Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-13

book OF new and distinctive quality stands
clear OF the mass. Such IL Mrs De koven 8
Life and Letters Of John Paul Jones.
Two large volumes are external evidence
of the magnitude OF this seif-imposeo
task. An astonishing industry OF re-
search marks it within. Innumerable REQ
ords. both private and public In nature.
contribute to this competent exposition OF
life and character. Some of these records
were. obviously. hardly accessible Many
of them were buried in forgotten hooks
and corners Widely scattered and wholly
unorganized as these originally were.
they, nevertheless. come together here In
compact, coherent. concrete unity OF
form and substance. Mrs. de koven
makes very expert use of this flrst-hand
material Wherever II Is possible, these
letters. journals. official reports and mis-
himself giving a definite personality to
the biography, as well 6s the original -
oring to the transactions described by
these documents. This authors own
writing is fine and Arm of texture. So.
wherever narrative Is needed to connect
these original records and to set them In
proper relation to the whole web Of John
Paurs life. this narrative Is interesting as
well as informing. The first volume COW
ers the early life Of this hero. closing with
the fight between the Scraps and Bon
Homme Richard. The second one covers
his career in France and in Russia A
discriminating estimate of the character
of John Paul Jones. one that steers a
well-balanced way between the sheer an
tagonist and the clear advocate. closes
this exhaustive and conclusive study.
OTHERWISE PHYLLIS. BY Meredith
Nicholson. author OF "A hoosier
Chronicle" etc. Boston: Houghton
Miff1in Company.
~ - <dd a
best OF Mp Nicholson's stories. It Is be-
sides. among the best Of recent Ameri-
can novels. Counting out Robert Herrick
and possibly Edith Wharton. one does not
recall a native novelist of just Mr.. Mich
o,son's promise to readers of good fiction.
Being. Of those who urgently advocate
writing about the nearby things OF which
one may reasonably be expected to have
some knowledge, this author sets the
stage for his new romance In little
Hoosier town not too far from the clas-
sic borders of Indianapolis. Here he
gathers UP real people with real pursuits
and interests He surrounds them with
natural circumstances and scenes. places
them in everyday situations, and exacts
of them believable behavior. with this
basis he draws into compact and pictur-
esnue drama the counting and marrying
and divorc'ng Of the average American
town the familiar pursuits and occupa-
lions, together with the Entertainments OF
new DO nts of view as these express them
selves in the iniquities of railroad syndi-
eating and in the benef1cence OF scientific
farming. What one likes best Of all here
is Phyllis herself, and. after her. all the
other characters in whose presentation
this author has shown mastery skill.
Phyllis is an adorable American girl,
type Of thousands Of such girls a whole
some. breezy. clever. dependable girl.
whose test comes through the separation
of her father and mother with her own
part in being the daughter Of both of
them in fair and equal measure. This Is.
in effect a social study. What is quite