Evening star., 1911-05-27
SECRET SOCIETIES AND THE
FRENCH REVOLUTION; Together
With Some Kindred studies. Fly
Una Birch New York John Lane
Company y.

company
Students of the French revolution will
welcome the convenience and permanence
of the present volume. which gathers UP
four important studies Of this period by the
able and interesting writer. Una Birch.
Historians have TO great extent ignored
the secret societies, of utopian character.
that fiourished antecedent to the revolution.
The first of these studies takes account of
such societies in their direct bearing
upon this crisis, constituting in effect
refutation of the childish assumption that
this national outbreak was a spontdne-
o,Is unprepared uprising aGainst oppres-
sion: that ideas of liberty were in the
air. and 50 on. Miss Birch rejects such
haphazar basis for the great revolution
and out Of fact and comparative history
proves that all similar outbreaks are the
result of spending associative agita-
tion, originating in definite co-ordina-
tion OF ideas and doctrines. The author
presents the condition of secret societies
I'm France i'm the eighteenth century-con-
spicuous among them the Masonic order
setting out the respective natures and
purposes of these and tracing the com
mon elements among them that led to Ger
tain unions and worked potently IN the
Immediate political destiny of France
A second essay, supplementary to this
first one. studies religious liberty in its
rela tion to the revolution. A third, timed
slightly antecedent to the great Crisis
itself depicts the spirit of it's advance
through study of the comprehensive
and significant career of the mysterious
and fascinating man who called himself
sometimes-"Compte de Saint-Germain.
The last of the group is a remarkable an
alysis OF contrasting ideals through
comparative study of Napoleon and Nine.
de Stael. that amazing woman whose ell
nifty to the great CorSican and all that
he stood for was so invincible and so
masterfully directed that in the height OF
his triumphant career il began TO appear
that the only uncomfortable thing in
Europe was woman. This situation
made the current phrase. "It is neces-
sary (for Napoleon) to take account OF
three powers-England. Russia and Mime.
de StaeI." Napoleon stood as the ideal
of military government incarnate. The
woman was the prophet of the whole
people, confident of future when their
ideals and their acts might become CO.
extensive. This group constitutes bril-
liant philosophical study or one OF tne
most important and compelling periods OF
history.
studies In Culture and Success. BY
Newell Dwight Hills. author of "A
Mans Value TO Society," etc New
York: Fleming III. Revell Company.
The author calls these studies in cul-
t,Ire and success sparks struck off on
the anvil of events That is exactly
what they are. 4 hundred of them, more
or less leaping out in a variety great
as the daily doings of a new and exciting
world-a shower of sparks. brilliant.
warm, swift in fight straight to the mind
or emotions of the reader. Many sorts
OF high quality go into these essays.
Here are good feeling toward life and
men, poetic insight and grace OF express
sion, an uncommonly flexible use OF il
Illustrative history. the passing episode ir
resistibiy offered. to lamp the theme
along. and the straight picturesque man
ner of the rare journalistic writer. There
is one count, however. against this au-
thor. IL was only upon the urgency OF
wise editor that he consented TO this re-
print of earlier press work. That failure
would have been loss t. readers, indi
eating a lack of confidence in their read
ing capacity. or oVermodesty on the part
OF the writer. poor literary Judgment
concerning his own work. However. the
danger is over and the book is in hand
to be used at odd minutes. here and
there. every day.
THE NERVOUS LIFE. rs G. L. Part
ridge, Ph.D.. former lecturer in
Clark University. author of IAN
outline of Individual Study" New
York: Sturgis & Walton Company.
THE problem OF nervous health Is one
not merely of physical welfare-tiigestion.
exercise or any or all Of the physical
functions, or even OF the mental faculties
but IL Is a problem of the adjustment
Of the individual hol. 10 his world. =
As might he expected from the char
aeter of this view, the author stands be-
fore the study Of the nervous life in the
spirit and bearing Of science. Reason.
laws and principles support theory and
make the foundation for instruc Jiyu and
specific direction. A. a basis Of consider
affon the author presents the double as
nec, of the nervous hfe--that Of the in
diyidual and that expressed collectively
through the social and industrial move
rnents of the community around him. G'he
object of the iull study IS to teach the
individual how TO adjust himself 10 this
outlying nervous life, for maladjustment
here means nervous disorder. growing
malady calling for rational methods of
control. The author in this course points
ont the causes and conditions OF the nerv-
Gus life and suggests the principles OF
control and direction that must form the
and mental. In practical detail he dis
cusses food and drink. sleep and rest.
work. relaxation. recreation. the training
of the emotions. and the resources or suS-
gestion and habit. lie examines the new
mental cults and health systems. neglect
ing nothing that can be Of service in the
nervous life. The book inspires confidence
by its sound of scholarship and open,
though restrained views. IL Is simple
wen arranged. and supplied with clean
cut summaries and good reading refer
ences most useful book for the general
reader this important subject.
THE THEORY OF HUMAN PROGREs-
SION BY Patrick Edward Dove.
Abridged by Julia A. Kellogg. New
York: Isaac III. Blanchard Company.
An abridgment of Patrick Edward
Doves Theory of Human Progression
makes up the substance OF this little vol
ume. which sums to an exposition of the
sin1le-tax theory advanced a generation
later by Henry George in Progress and
R0Fox4xss Curiouely enough, for a