Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-26

out sowing tnaf cryptogram this review
can have no possible interest for him. Blu
as to the second cipher, which disclose>
this mysterious authors motives for re-
naming anonymous, 1t would be unfai:
to publishers, to author and to readers t.
disclose 1t. Possibly a clue to 1t can b.
found in the introduction in which Astr
the seer, discussine the matter of cryrto
grams with his pretty assistant Valeska
suggests that perha-s the reason VIII.
this mode Of Identification has not been
have not had modern publishers under
standing the practical psychology of ad-
vertisins. Passing this point, the story
itself is really a composite Of BRET
episodes which present the attractive
figure of Astro, clairvoyant. palm,st,
crystal gazer, puzzle solver mystery dis
closer. who makes very good living by
giving society women palm readings in an
incenSe-perfumed atmosphere and enter
tanning himself and his assistant in off
hours. often at large profit, by tracing
out crime. preventing misfortune finding
lost articles and doing other things that
puzzle the average mind. This is an eX-
cellent satire upon the chariatanry Of
professional occultism.
GALLANT LITTLE WALES, Sketches
Of It's People. Places and Gus Oms.
BY jeanette Marks. With illustra-
tions. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company.
Most tourists to Wales are recommend
ed to provide themselves with the Cos
siping Guide" which is the standard work
Of reference for the purpose of travellers
1t is. however. hardly sufficiently ade-
quate book for comprehensive view of
the ancient state. This volume now in
hand tells charmingly Of the picturesque
features f ,, OF Wales and opens up vistas
thor has gone over the ground and has
found much Of vivid interest to write
about
THE LUCKY SIXPENCE. BY Emile
Benson Knipe and Alden Arthur
knipe. Illustrated by Arthur E.
Becher. New York: The Century
Company.
This romance OF revo' ut!onary days
does not give itself the Importance of a
historic novel. though glimpse of Gen.
Washington and intimate talks with Ad-
miral Howe and Benjamin Franklin
should entitle the heroine to her place in
colonial annals. Beatrice, q demure lit
tie maid is sent from ENGLAND to Amer
lea disguised as q boy. Even to hint at
her reason for sal ing-literally sailing
under false colors would be to transgress
on the privacy OF the plot. There is a
sea chase with an exciting climax, and
scene after scene in which one smells
gunpowder and hears the din of war
The patriotism throughout is of too STIR
ring vitality to give thou~ht to love at.
1airs: put. recalling the gypsy prophecy
winch introduces the heroine in the first
en-" pter the reader closes the book COM
fortably assured that romance and "Cous-
In John" VIII claim her in some unwritten
chapter to come
A HISTORY OF THE PRESIDENCY
FROM 1897 TO 1909. BY Edward
Stanwood. Lift. D. (Bowdoin). Bos-
ton: Houghton Miffiin Company.
A preceding volume brought the history
of the presidency from 17SS to 1897. This
volume practically completes the series
as far as the present historian can 70 by
extending the record from 1897 to 1909,
thus including the last presidential e'ec-
ton. Mr.. StanMood applies the same
methods In this later treatment as in the
earlier. but necessarily the devotion of
one entire volume to period Of twelve
years Is more inclusive than the proceed
ing work. He discusses 'fmperialism" as
the paramount issue OF the campaign
of 1909, and then proceeds to Roosevelt
election for a second term" A third
chapter deas with the era of progress
sive" insurgt ncy leading up to the cam
pa1gn OF 1903 and the election OF Presi-
dent Taft In what Is perhaps the most
important chapter of the entire range of
this work the author d:scusse the
evolution Of the presidency to the point
of demonstrating that the executive Of
fee has been expanded in Importance
and power in the matter of appointments
to office. In the employment of the veto
and In the direction of legis' alton by the
exercise of party Leadership. AS a result
OF the development of the pres dency into
a national leade rship. says the author,
much has changed. includin~ the direct
participation of presidential candidates In
the campaign. Prior to the time of An
drew Johnson no President In office ever
made a polite harangue to a partisan or
a miscellaneous audience. while. It was not
unit: the Blaine campaign of 1884 that a
prominent candidate for this Office ever
made an extensive stumpng tour The
author concludes his suggestive chapter
on this subject with these words:
The Constitution is still adaptable to
the emer' enc:es that will arise, and there
will still be nasterful men at the head of
affairs. Fortunately, there are and viii
still be wise and farseeing men who will
ed, and who will guard the country from
permitting too large share Of the gov
eminent to fall to any man. for in that
direction lies the danger to American
liberty
AS an appe ndiX are printed the plat
forms and political tickets of this year.
A MANUAL OF SHOEMAKING; and
Leather and Rubber Products. BY
William III. DoOley. principal of the
Lowell Industrial School. Illustrat-
ed. Boston: Little. Brown & Co.
1t is remarkable that not until now has
an American work appeared descriptive of
the process of making that commonest