixteenth century when
the royal tomb opened in 1J2,. and
Williams seal which serves for frontis-
piece.
,EPTIMUs. By William J. Locke. IL
Illustrations by James Montgomery
Flagg. New York: John Lane Com
pany.
That Glenn Sypher. bluff big. brusque
and lnexhaustbly vigorous. should have
seen the inventor and promoter of a cure
I'll saVe. posing the friend of human
Uy. While Septimus Dix. small modest
self-effacing. timid. even effeminate in
manner should have been the inventor of
man-kiliing devices for use in war is al
-ogether Such proposition as might be
Wpected of Mr.. Locke by those who have
tlready made his acquaintance through
Ms delightful stories 'SeDtim1IS" may
oe styled a study in contradictions II
Begins In a manner 10 cause the interest
Of those who are looking for vigorous
treatment To flag somewhat Septimus
- such an altogether silly proposition
himself viewed suddenly al short range
II takes several chapters to present him
In his true aspect as = really noble
character. Mr. Locke is subtle i'm offer
ing the suggestion that nobility is often
clothed in unattractive form There is
nothing ignobe in Sypher, although Ie
makes Infinitely more noise in the 4