Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-08
BOOK REVUE VS..
MASTERS OF THE ENGLISH NOVEL;
Study of Principles and PERSONAL
ties BY Richard Burton. New York

MASTERS OF THE ENGLISH NOVEL;
a Study of Principles and Personai:-
ties BY Richard Burton. New York
Henry Holt d Co.
VERY reader. whether nc be the
student or merely the casual and
unsystematic reader of fict on
meets time when he needs TO
set his mental household in or
der, when he must orientatc himself in
his promiscuous and disorderly gathering
of literature At these inevitable tines a
book like the one in hand turns out to
be the high priest of this ceremony The
wise author of this helpful book demon
strates his psychological acumen by
lighting up only the high places OF 1T
erature In his consideration of the Eng
fish novel. thus rendering the process OF
adjustment simple and direct. Starting.
in effect, with the middle of the eight
zenith century. when Samuel Richardson,
in defiance Of the aristocratic traditions
OF romance, chose to make a kitchen
wench, Pamela the heroine of his
Ieisurely tale and contemporary matters
the medium of her joys and sorrows. he
traces through masters of the novel, the
development of this form of fiction up to
the present time. Richardson and Field
Walter Scott stand. subsequently, at the
parting Of the ways between realism
and modern romanticism. Dickens. Thack-
cray. Eliot, In the middle Of the nine
the conquering school of realism set by
Jane Austen. Hardy, Meredith. Steven
son are of immediate times. This is the
clean line drawn. In addition. each of
these master writer's Is estimated in the
logic of his literary sequence. in his re-
lation to life and to art. expressed in
literature. This work is accomplished
with such confidence of knowledge and
power. with such mastery of the instru-
ments of critical analysis. with such an
alert spirit, and with such crisp fresh
medium of expression. that the book Is,
from cover to cover, a steady delight
POEMS WRITTEN IN EARLY YOU~Hs
Poems from Modern Love" anC
Scattered Poems. BY George Mere
dith. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons. Washington: Brentano's.
Mr.. Meredith stands as a great master
of English prose. His title as a poet is
less clear. One turns eagerly to these
poems of his early youth. To those ia
miiar with this writer In the fruitage of
his genius-the English novel, with in
teilectual Characterization as its motive,
and a completely cryptic style as its me-
dium-these early poems bear shock of
surprise. so free, so transparent. SO glad
are they. Poem of love and nature, as
the poems of youth must be-of twilight
and the dawn. of flowers and birds. and
the seasOns-of the whole open road to
the poets mind and heart! In form. they
more often than otherwise fall into song
cadences, for the voice to sing as well
as the heart. But. once in a long while.
d poetic thought Is held aloft Zone can
almost see him do it, stripped of both
Nrhyme and rhythm, a challenge to deny 1t
the need Of poetry. This, bit of intel
nd @Io
istic of all the authors days. Whether
singing Of nature or human nature, how
ever, the writer even in these young days
is true in both comprehension and feeling.
One marvels at the maturity of judgment
and the finish of form that mark the
poetic tributes to other poets. as such
Chaucer. Spenser. Shakespeare. Words
worth. Shelly. Keats and others To the
lovers OF George Meredith. q genius out
side Of the law Of letters, great creative
and inspirational force in the world, this
book OF early poems Is just another light
turned turn on to ,, help toward f-comprehsn-
velopment from youth to maturity.
MI LIFE IN CHINA AND AMERICA.
BY Yung Wing. A. B.. LII D.. Com
missioner of the Chinese Educa-
tional Association: Associate Chi
nese Minister in Washington. New
York: Henry Holt & Co.
The story Of his own life. told from the
vantage point Of fullness of years and
richness Of experience. in the frank self
enjoyment and self-appraisal of child,
makes up the sum Of this fresh and In
teresting book. In the story. a Chinese
boy comes from missionary school In
his own country. first to an American
lower school, and finally to Yale, from
which he Is graduated with honors for
literary accomplishment. Then follows
his return to China. where as business
man. scholar. political and social re-
former he rartakes OF the activities and
dangers of his disturbed country. Sub
seauently returning to America, he here
brings to plan and fultillment his great
educational propaganda, gathered under
the name and efforts of 1.-THE Chinese
stance. Is scheme for educating groups
of Chinese boys in the United States. Its
early career of alternate exaltation and
depression is now crystalized to rerma-
nency and efficiency, chiefly through the
indefatigable labor of this Chinese
patriot and recormer. An appendix to
the story of himself serves as an appre-
citation OF Yung Wing. The whole con-
many phases of Chinese life, vitaiized by
the personal attitude of the writer to-
ward the concerns of his own country.
HOW TO HELP, Manual OF Practical
Charity. By Mary Conyngton. NJ. A.
New York: The Macmillan Company.
Washington: Brentano's.
Carried out in accord with its intent. a
practical handbook is here offered to
those who, as matter of social justice.
are engaged in preventing distress and
arrest among the poor, and otherwise
retarded members of community. The
treatment of this matter is clear and
orderly, with the book logically separat-
ing Into four main divis ons. 1t opens
with simple history of organized char
ity. Here are involved the PRINCIPLES
upon which the work rests. as we'll as
its growth from underlined, sporadic, un-
measurable efforts, to the present CO.
operative measures of economic and f1u-
manitarian aim. increasing steadily in
scientific eXactness of standard, purpose
and plan. The avenues for this work,
together with the material and personal
requirements for their successful USE
then broadly described. Part II
takes up these principles and general fea-
lures in their application to definite cases
Here are considered THE Needy Fami-
ly,' The Homeless Man, "Begsars and
Jmpostors." and so on. Following is a
discussion Of the common economic, So
cial and personal causes of distress with
analyses. classifications and pans Part
III gives In clear and interesting detail
the aim and action of social and preven-
tive organizations. clubs. social sett e.
ments. play centers. industrial and edu-
Cational classes. Part Nv constitutes a
summary and general outlook upon the