The Washington herald., 1912-11-24
By a. D. JACOBSON.


wANDERER IN FLORENCE: BY E V. Lncas.
]. B. Llppincott Co. Phiadslphin.
Many of US who hitherto may have
nattered ourselves that we had more
than a superficial knowledge of Florence
and its treasures viii be put somewhat
out OF conceit with that knowledge and
even a little depressed as we read page
after page Of this comprehensive book
and realize that the lovely city contains
many things that we have never seen at
all Consolation only comes when we
consider that Mr. Lucas did not learn
all about everything in one brief visit.
but must have returned TO the conten-
pIation OF FIorentine art again and yet
again.
The trouble at Florence is. that one
wants the days TO be ten times as long
in order that one may see its wonderful
possessions properly. Were 1 Joshua
had 1 his curious ,gift--it is TO Florence
1 would straightawRy fare. The sun
should stand still there; no rock more
motionless. II ever town were difficult
to do" completely, 1t is Florence, and
only much time, retentiye memory, and
n true appreciation of art in its begin
nings and development can make the
doing of It pleasant or profitable One
must bring enthusiasm TO the effort even.
as it must be brought to the reading OF
this book, for Mr.. Lucas, being himself
an administrators not say that this
work has given him more pleasure than
any that he has un6ertaken-every detail
Of picture or fresoo. every line of mold
ing or statute is something worthy of
note.
To those who want to know Florence
and learn OF its. charms and treasures,
the book viii prove joy. Mr.. Lucas is
a genial guide. He does not give the
feeling that he would squelch with con-
opinion, or like the great Ruskin, tell
them that they may as well pack up and
go home, If they can see no beauty In
a sculptured tassel. but he lets us know
what his own feelings on the subject are,
how STEPPED in the art and lore of Flor
cnce he is.
NIsI PRIUS: BY J. Q. BroEder THE Story Of the
Reign Of Law in KENTUCKY. The HeaIe Publish
ing Company, New York. Price. S-@.
You remember the sometime famous
retort of the man, who. upon being told
that THE Reign of Law" is a Kentucky
story, shook his head. There must be
some mistake" he said, mournfully. 1T
never reigns law in Kentucky" In Mr..
Browders ''Nisi Prius" We have an au-
thentic chronicle of how Il rains law"
in the land of quick-firing men, high
spirited women, ripened whisky, and I'M
rivaIled horsehesh. -
CHRISTMAS: BY iona Gale The Macmillan Com
psny, New York. Price. 1-a
A town in the Middle West, pinched
with poverty, decides that # will have
no Christmas, as no one can AFFORD to
buy gifts They, perhaps, foolishly
reckon that the heartburnings and the
disappointments of the children will be
obviated by passing the holiday season
over with no observance. How this was
found to be simply and wholly impossible,
how the Christmas joys and Christmas
spirit crept into the little town and into
the hearts OF its most positive DIRECTORS,
and how Christmas cannot be arbitrated
about, make up the basis Of q more than
ordinarily appealing novel. Incidentally,
it is a little boy who really makes pos
sible delightful outcome.
A thread of romance runs through it
all with something of the meaning of
Christmas for the individual human be-
ing and for the race.
WHEN THE KU-KLUx RODE: By Eyre DAmer
The NsHle Publishing Company. New York.
Price, 81.
No political organization of equal
magnitude and Importance has been so
grossly misunderstood as the famous Ku-
Klux Khan. An organization-one might
say an institution-of the purest patriotic
motives, it was avariousiy malinged dur
its lifetime, and since has been misinter-
preted. To-day only painstaking stu
dents OF post-bellum history have an
adequate conception of its aims and mo-
tives, of the conditions which necessi-
tated it, or the benefcent work it &C
complished. To the rest, the Ku-Klux
Khan is a mystery of vague outline, dra-
matte, fascinating, of which grotesquely
caparisoned horses and black-shrouded
figures are the only salient features.
Mr.. Damer's book is adroit and stimu-
lating. It is a history of the conditions
that obtained in the black belt for a