Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

author or ne fuTCHdSt VI Aoh 'uo@'
Boston: Little. Brown & Co.
IN this work the author traces the
DEVELOPMENT of power by the presid-
ing officers of the national House OF
Representatives from 1850. when the
Sneaker was merely moderator, 10
1909. when the Speaker is the most po-
tent factor i'm American legislative lie
and second in power only to the Presl-
dent Evidently the historical researches
of the writer have convinced him that In
some cases the Speaker is even more
powerful than the President.
This book Is psychologically timed IN
its publication, coming as 1t does when
there Is widespread discussion over the
Speakers office and even revolt against
the exercise of the authority OF that on1-
Ger. The author has lent interest tn ms
work by giving pen pictures or some OF
tee greatest characters of American con-
gress!onal history and some hitherto I'M
published anecdotes and "reminiscences OF
national leaders.
Henry Clay is pronounced the greatest
Of Speakers of the House. 1.-THE incarna-
ton of the American spirit" but James
6. Blaine Is declared to be the first and
typical American" Kerr. Randall Kei-
chapter. Gear Reed and the Revolu-
lion take. up many pages. and Reed s
character is analysed to his praise. Crisp
and Henderson are described and twenty
Two pages are devoted to Speaker Can
mon. The revolt against Cannon and the
fitzgerald amendment to the rules are
discussed, and in this connection the au-
thor says: For the rules may in some
measure facilitate the manner in which
the Speaker now dominates the House
aid its conduct, but they are not the real
source of his power 1t has been the per-
sonal force OF the Speaker himself back
ell by the strength of the group about
HIN which he has made powerful that
has constituted the chief element Of his
Dictatorship. Only the most radical revi-
sion colIiG destroy. this elifice."
The author notes that out of thirty
FIVE Speakers of the House. only one,
Polk, ever became President. and he
asks: why Old not Clay, Blaine, Car
Isle, Reed and Cannon realize their final
ambition? Has II been because the ma
ture and function of thei, office has be-
queatheG to the public a perverted idea
or the personal attributes of the fncum-
lients? Is il because their committee as
cisions have ranked in the hearts of
their powerful colleagues? Is it that
with their elevation to the Speakership
they have been removed from the debates
Of the floor. and the opportunity Of leav-
ing their personal impress upon public
measures? Reed was the Speaker but
the Mckinley tariff bill made a President
ot the member whose name it bore
This book is a valuable contribution to
compilations of the history Of American
legislation and statesmen. The authors
tone Is fair. and unbiased although he
writes enlphatically and gives praise and
criticism vigorously. The style Is de-
liChtfu and, aside from the historical
value of the work, it is good reading for
any one interested in politics and history
of the country.
STRADELLA. BY F. Marion Crawford,
author of "Sarac1nesca Series" etc.
etc. New York: The Macmillan
Company.
The Italian music-maker, Stradella. is
tie center of this picture of remote 1tal-
ian life. Conc and forgotten almost three
hundred years now. he. at the call OF this
master story-teiler. comes back again
with the impedimehta of those distant
years about hin-associates. friends.
lopes. habits of speech, dress. pursuits
and pleasures. Thus he walks the streets
OF Venice Naples, Rome. Just az scenes
shift in the play so. to the reader. the
appearances OF the present move back to
make way for this dallying. picturesque
company in which nobiemen, clergymen.
highwayrnen, with ladies OF high and low
degree become amazingly entang]eo, but
move about, seemingly, at heart at least,
much as do these in this day-save for the
mere matter OF method and trapping.
There is long series of these rich pic
lures of Italian life, delight to the
hearts of thousands of grateful people.
"Stradella" is the last OF them. There
will be no more OF these-for the artist
las gone away.
THE FLUTE OF THE GODS. BY Marah
Ellis Ryan. author of '"rold In the
Hills" etc. With twenty-four photo
gravures from pictures taken spe-
cially for this book by Edward >.
Curtis New York: Frederick A
Stokes Company
Even before the reading of this book
begins one takes an esthetic anticipatory
pleasure in II through the beauty OF its
exteplals. The design and eoloring OF
the cover. the tint and texture of the
paper, the poetic cadence OF the TITLE
and. above ALL the dramatic power and
exquisite loneliness OF the pictures gather
it into a most tempting ensemble. A
romantic story Is here used as the me
dunn for a purpose quite superior to the
mere telling of a. tale. Research, con-
vction, enthusiasm. devotional are the
forces that have wrought this BOOK 10
lead others to a share in the profound
belief that there Is a much deeper back
ground 10 the life of the American In
dian than is at present realized. tho
writer has reconstructed an ancient peo-
pie and set US down DefoTe thSm- very
real, under our eyes they move about
their terraced towns; gathered under a
government. directed by a priesthood
planting and reaping, making fabrics and
utensils OF use or adornmerf-Trimitive
each, but all long. long lift out of
savagery. If the story, as such, now
and then rests awhile. it is because the
writer is following the larger purpose
Of the book: at such times the reader
gladly waits with the story to witness
some ceremonial or occurrence charac-
teristic of these people and significant as
Illustration and proof OF the accuracy of
the authors conclusion As literature
the hook is POLITICALLY beautiful. Often
one involuntarily reads aloud passages
pages even, 10 catch the music of the
sound.
THE HANDS OF CONFUSION. BY
Amelia E. Barr. author Of Jan
Nedder's Wife" etc. New York:
Dodd. Mead & Co. Washington:
Brentano's.
place where all the girls are .'lassies"
and the boys ''laddies': where ''bracken'
and heather" grow in place OF plain
brake and weed: where brooks are
BURNS and banks "braes'': where every
thing is "bonnie''-that isn't "dour"; a
mention of Robert Bruce, an allusion to
Banncckburn-and the story acquires a
local hahtation under that frequently