Evening star., 1912-06-15

spects to the kindergarten system. AL
ready I'm use at Rome and other Euro
pean cities. it has likewise met a certain
acceptance in the city OF New York. It's
chief immediate function I'm America
however. is less that OF acceptance and
application than that of adding to the
material for a further comparative study
of methods of early education. Distinct
in type, clear in outline. admirably devel-
oped into a system. the work of Dr. Mon
tesor1 is specially fitted for this COM
parative study. The concrete unit of this
plan is what the author calls 1.-The chill
aren house e-much more child-house.
it must he granted. than the kindergarten
Is a child-garden in its full significance
of fact added to symbol. The children's
house is a freer institution even than the
kindergarten. one where the principle Of
unrestricted liberty and individuality is
more clearly followed. A part of its ma
terial is designed solely to aid physical
development. 1t gives formal sense train
ing and prepares definitely for the school
arts. Its social sense develops by means
OF actual social activities. These are
some of the most obvious features by
which the system is set off from the kin
dersarten. 1t is a notable achievement
by woman-an educational leader and
teacher. of social vision and scientific
training. Teachers and directors will not
fail to count this study as substantial
addition to the material of educational in
vestigation.
THE CITADEL: \ Romance of Tn
rest. BY Samuel Merwin. author Of
The Road Builders etc New
York: The Century Company.
1t is conceivable that Mr. Merwin. as
has been stated somewhere. wrote this
novel in the odds and orts of free even
ings. visiting week ends. chance holidays
and leisure half hours. Not that 1t is
either fragmentary or loose-joined in ef-
fect-quite the contrary. But, that this
author. a political writer for the daily
periodic press, possesses not only a ready
writing hand, but mind trained habitu-
ally upon the political stage as Well This
is highly dramatic period. The con-
trolling party split. right and left. Con-
servatives, here. compact, practiced. one
minded. Insurgents, there. loose and
CLAIMANT. with social and political vision
as Yet but little other than an apocalypse
of some far heaven. Nothing is more
natural than that, in such midst. Mr..
Merwin should envisage and set up this
drama. For hero. he makes a progressive
! one full-panopied and poised-such a one
as these about the writer doubtless hope
to be. or mayhap, dream that they al
ready are. The story moves. in part, by
way of the tumult of John Garwood S
campaign for reelection. in his new en-
bodiment of purpose and mission. In
other part. it progresses through a most
| engaging love motive. with him as one
OF the twain. Margaret Lansing. the
other one, is a type found here and there
in the service of the governments high
ly intelligent woman, poised frank,
equaled a shade unmindful of social
rites and ceremonies. calculated for COM
radeship. Somewhat curiously. Mr.. Mer-
wins love story is quite as clever and
waywisse as is the political adventure for
whose development he is so obviously
equipped. The whole is as concrete as
the Capitol itself. 1t is also as trans
criptive as the Congressional Record. and
as realistic as proceedings of House or
Senate floor to the eyes Of gallery on
lockers. good muscular story. dis
tilling political essences and STEPPED in
Washington flavors.
THE PRICE SHE PAID: 4 Novel. BY
David Graham Phillips. author of
The Husbands Story" etc. New
York: d. Appleton & 60.
In the United States. particularly. there
are thousands Of Mildred Covers. such
as the one whom David Graham Phillips
here made the subject OF his keen and
| uncompromising portrayal. Talented girls,
| but lazy girls with energies so diffused
and fitful that their shining talents are.
to all intents and purposes. buried with