The Washington herald., 1912-09-29

profoundly Influenced the human race.
Perhaps some day we may have a COM
parative study OF such movements. but
this will only be possible when the sepa-
rate materials have been collected for
the use OF the scientific student and. as
here, brought within his reach.
A characteristic OF this particular
common with other similar movements
in the East, is its practical character.
In this respect it resembles the work Of
Confucius. He grappIed with the task
of government and obedience to law. the
Farmer Sage with that Of economics and
simple. yet sufficient. and healthful life:
the older Mosaic system touched both.
Both laid good foundations for a higher
spiritual life. which Is always more per-
manent when built upon a simple, yet
sufficient temporal life.
THE LAST RESORT: By F. Provost Ba,tersby
Published by Johnhans & Co. New York Price
So net.
This is a stirring novel-a novel OF
flesh and blood and character, Of quiet.
everyday life, and OF life at its most
strenuous and heroic. There are three
studies of human passion in the book
and three admirably differentiated women.
The author can distinguish subtle shades
without mystifying his readers. and can
show contrast in quality without the
crude and violent contrast in conduct
that the less able novelist is driven to
when he wishes TO divide his chaste, i'm
FASHIONED women from his unchaste
The warm. devoted self-sacrifce of
Miriam Is no less land no more) real
and worthy OF respect than the restrained
and beautiful love OF Laura for Sarrol:
and both are too good to be named In
the same world with Rhea's coarse. self
seeking passion.
OF the three women Miriam is perhaps
inevitably the most fascinating figure.
though the gentle and exquisite sincerity
and charm of Laura have nothing insipid
about them. The governments betrayal
of the splendidly courageous little knot
OF men; their winning through; the I'M
sensational narrative that is yet as stir
ring as a distant drum and bugle-all.
with the admirable psychology OF the
emotional side, make The Last Resort
a book to remember.
The story concludes with desperate ad-
ventures in the country he administers,
and the catastrophe is not based on i'm
asination only, but on possibilities of
disaster which at the present moment
threaten the colony for which ''Magali-
land" stands. It il the soloiser's passion
that shapes the story, but Its subtler
study Is concerned with that Of the three
women who have q share in his fate.
THE DEMOCRATIC MISTAKE: By George Ar
thur sedrFick. Published b. Charles Scrbuers
Sons. New York.
This book, which holds government a
science. points in an almost opposite
direction from that urged by the authors
Of the vast majority Of other books.
They would enforce in representatives.
legislative and administrative, a re-
Spouse to public demands. by increasing
the duties of the voters; he. by decreas-
ing them. They aim at reform by chang
ing methods of administration and SIM
plifying those OF election. Instead OF
advocating all sorts OF laws to put con-
troll In the hands Of the people. he states
that the power of the boss depends al
most entirely upon the Democratic
Mistake Of numerous elections at short
intervals.
Without these, he argues that there
would not be sufficient spoil, to give the
boss a reason for existence or a means
for subsistence: that II few officials and
law makers were elected for long
terms they would be independent OF a
machine because no machine would find