Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20
BOOK REVIEWS.
THE, kNI,RI1 An

National Psychology. BY A. Maurice
Low. Chevalier de L'Ordre de Leo
pold. Imperial Order of the kisias
sun. author of Protection i'm tn"
United States etc. Boston: HouSh-
ton. Miffiin Company
-HE American people is a new
race with distinct racial char
acteristics and a developed ma
tional psy chology.
This is the significant propo-
sitiou whose demonstration covers the
nurpose and action of this deeply interest
ing contribution 10 historical study. After
certain definite preliminary claims ana
explanations concerning the motives from
which this work originated. the spirit IN
which il was undertaken and carried Oh,
tho sources and use of material, the meth-
DDS and plan pursued the difficulties en-
countcrcd. tho author presents what he
declares to he a false premise. but on"
used by many writer's the basis or
conclusions reached in analyZlng the
American mind and explaining American
nsvchologv-namcIy, the assumption that
English civilization was transmitted III
unbroken line To America, and, further.
that its subsequent progress has in all
respects been identical with that OF the
mother country. Whereas, so says the
author pCrmanen"y of settlement III
America tire struggle for existence In Il
new and radically different environment,
and. above all. the swapping of the po-
litical bond, caused the passing, here, Of
The old civilization and the birth OF q
new and distinct racial psychology which,
in turn. developed new political philoso-
ply. Strongly buttressed 10y quotations
from Darwin, Huxley and Spencer. with
numerous illustrations from history be-
sides. there follows an interesting chap
ter on the influence of environment on
race traits. mental and physical. To which
influence are directly ascribed some OF
the basic characteristics of the Ameri-
can people. Six full, rich chapters are
devoted to an exhaustive analysis of the
Puritan. the heart of American civlliza-
ton" The Puritan movement In Eng
land, that protest against an existing or
der born OF religious conviction. produced
the following results: 90 Ii constituted
the Puritan a rebel by deed, the Ameri-
can one by Inheritance, 60 in matters
Of the soul, the growing sense of personal
responsibility exalted the individual TO
the ultimate dignity of political democ-
raCy. another temperamental legacy to
the new people, precipitated by the char
aCter of their enV rOnment and the habit
of mind acquired by meeting the daily
cxigencieS of existence. The whole sub
ject of the Puritans is summarized in q
short chapter made up of ten important.
conclusive statements covering the sources
of subsequent specific development. This
Const tutes the vital part OF the book.
The remainder OF il, interesting and i'm
portant. receives a lighter treatment pro-
portioned to its bearing upon the sub
ject under consideration. Judgment on
this matter must. in fairness, be sus-
pended till the whole body of material is
in hand Up TO this point the evidence
l. inconCluSive because IL Is incomplete.
,a mi Judging
character of the present one, VIII leave
the reader satisfied as the author is
confident. Ore feature of this work,
though, can be passed upon today as we'll
as next year. That is the literary per-
Sonality OF the writer. Dramatic and
swift-moving, he goes in a straight line
10 the real substance of the matter. This
hc presents quickly with picturelike eff
fccts of light and composition, where the
values are all true and the atmosphere
real 4 spirited and important enter
prise.
c. Brownell, author of Victorian
Prose Masters" ETC., etc. New York
Charles Scribner's Sons. Washing
ton: Woodward q Iothrop.
rs appraised here. the masters of
prose writing In America stand: Cooper.
Hawthorne. Emerson. Poe. Lowell, Henry
James. These are the type forms around
which, through the influence of creative
suggestion or initiative impulse, the re-
manning American prose writer's gather.
An amazing scope OF literary substance
and form is here represented. Cooper, the
great romancer, ranking with Scott, Du-
mas and George Sand, who from any
point of view Is one of the most distin
gushed of our literary assets" Haw-
thorne. the romancer of Puritan New
England-with Puritan New England diff
fused IN spirit and influence throughout
America Emerson of cosmic grasp along
with Shakespeare and Goethe; Lowell and
James, standing for high Gu ture and the
later psychological development of lit
erary art; Poe, out OF known law-the
Ishmael Of letters-but significant and en-
duringly great. These valuations not al
together new in effect and possibly open,
here and there. to controversy, receive
their large distinction through the mas
terly use of material for the purposes of
comparative criticism. and from the high
literary character OF the essays them
selves. In the hands of the student and
the general reader possessed of a elias
styling mind this group OF essays will
show the way and set high standards of
literary Judgment.
JOHN MARVEL. ASSISTANT. BY
Thomas Nelson Page. author OF
Red Rock" etc, etc. illustrated nv
James Montgomery Flagg. New
oTk. Charles Scribner Sons.
Today's outlook on today's life here.
From i; an interesting love story Is
given out with indulgcnt hand. while
The mind OF the author is busy with a
theme TO which this is but an accessory.
subordinate agent. The love story, TO
dispose of it al once. Is this: A daughter
If wcalth---loycly, intelligent, thoughtful
looking past thu y8cuitics OF the life of
her class, turns with ready mind and
kindly heart toward the cOndit on Of the
poor about her. In this work Of practi-
cal helpfulnesS she meets three young
men. similarly absorbed. One Of these
il SOcialistic Jew, inspired. prophetic.
and. ut the last, martyr TO his pur-
I,oS". one a preacher. assistant in rich
parish. gladly and hopefully marooned in
This squaiid outpost of the Lord: the re-
manning on" Young fellow who. having
~quHndercd tim" and opportunity. is now
learning few things about life from the
other TWO, former classmates at collcg =.
Nj three. in time. love their coworke or,
the girl. But one of them OF course.
IAN win her This is the love story. II
IS set 10 work in circumstances Of mo-
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
- Bella Donna Is country as well as a
woman. II is Egypt a. Kim is India Il