Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-29

PohS
MAKERS of literature are
~ these who have seen and felt
the miraculous interesting
ness of the universe. Their
lives are one long ecstasy of
denying that the world is dull place"
What fresh directness of identification
The aim of literary study is not to amuse
the hours of leisure. 1t is not to affect one
hour, but twentyfour; it is to awake
ones SELF to intensity one for pleasure
for sympathy. for comprehension In
Analysing those standards known as clas-
sizes, the author declares a classic to be
such, not by the will of the majority.
but, instead, by the persistent belief of
fhe passionate few in a work which gives
Shem, the passionate few, intense pleas
tIre and permanent interest. So much
Tor the keen vigor of this author, who
goes on to urge the unity of literature,
unity produced by its supreme mission of
showing the wonder and interestingness
OF the world. He objects to it's present
partitioning into kinds and sorts-imag-
lnative, philosophical, historical, religious
Or profane, even prose and poetry-out
Of which grows false notion of COM
plexity and puzzle. He sets aside COM
pletely the literary bugaboO style with
the assertion that this quality cannot
be separated from matter. advising one
when lin doubt to ignore style and to
think Of the matter as he would of the
manners and gestures of friend eX-
pressing his individual self. Charles
Lamb, in a sort of lesson In reading,
serves as model of one engaged In
proving that the world is not a dull
place. He, too is used to show how
reader and author may WreStie togetneI
that the one may come TO the FewponI
and meaning of the other. This book or
open vision and firm grip closes with a
list of English classics, grouped by peri
DDS Swept clear of literary 1etlcmsm'
while holding fast to the fine substance
of letters, this little volume is spirited
original guide to those setting out on the
way of intelligent reading.
study. BY Royal Cortissoz. Boston:
Houghton Miffiin Company.
Setting ont to make a memoir and a.
study, Nj Cortissoz greatly transcends
this double aim. The record of essential
fact concerning the life of the artist is
here, dynamic with the spirit of act and
circumstance to meet the highest demand
of biography Here also is the critical
Judgment of that peculiar art by means
Of which John La Fargo SO conVincinsly
expressed himself-the exact seeing OF
ings. warmed by profound feeling Tor
the full way in which vision and medium
met in the crucibe of this artists nina.
But beyond these fine limits of criticism
and report the book has a quality of It's
own. personality. The author. with
dramatic imagination and a full qulVer
of words for its flight makes an easy
gathering of incidents full and rich, ana
sets a hospitable door open to many OF
La Farges friends, notable all. These.
a. they come, are faced toward the artist
in fine appreciation. One gathers out
OF this reading that he has been In
noble and brilliant company of when,
upon this particular occasion. John La
Fargo is the unquestioned oracle.
JOHN RUSKIN: 4 study In PERSONAL
ity. By Arthur Christopher Ben
SON. author of From College
Window" etc. New YORK: G r.
Putnam's Sons
There is no poverty OF literature on the
subject of John Ruskin. The man, the
author. the artist, his philosophy of art.
his attitude and influence, his friends,
have one and all been held up by one and
apother-advocate, detractor and mere
chronicler. The reader, unqualifiedly
glad Of another study since this one is
by Arthur Benson, sits quickly down to
a guaranteed pleasure at the hands OF
this scholarly. finely attuned. gentle-talk-
ing man. A sketch the author calls this
study. and not finished portrait rage
by page the personality OF Ruskin comes
out in nearer and clearer view through
this subtle comprehension turned to the
uses of Interpretation, explanation, new
angles of observation, corrected meas
ures OF value 1t is delightful STUDY,
ripe and convincing, one calculated to lift
the teachings of Ruskin into an even
higher place than they now hold.
BIG HORSE TO RIDE. BY E. B.
Dewing. author of Other Peoples
Houses" New York: The Macmil-
Ian Company. Washington: Bren-
tanos.
This IS the story of a dancer told in her
own person. Its thread is simple. A lit
tie girl, left TO her big fathers indul-
gence by the separation of her parents.
chooses-as so many little girls do-to
learn dancing. For this art she reveals
aptitude. then. as body and mind and
spirit grow, genius. Her career is along
the higher levels of artist life. She is
protected girl, with companions, attend
ants, a Jovelike father. money and the
rest Of il. She. in the midst OF a glorious
course. achieves marriage. as she herself
says, There's Simon Featherly, the hus-
band I have attained and discarded"
In outline this is the career of q genius
with paths made straight for her dancing
feet. The outline. however. tells nothing
at all about the quality OF this book. For
originality OF thought. for Independence
of manner, fer freshness of front, for
subtle fragrances and favors and es-
sences, and withal for a certain dignity
OF bearing. a fine seriousness, 1t is a
thing CT amazing power and charm. To
quote fragment. In the rain illustra-
tive: II shall have a good deal 10 say
about love from first to last; have about
It theories and ideas. I've seen it in the
high moments OF its reality and the still
higher moments OF its Illusion. I've seen
II when the reality and the illusion came
all together and then crumbled to a bit
ter dust in the mouth. I've felt the pull
of light loves that lasted for Ne Tilt of
an Irish tune that began and ended i'm
a meeting of eyes and a clinkng of wine
glasses And I've found these loves to be
as real as the more enduring passion. At
best one loves only at moments. | re-
member once a late summers day of
them made magic by the completing en-
chantment. ! had climbed a tower and
stood looking out over bays and lands
and skies; love colored the air, and il
was an emotion as vivid as ever I've
had but / remember IL with the curious
exception OF not remembering the man
who caused il. He was there, standing
beside me, looking out; he wore a cost
Of light tweed: but I recall better the
salt winds blowing in from the sea and
The flashing spray-spatterinS arm of a
swimmer near the shore. Love, ] think
is something within ourselves. Sex-Sl-
mon Featherly says it's a fact OF the
mind There are moments when / love
the whole world, wnen the voice OF it