Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-15
BOOK REVIEWS.

BOOK REVIEWS.
SOCIALISM AND DEMOCRACY IN EU-
ROPE. BY Samuel p. Ortiz. Phi. D..
author of Five American Poll
ticians" etc. New York: Henry
Holt & Co.
pHE purpose here is to show the
growth of socialism in Its
adaptation to the requirements
of democracy. Both socialism
and democracy are words OF
neW meanings in this study. The FORMER
is little more than the blend of economies
and politics under which the workinsnei'
through ballots and majorities, acquires
voice in the governmental iohe
cry from Saint-Simon's utopia ana from
Marks revolution. The latter is the ne"
democracy that of the human heart re-
voting from an increase of poverty anu
suffering on the one hand and, on the
other, from an increase or wealth. anu
ease To meet the aim or THIS stuu9
the author makes comprehensive anu
practical exposition of the socialist move
ment In four European 'countries-the
socialist party of France. the Belgian
labor party, the German sociai-democ,
racy and the English labor party. Iuil
appendix covers a classified avaliapie
biblioCraphy and certain working pro-
grams of socialists in different countries.
The whole Is a clear summary OF the
facts of organized socialism IN It's re-
lation to government and plain demon
straton of the mergence OF socialism Win
the new democracy.
THE NEW PACIFIC. BY Hubert Howe
Bancroft New York: The Bancroft
Company.
Enthusiasm. idealism. ardent Ameri-
canism and an irrepressible flow OF IN
formation pour themselves out upon
this subject of a new western front
door for the United States. A packed
down and running-over volume carry
ing an astonishing array of facts about
every imaginable aspect OF the new
significance of the Pacific. The i'm
mediate effect Of this crowded study is
that of bewilderment' wherein the
main issue is often lost in the In
Vulnerable side issues bearing upon
it, For instance, to reach the acquisi-
ton of the Philippines and to point the
high obligation of the United states
toward these islands, the author traces
the full course of the Cuban war.
Again, to mark our manifold oppor-
tunities on the far side or the racine,
he sketches the history. of China, or
whatever other country he may toucn'
from the dawn Of creation up to the
open and waiting present One Is ap-
sorbed and fascinated with this Wealtn
of material, this abundance OF clear
information, as well as with the en-
thusiasm and vigor underlying It's set
ting forth. But, out of it's very ampli-
tude, he does unquestionably miss the
clean-cut line of argument ana per
suasion which stand by declaration as
the prime purpose of the study. Yet,
with books so often SO thin. IT Is
rather beggarly to complain of one
because it is too full. A nne achleve-
ment for one book-a better accom-
plishment for three, or even four
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY
j. H. Edited by Morley Roberts.
New York: George II. Doran Com
pany.
Advertisers are a clever folk. They
appeal SO unerringIy. to every psyche
logic nook and Granny that one possesses.
as well as to those that one surmises him.
self to possess. So, when this biography
is offered, under thin veil of disguise.
as that of one of the premier novelists
of the English school," the reader at once
preens himself to discover beneath the
'veil' the true identity of this premier
novelist One may as we'll admit now
as later that he was not able to find the
real author. This is. however. plain
and convincing record of the Robinson
Crusoe type of the double life OF writer
who lived in the alternate light and
shadow of outward prosperity and secret
poverty and suffering. As a chronicle 1T
Is circumstantial, plausible. consistent AS
a personal history 1t 10 either uncircum-
stantial or obscure.
VENUS, To the Venus Of MeIcs. Au-
guste Rodin. Translated from the
French by Dorothy Dudley. New
York: b. W. Huebsch.
A little pamphlet of big intent. In it
Rodin makes eloquent apostrophe to the
imperishable beauty of the Venus OF
Melos and pays homage to its inimitable
creator. BY way of incident, too he
gathers up a masterful summary of the
essence of art from which he draws off
a keen analysis of its essential ele-
ments AS a mere attitude before this
supreme achievement, Rodin suggests
Walt Whitman looking out upon life, as
freedom OF his speech. Poets will seize
upon the poetry of this toll to sheer
beauty. Artists will gather 1t up both
In ensemble and detail of analysis. Mere
readers will take pleasure In the pagan
JOY of 1t.
THE MYSTERY OF THE BARRANCA.
BY Herman Whitaker. author of
z.
Harper & Bros.
Today. story placed in Mexico is
bound to arrest attention. merely out
Of its timely locative feature If for
no other and more durable reason
This particular romance. however, adds
TO Its piquancy of place a good amount
Of sturdy adventure growing out of
the efforts of pair of young eng,heags
from the states to develop a Mexican
copper mine. The source of it's varied
excitements is the hatred of the Mex
lean foe. the Gringo. with his enter
prises and energy TO upset the easy
views and methods of the tropics The
boycott. dynamite and assassination
are the agencies of this moving tale
A good love story goes along with the
more vigorous measures of develop
ment to round out fair houa<<A enter
A.....,
CALIFORNIA COAST TRAILS, A
Horseback Ride from Mexico tn
Oregon. BY j. .Smeaton Chase IL
Illustrations from photographs by