Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-26
BOOK REVIEWS.


t;sGENICS: the Science of Human I'm
provement by Better Breeding. By
T. Il. Davenport. Carnegie Inst'tu-
ION of Washington; director de-
3artment of experimental evolution.
old Spring Harhor. \. V; serrc-
AIRY committee of eugenics. Ame:;-
an Breeders Association. New
DIRK: Henry Holt n 60.
TN chapter headed Fit and Unfit
Mathis this author gives the results
of extensive observations on the
subject ii heredity from the stand
point Of the biologist. whose measure
~ fitness i the Improvement of the race.
through an ascending scale of excellence
III the characteristics Of offspring. In
the DEVELOPMENT of this subject the fun
fancntal principles OF heredity set
Jown and freely illustrated The exam
nation is then extended. initially, TO
conditions that produce the transmission
rr normal characteristics and subse-
puentIy. 10 those resulting in abnormali-
ties and disease. Detectives of various
sorts are traced with accuracy and pre-
sa~iuu t. the sources of their existence as
such In accordance with the methods
al scientific research, the conclusions are
tentative and Withholding. but sufficient
III significant and convincing to lead to
tht. formation of a committee of eugenicS.
made M Of men distinguished for Scien-
title and educational service. The dis
tinct purpose of this committee Is TO pur-
SII,. a rampaign IF education this sub
icCt and Ia follow this by efforts toward
legislation for the protection of society
ana the safety Of the individual by stat
utory elimination from the social purpose
al subjects unit 10 be reproduced in off
spring
TOWER OF IVORY. By Gertrude Ath-
erton. author of Ancestors. ct
New York The Macmillan Company.
The following quotation covers the
dynamicS Of Mrs Atherton's powerful
story: 1t is a strange circumstance, this
secret pursuit OF John Ordhams ego. in
the mysterious regions of the spirit, by
Two women at the same time: but they
hunted on. different planes and never
met John Ordham the second son
IF titled English parents One of the
two women in pursuit is the famlilar
golden American girl. The other is
great artist. court singer TO the king OF
Bavaria with Munich the picturesque
stage Of her triumphs and service 10 Il
mad king as one of the elements in her
aloof distinction This triangular neid
Of romance is not unfamiliar. but Mrs.
Anterior lifts her story far above the
plane 81 the familiar through her alb
Solute control Of situations, through heT
anaIVSsS of human motiv : and actions
and her security in the logic of events.
through her complete grasp of every
dramatic possibility. her straight move
ment toward issues and her mastery OF
EXPRESSION Triumphantly this tragic
story eliminates irresistihy ont of the
forces set in motion at its inception.
THE STRONGER CLAIM. BY Alice
Perrin author of "IdOlatry," etc.
New York. Duffield n Co.
The race conflict set up in child born
of a European father and an Asatic
mother * the keen problem here pre-
scented. Sketched in outline. the story is
that of an English army officer, who.
beset by the ardors of both love and OPP
position. takes 10 wife "A half-br4ed East
Indian girl Happily. tine young husband
dies out of his social and professional
dilemma. leaving. however. little son
20 meet within himself the counter claims
of this divided parentage. The boy. in
the plastic years OF childhood, bides with
his mother in the oriental atmosphere
at her nativity. He is then sent to his
fathers home in England for the pur-
poses of education and the preparation
Tor a military career. Here the i'm
pressions of babyhood are. seemingly.
completely overlaid by the open, active
Influences OF western life. The boy now
Il man accompanied by lovely English
wife, returns to India. TO all appear
snces simply young English soldier.
I-ndeT the renewed oriental environment
the early impressions revive TO contest
bitterly the rival claims of blood and
training. The study here is most in
tereSting y diffused and Inevitable ruin
stops III the violent death Of the young
soldier, "A death met in the older spirit
Of the oriental mother. Ii the full po-
cite and literary favor of this fascinating
theme has not been completely extracted
II j. nevertheless a strong and interest
in" story. substantial in situation drit-
matte and consistent in treatment. with
many fine strokes in thinning the dual
strain and stress incident 10 the devei-
upment Of this EurdSan type
THE ELIZiBETHt> PEOPLE BY
Henry Thew Stephenson. associate
professor Of English ut Indiaaa
University; author of shakespeare
London" Illustrated from old prints
New York: Henry Holt Il Co.
rhc general reader of the dramas OF
Shakespeare, always satisfied and de-
hshtcd with the consistent and accurate
portrayal Of fundament~' human traits.
S frequently perplexed and annoyed at
what seem plain irreevancies III be set
asid, pure inventions of questionable
Wit Of mere pointless filling in for the
play purposes OF the drama Mr. Stephen
son ia the present volume offers the re-
suits OF study of English life in
Shakcspeare'S time. TO show that these
apparent unFedi4tieS are the natural
cropping out Of the slghter aspects of the
historic life OF that period The tenor of
TIE daily life in town and country * here
automatically produced. the natural alter
nations of work and play are depicted
wherein fundamental beliefs and common
~UTrrSt.t.ons are curiouSly interviewer,
and where the national character eX-
presses itself in lusty performance. in
childish love of the spectacular. in "A
broadly playful Wit. and in generally
large and unrcnned movements of mind
and action. ~ explicit and special refer
CtCe 10 the text. this volume eliminates
The slghter features OF Shakespeare's
plays 10y authoritative view of the
mental attitude. the customs and the
character of the English OF that period
THE NtNINS OF NARMADUkE. ~
Charles Edward birmingham. New
y rk Brentano'S.
With sealpel fine and ri Marmaduke
ere neatly uncovers the facts and foibles
- both the social and individual life
oo.uing at any page of these proverbs
ami rabies one finds himself looking