Evening star., 1912-07-20

HIS romance Of the south and
north belongs to the journal
istic period Of Mai. Archie
Butts life. IT is clever and
engaging story built about
the experiences of a northern news
paper man sent into the south to make
study OF its economic and social con-
ditions and to embody these observa-
tions in letters OF human interest and
local color. The mission progresses
by way OF a tender and chivalrous love
story. whose revelation OF the south
and north, side by side. is very skill
fully made. This story is now gath
cred here. together with a sketch OF
the life Of Maj. Butt and the touching
public tribute paid to the hero OF the
Titanic by William Howard Taft. This
appropriate little volume will come
into thousands of hands where the
hearts have already paid honor to Maj
Archie Butt.
CHANGING AMERICA, Studies In CO.
Temporary Society. BY Edward AIS
worth Ross Phi. D.. LII D.. author
of The Changing Chinese etc.
New York: The Century Company.
The authors intent here is TO give
readers an all-around view of the i'm
portant changes now taking place in
society and to catch. if may be, not
only the meaning of this particular
moment in the cycle of change, but to
forecast also the rough outline Of the
next moment at least great va
riety of topics are brought together
for this examination. The table OF
contents looks loose and i'll assorted,
but it's parts merge into complete unity
fhrptt0h tho diScaVprv Of a factor COM
mon to them all. This is the factor OF
an increa sing democracy. The author
discusses the plain folks and their out
look through the benef1cent workings
Of larger leisure the more general use
Of soap, non-partisan religion and the
overthrown fetish of heredity. He
talks Of the woman case-the woman
in industry. in education, poiftics.-ol
the falling birth rate as sign OF hope
rather than as a mark of decadence.
The influence of the state universities.
the status of society and culture and
the fiber of the people are among the
subjects that make a part OF this NOV
ing pic ture. 1t is pointed and brilliant
Wide information. organized and
shaped to the use of the general
reader. marks each of these live and
important subjects. The book has
for it by the author. Though time
moves on and matters change. this is
q clear and authoritative view OF the
particular moment. a vital moment
moreover, with which the author here
concerns himself.
EHE FOREST on THE HILL, BY
Eden Phillpotts. author of "Deme-
tiers Daughter, etc. New YORK:
John Lane Company.
One wonders what Mr.. Phillpotts would
find for his pen to do IL some catastrophe
should take him up and set him down
outside Of Dartmoor. An idle conJec-
tare an unimaginable calamity. {. Almost
al well talk Of separating Shakespeare
from Avon. or Burns from Ayr. as this
man from his beloved west end of Eng.
land Except in mere surface matters Oh
movement and feature. this romance IL
quite like the ones that nave gone pc
fore It. II is q somber story of self -sacri-
fee at the urgency Of bigger things III
life than any ones mere self. But these
Dartmoor men and women. however much
they may loom in nobility and ruae
strength, are only the lesser figures In
an epic whose protagonist is the en-
bodied spirit Of Dartmoor. The grave.
high-climbing hills the ranging forests.
the little valleys threaded throughout
with the silver OF many rivuiets, tne Gis,
iant sea-these are the forces with which
this author works. these are the influences
which have wrought together in the fash.
ioning of these living west OF England
folks This scientific culture or his own
garden-spot of earth is adding a soft
patriotic service to Mr.. Phillpotts ac-
knowledged literary pre-eminence
ELSIE LINDTNER: . SEQUEL to THE H;s
-nsssssGs- n;sSss,s. stanxxeiand nxe * Authoriaed ]
$ translation by Beatrice Marshall.
New York: John Lane Company
sJn by far its largest part Elsie.
Lindtner" rs merely a continuation of
the frank confessions that made The.
Dangerous Age" a nine-day matter OF
excited "ohs" and "ahs"-these about
equally divided between approval and
disapproval. 4 few more letters and
soliloquies. all identical in purpose with
those of the earlier book. stand bere in
further exposure of Elsie Lindtner her.
self and the group of middle-aged women
about her. Except for a happy ac-
cident. this heroine stood in fair way
10 go on Indefinitely with these absorb
ing sef-examinations and these micro
scopic neighborhood scrutinies in proof
Of the fact that all manner OF vagaries.
irTiInorality, irreligioD.< denial of bonds
both marital parental. and so on.
and so on. wait upon this dangerous age
The lucky accident. however. was OF a
nature to give this obsessed woman
something beside herself to think about
so she. and readers as well. were saved
the tediousness OF further vivisection.
One day captivating street arab fell
upon Elsie Lindtner. Whereupon she
promptly adopted him. Thereafter her
days and nights were consumed in in
Nentions and efforts to make something
out Of nothing-an engrossing creative
occupation. This the author calls a
satisfied instinct. quieting potion to
the feminine fulhllment OF the ma
ternal destiny This is doubtless the
last readers will hear about the troubles
of Elsie Lindtner.
BEYOND THE LAW. BY Miriam Alex
ander. New York: G. T.. Putnam s
Sons
One reads a prize story in special mood
putting himself involuntarily on the scent,