The Washington herald., 1912-06-23


Tork, the Century Company.
The book. which was published as a
centenary tribute of Charles Dickens,
means 70 show in detail the development
OF English storytelling from the fifth to
the twentieth century. In this effort
the volume is the only one Of its kind.
as far as is known. The work follows
the progress Of the narrative art from the
days Of the first Anglo-Saxon songs OF
the heroic epoch, to the realistic life
studies Of to-day.
The author has adopted the plan Of
treating the matter, which covers fifteen
centuries, & long stretch and a great
undertaking, by dividing 1t into periods
and taking up the conditions which had an
active bearing upon the creation Of the
literature Of the different epochs. He
has amassed a wealth of valuable mate
rial that would be difficult of access 70
the reader. This is particularly true OF
the old and middle age English stories
which, though Of rare interest, are little
read. In the book, the author attempts
to show the development of English
storytelling, and It might, with appro-
priateness be called a study of the story
telling instinct of the English people
From the earliest dawn OF letters, or
more properly Of civilization, mankind
has evinced a longing for fiction, the
would desire to do and to have, no matter
how absurd and impossible, into con-
crete recOunting Of these very things.
And with none Of the peoples Of the earth
has this longing been Of more import,
and had a greater effect than with the
English. In the earliest days the man
who could reten the legends and re-
count the glories of their forebears, or
Rptly transpose them to embody the do
ings Of this or that particular lord.
stood next to the Lord himself in appre-
citation and reverence.
It is a book that the collector or IL
brarian might call his treasure, and one
that is invaluable to the general reader
who is often puzzled and mystihed by
reference to the very things of which
the volume treats. OF course space is
too limited for the reviewer to name the
authors and works treated in the work,
in detail. They comprise all known men
and writings Of the period.
THE STRENUOUS LIFE SPIRITUAL. by A
Van der Naillen. R. F. Feuno Co, New York
City.
This is the fourth volume of the works
Of the author who writes only when he
believes that he has something out Of
the ordinary to communicate. For al
most sixty-five years he has been an
earnest student Of the hidden laws Of
Nature in the world OF physical sciences,
and for more than half a century a
most faithful investigator Of the psyche
logical sciences, the revelations Of which
deal with the human soul, or at least
are supposed to do so.
The present work of the aged author,
who is past eighty, contains the results
Of his experiences gathered during his
long life The conclusions arrived at
after careful research, indicating the
real life man should live ere entering
b.. rV-l-N - he. NH
import to all on earth. 1t is interesting
to have the author confess that during
all these years of investigation into psy
Geological science, with its aIluring Wis
tas Of limitless possibilities, he never has
forgotten that he is a civil engineer,
and that his life has been spent with
stone, iron. and steel: that Is, with
brute elements that certainly are devoid
OF tina gination or sentimentality.
Therefore, it may be taken for granted
that Mr.. Van der Naillen has stated in
a common sense. matter Of fact way in
how careful a manner the study Of psy
Chology must be approached and con-
Quoted. and he has at the same time
pointed out dangers, as well as the salts
faction and happiness even, that may
result from such study.
There is a second part to the book,
entitled The Submissive Life" giving
the remarkable experience Of the author
Win d DOE prophet ne TedueE ldu
better draw his own conclusions from
that narrative. Such matter is not con-
crete enough for comment, absolute and
direct
MAKING HOME PROFITABLE. by Kate V.
Saint Maur Published by Sturgis 4 Walton
Company. New York City.
The book is the record of the experience
of q woman who took small farm near
a large city and made it pay. Its aim
is obvious-to enable others, through a
detailed account of this experience, to do
small farming with a profit Advice as
to the selection of a farm is followed by
full directions for poultry raising, the
best foundation for a city woman's hopes
of rural prosperity. In fact, everything
is considered from a practical standpoint,
care, breeding, feeding, &c. In a like
manner pigeons, squads, canaries. and
bees are treated. Pigs, naturally, also
come in for attention.
Some chapters are devoted to the vege-
table garden and the flower garden. what
to raise and how to plant and to culti-
vate. Fruit and other comestibles are
carefully detailed in their kind. 1t seems
to US that such book is not only a very
valuable adjunct to housewives, but will
prove a great help TO any one who would
gain E livelihood or increase a limited
income by small farming.
Z. s MONEY VS.. CORPORATION CURRENCY;
"ALDRICH PLAN by Alfred Owen CroZer.
Published by the Magnet Company, Cincinnati.
This book has been published, says the
author, a former Wilmington, Del, busi-
ness man. student of States economies,
and general reformer, to aid the pro-
gressive campaign for popular govern
ment and control by the people Of their
own money supply.
According to Mr.. Croz!er, his book
contains facts, startling disclosures and
documentary evidence Of the great Wall
Street and bank conspiracy to control
politics and corner the currency" He
claims that its exposures, Of the daring
scheme Of high finance should power
fully affect current financial and politi-
cal history, No doubt the work is edu-
cational, and a thorough-if hostile-di-
gestion Of the AldriCh plan Of monetary
reforms and the Central Bank scheme.
The author tells the history Of our
national banking system during the civil
war, and dissects its many shortcomings
since, in 1851, the first national currency
CS5O,OO0,OJ0 was authorized by act of
Congress.
Mr.. Crozier's talk may be considered
radical, but the fact is that he is rather
too cautious and conservative. But he
certainly is a careful observer. The
book is well worth reading.
BOTH SIDES OF THE SHIELD. BY Mai Archi-
bald Butt U. S. A, Philadelphia. J. B. Lip
min