Evening star., 1911-08-19

is with it. Neither an unim-
portant nor dull book has yet
come Into the series The subjects OF TINS
course are big and radiating. The
authors are high IN scholarly authority.
AS a matter of equal weight they are also
practical and interesting writer's. All
possess in high degree the power 10
vision their subjects as organic unites.
All are adopts in selecting only the vital
points of these for the purposes OF this
limited presentation. AS an example, Mr.
Davis in his study of medieval Europe at
once stakes OFF the essential boundaries
of this period. Between these two limits
only the high points of relief appear. At
the beginning end of this era IS the fall
ing away of the Roman empire, AT the
closing end, the renaissance. FROM one
TO the other stretch the successive helghts
OF the barbarian Kingdoms, feudalism,
tho church, the medieval state, the cru
sades the free towns These are the
middle ages. The author brings into ex-
posure only the outstanding features OF
each summit in this succession. He ex-
amines only those substantial and per-
sistent qualities in each that project IL
infuentially TO the following crest, snap
ing this somewhat. coloring II TO de-
gree Out of the reading one gathers the
single thread Of development. This
makes the best possible view for early
readers of a remote and easily burdened
era One will hardly find a clearer sum
mary of the rise of the free towns OF the
middle ages than appears here. Mr.
Davis attitude toward this period gives
10 his study a peculiarly vigorous char
acter. Setting aside the crystalllzed for
mula, .the dark ages he examines the
epoch In and by itself, lifts II out, as II
We're from the overShadowing antecedent
glory of Rome. and the subsequent splen-
dor Of the renaissance. Its own environ
ment, material and spiritual, Its own
philosophy and poetry and art. Its pur-
poses, its obstacles and propulsions, are
the instruments of this appraisement.
Out OF II the author summarizes: Me-
dieval culture was imperfect. was re-
stricted to a narrow circle OF superior
minds, offered no satisfaction to some OF
the higher faculties and instincts. Meas
ure II, however, by the memories and the
achievements that it has bequeathed to
rhe modern world, and 1t Will be FOUND
not unworthy to rank with those of
earlier and later golden ages
PARLIAMENT, It's History, COnstitu-
tiOn and Practice. BY Sir Court
enay P. Ilbert, K. c. B.. clerk Of the
islative Methods and Forms" etc.
New York: Henry Holt & Co.
One finds IN this compact. well or
dered. simple exposition exactly what he
needs to clear and settle somewhat vague
and mixed notions concerning this ve-
hicle of English government. In outline.
the author defines the organization of
parliament, setting out sharply in its his
toric growth the relation of the two
houses to each other. He explains the
sittings OF parliament and it's procedure.
He describes In detail. from inception to
issue. the making of an English law. In
cluding here the legislative capacity of
the ministry, and the relation of the
crown to the entire law-making body.
Taking a single commoner. as type. he
fronts him. in explicit terms. upon his
constituency. and upon the more general
public we'll. The historic origin and
development OF parliament pass in swift
review. There Is. moreover, throughout
this discussion a running historic COM
ment to show reason for many otherwise
incomprehensible features of form or
function pertaining to this body. The
study closes with fine comparative view
OF the numerous variants OF the Englsh
parliament these have shaped them
selves to the governmental uses of conti-
mental Europe and America. OF special
interest to a citizen of the American
union ia the contrast made here between
the Congress of the United States and
parliament Some peculiarities Of our
own legislative body take on meaning
through its rootage in English habits OF
thought, English customs OF government.
A most interesting study, admirably nit
ted to supplement press accounts or cur
rent PAL dtliOh, "iiASA All tAAaC
will count as revolutionary in character.
ROLF IN THE WOODS, The Adven-
lures of n boy Scout With Indian
Quonab and Little Dog SkoOkum.
BY Ernest Thompson Seton. author
OF wild Animals I Have Known"
etc illustrated by the author New
York: Doubleday. Page & Co. Wash
ington: Woodward & Lothrop.
touch of early authentic history, a
line OF spirited adventures by the boy
scout and an Indian, a clean grip on the
ways and meanings OF the natural world.
with hundreds OF drawings to point the
movement Of the whole. make up the
bulk of Ernest Thompson Seton's big book
addressed TO the Boy Scouts of America,
20 whom he stands as chief. This is
wonder book for youthful readers For
upon this wealth of material, substantial
and of amazing variety. the author works
the wizardry of his storytelling power
His object-to picture the influences of a
century ago in America as these acted
upon the boys of that time. In both war
and peace-meets its aim in this splendid
wholesome, out-of-doors book for boys.
THE YOUNG IDEA: A Neighborhood
Chronicle. BY Parker II. Fillmore,
author of The Hickory Limb" IL
lustrations by Rose Cecil ONeill.
New York: John Lane Company.
Just good fun, laughable and fresh
from end TO end-true, too. This COM
pretending young author sets what he
remembers OF his own playtime to the
task OF appreciating what he sees chill
dren doing around him in their play
time. This double process reveals him
as both boy and man. However. the issue
is. that out Of this double action there
comes a group of delicious stories about
a certain Willie Jones and Margery.
What Margery's other name is seems
buried In her tremendous personality
since one does not recall IL. but Margery
is OF the adorable feminine sort for whom
single name, even, seems more than
enough These stories begin In the Old
Adamc vein-for. In the very first one.
day-a very stirring spring day-he was
everything that good boy of seven, or
so, should be-clean. dull, duuful.
Margery came like cyclone. When her
first set-to of tyranny and abuse was
over Willie Jones was q new boy. There
after things settled into a safe and
proper order. Where Margery had de-
spised and overridden. she now feared
and adored. She trailed. like any other
sodden female. way at the end of the
whisking tail Of Willie Jones brigandly
sorties upon trees or ripe apples and
beds OF blooming plants. upon strayed
kittens and lost dogs, and the other null
titudinous impedimentso OF every neighbor-
hood. These two run a complete orgy
Of childish mischief in which one sees
himself In spots. regretting that he did
not qualify for the entire gamut Rose
O'Neill is a splendid partner for this
Young writing man. Margery gets half
her glory from the inimtable overflow
ing looks that this same Rose ONeiil
aN.v@ - rAlA.r -EsF