Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-14
BOOK REVIEWS.

AN OLD.FAsHIONED SENATOR; Or
yalIe HI. P1att of Connecticut; The
Story of q Life UnselAshly Devoted
to the Public Service. By Louis "A
Coolidge New York: G. p. Putnam 5
Sons.
- OUIS A. COOLIDGE here turns
his powers as writer and student
of men and affairs over to the
IL geographic service of Senator
Orville Platt In the author s
Judgment. a Judgment ripening now these
twenty wears. Mr. Platt- by his life and
influence translated into distinct idea.
Or, in opposite terms. he in his public
career is the naturalization of the idea
If 6isinterested service in its most near
ly perfect measure a pattern, Irritable.
flspiring. IDEAL challenge to the pa
triotic historian and a warrant for place
in the permanent annals of great re-
public. By, way of public service. there
fore and i'm the nature of an apprecia-
ton. Mr. Coolidge sets out the NE Oh
this senator whom his own Connecticut
ueopIe. for reasons good to them. af-
fectionately call 'the Abraham Lincoln
of New England" In this complete and
discriminating study more than twenty
five years of the political and legislative
history of the United States are present
ed both in review ard new view, with
Senator Platt in the midst of large and
constructive measures to when he con-
tributed initiative, or cooperation, OF
support The author. familiar with MS
field. keen in interpretativc power. ex-
mort i'm the discovery and use of facts.
forcefuI and brilliant in literary means,
fills this study to the measure OF It's IN
tent adding to the literature OF h1stor!
thereby. this excellent biograpny. tne
illuminating form OF
his:Cti: writing.
THE ROMANCE OF THE AMERICAN
NAVY, As Embodied In the Stories
at Our Public and Private Armed
ships from 1875 to 1909. By Freder-
ic Stanhope Hill, late United States
Navy. author of 'Twenty-S1X HIS
toric ships" etc. illustrated; New
York: G. P. Putnams Sons. WASH
ington: Woodward & Lothrop.
Gathering up the hundred and thirty
Eve years hat Unfold our four greatest
wars. Frederic Stanhope Hill draws out
a wonderful roster of men and ships
Homeric men and ships-upon which he
builds the gallant story of America on
the high seas. Daring, heroism. patriot
ism of unsurpassed splendor sustain
without blemish this long and brilliant
adventure. From revolutionary days ana
Commodore Joshua Barney down 10 the
Eyans. from the little fighting schooner
Enterprise to the peaceful pageant of six
teen monster battleships rounding the
world, is long and thrilling pass age or
national achievement. This story aeiongs
in the school as we'll as in the library.
RECOLLECTIONS OF A VARIED LIFE.
BY George Cary Eggleston. New
York: Henry Holt & Co.
OF a nature made for fellowship. George
Cary Eggleston. writer, literary editor.
lawyer soldier. rich in the faculty OF at
traction and selection, rich. too, in range
of experience and gift of recital. here sets
Up his easel. Upon a canvas, years long
and wide he spreads In mellow tints an
scdote. incident, scene. all brightly in
forming. many genially humorous Per-
sonalities and localities here glow in the
light of intimate knowledge and compre-
hension. Edward Esgle3ton. Frank
Stockton. Mr.. Howells, Mark Twain, John
Hay, Thomas Bailey Aldrich and Mr..
Bryant are among those who in this
genial companiOnshtp step out from be-
hind their works. concrete and personal.
Newspaper experiences, newspaper ap-
praisement along many lines, methods of
work and critical estimates are among
the waymarks of this delightful volume
II recolections.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BY Arthur f. Bostwick. PhD., presi-
dent American Library Association.
New York: D. Appleton Co.
This interesting account summarizes the
American library and presents ii as a vi
al force. a highly organized and useful
i..stituton developed for public service,
keenly alive, even wholeSomely agrees
s.ve, in relation to the, educational and
social needs of its community Much of
t'iIs discussion is addressed to the stu
lent of library plans and methods yet
tac whole of il is we'll within the in
terest of the general reader. Among the
best chapters. where all are good, are
those describing the means and results
OF bringing the child and the school. the
business man and the mechanic, into a
working use of the public library.
THE THEORY OF THE THEATER.
And Other Principles of Dramatic
Criticism. BY Clayton Hamilton, au-
thor of Materials and Methods of
Fiction" New York: Henry Holt &
Co.
Among the many accomplishments OF
6rander Matthews is that of having
fired group of disciples to emulation Of
his own methods in his own field of pro-
:essional effort. Under the stimulus Of
this admired teachers personality a crop
OF theater studies have ripened to the
harvest By means of original investiga-
ton and scientific method the theater is
measured and weighed and balanced.
From cavern beneath and dome above,
from side and front and rear. the me-
chanical stage such is Investigated
soberly and reported upon gravely. From
this process deductions of serious import
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