Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-01

source Of great spiritual aspiration. This
group of interesting essays, where full
ness of fact and special grace of manner
unite. gives, In substance, the rise and
fail of the cult of platonic love through
an analysis OF the literature of the period
hearing upon this subject The alternate
ar;ificiaiities of tho Hotel de Rambouillet
and the court OF Charles the First show
tho logical Transformation of this theory
under the social conditions of the seven
teenth century. The last essay of the
group studies piatonic love in the fun tide
of its fashionable existence at the court
Of Charles. where it takes charge of Eng
fish manners and English letters. and in
the course of its career, separates into
three or more types or schools. These
studies, in addition to their own uses,
gather n significant chapter on the status
of woman at n certain historic stage.
THE WEST IN THE EAST: From an
American Point Of View. BY Price
Collier author of England and the
English New York: Charles Scrib-
ncrs Sons Washington Wood
ward & Lothrop.
Tho first chapter OF this notable book
states the case of the United States in
respect 10 the east. The last one sums
the logic of the future. Between these
two limits brilliant panorama of travail
unfo!ds. The whole constitutes
terly analysis of the groundwork Of an
inevitab BILE intcrnationalism based in eco
Monies. Not twice in long stretch Of
time will one have the privilege Of read
ing record of travel so astonishingly
rich as Is this one. Here is a packed
pressed down. running over measure of
factS-racial social, political, Industrial
concerning India. China and Japan. Tn
common facilities for travel and research
bring out the amazing qualities of this
authors observation and Judgment. To
these are added vision, drama and
swinging poetry OF expression that make
this book a fascinat ton of form as Well as
a marvel of substance. Gathering up the
United States i'll its achievements. its few
traditions. its policies, its young ambi-
ton. its manifest destiny. the author
faces it upon its Pacific front and de-
fines a future of unavoidable relation
ships with these peoples. The sum OF his
admonition is that this country learned
deeply and early the lessons of racial fact
neighbours toward the west \ book of
rare interest and power.
ROOM WITH 4 VIEW. BY E. NJ
Forster. author of 'Howard's End"
etc. New York: G. T. Putnams
Sons.
Save for an extra advantage in assem-
bling a good assortment of people, this
matter might as well have worked itself
out in either Bath or Bristol as in the
pension of Bertolini. Florence. To be
sure a mild Italian flavor accompanies a
drive among the hills-up by Fiesole and
back by SettiSnano-and dash Of color
settles about desultory visits to Santa
Croce and the galleries. Atmosphere.
despite the Florentine setting. has not
much to do With the engaging quality of
this story. and action but little more. Its
entertainment lies chiefly in the people
themselves. lifelikely group. fresh and
original. The author makes rather bet
ter men than women. The young woman
of the story is hardly up to the mark of
being followed to England by two such
men as do pursue her. However. mex
plicable in life itself are the sources of
attraction. so why should one cavil al a
similar mystery IN fiction. This is a